Officine Panerai

Watches of Switzerland having, initially, quoted a relatively reasonable £260 for a service on my beloved year 2000 Luminor have now come back with an eye-watering £420 + £80 refurb - - - - - - £500! Crikey! I could pratically buy a watch with that amount... 

Panerai regular service plus case polishing is 190 euros. I had a similar experience with Watches of Switzerland (Sheffield) many years ago (1992). They made a regular service on a EH Jaccard sonnerie (basic cleaning, oiling and cleaning of the case) and ... 

They say that it's a set price from the Panerai Service Centre in London, but if that's the case then why quote me £260? Would I be mad to take it to a non-Panerai watch man?

which is not part of the routine service? You should ask your AD what service was actually performed since the final price was well above the estimate he gave you. - AT This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-10-09 06:10:39

and asked them how much they charge - this is the official one in Camden, London and, bearing in mind I was being quoted £420 + an £80 refurb cost guess how much they quoted me? £295 + £40 refurb ... So I called back Watches of Switzerland Bond Street for... 

... this episode of yours brings back unpleasant memories... In my case I protested after I requested that the pieces they "had to replace" with others they "had to hand-craft" were returned to me and they did not seem to be able to locate them. No parts ...