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Marsimaxam
·I bought a Speedmaster 105.012-66 HF in 2021, yes, the height of the pandemic. I purchased it from a well known vintage watch dealer in Los Angeles for a very fair price as business was definitely slow at the time. When I arrived home the watch immediately went on my wrist, I didn't notice it at first, but the following morning I saw that the hour counter was not in the zero position but had rather moved forward a number of hours...hmm. I pushed the reset chrono function, but, after a half hour it was easy to see that the hour counter was moving although the chrono function was off.
I went on the forum and found a number of articles about "chrono creep". I called the dealer, as the watch was under warranty, and told him of the problem. I brought the watch in and the dealer gave it to his watchmaker, who was not on site, to repair. A few weeks later it was returned to me seemingly working fine. I wound the watch and waited a few days and all seemed good. Now, like many of you, I have a number of watches... the exact total my wife will never know, so, I set the watch aside and returned to my regular rotation of watches. It was awhile before I put the watch back on my wrist and sure enough, chrono creep was back. I took it back to the dealer in September of 2023 and explained that if the watch had been properly repaired the first time, the problem would not have returned so soon. The watch was returned to me on January 2024, but, when I brought it home I noticed that the chrono creep was, well, still creeping. I returned the watch the same day. Well, to make a long story short, after 3 watchmakers, replaced parts, and over a year in time passing....my Speedy still has chrono creep. (Image of watch does not show creep... but it's there)
The dealer now tells me that his highly qualified watchmakers can not repair the watch and to come pick up the watch this Saturday. I did pay half of his fee as he felt too much time had passed after first "repairing" the creep when I picked up the watch in January 2024. I felt differently, at the time, as I believed if the repair was done properly the same issue would not have occurred so soon, however, we compromised and I paid him $300.00.
I feel I am entitled to a refund, but, I have a strong feeling the owner is going to feel otherwise. I called LA Watchworks and explained the problem and they feel very confident that they can resolve the issue at a cost of $1500.00. I know they are expensive, but, they do excellent work. Is it possible that there is another reason behind the chrono creep other than what Archer has so eloquently explained in a previous post?
Still, I am not a happy camper.
I went on the forum and found a number of articles about "chrono creep". I called the dealer, as the watch was under warranty, and told him of the problem. I brought the watch in and the dealer gave it to his watchmaker, who was not on site, to repair. A few weeks later it was returned to me seemingly working fine. I wound the watch and waited a few days and all seemed good. Now, like many of you, I have a number of watches... the exact total my wife will never know, so, I set the watch aside and returned to my regular rotation of watches. It was awhile before I put the watch back on my wrist and sure enough, chrono creep was back. I took it back to the dealer in September of 2023 and explained that if the watch had been properly repaired the first time, the problem would not have returned so soon. The watch was returned to me on January 2024, but, when I brought it home I noticed that the chrono creep was, well, still creeping. I returned the watch the same day. Well, to make a long story short, after 3 watchmakers, replaced parts, and over a year in time passing....my Speedy still has chrono creep. (Image of watch does not show creep... but it's there)
The dealer now tells me that his highly qualified watchmakers can not repair the watch and to come pick up the watch this Saturday. I did pay half of his fee as he felt too much time had passed after first "repairing" the creep when I picked up the watch in January 2024. I felt differently, at the time, as I believed if the repair was done properly the same issue would not have occurred so soon, however, we compromised and I paid him $300.00.
I feel I am entitled to a refund, but, I have a strong feeling the owner is going to feel otherwise. I called LA Watchworks and explained the problem and they feel very confident that they can resolve the issue at a cost of $1500.00. I know they are expensive, but, they do excellent work. Is it possible that there is another reason behind the chrono creep other than what Archer has so eloquently explained in a previous post?
Still, I am not a happy camper.
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