Comments:
Brand new 5146 stopped working
I bought a 5146 recently and have worn it only on a few occasions. To my great shock, last night when I took it out of the winder I saw that the watch had stopped two days ago and even though the power reserve was showing full, the seconds hand was stopped!
I am very surprised that a watch of this caliber that purports to last generations has died on me in 2 months. Has anyone else experienced this issue?
I am heading back to my AD this weekend. I have many watches and I never expected Patek to have an issue.
Correct...
.....it is unacceptable for a watch of this quality to breakdown in this way.
Having said that, sometimes this type of thing happens. Now it is important that Patek do the right thing and make up for the problem. Please let us know how they deal with the issue and how they make amends for the inconvenience this has caused you.
I would say it appears very unusual for such a problem. It does not seem endemic at all.
Especially when it comes to ...
... sophisticated mechanical pieces it is annoying, but things like this happen for several reasons.
It is not about blaming anybody (most of the time), just a convenient solution is needed. Now you can find out which "package" you bought, with or without convenient service.
I can´t help you, but I feel with you. I know that kind of trouble and that´s why I support some dealers/brands/people and some not any more.
Good luck and keep us updated!
Oliver
It is not about blaming anybody (most of the time), just a convenient solution is needed. Now you can find out which "package" you bought, with or without convenient service.
I can´t help you, but I feel with you. I know that kind of trouble and that´s why I support some dealers/brands/people and some not any more.
Good luck and keep us updated!
Oliver
Just in case...
If I remember well 5146 has a caliber 324 which is mono-directional if I don't mistake.
I do not have all the parameters of your situation: what brand and model of winder do you have? some are mono- and others are bi-directional...
Do check your winder specifications so that the set up winds in the correct direction. This could possibly be the explanation and would have nothing to do with the watch itself.
I hope for you this is the explanation: if yes problem is solved, if not forget this and contact your AD or PP directly for having the problem fixed. Feel very sorry for you, I also never heard of such an experience before.
Good luck and let us know the oucome...
Best,
Mike
I do not have all the parameters of your situation: what brand and model of winder do you have? some are mono- and others are bi-directional...
Do check your winder specifications so that the set up winds in the correct direction. This could possibly be the explanation and would have nothing to do with the watch itself.
I hope for you this is the explanation: if yes problem is solved, if not forget this and contact your AD or PP directly for having the problem fixed. Feel very sorry for you, I also never heard of such an experience before.
Good luck and let us know the oucome...
Best,
Mike
Happened to me...
With a 5205G shortly after purchase. I also had an issue with a JLC Duometre hours after leaving the boutique with a watch.
They are mechanical devices and shipping alone can subject them to trauma that shows up as a failure upon arrival at the AD or a short time later.
In both my cases, service was fast and exceptional.
whatever the issue PP will bend over backwards to fix it!
let us know how you go and good luck
Please keep us updated
Patek customer service and problem resolution has been a frequent topic of debate on various forums over the years with passionate opinions on both sides.
General consensus is usually that issues are resolved but often not without considerable inconvienence to the frustrated owner. No doubt a source of concern to a potential Patek owner contemplating such a large purchase as well as for existing owners.
A watch of this quality should perform flawlessly with regular maintance and your experience, while uncommon, is clearly unacceptable. If you could keep this thread updated with your AD's response and actions it could be very educational to all of us. Please keep us posted!
power reserve indicator issue?
Mike H can be right, your winder does not wind the watch. However, there has been a power reserve issue reported several times on 324 movements. Try to wind it manually and see if it works, then you will know which one it is. In any case, it needs to go for service.
Directional ?
I hear this being brought up. Are u guys saying that the 324 calibre rotor is mono-directional ? What about the 240 calibre with the small rotor ?
The power reserve indicating full but watch not running doesn't sound right. Contact PP and update us what they say.
Winder was set to dual-direction
The winder was set to dual-direction. So, not sure if that was the problem.
both ?
I have a Patek that has a 240 engine.
Is the rotor uni-directional or bi-directional ?
Any difference between the directions of the 324 and 240 ?
Not trying to hijack the thread, but since it's a winding issue. I must well clarify my understanding.
Is the rotor uni-directional or bi-directional ?
Any difference between the directions of the 324 and 240 ?
Not trying to hijack the thread, but since it's a winding issue. I must well clarify my understanding.
Pateks are one directional winders
All Pateks wind one way or the other not both ways like a Rolex. Both the 315/324 and the 240 wind the same way per the PP winding biox. On the box looking straight on, these movements wind counter- clockwise. Modernization comes very slow to PP.
That is incorrect.
I respectfully request you check your sources again. Furthermore to state Patek Philippe is slow to modernize is a very judgmental and perhaps slightly narrow view. I'm not trying to stick up for watch company, but I do want to uphold a balanced view.
One directional winding
I read somewhere (not 100% sure) that the reason patek uses one directional winding rotors in their watches is to keep the overall movement as thin as possible. Bidirectional winding would add to the thickness of the movement.
Micro rotor is unidirectional
Respectfully, can't speak for every Patek movement but the 240 micro rotor most certainly winds unidirectionally.
Source: Official Patek website.
Not necessarily helpful to the OP as the model in question does not use the micro rotor system but I do believe that unidirectional winding is an attempt to reduce thickness of the movement.
240 Caliber
240 caliber only windsin the CCW direction. The 324 can do either, but the CW is what Patek Philippe uses on its winders for the 324.
240 is very different than the 324. Slower beat, micro rotor, and on the 240 caliber the second hand will always be at 4 o'clock position.
You're thoughts and expectations are right.
And yes, other folks have experienced similar issues. It is quite a let down, particularly for a new watch and one of this caliber.
The first thing that pops to mind is the fact that a $50 watch bought 30 years ago has performed without any problems at all but after two weeks, this happens and to a watch built to last generations. Well, sometimes it does happen occasionally even to the best. It's just that your expectation of the $50 watch is nowhere close to that of a watch costing five figures. And that is where the disappointment lies. Without question, it will be dealt with and your AD is the right one to handle it for you.
But as someone else mentioned, put it on and wear it and see if the watch performs correctly.
Going to my AD tomorrow
Taking it to my AD tomorrow. Spoke to them on the phone yesterday and they said that it could have become magentized, which I highly doubt as I am a stickler for taking care of my watches and keeping them safe. Any case, I will keep you guys updated on the status. On one hand, I am very surprised about this, but I am SO glad that I stuck to buying the watch from an AD.
silicon balance spring
All new cal 324 have a silicon balance spring (my 5127R is 1 year old and it has silicon). So magnetism should not be a problem.
Silicone balance spring can snap !
Silicone, unlike metals, is much less forgiving to very slight imperfections. For example, if a nano-scale crack is formed during production, it can propagate with time and ultimately result in the breakage of the spring. Preventing this failure mechanism requires extraordinary quality control, which may not be feasible 100% of the time even with the best clean-room technologies of today. That is why I would shy away from any watch possessing a silicone spring balance in spite of their superiority with regard to magnetism. Cheers Jim
not sure
Not sure but the thought has entered my mind. It's the hassle of taking it back and waiting...
I have a 5712/1A for 1.5 yrs and recently I've started tracking it's accuracy. It's been slowing 2-3 seconds per day.
I'm wondering if these is normal or not.
What about rotor in calibre 240?
| I have a Patek that has a 240 engine. Is the rotor uni-directional or bi-directional ? Any difference between the directions of the 324 and 240 ? Not trying to hijack the thread, but since it's a winding issue. I must well clarify my understanding.
| |
Sorry to hear that...
I just had a quick read through and can confirm the 324 movements only wind when the rotor rotates in an anti-clockwise direction (if you try spinning it, the rotor will rotate freely clockwise for this reason; in the reverse direction it is doing work, i.e. tensioning in the mainspring) and having set your winder to bi-directional shouldn't have been an issue.
It's interesting to here about the power reserve having issues on this movement, and if yours is at max without the seconds ticking then you've got a problem.
Upon purchasing my 5146, I wore it for a good four-months straight; Just put it back into rotation after a 3-month rest. I'm sure Patek will do their best to sort it out.
I had issues with two Audemars Piguet Royal Oaks I purchased, all within the first six months. Both had to be sent back for repairs/servicing. It's not what you want to hear but I do really hope your AD sorts this out.
A fantastic AD would replace the watch with another stock 5146 rather than have you wait for it go through the entire repair process wait. Let them deal with Patek re. the repairs in their own time.
Best, M.
dealer
To my understanding, these watches are in short supply and so how likely is it that the dealer would have another 5146 to replace the current one.
Also hypothetically speaking, what would the dealer do with the broken one if they take it back for exchange?
I'm sure it must have happened before but I'm just curious.