dr.kol
11333
Fantastic Audemars Piguet!
In the end of last year I bought a fantastic brand new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 25820ST.
What a nice watch! However, it worked on my wrist only for 12 days and it stopped working on 20th February at 16:40. Sad...
I also bought in January a beautiful Royal Oak ref. 15202 from AP's Singapore Boutique.
I also bought two pairs of Royal Oak cufflinks. The model totally made of white gold from the Boutique from where I got my watch plus another pair with blue centre from Europe.
I was a very happy man! Till my 15202 stopped working after 20 days on my wrist. On the other hand, it was still 66% more reliable than my 25820 and because 15202 was cheaper, I would say that it was at least 150% better purchase than the perpetual Royal Oak.
But no worries! I had ordered for my 15202 a beautiful custom made oscillating weight already in October 2014 and it had just arrived the Boutique from where I bought the watch. So I took my watch to the Service Centre of Southeast Asia on 20th April 2015 where the Regional Manager of Service, Mr. Ruby, received my visit. He was very "sorry" because of my non-functioning watch...
AP promised to assemble the new oscillating weight and check what is wrong with the watch. A week later, on Monday 27th April at 10:00 I picked up my watch. The rotor was stunning!
Kind Mr. Ruby also told me what was wrong with the watch and after that I continued to a business meeting wearing my lovely 15202.
In the beginning of the year I promised in Patek Forum that this year I would wear my four Gerald Genta designs and after wearing these four watches for the entire year, I would give "my verdict" about them: the comfort, readability, reliability, etc.
Now I could continue this journey. My other Royal Oak was functioning again!
When leaving Singapore, I noticed again one fuck-up of the local AP Boutique. But I did not let it spoil my mood because I had a fantastic watch on my wrist. I must admit that also quite often I took the watch off from my wrist and admired the small tanker circulating inside.
Till this morning. I woke up early because the jet-lag is still pressing. The first thing I did was to check the time from my fantastic 15202. It was 04:22.
But what a heck! Sun is shining and the time is 04:22. I just checked yesterday that the sunrise is at 05:20!
MY 15202 HAD STOPPED WORKING AGAIN! This time it worked after the service 4 days 23 hours and 38 minutes. Fantastic Audemars Piguet!
I had to calm down - what can I do. Yes, I can do three things:
1. Write a mail to Audemars Piguet telling wat happened again. Tell them that now I have Scrap Metal of which I paid over € 80,000.
2. Tell about my fantastic Royal Oaks in Watchprosite.
3. Choose to my wrist a well-made reliable watch in order to calm down.
Both of my Patek Nautilus have always functioned without any problems. But because my 3712 has been with me for such a long time, I decided to wear that for the day.
For me there are no reasons to compare Royal Oak with Nautilus anymore. I have in my possession two non-functioning watches I spent some € 80,000 and watchmaking art called Patek Philippe Nautilus references 3712 and 5711 to witch I spent tens of thousands less.
Conclusion: I AM A PATEK MAN!
Good Labour Day to all Purists!
Best, Kari
💰1729 Marketplace Listings for Patek Philippe›Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar · 1 for sale · 147 discussions›Audemars Piguet 25820 · 1 for sale · 6 discussions›
Community
MichaelC reviews the Audemars Piguet forum's 2014 highlights: new acquisitions, releases like the 15202 Royal Oak, and community growth.
35 replies17572 views
Collection
Struggling to find an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak for a small wrist? Explore collector experiences with 15202, 15450, and 39mm Chrono models for the perfect fit.
28 replies40067 views
Manufacture
Recap of Audemars Piguet's 'Collection of Inspiration' event in NYC. TonyR shares details on new 2010 releases, the 57th Street boutique, and pairings with Cos d'Estournel wines.
22 replies7432 views
Manufacture
Explore Audemars Piguet's 2014 Watches and Wonders novelties, including the ROO Tourbillon Chronograph and Millenary Quadriennium, with collector insights.
23 replies11727 views
Community
Explore Audemars Piguet's 2013 highlights: new CEO, SIHH novelties, and collector acquisitions. A look back at the AP forum's vibrant year.
22 replies10651 views
Manufacture
Orangedial recounts an exclusive Audemars Piguet event, showcasing vintage and modern complications, including minute repeaters and perpetual calendars. Discover AP's technical heritage.
28 replies9183 views
New Release
Explore Audemars Piguet's SIHH 2017 novelties, including the Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar Black Ceramic and Jules Audemars Supersonnerie, with collector insights.
30 replies15502 views
Collection
ED209 reviews the Audemars Piguet PuristS P10 Royal Oak, a 10-piece limited edition with a tantalum bezel, unique movement finishing, and caliber 2120.
19 replies8872 views
Discussion
The final list of questions submitted to Audemars Piguet for 'Ask AP' Volume 1, covering topics like Starwheel, escapement, ROO Diver, and RO 15202 production.
6 replies2612 views
Market
Explore the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo's price evolution relative to salaries since 1972, with personal insights from dr.kol.
39 replies8328 views
Fantastic Audemars Piguet!
In the end of last year I bought a fantastic brand new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar ref. 25820ST. What a nice watch! However, it worked on my wrist only for 12 days and it stopped working on 20th February at 16:40. Sad... I also bought in ...
Wow! I feel very sorry for you Kari.......
Is this bad luck? Not so sure, I have had many problems with my 5402ST as well and it has always been serviced at the same place, where you met Mr Thomas Rubi, who, by the way is a very nice gentleman. Now the watch is functioning perfectly well and I am ...
I agree, Mr. Thomas Rubi is a very pleasant gentleman
and to his credit I must say that he was not totally comfortable testing my watch just for a week after the repairs. At the same time I heard that the waiting lists for 15202 are long. So I guess the quality control of Audemars Piguet has collapsed. I wil...
Such things are totally unacceptable
when the prices are what they are. In my books AP is simply not worth the money we pay for their watches. And the kind of watches I bought should never have hit the shelves of the shop. Best, Kari
Do send them back or get them to replace new ones. Agreed. For such $$, there
must not be such hassle and mental torture to know they are not in good order. Hope all turns out better.
The nearest AP Service Centre is
two flights worth of € 1,000 away. When I will next time visit Patek's Geneva Salon, I might also throw the junk I have to AP Boutique. I have also been offered an opportunity to visit AP's factory in Le Brassus but in my current mood I would be a most un...
I told already in Singapore
to one of the main owners who is also a Board Member of AP what I think. In a polite way, as always. But I will do something. Perhaps putting the other watch into pieces and film it to internet, write a polite letter or something. Now it is a bit difficul...
What a sad story
Thanks tough for sharing, because only a broad public can motivate AP as any other brand to improve. I followed your sad experiences for a while now in these forums, but this is just the cherry on top. Two watches, hardly worn but reliably fail. Really so...
The next service of my AP RO
will be my nice 5402 with box & papers. AP can do a full overall service and then I sell the watch or give as a present to somebody. The perpetual RO I can't afford to sell. When carrying this watch out from the shop, over 50% of the value is vaporisi...
It's better to have the nerves on good shape
than having a Royal Oak on the wrist. Best, Kari
Lada vs AP
We could now start an off-topic discussion what is more reliable: A> the Lada car used somewhere out in the uncivilised desert and nobody cares to go down the unpaved streets. B> Or the AP that is worn by people like you in white collar with hardest...
I had a Lada as my work car
from 1974 till 1977 when working as a water clark.. I was told that when the car breaks, I will get a Toyota Corolla. With all the enthusiasm of a young man, I tried everything I could with my Lada: I drove over 60 km/h with the first gear, I changed to r...
There were two cars,
which left me on the road: a Mazda Rx-8 and a Bmw 335i coupe. Both were my personal cars, unfortunately, the Bmw left me 3 times on the Road and I still have problems with it.. But I never had any problems with my beloved Honda S2000 although I have done ...
Sounds good
because today is my wife's birthday and she will get as a partial present her new car next week: BMW 435iX Cabriolet. Perhaps it will leave her on the road far away from home, lol. I have just good experience of this engine. I had as my summer car for a c...
Don't worry, Kari,
as far as I know, the very first series engines have only this kind of problem, and mine belongs to them.. Childhood-diseases....
Let's hope for the best.
I like the characteristics of the engine and I intend to borrow the car every now and then... Best, Kari
Sorry to hear this,
I have just heard from my AD, that there are many problems with the new 15202's! They have sold 4 in the last 6 Month, and 3 of them came back with the same issue: the watches stopped working!!! And yes, there are huge problems with the quality end-contro...
Tanks Adam,
just the same issue: the watch stopped working. The Service Centre thought they found the problem and also explained the same to me. However, it looks like there are at least two problems with the movement. It's weird that my just the same happened to my ...
I just got a very polite email from AP
and naturally, they are very sorry. The good news is that now the factory knows about the problems and I hope that they can also figure out what went wrong with the latest production. Perhaps a re-call for check-up would be in place? Best, Kari
Something serious is going on
You get an email on a public state holiday from AP factory? => Some heavy bells must have been ringing!
No, I got the email from
the Regional Client Service Manager of Southeast Asia Mr. Jeremie Comel. In fact I got two mails. Jeremie is a very nice guy and he has been communicating with Switzerland, I do not know with whom there. Anyhow, it is clear that AP is taking such an issue...
Sorry
Im sorry, its very frustating when that happens to a watch. The 15202 is one of my favorites, but the fact that I had a ROO that stopped working twice (some days after the service, stopped again!) have delayed the buy, I know it is different movement (min...
Dear Kari...
I have two Patek: they both faced a problem. I have one Audemars, the Millenary 4101: it is maybe the most accurate watch of my collection and never faced an issue. Conclusion: I'm an AP man? No, the reality is that any brand may face problems. I'm not su...
Dear Fx,
I understand 100% the argument you are making. In Finnish we say "the lightning never hits the same place twice". In reality it can happen but very seldom. The lightning hit me twice and when the other watch was repaired, it hit again in 5 days. Plus ther...
This has been a very drama filled journey.
Surely, anyone here would echo your sentiments if we had the same experience. I have never experienced such problems with any watch, and my 15202 has been 100% reliable. I wish you continued luck with your Pateks. Do share with us the findings on the 1520...
Michael,
I am sure that one day these two AP RO will tick correctly. And my attitude is not to put AP against PP - vice versa: I would like to see these two brands side-by-side. I did not sacrafice remarkable amounts of hard earned money in order to criticise AP. ...
I feel very sorry for you and...
Hope all will be ultimately sorted out to your satisfaction. What was the issue found by AP when they first serviced the watch? Please also keep us posted on what the next diagnosis will point to.
Some part, I do not remember which one,
was originally adjusted too close to something else and that stopped the watch. To be honest, I did not even listen too carefully. My feeling was that AP wanted to tell something simple to say "a very minor issue that is now solved". People fly to space, ...
Sorry
I am sorry to hear that your AP's have been such a let down but you should be comforted by the fact that your 5550 is quite simply one of the best watches on the planet! I hope your AP nightmare is resolved quickly.
Luckily
my 5550P works fine and it is very accurate. If any problems would arise, Patek likes to know about those before introducing the same technology to new watches. I well understand that when I was given an opportunity to buy a 5550P, I also approved the res...
No news...
I placed both Royal Oaks to the safe - also considered waste paper basket. When I calm down and go to Switzerland, I will probably take the watches for service but now I do not even want to think about the same. To say "I'm disappointed with Audemar Pigue...
Ah,
When I happen to visit Geneva, I will drop those watches for service and pick them up next year when I go there again. I have kind of lost my interest because one would be just bad luck, two tell something about bed manufacturing or quality control. I'm t...
Sorry to hear of your troubles....I have had some too
I only own 1 AP Royal Oak. It is a 15300. I have had problems with the movement. One day it might run 45 seconds fast per day, or more, the next day it is within COSC spec. I never know quite what I am going to get when I wear it. I feel far more confiden...
The accuracy of my RO is perfect -
twice a day. I try to find some merits from a watch that has stopped. I thought that my AP Royal Oaks are like Ladas: a hard kick will solve all the problems. But perhaps it's like you say - Italian sport cars. There's a rich Finnish guy who sold his Ferr...
This is very disconcerting!
First of all I am truly sorry that a fellow purist has had to suffer such an ordeal! In this "hobby" we all suffer the occasional heartache and our experiences are riddled with "whys" and "ifs". But this? this is truly unacceptable! Second, as a long time...
Without hesitation:
take 5711. It is different class. However, I must say that AP is trying to solve the problem in such a way that everything would be as easy as possible to me. For that I must give a full credit to AP. Another issue is that such rubbish should never go thr...
Curious to hear...
... how AP has responded and what they propose to do to address this awkward situation (other than just 'take it back to the nearest service center'). Let us know the developments here.