Patek’s Quiet Downgrading of the new Nautilus and Aquanaut

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by myk7000

I have to say, part of me is glad they are doing this though... The 30m rating has been probably one of the most laughable statements in the industry, given plenty of watches can't take 2 seconds submerged in 1m of water without total destruction.

Patek is one of, if not the top, leader in the industry so if they are going to start proclaiming a true WR, then I just hope others will follow suit and we'll start to have an actual understanding of water resistance and not let it be just a guessing game.

Wait. If 30m was laughable what was 120m?
Bottom line, if you want a water watch PP is not your move.




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[masochistsr]

Are the previous Nautilus and Aquanauts with 120m better than the new ones with 30m? Or is Patek saying everything past, present, and future is 30m?

[Russell996]

First of all it not quietly done since it’s a press release and secondly OP you seem to misunderstood the announcement.

Nothing is being downgraded regarding the watches. Patek have switched to a 30m number for all water resistant watches due to the way they are now tested. They are now saying any watch within its service parameters is swimable if it is rated 30m. I have asked and I can swim in my 5370. They have switched to testing and certifying sports pieces with crowns unscrewed and hence the change - the rationale being that they can’t ensure a user tightens the crown but they can guarantee it is swimmable even with the crown unscrewed. If you screw in the crown then the rating goes up considerably but they have stopped quoting that figure since they can’t control the user. New 5 year warranty also announced and I’m assured it’s backed dated to 1st May 2023 despite what the press release says, new paper work will follow to all owners who have purchased after 1st May 2023.

[HMHM]

Originally Posted by Russell996

First of all it not quietly done since it’s a press release and secondly OP you seem to misunderstood the announcement.

Nothing is being downgraded regarding the watches. Patek have switched to a 30m number for all water resistant watches due to the way they are now tested. They are now saying any watch within its service parameters is swimable if it is rated 30m. I have asked and I can swim in my 5370. They have switched to testing and certifying sports pieces with crowns unscrewed and hence the change - the rationale being that they can’t ensure a user tightens the crown but they can guarantee it is swimmable even with the crown unscrewed. If you screw in the crown then the rating goes up considerably but they have stopped quoting that figure since they can’t control the user. New 5 year warranty also announced and I’m assured it’s backed dated to 1st May 2023 despite what the press release says, new paper work will follow to all owners who have purchased after 1st May 2023.

Has it been confirmed that new paperwork will be delivered?

[Watchdoyouwant?]

Originally Posted by Russell996

I have asked and I can swim in my 5370.

The reply from Patek was you can swim in your 5370?

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Watchdoyouwant?

The reply from Patek was you can swim in your 5370?

If that is the case, all of their dress watches (minus minute repeaters) should come with rubber strap alternatives.

Sounds disingenuous. I certainly would not put any faith in a verbal reply.

A salesperson at AP once told me that he would not recommend going into a steam room with a 50m WR RO jumbo.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Russell996

First of all it not quietly done since it’s a press release and secondly OP you seem to misunderstood the announcement.

Nothing is being downgraded regarding the watches. Patek have switched to a 30m number for all water resistant watches due to the way they are now tested. They are now saying any watch within its service parameters is swimable if it is rated 30m. I have asked and I can swim in my 5370. They have switched to testing and certifying sports pieces with crowns unscrewed and hence the change - the rationale being that they can’t ensure a user tightens the crown but they can guarantee it is swimmable even with the crown unscrewed. If you screw in the crown then the rating goes up considerably but they have stopped quoting that figure since they can’t control the user. New 5 year warranty also announced and I’m assured it’s backed dated to 1st May 2023 despite what the press release says, new paper work will follow to all owners who have purchased after 1st May 2023.

So the reason for the much lower WR rating is to get out of having to repair watches under the new 5 year warranty. Actually makes total sense and most people lined up to buy these watches won’t care about the WR rating.


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[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Russell996

First of all it not quietly done since it’s a press release and secondly OP you seem to misunderstood the announcement.

Nothing is being downgraded regarding the watches. Patek have switched to a 30m number for all water resistant watches due to the way they are now tested. They are now saying any watch within its service parameters is swimable if it is rated 30m. I have asked and I can swim in my 5370. They have switched to testing and certifying sports pieces with crowns unscrewed and hence the change - the rationale being that they can’t ensure a user tightens the crown but they can guarantee it is swimmable even with the crown unscrewed. If you screw in the crown then the rating goes up considerably but they have stopped quoting that figure since they can’t control the user. New 5 year warranty also announced and I’m assured it’s backed dated to 1st May 2023 despite what the press release says, new paper work will follow to all owners who have purchased after 1st May 2023.

This doesn’t make sense to me. I’m not aware of any company that rates its products based on misuse or lack of correct usage by the owner. It would be like a cars safety rating based on assumption the driver won’t wear a seatbelt. Or a firearm assuming that the owner fails to properly engage the trigger safety. Or the owner of a washing machine who fails to close the door and causes the flood. Or medication of which the user takes twice the prescribed amount. Makes no sense.


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[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

This doesn’t make sense to me. I’m not aware of any company that rates its products based on misuse or lack of correct usage by the owner. It would be like a cars safety rating based on assumption the driver won’t wear a seatbelt. Or a firearm assuming that the owner fails to properly engage the trigger safety. Or the owner of a washing machine who fails to close the door and causes the flood. Or medication of which the user takes twice the prescribed amount. Makes no sense.


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There are many well reported cases of watch brands not standing behind a warranty after water intrusion. Many. Omega is famous for this, as they have never upgraded the WR rating on many of their watches beyond 50m. The loss of advertising a depth rating capability does not outweigh the business decision relative to warranty obligations.

This new Patek rating of 30m WR simply enables them to do so easily without issue as well now, and it is no coincidence the 30m WR rating change coincides with their new 5 year warranty offering. This was a business decision and absolutely a discussion within the C-suite and their marketing teams.


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[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

There are many well reported cases of watch brands not standing behind a warranty after water intrusion. Many.

Of course — that’s obvious and well known.

This new Patek rating of 30m WR simply enables them to do so easily without issue as well now.

Nah not buying this. And that’s because pp could’ve done this anyway by internally assuming 30m but actually representing accurate WR assuming the user actually uses the watch as designed and screwed down the crown. I think they actually mean what they say and the WR has been downgraded to a lame level.


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O


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[vliberman]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

This doesn’t make sense to me. I’m not aware of any company that rates its products based on misuse or lack of correct usage by the owner. It would be like a cars safety rating based on assumption the driver won’t wear a seatbelt. Or a firearm assuming that the owner fails to properly engage the trigger safety. Or the owner of a washing machine who fails to close the door and causes the flood. Or medication of which the user takes twice the prescribed amount. Makes no sense.


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I agree… this explanation is nonsense… is Patek measuring accuracy based upon someone forgetting to wind the watch??? I think Patek just lied about the degree of waterproofness of its “sports” watches and got caught!!!

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by vliberman

is Patek measuring accuracy based upon someone forgetting to wind the watch???

I didn’t think of this one — totally right. I love pp but load of


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[jcdevoe26]

Originally Posted by Russell996

First of all it not quietly done since it’s a press release and secondly OP you seem to misunderstood the announcement.

Nothing is being downgraded regarding the watches. Patek have switched to a 30m number for all water resistant watches due to the way they are now tested. They are now saying any watch within its service parameters is swimable if it is rated 30m. I have asked and I can swim in my 5370. They have switched to testing and certifying sports pieces with crowns unscrewed and hence the change - the rationale being that they can’t ensure a user tightens the crown but they can guarantee it is swimmable even with the crown unscrewed. If you screw in the crown then the rating goes up considerably but they have stopped quoting that figure since they can’t control the user. New 5 year warranty also announced and I’m assured it’s backed dated to 1st May 2023 despite what the press release says, new paper work will follow to all owners who have purchased after 1st May 2023.

Its so nice to see someone that took the time to read and understand what PP has ACTUALLY done. Omega did something similar when they updated there website to indicate that the Speedmaster rated at 50M can be worn for swimming.

[vliberman]

Originally Posted by jcdevoe26

Its so nice to see someone that took the time to read and understand what PP has ACTUALLY done. Omega did something similar when they updated there website to indicate that the Speedmaster rated at 50M can be worn for swimming.

Are u guys both for real?? Patek has literarily downgraded water rating from 120m to 30m! everything else is innuendo and excuse to somehow justify it. As far as consumer is concerned u could buy 120m water tested watch and now u can only buy 30m one, full stop!

[Crown & Shield]

Originally Posted by vliberman

Are u guys both for real?? Patek has literarily downgraded water rating from 120m to 30m! everything else is innuendo and excuse to somehow justify it. As far as consumer is concerned u could buy 120m water tested watch and now u can only buy 30m one, full stop!

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by jcdevoe26

Its so nice to see someone that took the time to read and understand what PP has ACTUALLY done. Omega did something similar when they updated there website to indicate that the Speedmaster rated at 50M can be worn for swimming.

Exactly. Much ado about nothing.

[RussW]

Originally Posted by jcdevoe26

Its so nice to see someone that took the time to read and understand what PP has ACTUALLY done. Omega did something similar when they updated there website to indicate that the Speedmaster rated at 50M can be worn for swimming.

Show me anything from Patek that says anything other than all WR watches are now WR to 30m. AFAIK there are no exceptions where there is a higher WR stated.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Wait. If 30m was laughable what was 120m?
Bottom line, if you want a water watch PP is not your move.




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Perhaps they should reconsider their water-themed branding of the Nautilus and AQUAnaut.

The Landilus and Landnaut.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

Perhaps they should reconsider their water-themed branding of the Nautilus and AQUAnaut.

The Landilus and Landnaut.

So funny. And true!


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[Crown & Shield]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Wait. If 30m was laughable what was 120m?
Bottom line, if you want a water watch PP is not your move.




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This