Patek Philippe

I know I know, how could I. I have been lusting after a Patek for 10 years and when I finally had enough cheese saved up, I could not wait to finally make it happen and realize a goal. Anyway, I purchased my Aquanaut this past spring and it has literally become my daily-wearer. I spent almost the entire Texas summer and fall without taking it off. Most of my other watches are large (SS Daytona, Panerai 233 and 127) but putting this on felt like I was wearing one of those WWJD bracelets.

For those of you who have ever wondered if this is a sturdy watch or not, I can tell you that I have spent weeks (maybe months) wearing it water-skiing, scuba diving, in the pool, etc. I did take it off for golf, but other than that (and a few other nameless activities, the watch has persevered.

Now for the question. As you can see by my (albeit) poor photo skills, the watch has gained some personality, most notably a pretty good scratch on the bezel, and the deployant has seen better days. What is the consensus in having this restored? Do I take it to an AD? Any idea of cost and time away from home? Or should I simply continue to enjoy it without worrying about it.

Bottom line, I love the watch and plan on keeping it forever but perhaps I should show it a little more respect in the future.

Take Care

Joey

If you are going to continue to wear it for the same activities, it will just happen again.  If I were in your shoes, I'd probably leave it as is and enjoy.

I say forget it, as you have only had it for a short period of time.

Wait until it requires a full service.

As  PP will probably service the watch at the same time as doing the refurb on the case. 

And will then charge you for a service, as well as any additional work.

When it comes back it will look like new.

As for your question, I'd live wirth this scratch, till I send the Aquanaut for a service , at the end of 4 or 5 years if it is your Daily Beater.

You will get other scratches, and you know the rule: "Only the first scratch is a pain ".

I would let it like that.

Do you love it less with this scratch, honestly?

Best.

Nicolas

 

change my bezel for my 5065. As you, I also treated it roughly as I believe it should be 'used'.Although I realized that with a stainless steel watch scratches will happen more frequently, mine had a very bad dent on when I dropped it. I couldnt bear to see the dent and had it sent to my PP service center. They said that it could not be polished up and I had to change to a new bezel. Three months now and as they say " you only miss something when its gone ".....

I would still 'USE' it , when it returns.

I think it gives the watch "character". It's also refreshing to see someone talk about the watch being "worn" rather than being kept airtight in its original packaging and left in a safe and never taken out.

Great story.

It is a shame that we don't have more of these tales.

Watches are made to be worn and not sit in plastic or winders.

Enjoy it.

Regards
Rene

Those marks will polish out easy..  esp the clasp..  I too have a 5167 beater..  wear it in the ocean snorkeling and scraped it repeatedly against coral and the coarse sandy bottom. I was most worried about the high-gloss chrome-like polish on the bezel portion of the case, in which I had a fairly deep scape..  It polished out magnificently.  You don't need to send it away.  You need to find a competent local watchmaker who is willing to dedicate himself to an hour or two on a wheel with a loop. Your strap will show it's age before that case does...  two hours and it'll be good as new.

This watch is a daily beater so I myself will leave it this way.

Cheers