Zheeeem
52
New Member
Hi Folks,
I've just joined your nice little site.
It will probably take a bit of time to learn the dynamics here, so bear with me. I think I also just accidentally posted as "anonymous" below (ooops) so it might take some time to learn how the software works.
I wear a vintage 1957 UN, 18 kt with a FHF262 movement. There is nothing extraordinary about this watch, except that it is perfect for me.
I have recently had the watch serviced by UN because the winding gear was trashed. I'd like to make some observations about that process since it may provide useful information for others whose beloved watch has a seemingly life-threatening illness. I'm reasonably sure that none of my observations will conflict with Marcus' recent missive or board policy, but am willing to be reprimanded if I have erred.
My first step after observing the symptom (won't wind) was to pop the back and make a visual inspection - big mess, teeth missing, feelings of panic, despair, hopelessness. The irony of all of it was that I had only moved from Geneva to the Washington DC about 2 weeks earlier (after 9 years). Before moving I had actually called Le Locle about a routine service/overhaul but decided not to in the crush of 1000 other relocation and job change pressures.
So in a somewhat dazed state I called a dozen or so watch part shops in the area to no avail. The most common reply was "Ulysse Nardin. What's that?"
So I sent an e-mail off to Le Locle (Thomas Schuetz) and during the course of our correspondence we resolved that I would send the wath for overhaul through the Boca Raton office (Ken Negron). I sent an e-mail to Ken letting him know the watch would be coming and received his advanced authorization. I then shipped the watch and my service request, and finally e-mailed him a confirmation with the parcel tracking number.
Several weeks passed, and I received a written estimate from UN. Gasp! There were a few options listed - replace hands, replace crow, refinish dial. We subsequently corresponded on these and agreed to replace the crown but not the other two. This made the price of service very similar to my wife's regular service of her Rolex, which we had completed in Geneva only months earlier (and her watch was not trashed inside.) In my acceptance letter I expressed hope that should the technicians see any easy-to-clean blemishes on the dial they might try to tidy them up. Earlier Thomas warned me that he thought that after 50 years them might not have any remaining crowns with the UN logo for this particular watch. My acceptance also expressed some "advance gratitude" for their efforts to find me one. And off went my check.
Time passed.
And then after 9 weeks (smack between the 8-10 weeks promised), a parcel arrived from Boca Raton.
Some observation:
1. The watch sets up beautifully. It's like new!
2. Timekeeping is significantly better.
3. They managed to find for me a crown with a UN logo.
4. They tidied up the dial a bit, and it looks much better.
One of the very pleasing aspects of this was that there was considerable communication from the UN side. I always received prompt answers to my queries and regular updates on the status.