UPDATE - It happened to me: A different watch came back from service

TexOmega · Thurs. 11:41am

.....my eyes!....my eyes!!!

Vinz Clortho · Thurs. 1:47pm

Man, that's jacked up. Hope it gets sorted soon or I'd be bringing the whirlwind for this watchmaker to reap.

Donn Chambers · Thurs. 4:43pm

pkaye6
I would need some time to simmer down before I returned to the watchmaker or I'd just make the situation worse. I feel for you. Hoping all is worked out and resolved to your satisfaction.

The difference is so obvious, I wouldn’t have left before confronting the watchmaker!

SOG53 · Thurs. 8:46pm

It must be in error, can't imagine this would be deliberate. Hope you can resolve this quickly!

lenndon · Fri. 1:13am

krogerfoot
I've sent him the photos but he says he didn't receive them,

Not getting your photos? That doesn't sound good at all and would get my blood boiling.

On the other hand I'm just thinking, if he was trying to foist that dial on you, why would he also change the hands? That makes me think it was probably just a mistake.
I really hope this clears up. Keep us posted!

SpeedyPhill · Fri. 1:31am

Certainly not always possible, but I try to be present during the servicing of my watch... always an interesting learning experience !

Archer · Fri. 8:23am

SpeedyPhill
Certainly not always possible, but I try to be present during the servicing of my watch... always an interesting learning experience !

Larry S · Fri. 8:34am

This is why I almost never send watches out for service. RGM is the rare exception. I’m blessed that my watchmaker is 3 miles away. If this shop fails to make good, name and shame please so no one else here gets hurt.

lenndon · Fri. 3:19pm

SpeedyPhill
Certainly not always possible, but I try to be present during the servicing of my watch... always an interesting learning experience !

I hope the watchmaker is a close friend and you bring beer...
Which professional watchmaker would allow a client looking over their shoulder during the service of their watch? I mean a small fix or gasket/crystal exchange, yes no problem, but a full service?

redpcar · Fri. 3:26pm

Now that youtube has tons of watchmakers, it's not the black magic it used to be. I had the opportunity many years ago to stand over my Omega watchmaker to watch him re-lume a set of my hands. "AH HAH! That's the trick!" Made my day.

Felix_La_PuBelle · Fri. 3:48pm

STANDY
Bezel spent a few days in the ultrasonic cleaner 🛁

Or a sand blaster. Holy cow.

zinterz · Fri. 4:24pm

So many issues with this. Wishing you luck in your inevitable battle (that you should clearly win…).

Archer · Fri. 8:53pm

lenndon
I hope the watchmaker is a close friend and you bring beer...
Which professional watchmaker would allow a client looking over their shoulder during the service of their watch? I mean a small fix or gasket/crystal exchange, yes no problem, but a full service?

In most cases the insurance here would not allow customers in the shop…

chrisinohio · Fri. 9:27pm

I have never heard of such a thing in all my life. I'm hoping you can get this sorted. It's clearly a completely different dial at the very least.

SpeedyPhill · Sat. 3:43am

Archer

Laugh all You want, but I got several things done for FREE because of my genuine interest !
Ridēre novissimē, rīdēre optimē

Fallout Boy · Sat. 4:05am

SpeedyPhill
Certainly not always possible, but I try to be present during the servicing of my watch... always an interesting learning experience !

German (?) standard: my watchmaker (Omega) works with a head cover in a cleanroom.

krogerfoot · Sun. 4:41am

Compounding things, it's dawning on me that I originally brought my watch in on a 1970s 1171 bracelet. This upcoming visit to the watchmaker is going to be eventful.

krogerfoot · Sun. 8:23am

I'm not really sure how to proceed. There's a strong likelihood that I have someone else's watch now. The possibilities seems to be:

1. My watch had the wrong dial and hands installed.
2. A different movement (+ dial/hands) was installed into my watch case.
3. The bezel from my watch has been attached to a completely different watch.

The bezel looks a lot worse but does seem to be mine. The caseback is the same kind but I'm not sure it matches the only photo I have of my watch. I do have photos of the inside of the caseback so opening up the watch will determine whether it's mine or not. It's hard to tell from my photos whether the case is a match but my online discussions with @pdxleaf over the past couple of years will probably yield evidence one way or another.

chrisinohio · Sun. 8:43am

I really do feel bad for you. I can't imagine this happening. Honestly, I can't imagine HOW it happened.

My watchmaker always organizes the watches he's working on meticulously. I can't even see a competent watchmaker having two speedmasters on the bench at the same time for fear of mixing things up. In any case, you deserve to have the watch that you brought to him.

Is this a small mom and pop watchmaker or a larger operation? Also, where is the watchmaker located?

I'm hopeful that you can get this resolved without too much hullabaloo. I'm sure once you present them with the evidence they will be accommodating and do their best to rectify it.

Archer · Sun. 3:01pm

SpeedyPhill
Laugh all You want, but I got several things done for FREE because of my genuine interest !
Ridēre novissimē, rīdēre optimē

So your watchmaker not only let's you look over their shoulder the whole time he's working, but he services for free because of it?

That is the strangest business model I've ever heard of...