Comments:
What causes this to happen?
A while back, I purchased
a Panda new . Once, when I tried to set the time, the crown came out! Anyway, the AP Service Center in Clearwater fixed it, and returned it back to me two weeks later (great turn around time). Now, I'm cautious whenever I set the time. Should I be? What causes this to happen?
a Panda new . Once, when I tried to set the time, the crown came out! Anyway, the AP Service Center in Clearwater fixed it, and returned it back to me two weeks later (great turn around time). Now, I'm cautious whenever I set the time. Should I be? What causes this to happen?
The same happened to me
with a new 15202. It was fixed very fast but the dropping crown was the smallest of the problems. My nice RO remains still out of order.
Best, Kari
what...
...did the AP Clearwater guys point as the cause for this issue? Of course, you should be able to confidently set the time if the problem has been properly fixed but it's totally understandable if you still feel worried for a while...
happened to me too
I have had this happen twice, once on the plain steel version and once on a brand new Safari. I really like Royal Oaks but I do think they are prone to problems, the Safari had to be sent back 3 times in the first year for varying problems
I've had to send 2x 15300 RoyalOaks for Service
within 6-8 months of ownership, having purchased brand new. My steel 15300 is being attended to for the second time now, looking forward to getting it back.
I'm hoping these issues won't continue, but I like the watch too much to sell it.
I'm hoping these issues won't continue, but I like the watch too much to sell it.
Yikes
When it came out, did it pop off (broken part) or slide out smoothly (mechanism malfunction)?
By the look of it, the issue is not with the crown or stem, so I would guess either the locking mechanism was not correctly assembled and therefor malfunctioned (somewhat unlikely) or more probably the locking screw was loosened / stripped and therefor malfunctioned (ROs are somewhat notorious for having crown issues if even slightly overwound).
I have never experienced nor seen this condition with AP.
Glad in my 15 years of collecting AP I have avoided what others claim is a "common" problem.
But then again, I have never found my Royal Oaks to be scratch magnets either. So the blanket statements are usually lost on me.
It's a very rare case
When the watchmaker rarely forgot to tighten the screw that hold the stem....
Not in my Oaks so far!!!
My collecting time for RO & ROO offshore are not as long as some other members here but I never had this problem. I heard a case the crown came off but so as one of my old IWC I used to own. As for scratch magnet, I think my PP 5167 is more qualify for that!! Hope your watch will be ok from now on!!!
Cheers
Its a normal problem on many watches, of all brands actually
Hi,
of course it's a major pin in the rear for something so costly, but remember we're dealing with small mechanical things with extremely small tolerances!!
Does this help? Let us know!
Essentially, it's an issue of a pin slipping off the little notch that i point out.
this is more of a 'watchtech forum' discussion. But the way the stems are held inside the movement (and hence, snug to the case) is by a pin that sits inside this
little notch on the stem.
If the movement moves vertically half a milimeter inside the watch case this can cause the stem to be missaligned inside the movement and become loose.
How this is solved is quite simple, but sometimes for the solution to be permament, the watch needs to be serviced properly with the holder rings of the movement changed so that there is absolutely no play inside.
of course it's a major pin in the rear for something so costly, but remember we're dealing with small mechanical things with extremely small tolerances!!
Does this help? Let us know!
S
Disatrous image for AP
As an humble owner , I feel sorry for AP and its bad reputation for reliability.
On Hublot Forum ( I do not own one and do not like so much this brand), the CEO at the time (now former CEO) J-C BIVER came to speak with people unlucky as you to find a solution. Cautionary case.
Sadly, no one in AP take this human (and marketing) approach.
Decision-makers desert forums which are the support of the brand and reputation in everyday life more than the "ambassadors".
So, yes the AP are expensive, yes they are beautiful, with stunning completions BUT they can thank Mr Genta.
People love AP thanks to design and not thanks to its customer support nor reliabililty IMHO.
On Hublot Forum ( I do not own one and do not like so much this brand), the CEO at the time (now former CEO) J-C BIVER came to speak with people unlucky as you to find a solution. Cautionary case.
Sadly, no one in AP take this human (and marketing) approach.
Decision-makers desert forums which are the support of the brand and reputation in everyday life more than the "ambassadors".
So, yes the AP are expensive, yes they are beautiful, with stunning completions BUT they can thank Mr Genta.
People love AP thanks to design and not thanks to its customer support nor reliabililty IMHO.
good information about the crown
Thanks for sharing this detailed explanation of the crown issue.
Regards,
ED-209
Regards,
ED-209
AP problems...
I've had a Royal Oak Chronograph for about 12 years, 2 or 3 months after I purchased the watch (New), it just
stopped for an unknown reason. It was returned to AP and they replaced the movement and have not had any problems since.
There seems to be an abnormal number of mechanical problems with AP watches, simply judging from the frequency of
these types of complaints. It's disheartening to hear about these problems with a company that is supposed to be one of
the three top brands of watches one can purchase.
Moving minute hand
The issue of suboptimal QC has plagued many prestigious brands including AP in recent years. My first AP was a 15202, an icon that has made many including myself to turn toward the brand. But...15 minutes into wearing after acquiring it from an AD, noticed that it was 30 minutes slow... Took it off, shook it gently, and low and behold, the minute hand was loose and was moving around! Dealer couldn't give me a new one as the piece that was much in demand and stock was limited. Through their help, it was returned to me 2 weeks later after making it to the AP service center.
All products will have the few "issues"...
but I think at the end of the day, it is about the service that follows, and the rectification work, whether they're attentive enough and fixed the problem the first time correctly, is what that matters. I'm not one who's loyal to any particular brand, but have watches from many makes - some have been perfect and some have had minor hiccups, but at the end of the day, they've all been rectified to my satisfaction and I'm a happy customer.
Quality control?
I've owned many watches and still have most of them, the AP's have given me more headaches than the others.
VC, AP, and Rolex, all are beautifully crafted watches, but no matter what you about them, the Rolexes I've owned are tops, NEVER
had a mechanical problem with any of them and I've had about a dozen. A remarkable achievement.
Jeff
This happened to my 15305 4 weeks ago.....
As is documented on here.....I still haven't heard from them yet but I'm sure it will be fixed and returned shortly.
Like you I will also be a little nervous when setting the time..!!
Yours,
Andy.
Like you I will also be a little nervous when setting the time..!!
Yours,
Andy.