So this seems to be a "well-known" practice...

Oct 15, 2023,19:26 PM
 

https://nobswatchmaker.com/blog/is-your-watch-getting-movement-swapped-during-repairs


So the only movements/watches not at risk of this seem to be "high end" watches (or movements) or ones with a display case back (where you might be able to see the movement serial number).
Slightly shocking maybe...but an interesting aspect of this industry.

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A new movement??

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-08:14
Guys, my BB 58 began to loose time a while ago. Ca. 30 sec. a day. After a while I took it to the AD and they said “Ok, we replace the whole clockwork”. Took it to another AD - same story. Not that it would cost me a whole lot of money, but the principle ...  

Agreed. Weird and wrong.

 
 By: amanico : October 15th, 2023-11:03

A competent watchmaker will fix the problem in half an hour,!

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-09:25
Unless something really terrible has happened. The MT 5402 is no different from any other old or new Rolex/Tudor/ETA movement. Any of its parts can be simply replaced, fixed, restored, or adjusted. That ADs prefer to replace the entire movement because it... 

I would think so too Simone.

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-10:49
But then why chnge the whole movement? It says a lot about the quality in the first place doesn´t it?

Plenty of reasons.

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-11:10
And , for me, it says very little about the quality of the movement. Is the watch still under warranty?

Don't know if this is of other members' interest, but,

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-11:41
Do you know any reliable watchmaker near your town?!

Not a whole lot of money but….

 
 By: Derreck : October 15th, 2023-09:53
obviously much more than just regulating it.

As a BB58

 
 By: Drek : October 15th, 2023-11:18
Owner I was saddened to hear this, I just assumed that they would just repair the movement. I wonder what happens to the ‘old’ movement 🤔. Given that most parts likely remain in full working order it doesn’t sound very sustainable….

Exactly my thoughts too.

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-11:36

I had the same reaction at first but it actually makes a lot of practical sense.

 
 By: BigFatPauli : October 15th, 2023-11:38
I think the issue is the clash with the image they have created in their marketing. These watches are marketed as adventure companions - Climbing mountains, diving in the ocean, etc, your trusty Tudor is right there with you. The marketing is all about bu... 

Well I may disagree on that!

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-12:08

Which point do you disagree on?

 
 By: BigFatPauli : October 15th, 2023-12:26

Sorry! ;-)

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-12:52
On that my Tudor is like a Swatch. In a few months I will take my MT79030N to the watchmaker and I wiill post about the whole experience.

Hunh... They not similar in that they are both mass produced watches.

 
 By: BigFatPauli : October 15th, 2023-12:57
And both brands opt to replace rather than repair. They do have similarities. That doesn't mean a Tudor is bad (Swatch makes great watches after all). It's is just an acknowledgement of what it is.

Most Swatches (I owned myself quite a few),

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-13:12
Cannot be repaired and are made entirely of plastic. I agree that both companies make mass-produced watches but to a completely different extent... The point here, I guess, is what a company which does not sell mass-produced watches would have done with L... 

Exactly Simone. Who else would do this? And at what point does the cost-benefit analysis rule over customer relations to the watch?

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-15:58
Well well I’m a watch romantic and it was just a let down. Didn’t expect it from Tudor.

I'm romantic too, Lars!

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-17:05
But I accept to own a 2018 watch, not a 7924 from 1958! Search a good watchmaker and your love wiil be reborn. Or even write Tudor. Forget about the ADs!

Or you may prefer to sell the 58,

 
 By: Mary Anny : October 15th, 2023-17:16
Buy a Daniels Four-Minute Tourbillon and go swimming with it! No one gets upset!

I agree with the “Swap of the soul” point.

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-16:00
As I mentioned I am a romantic and it just rubbed me the totally wrong way to get the same message from two dif. AD’s “We just put in a new movement”

I totally get it. I have often romanticized my watches.

 
 By: BigFatPauli : October 15th, 2023-16:33
But the cold reality is a watch doesn't have a soul. Be it a Swatch, Tudor, Patek or Daniels. What is also fun to consider is that a Tudor owner may get upset with their watch contrasted with a Swatch, but I don't believe any Daniels owners would be. Food... 

Interesting points

 
 By: Drek : October 15th, 2023-14:58
here, on the mass produced point, given that Rolex also makes 1 million ++ watches a year, they are also fairly high volume, but I think we would all be surprised if we started getting a new movement if a screw came loose….. so I guess the question is whe... 

They ate absolutely mass produced.

 
 By: BigFatPauli : October 15th, 2023-16:05
And I would be surprised if they didn't adopt the same policy as Tudor.

Wow! That comes as a shock…

 
 By: AlexSunrise : October 15th, 2023-17:04
Although I can’t say I am too surprised, as I’ve known about this practice in other brands. In the case of Tudor makes me wonder if they are having trouble finding, and or, developing watchmakers for their after sales service, therefore just going with th... 

Interesting points Alex.

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-17:20
I need a new diver. I have my eyes on the Planet Ocean 39.5 mm. (Don´t think Omega will swap the movement ). But I have my eyes on so many divers.

Is it possible the replaced movements go back to Tudor where they are refurbished and then re-used as service movements?

 
 By: Steve E : October 15th, 2023-17:53
Just like certain automobile parts, computers, and other devices that are replaced in the field and later restored for subsequent reuse. That would imply some kind of logic to the repair The thought that movements are basically trash is an unpleasant tho... 

Yes agreed, it would make sense if it was re-used for service use.

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-20:03
Otherwise it is too strange.

So this seems to be a "well-known" practice...

 
 By: Joe90 : October 15th, 2023-19:26
So the only movements/watches not at risk of this seem to be "high end" watches (or movements) or ones with a display case back (where you might be able to see the movement serial number). Slightly shocking maybe...but an interesting aspect of this indust... 

Yeah seems like it.

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-20:03
And something that´s flying under the radar

Well I have

 
 By: Drek : October 15th, 2023-20:50
the BB58 925 with the clear case back, but I assume same treatment may apply…

display back

 
 By: Joe90 : October 16th, 2023-19:25
So if you can see the serial number, it's likely they'll fix the movement, rather than replace it (according to the article).

Interesting - not sure yet how I feel.

 
 By: JustaGuy : October 15th, 2023-19:58
Of course there's always the option of going local and having a watchmaker service the watch and keep the original movement. In my experience that's cheaper and faster than sending it in most of the time. Ok don't know if I view the movement as being the ... 

You have some valid points.

 
 By: LarsG : October 15th, 2023-20:08
To me the watch is a mix between the design, the feel, dial and of course the movement. It is a whole. If you remove an essential part like the movement then it is not the same watch any more. Not to me anyways. Local and well established watch maker took... 

So he would be happy

 
 By: Drek : October 15th, 2023-21:13
Servicing an ‘old one’ maybe it’s a sign to get a vintage Tudor diver…

To be honest, I haven't had my watches too long. If it was a piece maybe I held for decades and they wanted to simply gut it out and replace the insides, might leave a bad taste in my mouth too. At least now I know to adjust my expectations..

 
 By: JustaGuy : October 15th, 2023-21:29
That's too bad about the inability to have it serviced locally - I have always assumed the new movements could be serviced with ease but given that watch companies have been known to engage in anti-comptetive behavior by limiting parts accounts or using p... 

Always been like that for Tudor.

 
 By: fmc000 : October 16th, 2023-09:49
Nothing new.