Patek Philippe - Clearer pic (looks like watch tool scratch)

Clearer pic (looks like watch tool scratch)

Thanks all for your views and comments it's always fun to hear from this watch community.

At this stage I will not pursue it any further.

I was ready to let it go / not pursue further at the Service Center since it would take another 4 months to send it back to Geneva (apparently 5738P cannot be serviced in Singapore) but I took offense when the staff immediately refused to acknowledge the possibility it could have happened during service and did not offer to check service photos or records. They even commented it was a deep scratch when they peeled the back service sticker off for me. I asked if they have photo records of he watch when it was received but they could only produce a poor quality black and white print out of the service receipt showing low quality image of the watch back. Of course I later found the digital copies after leaving which made me feel they were not interested in getting to the truth and wanted me out of their hair.

I've never encountered any issues (minor or major) in the last 15 years until now with Patek Service Center but it sounds like perhaps my expectations are too high and I should accept the service of a non complicated Patek may only receive Rolex level-quality QA (I've had similar case issues with Rolex Service with the watch returned more scratched than before, but never pursued) and care vs some of my other Pateks where I've never had an issue (annual and perpetual calendars).

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Scratch during Patek service not acknowledged

By: GS : May 10th, 2024-10:39

Hi forum, I am hoping to get some opinions on the following particularly if anyone has had similar experiences as well as suggestions. I believe my watch case back was scratched during service or handling somewhere between the Asia service center and Gene...

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate experience. 😥

By: GLau : May 10th, 2024-10:44

I would suggest you write to the Patek distributor in your region with a cc to your AD. Patek is responsible to this type of matters based on my own experience. Let us know what you decide to do and best of luck !

Looks like a very easy fix while you wait at the service center.

By: enjoythemusic : May 10th, 2024-11:50

Think of it this way...

By: chap : May 10th, 2024-12:04

Originally, the back was handpolished to become "new." The worker could've finished it a micron thinner or thicker, as is done with each. In this particular case - ya got lucky - its a flat surface, and the scratch doesn't look too deep. I think I'd let t...

+1 ...it doesn't seem like removing this apparently minor (i.e., not deep) scratch

By: vitalsigns : May 10th, 2024-12:59

will result in any of the negatives of having a polished watch. If it bothers you, I'd just have Patek remove the scratch and move on.

That’s a great way to look at it!

By: westrop : May 10th, 2024-19:12

Bummer. There's always risks when a watch is sent in for a service. It would bother me more to see that every time I pull that watch out than to know the back had to have a light

By: InDebtButOnTime : May 10th, 2024-15:04

resurfacing done by the manufacturer. I would let them correct it.

It would seem simple enough for Patek to do the right thing and...

By: mdg : May 10th, 2024-16:32

...replace the back...

+1

By: Derreck : May 10th, 2024-17:01

Ask them to replace the case back.

By: Poky : May 10th, 2024-23:12

I wouldn't accept a polish even though it is superficial. Read "Service" under PP Values; they will have to change the case back as this is clearly their fault.

C-D Proelochs, late CEO of Vacheron Constantin, said a watch should be serviced only when it stops keeping time, because servicing inevitably damages a watch internally, if only superficially. Here is some external evidence.

By: kjkt3 : May 11th, 2024-08:01

I am in total agreement with him. My 5110P runs flawlessly for almost 20 years. I will not send it for service before it stops and really runs in a weird way.

By: amanico : May 11th, 2024-08:02

Erratum: Proellochs

By: kjkt3 : May 12th, 2024-00:32

It's thanks to Mr Proellochs' advice that I use a Timegrapher to track the performance of my watches, rather than sending them for routine service, as if they were cars.

By: kjkt3 : May 12th, 2024-00:33

Clearer pic (looks like watch tool scratch)

By: GS : May 11th, 2024-10:02

Mmm, these later photographs are quite shocking. If I were you, I would send them, with a brief explanation, to Patek Philippe in Geneva.

By: kjkt3 : May 11th, 2024-17:04

Thanks ... I will try to find the Geneva contact and write directly.n/t

By: GS : May 12th, 2024-04:38

Sadly I had the same experience after service of my 5119

By: Hiëronymus : May 11th, 2024-22:21

and I also asked not to polish the case. The PP watchmaker tried to open the caseback with a 'screwdriver' but the first series of the 5119 had a screwed caseback. Of course PP offered to polish the case and they did nicely, but that was not my intention ...

Thanks for sharing...

By: GS : May 12th, 2024-04:37

Yes - this is the type of unfortunate mistake that one would expect if serviced by someone not familiar with Patek. In my case I was told the PT950 Ellipse has a special case back with special tools needed hence it had to go to Geneva. And yet I suspect t...

Time is a healer

By: Hiëronymus : May 12th, 2024-20:05