Bulgari

What are the costs and timescales like when it comes to servicing as I see them as a haute couture fashion brand rather than a watch maker.

We asked this question to Mr. Guido Terreni, Bulgari's Managing Director of the Watch Business Unit a little while back and got this response from him:

PPRO: With brands placing increased emphasis on SAS (Sales After Service), in general what is the average turnaround time for a watch being sent in for repair/service?  2, 3 or 4 months?  Have you made efforts or progress in decreasing the turnaround time within the past couple of years?  What is the most common reason for a watch being returned for repair?   

Mr. Terreni: "After Sales has a growing importance in the relationship with the clients. It is a loyalty builder that can generate a positive word of mouth among the watch community, but also a strong disaffection in case of a bad experience.

Bulgari is structured with an After Sales Service network that is local and central. Some repairs are performed quickly locally, such as a basic maintenance, some more important can need to be sent back to Switzerland in the Central Service center. The lead-time depends on the complexity of the maintenance, its repair location, the aging of the watch to be serviced (vintage or current production) and the speed of the final client in approving the estimate done by the watchmakers. On an average basis, we are under 2 months from the estimate approval and this is an improvement of around 30% vs. two years ago.

For the sake of the statistics, 95% of the repairs done centrally are delivered within the announced date and the service is under warranty for one year. The returns on this activity are under 3%."   

I would imagine that cost depends on what needs to be serviced.  If you need more specific information, I would suggest calling up your local Bulgari boutique and ask them directly.  Hope this helps.

 

 

This message has been edited by pingtsai on 2011-01-22 14:18:03

Costs depends on the type of servicing you need and for the specific type of timepiece.  Obviously a more complicated piece may require more time and special parts than a simple overhaul/polish of a time only piece.  Best to contact the Bulgari Boutique or AD nearest  to you in London for exact cost of pricing you require. 

Since Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta is under Bulgari, which watch do you have?

"I see them as a haute couture fashion brand rather than a watch maker"

Please take a look at the current offerings from the brand (especially when you take your piece in for a service quote), it will change your perception of them as IMO they have shown the desire to step out of 'fashion' and step up in the world of horology.  Also checkout the Basel releases in a few months for some very interesting pieces.

Hope this helps.

-MW

Costs are in line with most of the watch competitor, and some serivces are free of charge.

Remember that the piece that you buy is a swiss watch of high quality, so sometimes some special services are pricey...

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Hello,
I don't think they are up an running yet for the Genta and Roth watches. I had to replace the rubber band on my GG bi-retro and that was just after they announced the 'full-scale' integration of the workshops. It took 4 months to change the band and it came back with a small slack where it is attached to the lugs.
Due to the waiting time they offered a full service for free. I still have to return my watch for them to attach the band properly. They told me it had to be sent to switzerland again :-(

Think its normal that such mergers impact the after sales. Was happy with the free service though.

Daniel

I hope that Bulgari continues to make improvements in this area.

Regards,
ED-209

All Daniel Roth watches are sent back to factory for assessment and price quotation for the servicing.  Estimated time is 4 - 5 months.