Servicing in Henri Stern vs Geneva

[norcalgt3]

i know grand complications and vintage are typically sent to geneva, but can you request to have non-complication watches sent to geneva instead of stern nyc as well?

[jon_jon]

It depends if you are going through your local AD or not. I believe anyone can send a watch directly to Geneva for servicing, although dealing with insurance and customs can be additional hassle.

Most US ADs will send it to HSWA and let them take care of it. HSWA services PCs and PCCs, so they have high level watchmakers. In the past, there was a backlog of servicing watches and it took longer to get a watch serviced at HSWA than say Geneva, but I believe service turnaround is a lot better these day.

I would call your local AD and ask this question though.

[norcalgt3]

Originally Posted by jon_jon

It depends if you are going through your local AD or not. I believe anyone can send a watch directly to Geneva for servicing, although dealing with insurance and customs can be additional hassle.

Most US ADs will send it to HSWA and let them take care of it. HSWA services PCs and PCCs, so they have high level watchmakers. In the past, there was a backlog of servicing watches and it took longer to get a watch serviced at HSWA than say Geneva, but I believe service turnaround is a lot better these day.

I would call your local AD and ask this question though.

Thanks, this is helpful! I think i need to check around with some local ADs

[Calatrava r]

I would just send your watch directly to Geneva for service, if you want it serviced there. Why involve the AD or HSWA at all. I have sent watches to Europe for service at their company factories for other brands. Nothing to it. FedEx will have there in a few days. I would take off the strap before sending the watch if it's alligator, due to EU regulations and customs.

[norcalgt3]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

I would just send your watch directly to Geneva for service, if you want it serviced there. Why involve the AD or HSWA at all. I have sent watches to Europe for service at their company factories for other brands. Nothing to it. FedEx will have there in a few days. I would take off the strap before sending the watch if it's alligator, due to EU regulations and customs.

Exactly what i was worried about. Awesome!

[Calatrava r]

Am sending a watch in for service and noticed on the Patek website that the factory is not a service center when I was confirming the New York address. So any servicing done at the factory, I guess is only done at the request of a regional service center and the watch is sent by the center to the factory.

[norcalgt3]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Am sending a watch in for service and noticed on the Patek website that the factory is not a service center when I was confirming the New York address. So any servicing done at the factory, I guess is only done at the request of a regional service center and the watch is sent by the center to the factory.

I called hswa and they mentioned geneva is working less pieces these days and that more will funnel into hswa (including from AD service centers vs before as well)

Expect noncomplications to be serviced by hswa here on out