Comments:
This message has been edited by tony720083 on 2012-12-06 14:15:49
A nice watch with a very good reliability ???
the bezel is fading heavily
This message has been edited by tony720083 on 2012-12-06 14:15:49
If we're gonna make noise over the Schumacher...
Then we should make noise over this!
OUCH! Looks pretty bad to me..
IMO, intolerable for a watch of this price and caliber. If many instances of such surfaces, AP should be responsible and do something about it. At least, replace those carbon parts for free/at minimum charge so just as to maintain/uphold their excellent brand/after sales image--as goodwill.
I've seen few of friends' Carbon GP and TA pieces to date, yes bad, but none quite to this extent. Mostly a slight receding/thinning at bezel edges (two pieces with very fine cracks starting to develop), along with a little rounding off their crisp edges (case and bezel) as when compared to new. *note, faults mentioned are derived from 'speedy' normal wear and tear, and NOT that of misused/abused ie.knocked, dropped etc.
Thanks for posting and bringing this to light, hope more owners with similar common problems (Carbon based pieces) will post here, whilst also looking forward to hear from AP/REP soon re remedy to this matter.
This message has been edited by nvbee on 2012-12-06 15:38:22
This message has been edited by nvbee on 2012-12-06 16:02:22
Brought this up because..
I have had similar problems with my TA carbon and was quite shocked to have just the carbon bezel replaced last year costs me SGD3,500! In which during the stay at Service Centre, I thought might as well do the Hornback strap retrofit for another $2000. The SC initially insisted to have my watch undergo their requisite total overhaul/check--this for another $3000 or so, which I rejected straight knowing well that my watch was fairly new then (less than two years old), and was working perfectly fine prior to entering the AP SC.
Imagine, had I opted for the whole package as recommended, it would have costs me close to $9K in total for these few bits and pieces! Well, I did spend the $5,500.. So, I can feel for those who will soon have to go through this scenario--the agony, the cost, the wait.. etc. Not to take anything away from AP, of course the wearing part is fun, and still is a joy! But then...
This message has been edited by nvbee on 2012-12-06 17:15:13
This message has been edited by nvbee on 2012-12-06 17:41:32
I think it looks great!
From what I have experienced, and from what close friends have experienced, forged carbon can be dependent on the wearer. I myself wore a forged carbon Alinghi Team Chronograph for about 1 year straight from the day I got it in 2007. This of course was the first forged carbon watch from AP. My bezel edges did not dull in the slightest. It was indistinguishable from new.
I find it to be more scratch resistant than steel. It does not get "hairlines". But certainly not as dent proof, if it were to absorb a strong impact.
Beautiful GP, enjoy it!
I find it to be more scratch resistant than steel. It does not get "hairlines". But certainly not as dent proof, if it were to absorb a strong impact.
Beautiful GP, enjoy it!
straightly speaking, it may be a design problem...
at least the choice of the material for the bezel is wrong IMOP
Interesting..
I have never had any issues with mine at all. Still looks as if it was new out of the box!
we are going to lost much money, of course including you...
All in all, your watch look great "forever", but the resale value of these kinds of watches are lower and lower as time goes by. May be no one will buy that watch at any price.
Good, then I'll take them all off the hands of those that don't want them.
It's still my favorite model in the past 10 years.
TM
Seriously, Tony, if that is the result of "normal wear and tear" I strongly suggest you...
bring it in to your nearest AP Service Center (hopefully you have one in your country) If not, contact me or Michael C (ThomasM or MichaelC at PuristSPro dot com) with your home location (just country will do) and we'll see what we can do to help.
I can't see clearly what you are so unhappy about (the picture does not show the "problem" so clearly) but if you are that unhappy about it, best to have AP service center (not AD service departments, which are NOT the same as AP Regional Service Centers!) look at it and discuss with you.
Cheers,
TM
Thanks for your suggestion...
I am not unhappy. I think it is health to report or discuss when something goes wrong. I still love other royal oak models very much. Sorry for my poor English. (also plus a beautiful Patek)
Beautiful Collection
I myself wore a Team Alinghi All Carbon for about 4 years on and off. The watch was fantastic but I am careful with my watches. I did notice that my bezel received slight damage. I have noticed the steel/Ti Bezels can get nicked and scratched pretty easily as well.
It's the nature of owning a Royal Oak/Royal Oak Offshore. The bezels are prone to impact.
Just have to be a bit more careful is all. The best design feature/element for the new Offshores are the ceramic/ceramet bezels. It's the perfect material to combat the real world!
From your post here with these various pictures especially your RGRC I can see your bezels are being affected. It's not the design of the watch it is definitely the user.
It's the nature of owning a Royal Oak/Royal Oak Offshore. The bezels are prone to impact.
Just have to be a bit more careful is all. The best design feature/element for the new Offshores are the ceramic/ceramet bezels. It's the perfect material to combat the real world!
From your post here with these various pictures especially your RGRC I can see your bezels are being affected. It's not the design of the watch it is definitely the user.
ATW, agree on your RGRC observation..
Damaged to those RGRC's bezel pictured are obviously due to user carelessness.
This message has been edited by nvbee on 2012-12-10 11:12:20
Also, upon further observation, bezel screws on the GP Carbon looks to me as though they may have been pried (not using correct tooling), thus, bezel might have been polished by some unauthorized person/technician. This, I assumed in a short-cut attempt to correct/polished off some nicks/scratches off it? Many traders here (in my Country) do that, mainly to save cost/time rather than have them repaired through proper channels - APSC. But I must say, most times the results were far from satisfactory.
Tony, did you actually buy and wear that GP Carbon from new? If not, this may be one possible theory as to why the thinning and warping got to that extent. A friend had similar problem with the warping and thinning of his used GP Carbon, the trader explained as to why, and he got a great price for it. This honest trader simply deduct cost of new bezel+new screws+fitting as charged by APSC to my friend's final purchase price - everybody happy!
As mentioned, I have seen quite a few bad condition daily beaters, even so, never witnessed one which recedes/shaped that badly through just "normal wear/tear".
This message has been edited by nvbee on 2012-12-10 11:12:20
GP carbon issues
I used to own the GP carbon. The earlier series G series of below 800 and below had this issue with the carbon. From what I see of your case back, looks like you have this earlier release ones.
I used to own a H series, number 1500+ and the bezel never looked that faded.
Because of the above, I have now switched to the newer 44mm novelty, no problem whatsoever with the bezel.
Common..
A buddy of mine also had the same issue with dial fading, he just had his dial replaced and then sold it to no longer deal with the issue. How can AP allow such a imperfection to occur on such a valuable timepiece?!?!?