Mike H
[AHCI Moderator]
11064
I feel sad for you as I would certainly feel the same as you if it would happen to me
I also love the brand, I have owned some beautiful examples with which I was lucky to have no problems or bad experience. But I really understand your feeling as I would be extremely annoyed with the brand if they would do that to my watch… And since my focus is on vintage pieces, any such incident would be with no solution. At least with a modern piece it can be replaced or repaired but not necessarily with vintage…
Vacheron Constantin, You Can “Do Better”
Vacheron has been my favourite brand for years...However, I'm sad to say the Vacheron chapter of my watch journey has now ended. Here's the story (warning: not for the faint of heart WIS): -- Vacheron Constantin, You Can “Do Better” There’s a moment every...
I know the feeling. Not with VC per se, but with two other very well known independent watchmakers
If you ever have read any of my posts, you know which ones I’m talking about.
Where exactly did they send the watches?
Canadian service center, US service center or Switzerland?
Some more detail if you're looking into this for some reason
All watches from my VC boutique in Toronto that need service are sent to the Canadian Richemont service centre in Mississauga. If they can't service it, it gets sent to Switzerland. I don't know whether my piece needed to get sent to Switzerland. But the ...
Words to the wise...well written...
...I've rarely serviced my old Submariner, but each time I've specified no polishing, not new dial, no new hands, no new bezel, etc. It's no Vacheron, but it's been all over the world with me, and I don't mind that it's beat up a bit...
Your history with the watch is the most irreplaceable thing isn’t it?
Kudos for having such a special piece.
It's part of its history with me...
...If I had a dress watch that I only wore 4x a year and dinged it on a door frame I might feel different. But my sub is literally my beater. But it could use some soap and water : ) ’83 Transitional Sub ...
Sad to hear
Thanks for shedding light into your experience. It is hard to hear as I love VC as well. Personally I have had exemplary service from Miami boutique manager in purchasing a new watch with an issue on delivery they actually secured a whole new piece. Servi...
Glad to hear about your positive boutique experience with VC in Miami.
Isn't it horrible that we have to find the "servicing" scary? It's unfortunately feeling that right now and processing what means for the watch collecting journey.
I feel sad for you as I would certainly feel the same as you if it would happen to me
I also love the brand, I have owned some beautiful examples with which I was lucky to have no problems or bad experience. But I really understand your feeling as I would be extremely annoyed with the brand if they would do that to my watch… And since my f...
Glad to hear you haven't had any problems yet. Hope my story is a cautionary tail in particular when you put in vintage pieces.
Unfortunately the bad experience was with an irreplaceable neovintage Overseas.. The physical memories built up with my daughter embodied in the watch have been erased.
It is in essence …arrogance…
Not so much on the bracelet (bad enough) but on the simple, clear request with regard to scratches. What could be more important than this customers simple request!?!
That is really unfortunate to hear.
Especially since VC charges a lot for servicing IMO. Did they provide a detailed estimate before proceeding with the work? I had a vintage VC serviced several years ago, and I was sent a list of optional and required items. I believe I had to initial near...
In this case, the sales associate put in a request for "full servicing" and in the notes asked for "no polishing".
She said if the servicing centre recommended anything different they would let me know. Other times I've seen them provide exactly what you articulated.
Firstly, I love the wrist shots of you and your daughter…beautiful pictures and sentiment!
Secondly, I hear you loud and clear. In fact, the possibility of any need for a service request sends shivers down my spine. Your story of the polishing is particularly frightening. What more could you have done?! Preposterous😤. I’m sorry for the end effe...
polishing
service centers are obsessed with polishing. I've no polish requests ignored by Rolex, Omega, Panerai, Vacheron, I don't want to send in IWC and JLC because of the Panerai and Vacherons. It seems the only way to avoid this service center polish issue is t...
beautiful photo
sad to hear that. thank you for sharing your experience Wish you more beautiful story with new watch brand.
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss of passion towards VC.
The Cornes de Vache is atop my "some day" list. When you wrote that the quartz piece "no longer wound smoothly", do you mean the crown's action wasn't smooth when adjusting the time? There's no "winding" a quartz watch.
I'm very sorry that you had such a bad experience.
Thanks for sharing it with us. I haven't serviced my Cornes de Vache yet, but the relation with the VC boutique isn't fantastic. In particular, at the time of purchase, I was promised a new strap would be offered to me to celebrate my first year of owners...
Sorry to hear of your bad experiences.
Any company is only as good as it is at its weakest point and you are 100% right to expect your explicit instructions to be followed to the letter. As you say they really need to do better. Marc
Agreed. Some people have asked me what i'm hoping to accomplish by posting publicly in various places.
I really just want VC to be aware that they need to up their customer service and servicing standards. Things like this cannot and should not just be swept under the rug.
Sorry to hear that as well. For me VC service is the best based on my experience…
They always have done a great job and much quicker than most others. Their service is one of the reasons I love VC. So sorry someone ruined your experience with such a great brand. I have had issues with a few other very large well known brands and it sou...
The Fall
Thank you for the wake up call. I will never buy or want watches from Vacheron Constsntin. How they treat customers is beneath every level of respect. Not expensive, but a watch brand that was close to my heart was Longines. I was not treated bad by their...
Beautiful pics and back story
I've been told that some people, when going under for surgery, write "NOT THIS ARM" (or leg or whatever) Maybe a bit of tape on the crystal and back with "DO NOT POLISH" ( or similar in French) is needed