Advice on Service and Boutique response

[eramzi]

Hey everyone, need your thoughts!

I stopped by the NY boutique over the weekend to get their thoughts on why my 15202 is losing a few minutes per day. The aftersales service specialist at the boutique mentioned that since my watch was under warranty, he'd recommend i just send it in for a service at the clearwater location, to which i agreed.

i received a call yesterday from the boutique informing me that the boutique's watchmaker deemed that the watch only needed to be de-magnitized which they did "complimentary". That struck me as really odd, and asked if the watch case-back was dismantled, to which they responded affirmatively. That really bothered me as i assumed only the clearwater service center would be performing the service. I then asked the service specialist to please proceed with a full service even-though they demagnitized the watch.

A few minutes later, the specialist followed up with an email saying that since the watchmaker deemed the watch was in good working condition and only needed to be de-magnitized, i will incur the service charge ($1150) should i chose to proceed.

I am a little baffled that AP would do that to me, but before responding wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were.

thanks

[OP15]

Originally Posted by eramzi

Hey everyone, need your thoughts!

I stopped by the NY boutique over the weekend to get their thoughts on why my 15202 is losing a few minutes per day. The aftersales service specialist at the boutique mentioned that since my watch was under warranty, he'd recommend i just send it in for a service at the clearwater location, to which i agreed.

i received a call yesterday from the boutique informing me that the boutique's watchmaker deemed that the watch only needed to be de-magnitized which they did "complimentary". That struck me as really odd, and asked if the watch case-back was dismantled, to which they responded affirmatively. That really bothered me as i assumed only the clearwater service center would be performing the service. I then asked the service specialist to please proceed with a full service even-though they demagnitized the watch.

A few minutes later, the specialist followed up with an email saying that since the watchmaker deemed the watch was in good working condition and only needed to be de-magnitized, i will incur the service charge ($1150) should i chose to proceed.

I am a little baffled that AP would do that to me, but before responding wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were.

thanks

They always want to rule out the watch being magnetized, first. Because if it is, it’s an incredibly easy fix that can be done fast and on location. But if it fixed the timekeeping issue, don’t worry about the service. Keep an eye on it, and if it happens again, reference the demagnetizing effort and that it now needs service.

[texasmade]

De-magnetizing is usually the first thing that’s suggested and most boutiques and AD’s can do this easily. It’s similar to having a computer problem and they tell you to reboot.

[PJ S]

OP, tell the boutique to stop talking out of their collective backsides!
A magnetised watch runs fast, not slow!
De-magnetising involves nothing more than passing the head or whole watch through a de-magnetiser or setting it on one of the Elma type, which reduces the magnetic field at a present rate to mimic the same action.
Your case back should’ve been untouched, if their “complimentary service” resolved the issue.
By the sounds of it, the back’s been off so the watch repairer could adjust the regulation.
Ask them to let you speak with him/her, or if they won’t, then for the results of the timegrapher indicating it was well and now within specs again. Specifically ask about the amplitude, not just the deviation.

[daveo5]

Strange. No boutique is authorized to perform any service on a AP. This I was told recently at the AP boutique in Las Vegas. De-magnetize is a simple process where by the watchmaker passes your watch through the demagnetizer, takes about 2 seconds. Usually for free.

[Skyrider01]

I agree with PJ S’s post above. If it were magnetized it would be running fast and not slow. And if the AD determined that all it needed was to be demagnetized, they should not have needed to open the case back to do that.

[AK797]

If the caseback has been opened then I would contact AP and make sure this will not prevent them working on it under warranty in future.

[eramzi]

wow thank you everyone. following up with the Boutique tomorrow.