Cartier

Can anyone provide commentary on experience with Cartier's after market service for their watches?

 

I have often dealt with the various Cartier service departments,
since my collection contains mainly (mechanical) Cartier watches.
In general the quality of Cartier's service is very much comparable to the other top brands,
not better not worse.
Do not expect, just because it's Cartier, that their service is faster.
Depending on what needs to be done, it also takes Cartier several weeks,
to a couple of months, before the watch is returned.
Sometimes the service is done in the country you live in,
sometimes the watch needs to be sent to Swiss or France.
Depending on the type of watch.
GEO

to Geo's comments. Their service is pretty much like the other Richemont brands, slight differences here and there (eg IWC gives 2 years warranty). I like the red Cartier pouch that the watch comes back in although a box would be even better. I serviced a quartz desk clock some years back - it was pricy for a quartz piece, about the same as a time only mechanical Cartier wristwatch.

Does anyone know if Cartier automatically checks out the diamonds if the watch contains diamonds on the case and/or bracelet? In other words, do they automatically inspect to make sure the diamonds are secure in the setting, etc? I have only sent a watch once to Cartier for the general service of a mechanical Tonneau Privee watch. This was a while back, but I was very impressed because the watch came back looking much nicer than it looked when I sent it to them.

Most brands, not just Cartier, will do an external check of the watch during servicing, in addition to the internal checks of movement and seals.

- SJX

There is a distinction between the Cartier boutique, which is run by Cartier, and the service centre, which is generally run by Richemont and shared by all Richemont brands.

Cartier boutique service is top notch, and as good as if not better than comparable luxury brands. But servicing and overhaul of watches is not typically done in the boutique, though minor work like sizing of brands and swapping of straps is.

Naturally the Richemont service centre work is more or less similar across the brands since  it is done at the same location. This is also to a high standard, but perhaps not as high as that of a Cartier boutique since it is more of a back office rather than front office function.

Cartier also provides small but thoughtful extras for instance a kit with metal bracelet watches comprising a brush and solvent to clean the bracelet. Cartier watches are also returned from service in a small, rigid red felt pouch which is extremely useful later on for storage. Because it is stiff, it offers more protection than the soft pouches many brands use. Also, Cartier has guidelines on the turnaround time for the servicing of High Watchmaking pieces, e.g. the flying tourbillon, to ensure the customers only have to endure a reasonable wait.

- SJX

Very helpful . .    the NYC Boutique was quite helpful . . .   and I didnt have to wait!!

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