Did I get scammed?

[l_chissle]

Originally Posted by squall1

Ask them to return your money in the meantime and offer first right of refusal against whatever comes back from Patek.

Best suggestion of this thread

[Tom V]

What would Patek do if a fake or frankenstein watch is sent for servicing?

[Kreyzhorse]

If you can live with the watch being out for 8 weeks, I don't see a flaw in your thinking. It certainly sounds like the dealer is trying to do the correct thing for you.

[brucethemanlee]

That’s just too much back and forth. With a lot of ifs, maybe this and maybe that BS with big question mark. I would just get money back and buy somewhere else

[Henrimontgomery]

Ask for your money and don’t look back. This is not the kind of experience you want.

[ChetBaker]

Sounds to me like seller is not confident they make a similar deal anytime soon. I also would ask my money back.

[Apheaven]

You are clearly a more patient person than I, especially since a service/polish by Patek during the summer months could take any amount of time. If I were to guess 3-4 months. Imagine you wait that amount of time, as they juice your money, only to learn that it is not correct. They have your money and the watch, they are not compelled to figure this out quickly. As an internet friend, come on…wake up. You don’t need to deal with this.


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[nyc2la]

EWC has a sealed serviced one for sale right now.

[Watchdoyouwant?]

Update: I received confirmation from Henri Stern in NYC that the watch is in their possession. I'll know more next week.

[jgottsman11]

Originally Posted by Watchdoyouwant?

Update: I received confirmation from Henri Stern in NYC that the watch is in their possession. I'll know more next week.

As most are mentioning, I still think you need to get out of this deal. There are at least 3 that I see from reputable dealers that would be a much better option

[Wahlberg]

Just get a different one without this story attached to it. You were already doubting about the polished case.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Watchdoyouwant?

Update: I received confirmation from Henri Stern in NYC that the watch is in their possession. I'll know more next week.

Why mess with this. So many great sellers. So little time. Time to let loose and move on.


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[tictic]

I certainly hope you are in no hurry to wear this watch.
I'd be surprised if you see it back by years' end.

[sampelligrino]

GTFO would be my opinion

(I waited 6 mo for service on my old 5164a last year from NYC Henri Stern FWIW)

[Watchdoyouwant?]

Update:

I received a phone call this morning from Patek regarding the watch. In a nutshell, here is what I was told:

1. The dial has been modified. It is not in original condition.

2. The hands have been maltreated.

3. There are third party parts in the movement.

4. The movement is scratched.

5. The case has been previously polished so extensively it cannot be polished again.

6. The annual calendar is not functioning properly.

This is obviously confirmation that the watch is not anywhere close to the condition the watch was represented as in when sold.

I informed Patek not to proceed with the service. I’m not interested in this watch given the issues.

I’ll let everyone know how Phigora responds. I’m very impressed with (and grateful to) all the forum members who spotted all of the issues confirmed by Patek.

[dlmocdm]

Originally Posted by Watchdoyouwant?

Update:

I received a phone call this morning from Patek regarding the watch. In a nutshell, here is what I was told:

1. The dial has been modified. It is not in original condition.

2. The hands have been maltreated.

3. There are third party parts in the movement.

4. The movement is scratched.

5. The case has been previously polished so extensively it cannot be polished again.

6. The annual calendar is not functioning properly.

This is obviously confirmation that the watch is not anywhere close to the condition the watch was represented as in when sold.

I informed Patek not to proceed with the service. I’m not interested in this watch given the issues.

I’ll let everyone know how Phigora responds. I’m very impressed with (and grateful to) all the forum members who spotted all of the issues confirmed by Patek.

Purchasing a luxury item should be a memorable experience. It is disappointing you had to go through that.

Originally Posted by EndlessEight

Great lesson here.

Thoughts from the folks vouching for this vendor??

I am also curious what the people who vouched for Phigora think. Phigora claims they authenticate the watch, assess its condition and service it. So I see three options here: #1 they lie about their authentication, assessment and servicing services and actually don't do any of that, #2 they purposely and maliciously claimed this was an authentic watch in "very good" condition despite knowing better, #3 they have no idea what they are doing and should not be in the business of selling high-end watches.

[Horologista]

Originally Posted by Watchdoyouwant?

Update:

I received a phone call this morning from Patek regarding the watch. In a nutshell, here is what I was told:

1. The dial has been modified. It is not in original condition.

2. The hands have been maltreated.

3. There are third party parts in the movement.

4. The movement is scratched.

5. The case has been previously polished so extensively it cannot be polished again.

6. The annual calendar is not functioning properly.

This is obviously confirmation that the watch is not anywhere close to the condition the watch was represented as in when sold.

I informed Patek not to proceed with the service. I’m not interested in this watch given the issues.

I’ll let everyone know how Phigora responds. I’m very impressed with (and grateful to) all the forum members who spotted all of the issues confirmed by Patek.

Wow!!!

[DonLee]

Originally Posted by Watchdoyouwant?

Update:

I received a phone call this morning from Patek regarding the watch. In a nutshell, here is what I was told:

1. The dial has been modified. It is not in original condition.

2. The hands have been maltreated.

3. There are third party parts in the movement.

4. The movement is scratched.

5. The case has been previously polished so extensively it cannot be polished again.

6. The annual calendar is not functioning properly.

This is obviously confirmation that the watch is not anywhere close to the condition the watch was represented as in when sold.

I informed Patek not to proceed with the service. I’m not interested in this watch given the issues.

I’ll let everyone know how Phigora responds. I’m very impressed with (and grateful to) all the forum members who spotted all of the issues confirmed by Patek.

So it's a frankenwatch with fake parts... gosh.

[77T]

Thanks very much for your update.

I think you’re doing the right thing and I wish you much success in your quest for a better one.


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[EndlessEight]

Great lesson here.

Thoughts from the folks vouching for this vendor??

[Ubiquitous1984]

Very interested to see how the vendor responds here. People are watching.

[Osmin]

Thanks for the update. At least you will listen now to Patek, as you did not want to listen to people here in the thread and waited for a miracle

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Osmin

Thanks for the update. At least you will listen now to Patek, as you did not want to listen to people here in the thread and waited for a miracle

This exactly. Who needed to hear this from Patek? The thing was mess to begin with. I wonder if seller will claim buyer messed with it after sale. Phigora and Moda — wow; what a show.


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[Tom V]

Would this be a stolen watch? Otherwise why would the owner not service the watch with Patek? And why would they modify the dial?

[Bmats]

That the watch had been listed/traded on Moda was a bit of a concern too. Whoever was the seller there should be reported to the admins there.

[dchang81]

Originally Posted by Bmats

That the watch had been listed/traded on Moda was a bit of a concern too. Whoever was the seller there should be reported to the admins there.

you could say that about a lot of the watches on there.....

[dlmocdm]

Not a 5146p, but this 5146g in this picture from their website also appears to be missing the lume, better seen at the 4, 10, 11 markers, although the resolution is bad.

Real 5146g for reference: https://storage.googleapis.com/pubza...ge.1477791.jpg

[Watchdoyouwant?]

Originally Posted by dlmocdm

Not a 5146p, but this 5146g in this picture from their website also appears to be missing the lume at the 4, 10, 11 markers. Not sure; the resolution is bad.

That's interesting. I never asked Patek about the g, but Patek explicitly confirmed that that there was NEVER an "unlumed" 5146p dial.

[codecow]

No big surprise here unfortunately.

I’m surprised they actually sent it in, a waste of money by them if true and it confirms how clueless they are.

[dlmocdm]

Also, in addition to also being unlumed, the axis of the month hand in that 5146g protrudes too much in the picture, compared to e.g. https://www.watchprozine.com/patek-p...h-/3557986/11/. So I think they have possibly held at least two 5146* frankestein pateks, not just yours.