Patek Philippe

Dear Guys,

  I saw thee post about the search for the 2526 crown.  So here is another search question.  We often see poeple who are buying a second dial for their watch - a balck dial for a 5004 comes to mind.  Now, the problem is you need 4 contrasting hands - for the black dial you need white hands for the split second (2) and one each for GMT and leap year.  SO where do you findt hem?  Can you buy them somewhere on the internet?  Will HSA sell the 4 hands to you directly.

Now, if you send the watch in to HSA to change out the dial, or do they send it to Geneva.  Will they send it back to you after the swap with the changed out dial plus your 4 original hands?  Or do they try to control the situation by sending back only the changed out dial?  Does anyone have experience with this little problem?

Thanks,

Rollin

Dear Rollin

I just received my  5146J back with the slate dial (sublime ...!)l. They swapped it from the cream dial in Geneva, but they don't give me back the cream one, they keep it for me for the moment when I want to change back to cream. It's like changing your winter tyres for sommer gums and leave the rough ones with the garage ... (at least it is done so here in Switzerland).

I am sure they will change the dial and hands of your watch if you are willing to pay for the new set and agree to leave the original dial and hands with them.

Best regards Eric09

Years ago I somehow jumped into the game of changing dials with one of my UNs. During a visit to the AD who sold me the watch, I told them I regret that I ordered the watch in black dial because I didn't know it was also available in silver guiloche. They offered me to change the dial and so I jumped into the game. They ordered the dial from Switzerland and as it arrived, they told ne that the operation will be done in the local authorized service. Although I was a bit suspecious about the local service, I decided not to make it an issue. When the watch came from the service I realized that the the digits on the big date window appeared to be white on black where as they should have appeared the opposite way. So the dealer apologized for not considering the date window at his order and once again the same procedure started. Finally when I received my watch, it loked as it was supposed to look. Testing the performance of the watch for a few weeks, there appeared to be nothing wrong with it at all; but... 

I never and ever felt comfortable with it. I knew it was stupid and totally unlogical but I couldn't change this weird feeling of uncomfort. So in a few months, I sold it at the first offer. The one and only experience I had on changing a dial is it.

Idea of playing the same game with my Pateks didn't even come to my mind, neither with my JLCs. I personally and humbly recommend everybody not to touch their watches' dials; even mentally. I believe living in harmony with our watches, accepting them as they are, will extend their lives. This claim may sound some sort of methaphysics but I know it will sure extend our lives since we will experience no stress at all. As I said, very personally...

Sincerely

Ahmet

I agree with Ahmet's comments.  I once had a dial changed on an AP and never again felt the watch was genuine.  Only the number on the papers could have revealed the dial change, but it bothered me so much I replaced the watch with a new one with the same, desired dial.

Park