Tudor BB58 bezel insert misalignment - sharing experience
In September 2022, I bought a BB58 as my first luxury watch from a Tudor AD in Westfield, London UK.
Everything about the watch is perfect, but the red triangle and lume pip on the bezel insert is at the wrong angle and in the wrong place. I thought I spotted this at the point of purchase, but the sales assistant persuaded me it's fine. From my googling, this is a pretty common thing on BBs, but no big deal - it's still a phenomenal watch.
I took it back to the AD before Christmas to enquire about getting a new bezel insert. They said come back after Christmas when it's quieter for the repair shop. So I gave it a month and went back to check about the repair.
A new sales manager began to argue with me that she can't see the misalignment, compared it to an aligned BB, and then when her colleague said he can see it, she tried to say it's not a big deal and I should just ignore it. She then said it'll take 12 weeks to repair, IF the shop decide that it needs repairing and that I need to get in sent across ASAP. The watch is under a 5 year warranty and this is manufacturing issue, so that was weird but we kept it friendly and light because I'm not a Karen.
Conclusion:
- I might just learn to live with it, even prefer it like this. We all have our faults, our quirks, our less than perfect things in our character, body, life etc. It's what makes us unique and individual. Watches can be like that too. The universe speaks to us sometimes. I need to listen more.
Lessons learned:
- If you're dropping coin on a watch, make sure you're completely happy. Don't get pressured or swooned off your feet.
- Tudor seem to activily discourage you from sending your watch to get repaired. Not sure why, but that's my experience.
- Watches are often misaligned 🤷♂️
I got into watches during the pandemic. I listened to Pusha T 'Daytona' and that was the beginning of the end
Well that sucks. I’m not that surprised they don’t want to fix it though. Warranty work is work they don’t get paid for so I’m sure a lot of companies try to talk customers out of repairs like this. The manufacturer has spent years telling my wife she isn’t hearing a noise her car is clearly making because they don’t want to have to fix it without getting paid. And when I asked the dealer about a squeaking my car was making they looked baffled and said they had no idea what I was talking about. Which is odd since I easily found tons of internet posts about the exact noise I was hearing.
The lesson here is find a different AD that will get it done. The different AD will more than likely not give you a problem because they look at you as a new client.
Not surprised. You either learn to live with it or you raise the stink. Mind you it may take some time and you may even sent it back for nothing.
I think there's a Cruncher here who had to resend his BB back for service twice before getting resolution.
Is it the Westfield in Stratford?
I have to say I have been less than impressed with a couple of members of staff there but also received excellent service by some others. So it really is dependant on who you speak with.
If it really bothers you, you’re well within your rights to get it repaired. Don’t let them talk you out of it.
I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but my Invicta divers don't have this problem. Every single one. What I mean is, if Invicta can do it....why not Tudor?
This is mechanical alignment, which seems simple on the surface. Maybe there's more to it than meets the eye?
Like you, I would expect more from Tudor.
Is it the Westfield in Stratford?
I have to say I have been less than impressed with a couple of members of staff there but also received excellent service by some others. So it really is dependant on who you speak with.
If it really bothers you, you’re well within your rights to get it repaired. Don’t let them talk you out of it.
This was White City AD. Same experience, all staff are friendly, approachable, always say hello. It's this gaslighting thing that confused me.
Well that sucks. I’m not that surprised they don’t want to fix it though. Warranty work is work they don’t get paid for so I’m sure a lot of companies try to talk customers out of repairs like this. The manufacturer has spent years telling my wife she isn’t hearing a noise her car is clearly making because they don’t want to have to fix it without getting paid. And when I asked the dealer about a squeaking my car was making they looked baffled and said they had no idea what I was talking about. Which is odd since I easily found tons of internet posts about the exact noise I was hearing.
you're not crazy, kris! 😂
I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but my Invicta divers don't have this problem. Every single one. What I mean is, if Invicta can do it....why not Tudor?
This is mechanical alignment, which seems simple on the surface. Maybe there's more to it than meets the eye?
Like you, I would expect more from Tudor.
you're absolutely right 🎯
Not sure why the AD is fobbing you off as the watch will more than likely go back to an RSC.
If you are un happy just contact Rolex/Tudor directly as that is ultimately who the warrenty is through. You are also cutting out the middle man.
Contact Rolex RSC, St James Square London for a fix.
Not sure why the AD is fobbing you off as the watch will more than likely go back to an RSC.
If you are un happy just contact Rolex/Tudor directly as that is ultimately who the warrenty is through. You are also cutting out the middle man.
Contact Rolex RSC, St James Square London for a fix.
thanks! great advice
I had to send my GMT back to Tudor when it started losing 12 sec/day. The AD I took it to (not the one I bought it from — that was in another country) didn’t give me any hassle about it whatsoever. I got it back a few weeks later and it’s running like a champ now.
PICKY, Picky, picky....
You need to go to an A Lange and Sohn or perhaps a Patek.
In other words, what you are complaining about is within tolerance.
Now, if it had been at the middle of the triangle or at the upper edge, your complaint would have validity. But at this price point....
I had to send my GMT back to Tudor when it started losing 12 sec/day. The AD I took it to (not the one I bought it from — that was in another country) didn’t give me any hassle about it whatsoever. I got it back a few weeks later and it’s running like a champ now.
Good for you! Losing that much time for a Tudor is out of spec. Just like that Turtle that Seiko needed to regulate.
I'm not trying to sound like a jerk, but my Invicta divers don't have this problem. Every single one. What I mean is, if Invicta can do it....why not Tudor?
This is mechanical alignment, which seems simple on the surface. Maybe there's more to it than meets the eye?
Like you, I would expect more from Tudor.
Well, all my Invictas, something like 6 in the collection, all have picky little issues as this. Still like them but....
yeh i thought this might have been what I initially saw before buying. But on closer inspection, the triangle is pointing in the wrong direction 😂
That sure seems strange. I never have an issue when it comes to sending in my watches for 'whatever' reason. Maybe she didnt like to do the paperwork .. LOL
If the AD is going to be that way, my recommendation would be to totally bypass the AD and go straight to the manufacturer. If the watch is under warranty, what do you need them for?
I'm also a big proponent of utilizing a warranty when there's an issue rather than deciding to just "live with it." Not actioning a QC issue when the watch is under warranty is only going to reinforce the corner-cutting that led to the QC oversight. One of the best ways to hold brands accountable and incentivize good QC is making them pay to fix their mistakes.
Is grip solvent a dirty word? 😂
Looks misaligned to me. You buy what is supposed to be a great watch (I have a BB GMT check the alignment) and it should be perfect. Sounds like you are a nice and reasonable customer too. I agree, find a new AD, they aren’t good enough to sell a watch like that.
You should also go to the Tudor site and find the authorized service centers around you. If you can, send the photo (s). Try to photograph one that isn’t misaligned include that so they know you’re not nuts. Tell them what the AD is doing or not doing and ask them what you should do, you want it fixed. If it were an Amazon cheapy they would take it back no questions asked, expect more, be nice and get more. I know it may be a little effort but we need to be our own advocates in these situation as no one else will.
THIS! ⬆️⬆️⬆️
The solvent is for the golf club, I promise ... 😉
i think in this case, it's more that the bezel triangle has been printed skew-y. the rest of the bezel lines up
yeh guys, thanks so much for the input. Legends 🙏
Screw what I said earlier - I'm 100% getting this fixed. Fuck this BS 😂
What? No. F*** them.
You want it fixed, they fix it, it’s under warranty and that is a manufacturing defect. You get that fixed and you get them to address her attitude. At the end of the day, you are a customer and a potential repeat sale, but not if they drop the ball. Do not accept sub-standard products and service.
100% 🎯
Get the AD to send it back to Tudor. Tudor will fix it. It doesn't cost the AD anything. It would be considered way off by their own standards. If you wanted a screwed up bezel you would have bought a seiko or Sugess for your troubles.
That is unfortunate! Can't really believe that you got this bitter experience from a well-known brand like Tudor! Anyhow, its nice that you learned something.
I have 4 tudors. None of them have an alignment issue. I did have two warranty claims. One on my black bay 58 that started losing 30 seconds a day. My AD sent it in for service no questions asked. 2nd issue I had on a chrono, one of the strap keepers started separating and peeling after about 2 months. AD replaced the strap no questions asked.
I’d find a different AD. And you absolutely deserve perfection. Don’t settle for less.
It’s not a cheap watch, it’s a serious brand. It should be right for the amount of coin you dropped, put your Karen cloak on and get back on there 😁
Hey buddy. Lovely watch. Personally I don't think your concern is unreasonable. I own three divers, a Cronos L6009 RRP £230 (Chinese brand with seiko movement- punches way above its weight), a Steinhart Ocean One double green RRP £550 (Entry level Swiss Homage), and a Planet Ocean Chronograph RRP £7800. From the cheap to the expensive, I love them all. And NONE of them have misaligned bezels. Your Tudor is a well established, respected and desirable watch, and should have the finishing to reflect that. We're all used to hearing about Seiko and their bezel alignment issues, and if you paid £300 for your watch then maybe you could live with it. But the Tudor is in a different league , and the quality control should reflect that. I'd do what others have suggested and find another AD to rectify. Good luck 🙂
There's nothing worse than people at ADs who posture and go on about stuff like the repair cost is coming out of their pocket. On the flipside, 'watch people' can be super anal and weird, and they probably deal with some borderline nutcases at times. But that doesn't mean they should be dismissive and weird to everyone. Especially in cases like this where the issue is plain to see AND an easy fix. Keep pushing.
There is a time and place to be a Karen, this is one of them. I’d literally throw the watch back at the AD and ask for a refund. Life ‘s too short for shit ADs and long repair times