Relevant Anecdote

Jim,

Your suggestion to drop in a functional, tested, calibrated movement rather that servicing and returning the original movement would certainly shorten wait times for those calibers available, but I foresee some issues.

(A) Inspection. Some inspection would still be necessary to ensure that the movement sent in had not been altered or damaged, but this would take no longer than current inspection time.

(B) Warranty. Implementing this idea would impact warranties. Would all but the movement carry the date of sale warranty, while a replacement movement would carry a warranty from time of replacement? That's not too dissimilar from a service warranty and might work out.

(C) Concern for originality. For a brand for which originality, tradition, history, and completeness are important to many owners, this seems to me to pose the greatest barrier to implementing your idea, as illustrated in the anecdote below.

In the early years of Richard Mille production, I accompanied a friend whose RM005 FM stopped working to Beverly Hills, where service was said to be available. The watch was gone for less than 8 hours while we shopped and had lunch. When a fully functioning watch was returned to him the same day, we asked how this was possible and were told, "Simple. We keep a supply of Voucher movements on hand and just dropped in a different movement."

This was the most convenient service experience imaginable and the quickest turnaround I've ever encountered, but it left me thinking that the watch was a soulless piece of junk, and I lost all interest in the brand. It had the same effect on my friend, who traded the watch away at the next opportunity.

Efficiency is not the only value at play in servicing watches, and for Patek Philippe buyers, particularly those who bond with individual watches and their history, there is an emotional attachment that could be destroyed by a change to the proposed service model, to the detriment of the brand. I'd rather wait until they serviced my watch the way they've always done it.

Park

Revisiting long service times.

By: jimjenkins : September 3rd, 2017-05:23

Dear fellow PP enthusiasts. We all had an experience with ridiculously long service times, especially with our beloved brand PP. After having to wait 9 months for the service of my 5140, I was happy to get a turnaround time of only 4.5 months for my 5550....

Well, this is an issue today in watchmaking but I wouldn't see it as you do

By: Mark in Paris : September 3rd, 2017-07:15

This subject has been quite often discussed indeed and many answers and remarks have been put forward, even very recently when a few members have posted there good experience of overhaul. You have also been talking about this Service delay matter a few ti...

It is a bit unrealistic

By: jfriedkin : September 6th, 2017-06:05

to think that PP would just drop in a whole new movement. The cost of such a suggestion would be nearly the cost of a new watch! Mark, I have sent several watches to Geneva for service. The wait times for customs inspection is no where near 1-2 weeks. Pat...

Thanks for the info :)

By: Mark in Paris : September 6th, 2017-09:09

I indeed had this discussion with Patek salespersons a while ago and that's why they tried to send the watches without the straps if possible. Best, Mark

of assessing for damage (as Park notes) and matching a replacement movement to the right year of the watch, what is the point of a transferable serial number? The sole function of a serial number is to identify an item; if it can be swapped between items ...