The day I’ve dreaded is finally here…
The day we watch enthusiast dread… We know it's coming, it’s in the back of our minds, it's inevitable; there is no escaping it.
It's time to send one of my timepieces in for service.
What sucks, it's one of my newer timepieces; my JLC Ultra Thin I picked up in April of this year. Up until yesterday, it was working perfectly fine. I wound it, and as I was setting the date and moon phase, the date changed when it got to the 11:45pm position.
Yes, I know, it seems a bit dramatic as I know there is a range the date can change (sometimes early, sometimes late), but since the date always changed immediately past midnight, the sudden change 15 mins earlier concerned me. I thought I was losing my mind, so I tried changing the date multiple time, and it kept changing between 11:45pm-11:50pm. What's worse, the moonphase didn't change until it reached 1:20am!
I took it to JLC that afternoon and explained my problem. Kudos to JLC for dealing with my madness and patiently addressing all my questions. They mentioned the change seemed to be within spec but they were happy to look at it or hold onto it for monitoring. I nicely explained, while it may be in spec, it's a bit worrisome that the watch, which always changed dates at midnight, is now changing at 11:45pm, with the moonphase changing at 1:20am. With that much deviation, I was concerned there was something potentially wrong with the movement. We checked other similiar watches, and the change of date happened between 11:55am and 12:10, with one changing exactly at midnight. The SA mentioned they can run it by the watchmaker to get their opinion.
Fast forward to earlier today, I get a message from the JLC, stating the watch is changing earlier than the tolerance for this movement and they recommend bringing the watch in to be corrected. “Fudge” is what I thought.
While I’m glad they can fix it, it is upsetting that I barely wore the watch (didn’t wear much in the summer due to heat/sweating) and it already has to go in for servicing. They’re estimating 2 weeks, which is better than the 6-9 month range I read other people complaining about.
When I go back to JLC (and again, kudos to them), I’ll get more color on the issue, but I would be curious to hear from the group if they’ve experienced a similar problem, or what could have potentially cause the change.
Watch nerd! Batman nerd! Straight up nerd!
Praying for you in your time of need.
Keep us posted. I think many of us would like to know how your experience is, from beginning to end.
Praying for you in your time of need.
Appreciate it! There are so many other important things going on, yet this is the one thing I am secretly losing my mind over.
Keep us posted. I think many of us would like to know how your experience is, from beginning to end.
So far, it’s been solid. Let’s see what more they’re able to tell me when I drop the watch off.
This post is quite timely since I am considering a JLC Triple calendar Moonphase but servicing concerns delayed my purchase. Most of my recent buys involve brand models that I can bring to authorized service centres close to where I live but have no experience with JLC. Servicing a timepiece is inescapable but I try to manage optimum conditions. Hope your Moonphase returns adjusted and does not become an esoteric problem. Wish you good luck.
You made me laugh all the while reading a tragedy…
But seriously, I hope it’s nothing more than a simple regulation of sorts and your watch is back on your wrist.
Apart from two much needed watch restorations, I haven’t yet had the discomfort of going through your situation or a maintenance service. But as my collection grows, that dreadful day will surely come.
Best of luck!
This post is quite timely since I am considering a JLC Triple calendar Moonphase but servicing concerns delayed my purchase. Most of my recent buys involve brand models that I can bring to authorized service centres close to where I live but have no experience with JLC. Servicing a timepiece is inescapable but I try to manage optimum conditions. Hope your Moonphase returns adjusted and does not become an esoteric problem. Wish you good luck.
I’m hoping everything goes smoothly. So far the experience has been 👌🏼. They’re telling me it will stay in the states, won’t have to go to Switzerland which is good. I have my fingers crossed it comes back working well and it’s not a reoccurring issue, which is what I’m worried about.
How much are they charging you? Personally this is something I wouldn’t have taken in for but I completely understand that not being acceptable to you. I have a thing where if the clasps of my bracelets are not in the middle of my arm I HAVE to adjust it. But apples and oranges compared to your watches needs. I hopw it come back to you in factory condition and they don’t charge you an arm and a leg.
You made me laugh all the while reading a tragedy…
But seriously, I hope it’s nothing more than a simple regulation of sorts and your watch is back on your wrist.
Apart from two much needed watch restorations, I haven’t yet had the discomfort of going through your situation or a maintenance service. But as my collection grows, that dreadful day will surely come.
Best of luck!
Appreciate it! So many other crazy things going on in the world, I thank my lucky stars it’s only a servicing, although I am secretly going crazy.
Scarecrow dosed you with Fear Toxin…wake up
How much are they charging you? Personally this is something I wouldn’t have taken in for but I completely understand that not being acceptable to you. I have a thing where if the clasps of my bracelets are not in the middle of my arm I HAVE to adjust it. But apples and oranges compared to your watches needs. I hopw it come back to you in factory condition and they don’t charge you an arm and a leg.
It’s covered under the warranty, which is 8yrs. If it was typical of this watch for the date to change with a 5-10 deviation, I wouldn’t be concerned. But being that it always changed at 12, and now it’s changing 10-15 mins prior, it’s a bit worrisome. The moonphase used to change in the 1230 mark. Now it’s at 1:20. It’s been a huge swing on both sides, which makes me want to get it looked at.
Get ready to wait. And wait. And wait. Then wait some more. 2-4 months is my experience. Maybe 2-3 since it’s warranted work.
Scarecrow dosed you with Fear Toxin…wake up
Get ready to wait. And wait. And wait. Then wait some more. 2-4 months is my experience. Maybe 2-3 since it’s warranted work.
If that’s the realistic timeline, ima tell them to hold off till the summer. They gave me the impression it’s a simple adjustment, assuming nothing else is wrong, it’s a quick turnaround.
If you’re a fan of The Animated Series, my favorite episode is a Scarecrow episode called Over the Edge…Scarecrow knocks Batgirl off a building. Jim Gordon finds out Barbara is Batgirl, loses his mind and goes after Batman and Robin at the Wayne Manor. The Dynamic Duo escapes but Gordon then hires Bane to take Batman down…
That sudden change could be symptomatic of a deeper issue. I'd also want the watch carefully examined for the root cause to be determined, letting them take as long as is needed.
Exactly what I thought. They will be doing a full diagnosis on the watch. Assuming there is not a deeper issue, I should have back in a couple weeks.
What a beauty! Fingers crossed on a speedy recovery.
I guess these tiny machines go wrong in tiny ways - when your entire business is built around microscopic parts, no issue is too small to be taken seriously.
I had a similar small but noticeable change in the way my watch worked - the crown felt different when winding, definitely some dirt or something where it shouldn't be. Like you, I was worried the dealer (Rolex UK HQ) would think I was crazy, as the issue was almost imperceptible..
But they were fantastic, they didn't care I wasn't the original owner, they listened, they tried to replicate the issue with me, and even when I couldn't demonstrate it, they took it in for a watchmaker to check. After a week they'd replaced the crown (under warranty), a watchmaker came to talk to me and I got a nice little service pouch as a memento. It was actually a really nice experience - and quite funny to see the various customers in th elavish waiting area; from old-money gentry, to finance bros, to sheikhs, all sitting around waiting to be re-united with their wrist-babies.
Glad they took care of it. Did they happen to tell you was the issue?
Sad to hear that bit these things happen no one is ever safe from an unwanted service been there too. So keep your head up sounded like JLC handled the situatin well and not like other horror stories I have heard from other brands. Hope you get your watch back soon and keep us updated!
Greetings Simon :)
Appreciate it brother! Hoping everything will be soon and I have my watch back asap.
My Navitimer 01 had to be sent to Switzerland just over a month of wearing it. It was all covered by its warranty but it bothered me nonetheless.
With mechanical products it’s a gamble sometimes. Some run for decades without service, some don’t.
Good luck 🍀
What was the issue that you had to send it back after a month of wearing?
I had a couple of JLC pieces in my collection, currently only the Geographic global timer in rose gold remains.
Like your piece, JLC makes many beautiful and somewhat delicate watches. The movement tends to act up more often than other brands in my collection.
Good news as you experienced, JLC does a good job looking after their models. I am sure you will get yours back in perfect working order.
Appreciate that! When meeting with them, I did tell them their watches are beautiful, but someone delicate. Hopefully after this service, I’ll have no issues with it.
What was the issue that you had to send it back after a month of wearing?
It didn’t quite run within COSC standards (-9s/d) and it’s power reserve was around 60 hours instead of 72.
They replaced the mainspring and some other small parts and then it ran perfectly for 5 years straight until the day I sold it.
Customer service has been spot on so far!
Honestly I didn't expect less from jlc! Keep us posted!
Definitely worth having it serviced. Just like car maintenance, ignoring a small problem can likely lead to much larger issues
I had something similar with my AP Code 11.59 Chronograph…beautiful watch, but within the first two years, the watch started to only run when the chronograph was running. Very bizarre. Took it in to AP and within a month all was fixed. I will not put it on the watch winder again as I suspect that may have had something to do with the problem.
I had something similar with my AP Code 11.59 Chronograph…beautiful watch, but within the first two years, the watch started to only run when the chronograph was running. Very bizarre. Took it in to AP and within a month all was fixed. I will not put it on the watch winder again as I suspect that may have had something to do with the problem.
That’s odd. Did AP tell you what was the cause of the problem?
That’s odd. Did AP tell you what was the cause of the problem?
No…they just fixed it under warranty.
Glad they took care of it. Did they happen to tell you was the issue?
Actually no. They kept it quite ambiguous “A problem with the crown”..
Glad jlc seems to be handling service so well. One of my favorite brands!
I’ve noted JLC service to be very good from experiences of friends. I’m awaiting a new (to me) JLC, that’s just completed a factory service, hope hope that’s true for both of us. I’ve found with my automatics, things happen and one of my Ball, an Omega, a Rado and one Alexander Shorokhoff watch have been in for warranty service. All went well and generally took 2-3 months (the Ball was an outlier there, it took much longer). I think it goes with the territory. I’d get any deviation like what’s you checked while the watch is still under warranty.
hey it happens and it's always hard to except on a new watch. All of a sudden my Seiko solar speed timer wouldn't go to a full charge, just half way. I spent over a month trying to charge it. I figured it had to be me and was it that bad that it didn't go to a full charge? it worked fine. I just didn't want to send it in. Long story short, I sent it in to Seiko. Low and behold the movement was bad and they replaced it.
Felt kind of dumb for not sending it sooner. It only took them 3 weeks to get it back to me. They even shinned it up like new. You'll be happy when it's back!🍻