How Much Does It Cost To Service A Patek Philippe Watch?
You don’t have to go far to find out what Patek Philippe SA is…you’ve come to the right place. Patek Philippe is a luxury watch and clock manufacturer headquartered in Canton of Geneva in Switzerland. Since 1839 the company has brought their premier products to an appreciative public, and even though the price tag on the timepieces they create is a bit high, it hasn’t hindered people’s love of the Patek Philippe watch. But that same high price tag comes with some set back. A genuine Swiss watch of the caliber we are talking about, like every other of its kind, can break down. When it does, most will find it difficult to find a professional that can service it the way in needs and deserves. The last thing anyone wants is to pay a high price for quality only to have their new watch end up in the back of a jewelry box or a drawer. So, how does one get a Patek Philippe watch serviced the way it deserves to be? Let’s take a look at the facts and the options available to owners of these iconic timepieces.
“Watching” Out for the Issues
As with any man-made item, problems happen, both aesthetically and mechanically. Some issues can be attended to at home, such as the replacement of a bracelet or battery in an electric watch, but even in those cases you will find that special tools are needed to get the job done. Everything from broken dials and bracelets to your watch or clock gaining or losing time can motivate you to get your watched serviced and back in working order, and you really shouldn’t consider taking care of such an expensive piece of jewelry yourself. When it comes to luxury watches like those made by Patek Philippe, finding adequate service can be difficult. This causes many to simply put their watch in the back of the drawer for safekeeping, and soon they have another watch, with the one before all but forgotten about.
The good news is that any and all problems with your watch CAN be serviced, and it can be serviced properly. Sure, the out of pocket expense may be a bit more than you want to pay, but when you own a timepiece from Patek Philippe it’s important that you have it tended to properly. So, how do you find service for your Patek Philippe watch or clock? How do you go about getting the very best service there is? Here are some facts and ideas that will not only interest you, but will help you get your watch serviced right in your time of need.
Who Services Patek Philippe Watches and Clocks?
As you know, many jewelers will offer watch repair services, and even in our technologically advanced time, some towns and cities actually have businesses that work exclusively on watches and clocks. The latter are hard to come by these days, as we stated. Mostly businesses like this do a great job in getting things back to the state you want them in. But when you are dealing with a high-end piece, such as a Patek Philippe, it is important to ‘keep things in the family’, so to speak. What we mean is that you want to find a watch service that is familiar with your watch brand, and it’s best if the service provider is Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe actually has service centers all over the place, and it is very likely that you can find one near you. As they say, you relationship with Patek Philippe begins when you purchase your timepiece. They want to honor that relationship, and so the company has provided a worldwide network of service providers, with three in the United States. Click on the link above to see their service locations and obtain contact information for each of them. They will be able to walk you through the process of getting your timepiece to them for repair, and all that comes after. Don’t take chances by taking your Patek Philippe to your hometown watch repair business. Let the professionals that created the piece take care of the issues for you.
What Kind of Costs Am I Looking At?
When you have your timepiece serviced by a Patek Philippe service center, you are not just getting a repair, you are also preserving what could be a family heirloom, saving it for the years ahead. Since you went through the trouble of purchasing the best, we’ll assume that you will only give it the best care. You can rest assured, however, that you will probably pay less to have it service that you anticipate.
Whatever is broken or out of line with your Patek Philippe will be the focus of service. Seals and other parts of the movement will be replaced on a systematic basis, with things like new handsets, crowns, and electronic circuits or mainspring barrels only being replaced if it is necessary. All other repairs will be itemized on your invoice. The following is a list of prices for repairs on basic service procedures:
- Repairs on perpetual calendars or retrograde perpetual calendars (referred to as Complication III) $2,300
- Repairs on Annual calendar chronograph (referred to Complication II) $1,800
- Repairs on Annual calendar with moon phases and travel time, etc (referred to as Complication I) $1,300
- Changing of battery $130
- Mechanical issues with self-winding (Level 2 repair) $1,000
- Mechanical issues with manually wound (Level 2 repair) $900
- Quartz (Level 2 repair) $600
As you can see, the cost of service may run high when compared to other service providers, but when you are putting your watch in the hands of Patek Philippe professionals, you can take peace knowing your watch will come home to you in the best possible shape and working right.
Conclusion
It is in the best interest of your peace of mind and the condition of your Patek Philippe timepiece to have all repairs done by those who know your piece best. By depending on Patek Philippe for your repairs you will ensure quality workmanship that you can count on every time, and you definitely get what you pay for. So, dig that watch out of the drawer and get it shipped in for repairs. You’ll be glad you did.
