Officine Panerai

Watches of Switzerland having, initially, quoted a relatively reasonable £260 for a service on my beloved year 2000 Luminor have now come back with an eye-watering £420 + £80 refurb - - - - - - £500!

Crikey! I could pratically buy a watch with that amount (albeit not a 'proper' watch). This is for a proper Panerai service, but my question is would I be made to take it to a watch professional, non-panerai guy in London for a fraction of the cost?

Thanks

Panerai regular service plus case polishing is 190 euros.

I had a similar experience with Watches of Switzerland (Sheffield) many years ago (1992). They made a regular service on a EH Jaccard sonnerie (basic cleaning, oiling and cleaning of the case) and they asked for £650. When I protested they brought it down to a very reasonable £550... not.

They say that it's a set price from the Panerai Service Centre in London, but if that's the case then why quote me £260?

Would I be mad to take it to a non-Panerai watch man?

which is not part of the routine service?  You should ask your AD what service was actually performed since the final price was well above the estimate he gave you.

- AT

This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-10-09 06:10:39

and asked them how much they charge - this is the official one in Camden, London and, bearing in mind I was being quoted £420 + an £80 refurb cost guess how much they quoted me?

£295 + £40 refurb ...

So I called back Watches of Switzerland Bond Street for an explanation and none there was, they had nothing! So I says give me my watch back please, we can't they said; it's at the service centre, no problem I say, leave it there, we'll put this whole sorry episode behind us and I'll take it from here. No they say, we'll get your watch back and you can pay us £35 to get it off us ...

Hmm, can the manger call me I say?

Crikey, that's great customer service isn't it?

Upshot is they are waiving the £35 and I get it back next week having been 3 weeks already without it (my wrist feels so naked!) and I'll post it directly to the service centre and save myself a pretty £165.

... this episode of yours brings back unpleasant memories...

In my case I protested after I requested that the pieces they "had to replace" with others they "had to hand-craft" were returned to me and they did not seem to be able to locate them.

No parts have ever been replaced on this watch.

I am glad you can get your watch back without the extra charge.

I guess a lot of people who can afford to buy a Pam don't bother too much about the odd 100 quid!