Audemars Piguet Watch Service & Repair

Lankysudanese · 2021-09-19T12:19:01Z

Lankysudanese shares his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak service experience, detailing AP Clearwater's laser welding refinishing and its benefits for collectors.

Lankysudanese shares a detailed account of his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak's service experience at AP Clearwater, highlighting the brand's laser welding refinishing. His post offers valuable insights into the process and its benefits, particularly for collectors concerned with material preservation and aesthetic restoration. This firsthand report provides a practical look at maintaining a luxury timepiece and the meticulous standards some collectors uphold.

She was running fast, so I sent it to the folks at AP Clearwater and it came back 3 weeks later, spick and span. It was serviced under warranty, and came back with a leather travel case (which is very appreciated). I paid for their laser welding refinishing which, at 370 USD, is an absolute must.

The watch looks just like the day that I bought it

An overall positive experience; let’s now check the timekeeping 😜

Hussam

Key Points from the Discussion

The laser welding refinishing process, unlike traditional polishing, aims to negate material loss by using filler material that is then precision-polished, preserving the original case geometry.
Audemars Piguet and A. Lange & Söhne are noted for offering laser welding refinishing, with independent watch repair shops also providing this service for various brands, including Rolex.
The contributor maintains an exacting standard for timekeeping accuracy, setting watches against an atomic clock before wear and checking them daily, considering even 14 seconds a day unacceptable.
A fellow collector inquired about how others notice timekeeping inaccuracies, especially when rotating multiple watches, suggesting that service might only be sought when a watch is frequently worn.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400, while thicker than some predecessors, offers a distinct sporty luxury aesthetic, with its guilloché (tapisserie) dial and bracelet finish being key attractions.
The 15400 was the primary regular production Royal Oak in 2018, with the line expanding to include 34mm, 37mm, and 41mm sizes since then.

The Discussion

Cpt Scarlet

Sep 19, 2021

Good to see it back in good shape ..

Enjoy !

Lankysudanese

Sep 19, 2021

Thanks! It was 14 seconds fast, after 3 years of being dead-on when worn.

So let’s see what those Floridians have done

PalmSprings

Sep 19, 2021

Was 14 seconds actually noticeable?

Lankysudanese

Sep 19, 2021

I monitor each of my watches’ chronometry religiously.

Even the kudoke 2 (which doesn’t have a seconds hand) To me, 14 seconds a day comes up to ~7 minutes a month. I find that unacceptable, but realize that it’s a matter of opinion

PalmSprings

Sep 19, 2021

...

I was just wondering how people notice it. I assumed you switched around a lot between your watches so when it was really needed you would have them serviced.

Lankysudanese

Sep 19, 2021

That’s what normal people do.

Unfortunately, I’m obsessed with accuracy, so I set my watch to an atomic clock the night before I know that I’m gonna wear it, and clock it at the end of the next day (when I put it back in the watchbox). That’s probably a very unhealthy way to enjoy one’s watches, but it’s all that I know

Key Points from the Discussion

Continue the conversation