Patek Gondolo service: 17K and 83 weeks

Reposting here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Watches/comments/j2zjgc/patek_philippe_servicing_cost_for_this_1903/

Quote: "A hefty tab and a >18-month turnaround time for services that I didn’t ask for is alienating. It’s surplus to my requirements as the owner of a watch that has at least as much meaning to my family’s Brazilian heritage as it does to the brand. Patek Philippe seems unwilling or incapable of meeting me half way.".

And I thought that paying 900 bucks for servicing a Speedmaster Mark II (caliber 861) was a bit pricey...
😀

I would assume that 17k is but a small percent of the value of this piece.

This is a problem when you own a brand such as Patek Philippe, service costs can be horrendous and they leave little room for half way measures or solutions, it is either restored to their standards or it isn't. I have no idea what the condition of the watch was but if rust was involved or new parts needed to be made, the bill could run into the many thousands of dollars. PP generally is a lot more expensive than Audemars Piguet or Vacheron Constantin in the service and restoration area.

AP will (or did a few years ago) provide an estimate of service costs, without requiring any commitment. I declined, and the watch was returned from Switzerland on their dime.

I find it very hard to believe that Patek (or Rolex) would restore a watch without providing an initial estimate.

“If you are wondering why this cost and why this duration, it’s quite easy to explain. These pocket watches are old. If the parts don’t exist, they have to be made from scratch. The machines used to make them may also have to be manufactured. But let’s assume that both already exist.”

This seems to be the authors first mistake.

Ah, thanks. Then yes, vintage service costs from the "big" three (Patek, V&C and AP), as well as Rolex, are often ludicrous.

Though the estimated cost was a fraction of the OP's Patek, interested readers can review my 2014 rant about AP here (including copies of the estimate):

https://omegaforums.net/threads/req...rvice-from-longines-really.11411/#post-132914

When I read stuff like this, my vintage Omegas with caliber 551 just look better and better.

“You never really own a Patek; you merely piss away the next generation’s inheritance on servicing...”

Some manufacturers list their service prices on their websites. AP still does. Here are their movement overhaul prices for what they call Classic watches, which means non-Royal Oak:

CLASSIC

QUARTZ // 450.-
HAND-WOUND // 700.-
SELFWINDING // 850.-
EXTRA-THIN // 950.-
CHRONOGRAPH // 1'300.-
QP (CHRONO, QP, EOT) // 1'700.-

So a Perpetual Calendar (QP =Quantieme Perpetuel) is CHF 1'700 (about USD1,850). I had an automatic perpetual calendar serviced by them in 2015 and it was $1,670, and a manual perpetual calendar was $1,500. Far cheaper than what Patek Philippe will charge, and turnaround times far, far shorter than the silly PP wait times. Both of mine were done in 12-14 weeks. With PP you are often talking 12 to 14 months.

AP gives you a complete cost estimate of the proposed services, including options for case refinishing, new strap, etc., and expected service time. You know what your cost will be barring any surprises they might find.

Yikes! Just used to seeing $50K + Patek PW’s

I do not believe that those are for vintage watches. In fact, I am certain that the costs would be significantly higher, and that estimates would only be produced after the watch has been inspected in Switzerland.

UPDATE – Confirmed after a quick search (from the AP website; bold emphasis mine):

Our service prices are valid only for mechanical watches which were produced within the last 25 years and quartz watches which were produced within the last 15 years. Service prices for older watches are available upon request.

The list of service prices published below are those charged to final customers in our boutique in Geneva, Place de la Fusterie. It does not preclude our authorised independent repairers and authorised independent resellers from freely determining the service prices for final customers.