AP vs. Patek Philippe Vintage Service

dr.kol · 2016-08-04T07:41:06Z

Compare Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe vintage watch service. Dr.kol shares experiences with bracelet adjustments and customer care.

dr.kol

WPS member · Audemars Piguet forum

23 replies2174 views1 photos

Dr.kol shares a compelling account of his experiences with after-sales service for vintage Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe watches, highlighting a stark contrast between the two brands. This post offers valuable insights into the customer service philosophies of "Holy Trinity" watchmakers, particularly concerning vintage pieces and bracelet adjustments.

Audemars Piguet was just serviced by the factory but Patek not.

I took Patek for service to London Salon and after that I asked then to measure the wrist of my wife and shorten the bracelet. That was done in less than a month and when I wanted to pay for the job, the reply was "our pleasure to help you - complimentary service from our side".

About one year ago I took the AP to the Singapore Service Centre for shortening the bracelet. I had both Patek with me as well as my wife. I told AP to make it just the same length as Patek is but they still measured my wife's wrist and marked to the bracelet how to cut it.

I picked up the watch on 10th February this year. They left the bracelet still about 10 mm longer than marked and ordered and the cut was the rudest job I have ever seen. Naturally, I said (and AP agreed) that the job was really rude and they did not perform the job as requested. They took the watch back but naturally, I had to pay it first!

I picked up the watch again on 2nd August and now the work was nicely done. Naturally, the length was not as ordered. For the delays I got a lot of apologies and I was told that the Master Watchmaker "was really sorry that he did not make decent job". On the other hand, he had only half a year to make it...

Sometimes we speak about the "Holy Trinity" of watchmakers. One of them is giving outstanding service and even offering it as complimentary, free of charge, service. The other one is charging a good amount of money before the job is completed. Funny business this watch world!

Anyhow, my Mrs. has now two nice vintage watches: the Ellipse is fitting perfectly, the other one is a bit loose.

Best, Kari

Key Points from the Discussion

Patek Philippe excels in after-sales service, making customers feel special through complimentary services and exclusive events, which contributes to their strong brand loyalty and market value retention.
The excellent after-sales service from Patek Philippe, including complimentary work, reinforces customer confidence and may influence the strong secondary market value of their watches, making new purchases more appealing.
A collector inquired about A. Lange & Söhne's service quality compared to AP and PP, considering it a crucial factor for a 'serious' watch purchase, especially given the mixed reviews of AP's service.
A collector recounted positive experiences with Lange's service, including free repairs for a new watch under warranty and a complimentary lug replacement for an out-of-warranty honeygold moonphase, despite the repair time.
The author advises against platinum Patek Philippe watches due to their exceptional dials and unique feel, which can lead to an addictive collecting experience.
One contributor described Patek Philippe's quality control process, where new, fully functional watches are disassembled, checked for flaws, and reassembled to ensure 100% perfection.

The Discussion

sham1

Aug 4, 2016

Patek's after sales service is second to none particularly among the larger manufacturers. They actually know how to make the customer feel special as if they belong to an elite club. This in the long run can only be good for business. Best wishes, Sham

Arie - Mr Orange

Aug 4, 2016

How is the waterproofing? ;-)

CastorKrieg

Aug 4, 2016

Patek very skillfully cultivated the secondary market. People are also buying PP watches brand new, since the 2nd hand ones keep their prices so well, so people are less fearful of depreciation. Unless it is a reference that is out of production I bet a lot of people think: 'Why not add a few hundred and get a brand new at the salon?'. The service you received adds to that - it is a comforting thought that no matter what the watch will be serviced, and up to the highest standard. On the other ha

dr.kol

Aug 4, 2016

That is like Baron correctly stated in his post: "Value". Best, Kari

dr.kol

Aug 4, 2016

And the market seems to know what to expect when both Brands are concerned. Best, Kari

CastorKrieg

Aug 4, 2016

Even my 'horologically-challenged' friend pointed that out.

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