Jaeger-LeCoultre

Alfihar
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Love and Hate…

Hi everyone,

On Thursday, after three weeks, I received a call from the watchmaker of the Jaeger LeCoultre boutique in Paris for my Duomètre Quantième Linaire.

He explained to me that the regulator barrel screw was indeed broken and that it was necessary to change it.

I was also reassured about the condition of the watch which, according to him, had not suffered any damage despite the very rapid relaxation of the barrel spring; trigger which had nevertheless made the said cylinder come out of its place and go up on the bridge, all with not very reassuring noises.

The Customer Service Manager also told me that the watch could be repaired but that, given its age, a service was recommended.

Quite surprised by these words, I asked him how Jaeger LeCoultre could tell me that my watch had not suffered any damage without having disassembled it. Indeed, it is still a complex watch among the most precise of the brand due to the presence of a barrel dedicated for the regulator.

His answer still intrigued me: our master watchmakers did a visual check (without disassembling the watch)… you have to trust them….

Being in my car at the time of the call I did not insist, although I had the idea to ask him if he was not laughing at me.

Some minutes after the call, I received an e-mail with a service estimate billed € 1,490 - usual and reasonable sum (For example the service of a 5110P costs € 1,500 while the complication is less important).

Reading the email, I saw that it was stated:

Your request (s) and comment (s):
- Repair what needs to be repaired, broken barrel screw
Please find below the comments and observations of our Master Watchmaker:
- Movement stopped (barrel screw broken)
Therefore, we would like to « offer » you the following:
Intervention (s) required: Full service
- Complete disassembly of the watch
- Movement: cleaning, replacement of defective components, winding and lubrication - Watch casing
- Final checks

Reading this document left me at first puzzled, then angry.

Indeed if there is something that I hate is being taken for an idiot and I remain polite ...

How, when the watch has clearly not been disassembled, Jaeger LeCoultre manager can seriously claim that it has not been damaged?

How can I reasonably explain that the watch must be serviced when this was not the case in July 2021 when I went to the Vendôme store to have it checked?

Moreover, contrary to the words of the manager who called me, reading the quote does not indicate that the watch is in good condition but - on the contrary - recommends service.

All this is deplorable, distressing.

Reading the email suggests that no diagnosis has been made and that the only examination performed was visual to confirm the breakage of the screw.

You are going to tell me that I could not care because the person who sold me the watch indicated to me that he would pay the financial consequences of the repairs. I will therefore be able to content myself with presenting him the estimate and then the invoice.

However, it would be dishonest on my part because I consider that it is JLC’s responsibility : a screw must not break. This can happen, but if it does, the problem must be solve by the brand.

Already disappointed to have only been able to wear my 50-year-old watch for half a day, I admit to being sad to note the lack of regard that JLC ​​has towards a client ...

For me this is crippling….

My history with Jaeger LeCoultre goes back decades when, as a child, I secretly borrowed my grandfather's Polaris.

I still remember when I took my car to go to the factory to have my grandfather's Polaris serviced. It was some weeks after he passed away. it was another time, the JLC buildings were modest, there was no heritage service ... although surprised by my approach, Jaeger LeCoultre took care to meet my expectations and an old man came to take my watch, listened to me, noted that I wanted to keep the used parts ... his kindness was so precious for me because of the personal history with this special watch…

I've loved this brand ever since and it's even the one that I liked the most.

I can no longer count the number of times I have hijacked friends of Patek, Rolex or other manufactures for JLC by talking to them passionately about La Grande Maison.

I have participated and been invited to many events with delight…

but now I'm stuck ... it's like time has just stopped with JLC ... a screw has also broken in me.

So I’ve decided that I would no longer wear a JLC, post here or in other JLC’s bars, recommend this brand as I have for decades… until the brand takes its responsibility.

I had a lot of fun talking to you and I will have more in other forums.

it was passionate, rich, interesting.

I am not at all in phase with the direction the world is taking and the path thus taken by JLC: lack of professionalism, poor work, lack of regard for the interlocutor or the client ... money for nothing…

some will say that I am getting old and cranky ...

However, I believe that we can only build ourselves around values.

Best Ø

PS : When I see that…. I tell myself that there is a difference between the image and my reality ... or that I saw a mirage ...