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servicing JLC master perpetual
Hello All,
I have a JLC master perpetual that sticks and arbitrarily stops. It seems to be in in a desperate need for a servicing. It is a 2005 built watch.
I am enquiring whether I should have it serviced at the manufacture Jaeger lecoultre in Switzerland or here in the USA by the richemont service centre in Fort Worth, TX?
In speaking with the personnel in Fortworth it appears that the cost is going to be the same and that it is only the time taken (obviously longer when serviced at the manufacture) that appears to be different.
Personally, I don't mind the longer time frames taken at the manufacture but would definitely care for the higher level of service. I would appreciate if forum members would share their experiences in getting their Jaeger Lecoultre timepieces serviced here in the US vs sending them back to Le sentier.
thanks in advance for your input.
If it is possible, it can be serviced in the US.
Did your AD confirm you that a " local " service was possible?
If yes, then no problem, there is no issue to do so. And it will be much faster!
Best,
Nicolas
master perpetual servicing
I talked to the texas richemont service center and they said I had the option of going with them servicing it or could even request it being sent to switzerland.
I just don't want a shoddy job and want them to do the 1000 hour testing to ensure it keeps good time.
If it is the same quality of work, I would perhaps opt for it being serviced right here in the USA.
Also, can anyone share the approximate cost of getting a service only (i.e. no change of parts or anything special) on a master perpetual steel?
A service is a service, there is no difference between the local and the swiss Service
Centers. But there are watches which need, depending on their complications, to be sent in Swizerland, hence my original doubt.
I don't have the precise cost, but count on a good 1200 USD.
Best,
Nicolas
This message has been edited by amanico on 2014-04-29 21:25:45cost of servicing master perpetual
So. I have sent my steel master perpetual to JLC (Richemont center in Fort Worth TX) and they have come back with the following estimate, which I think are too high for a simple service. From what I read in the forums and in talking with authorized dealers it seems like about 1000 USD is the tops for servicing.
Are these costs in-line with what people here on the forum have paid for such movements?
I would really appreciate folks sharing their experiences.
Estimate reminder YOur reference : 1111XXXX / 1 Customer Service Contact :
May 2nd, 2014 Model : Master perpetual Serial number : J140880S-XXXXNecessary intervention(s) :
Complete Service 1,500.00
Handling and freight charge 25.00 -----------------------------------
Sub Total USD 1,525.00
Optional intervention(s) :
Polishing best as possible offered
Replacement of the hands 110.00
--------------------------------------
Total Net USD 1,635.00 ---------------------------------------
Tax USD 9.63
---------------------------------------
Total Due USD 1,644.63
cost of servicing aeger-LeCoultre, Master Perpetual, Reference 149.84.2, Stainless Steel
Any experiences would be greatly appreciated.
I just think the manufacture is fleecing.
If I remember well, one of my friends was quoted 1200 Euros for his Master Perpetual..
It was a few months ago...
JLC says they would need to re-examine timepiece for
I enquired further (despite their telling me on phone that the cost of repair at the JLC service facility in US vs switzerland will be the same), and they responded to say that the timepiece will need to be shipped to the manufacture and a new cost estimate would need to be generated after factory watchmakers re-examine your timepiece. This to me sounds bogus. Hell, JLCs factory authorized watchmaker in TX has given me an estimate and told me what needs to be done. Why are they not transparent about this. Is 1600 USD still not enough to service a timepiece?
My Experience with an EWA
Hi,
I had a very positive experience with my Extreme World Alarm earlier this year. The watch went to Switzerland via Texas, the service was comprehensive, refinishing was included in the price, and I paid about $1,200 USD including all taxes and shipping. In terms of movement parts, my watch is about as complex as your perpetual, and the "Extreme" case itself is more so.
The watch went out during November and returned to me in early March, which is stunning when you consider the holiday breaks that fell in the middle of that time period. Even more impressive to me was the no-cost refinishing on a watch with a complex case assembly that includes polished and brushed finishes on both steel and titanium case components. Moreover, they replaced the compressor crowns and parts of the system that drives the world time chapter ring.
Perhaps something is being lost in translation here. I received my estimate from JLC in Fort Worth before it went overseas, and JLC in Le Sentier honored that. Contact Texas again and ask to speak to someone in a management capacity; perhaps they can cut through the confusion.
Best,
Tim
I had a very positive experience with my Extreme World Alarm earlier this year. The watch went to Switzerland via Texas, the service was comprehensive, refinishing was included in the price, and I paid about $1,200 USD including all taxes and shipping. In terms of movement parts, my watch is about as complex as your perpetual, and the "Extreme" case itself is more so.
The watch went out during November and returned to me in early March, which is stunning when you consider the holiday breaks that fell in the middle of that time period. Even more impressive to me was the no-cost refinishing on a watch with a complex case assembly that includes polished and brushed finishes on both steel and titanium case components. Moreover, they replaced the compressor crowns and parts of the system that drives the world time chapter ring.
Perhaps something is being lost in translation here. I received my estimate from JLC in Fort Worth before it went overseas, and JLC in Le Sentier honored that. Contact Texas again and ask to speak to someone in a management capacity; perhaps they can cut through the confusion.
Best,
Tim
not a bad service estimate at all
for a JLC perpetual calendar, $1500 is not bad at all for a service. an overhaul on a Patek Nautilus was $1,000 alone. this is the price you pay for owing such a fine timepiece.
regarding the hands, i know of a few companies that can only use the hands ONCE so removal of the hands during service, automatically necessitates a pair of replacement hands. specifically Breitling stated that even a minor service require replacing the hands since they can only be mounted once.
cost of JLC service
Thanks tim & mjnoumoff for your responses. However, I am still confused whether or not this estimate is high. Tim got his EWA (similar degree of complication) done for 1200 USD which seems about right. but
mjnoumoff feels 1500 for service but 1624 (with replacement of hands, that seems necessary) seems too high.
Amanico, who has been so kind to have quickly responded with his knowledge, said someone was quoted 1200 euros (that was for servicing in le sentier). thanks for any more clarification. I just don't want to overpay and set a wrong precedent. It just seems that the manufacturer is not upfront/transparent about the price breakup.
mjnoumoff feels 1500 for service but 1624 (with replacement of hands, that seems necessary) seems too high.
Amanico, who has been so kind to have quickly responded with his knowledge, said someone was quoted 1200 euros (that was for servicing in le sentier). thanks for any more clarification. I just don't want to overpay and set a wrong precedent. It just seems that the manufacturer is not upfront/transparent about the price breakup.
clarification...
i want to clarify that i do not think $1500 for the service or even $1600+ including the hands is unrealistic at all. You are talking about a JLC perpetual calendar. an incredibly complicated timepiece from one of the finest watch manufactures. the patek i was referring to is a relatively simple 3 hand (hour, minute, second) date timepiece, so $1500 for a perpetual calendar is a relative bargain.
this is like purchasing a high-end sports car and then complaining about the cost(s) of maintenance. this is the price of maintenance for such a fine timepiece. you want to drive a Porsche or Ferrari, be prepared to pay for the costs to maintain the machines. you can try to cut corners and have your local watchmaker do it for $500, but wouldn't you rather the manufacture do the work and guarantee it incase something happens?? you know the manufacture has all the right tools, parts, etc. no need to source it from someone else. would you service your Porsche or Ferrari at Jiffy Lube??
if you think $1600 for an overhaul on a perp calendar is high, I suggest switching to a quartz timepiece.
On a somewhat softer note...
Since we've agreed that $1,500 is very representative of the service cost of a complicated JLC, I'm not certain anyone here can say with certainty whether the estimate is slightly high or slightly low. Realistically, any estimate that includes comprehensive factory service on a perpetual is going to be in this range.
The difficulty of judging whether your estimate represents the exact price of this service lies in the fact that "service" of a watch is rarely the exact same procedure for every watch, even when the watches are the same model from the same manufacturer. In fact, the more complicated the watch, the more likely it is that any two watches of the same reference number will require slightly different work. Although some elements of service, such as ultrasonic cleaning, lubrication, and regulation are standard, the individual component wear and owner usage habits of a given movement may differ from one watch to another. While cars generally have prescribed maintenance schedules in their owner's manuals, watch service is somewhat more open-ended and contingent on the individual watch's needs.
In other words, one perpetual calendar may require a new mainspring because it was warped; another may require a new set of wheels where lubrication dried rapidly and damage occurred; still another watch may have suffered from trace movement corrosion because its owner lived in a very humid climate; another watch may have suffered a small shock during the engagement period of the perpetual calendar mechanisms, thus necessitating replacement and adjustment of those parts. All of these conditions may have developed unbeknownst to the owners and despite careful ownership practices.
Anecdotally, I have been told by watchmakers that perpetual calendars are among the most involved stand-alone complications to service fully, so slightly lower estimates that you have seen for chronographs, alarms, or dual times may not be useful references.
At this point, it would be best to go forward with the service if you can get in touch with JLC North America in Texas and receive a) a breakdown of how they reached their estimate and b) clarification of whether the estimate included (or excluded) any optional service items. I know that some factories will list certain cosmetic measures as options when the total cost breakdown is given, and these can be excluded if desired.
Best,
Tim
The difficulty of judging whether your estimate represents the exact price of this service lies in the fact that "service" of a watch is rarely the exact same procedure for every watch, even when the watches are the same model from the same manufacturer. In fact, the more complicated the watch, the more likely it is that any two watches of the same reference number will require slightly different work. Although some elements of service, such as ultrasonic cleaning, lubrication, and regulation are standard, the individual component wear and owner usage habits of a given movement may differ from one watch to another. While cars generally have prescribed maintenance schedules in their owner's manuals, watch service is somewhat more open-ended and contingent on the individual watch's needs.
In other words, one perpetual calendar may require a new mainspring because it was warped; another may require a new set of wheels where lubrication dried rapidly and damage occurred; still another watch may have suffered from trace movement corrosion because its owner lived in a very humid climate; another watch may have suffered a small shock during the engagement period of the perpetual calendar mechanisms, thus necessitating replacement and adjustment of those parts. All of these conditions may have developed unbeknownst to the owners and despite careful ownership practices.
Anecdotally, I have been told by watchmakers that perpetual calendars are among the most involved stand-alone complications to service fully, so slightly lower estimates that you have seen for chronographs, alarms, or dual times may not be useful references.
At this point, it would be best to go forward with the service if you can get in touch with JLC North America in Texas and receive a) a breakdown of how they reached their estimate and b) clarification of whether the estimate included (or excluded) any optional service items. I know that some factories will list certain cosmetic measures as options when the total cost breakdown is given, and these can be excluded if desired.
Best,
Tim
Servicing costs
First off, thanks amanico, Tim and others who have participated in this discusson. You have shared valuable insights and have enlightened members like myself. However, Tim if you read my original posting - the cost of the service (alone) was quoted at $1500 with the additional option of replacing (minute and hour hands due to luminosity on these dauphines having worn away) at $124 more. The whole discussion has surrounded around the cost of service at $1500.
I am going ahead with the service to be done at the Texas center. I am choosing not to get the minute and hour hands replaced because this is an occasional wear and I don't care for the luminosity, besides, if it was all 6 hands they were changing it made any sense.
I will keep the forum posted about my JLC fort worth center service experiences for the benefit of other members.
I sincerely trust you made a good decision
- and wish you a short delivery time!
FYI, I was quoted last year from Richemont service centre Munich the standard price for complete overhaul for "high complication" watches: EUR 1.350.
In my understanding, this is the unit price for servicing high complication movements, some other complicated movements such as cal. 829/859 (reverso chrono retrograde), and the ultra-thin cal. 849, net of the cost of nonstandard part replacements (such as. e.g. golden crown), and net of polishing.