Quick Strap Release Button popped out ....

[jojosnr]

from my 352. Anyone else experienced this ?

Sent it in thru the boutique. the watch is less than 6 months old.

[Cru Jones]

sorry to hear! hope it's resolved quickly. i would assume that's covered by the warranty. please report back whether they had to replace the entire case.

[jojosnr]

just got a note from boutique that it's under warranty and takes 2 weeks to repair. did not mention anything about case replacement. will update when I get the watch back.

[Auto16610]

Did it happen all by itself or during a strap change? How often do you change straps?

[jojosnr]

Yes, during strap change. Not very often, as I only use the bracelet and an Asso.

Originally Posted by Auto16610

Did it happen all by itself or during a strap change? How often do you change straps?

[mborkow]

If you get that watch back in just two weeks that would be the fastest turnaround time I've ever heard of from Panerai

[Travelller]

@OP, sorry to hear it. Better that than the poor guy who's "button" jammed in the closed position (and he didn't even have a strap mounted...). They had to replace his case and (despite being under warranty) even "suggested" he pay for it...

Originally Posted by mborkow

If you get that watch back in just two weeks that would be the fastest turnaround time I've ever heard of from Panerai

Agreed! Perhaps the button's "tab" (for lack of a better word) broke off and so they just have to pop a new one in... ? That would be a quick fix, making two weeks a definite possibility...

[kilyung]

I still don't know what I like better, the convenience of the quick release or simplicity of a screw.

[B. Doggy]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I still don't know what I like better, the convenience of the quick release or simplicity of a screw.

I've gone rounds on this as well. In the end, the simplicity of the screw won out. If I'm not mistaken, if/when the quick change mechanism goes bad, you're looking at a case replacement.

[jojosnr]

Just received a note that my 352 is ready for collection tomorrow. Looking forward to it and will update on the outcome again. No charge and in less than the 3 weeks lead time quoted.

[Mystro]

I change straps "ALOT". I adore the quick release system. It seems like a much more secure way to attach a strap, especially with tubes in the straps. I think the Panerai total system (qrs, tubes, screw on buckle) is way ahead of the old way. Spring bars can fail and screws can loosen.
It makes my other more conventional systems seem slow and cumbersome. I would rather have the "QRS" serviced every 10 years if needed than go back to screws or spring bars.

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Mystro

I change straps "ALOT". I adore the quick release system. It seems like a much more secure way to attach a strap, especially with tubes in the straps. I think the Panerai total system (qrs, tubes, screw on buckle) is way ahead of the old way. Spring bars can fail and screws can loosen.
It makes my other more conventional systems seem slow and cumbersome. I would rather have the "QRS" serviced every 10 years if needed than go back to screws or spring bars.

There's a lot to like about the quick release, but, the "service" of which you speak is almost always a case replacement, which is $€$€$€....

[Mystro]

I doubt it will ever need any service. Its a pretty simple system so failure shouldn't be worth worrying about.

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

There's a lot to like about the quick release, but, the "service" of which you speak is almost always a case replacement, which is $€$€$€....

[jojosnr]

Just got my 352 back. Yes, the local guys could do the repair, and i am very happy with the guys at the boutique who helped with the handling. Spurred me to buy a rubber strap and was surprised that it comes in brown tone. Match my tobacco dial perfectly.

[jojosnr]

That said, i am now a bit worried on the reliability of the whole quick strap change system.

[Cru Jones]

Glad it worked out!

If you could post some pix of the 352 on brown rubber, that would be cool. Thanks.

[jojosnr]

ha ha.... looks like I spoke too soon. brought it home, try to change into the new rubber and guess what...... it popped out again. ������������������

haizzzzzzzzzz.......... guess the pix has to wait.

[MrJ320]

Originally Posted by jojosnr

ha ha.... looks like I spoke too soon. brought it home, try to change into the new rubber and guess what...... it popped out again. ������������������

haizzzzzzzzzz.......... guess the pix has to wait.

Sorry to hear, hopefully they get it right and fix it properly this time around. I love the quick change system and never had issues, but I have seen a few posts of the button popping out over the years, so seems to be a pretty rare occurrence.

Hope you get your watch back soon!

[jojosnr]

Originally Posted by jojosnr

ha ha.... looks like I spoke too soon. brought it home, try to change into the new rubber and guess what...... it popped out again. ������������������

haizzzzzzzzzz.......... guess the pix has to wait.

[jhcam8]

Weird - I've changed many a strap with no probs, as have many.

[AngryApe]

Very cool that they could handle it locally. I'm still a fan of the tiny screwdriver change system but quick change is appealing.

[stockae92]

sorry to hear that, i hope they will get it fixed the second time around.

i heard about similar story and they ended up with a new case. :(

i am sticking to my luminor case with screws ...

[mborkow]

WTF...they should give you a new case and call it a day: terrible customer service.

[Rachdanon]

^going back to motherland for popping back in or change of case?

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Rachdanon

^going back to motherland for popping back in or change of case?

x2.....considering the only fix is supposed to be a case replacement (which doesn't take long), it would be interesting to know what will take 6 months....

[jojosnr]

As of now, I am not sure how they will do the repair. i hav heard of case replacement and/or just pop back in. I hope they will replace the case with a refined design, or else I worry the problem will come back again.

Originally Posted by Rachdanon

^going back to motherland for popping back in or change of case?

[Travelller]

Originally Posted by jojosnr

I hope they will replace the case with a refined design, or else I worry the problem will come back again.

Sorry to hear the AD's repair attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, but I was even more surprised that they had actually attempted it...

While OP's Quick-release system is [clearly] not fool-proof, the number of failures posted [on the 'Net] is so small compared to the number produced that you should not expect to see a "refined design." I understand your well-warranted frustration but like many, I change the strap regularly on my 233 (at least 2x weekly) and I've never had an issue in the past two years of ownership. In fact, I now own both the screw and Quick-release versions and prefer the QR by far. Regarding Mike's comment above, it could be possible to damage the threads of the standard screw-in case in which case OP would have to re-tap the lug and this would require the use of a larger screw; Something that I don't think OP would do - hence, a case replacement here too...

Good luck getting your PAM back sooner than later. I've had OP [Richemont Northern EU] service my 217 and it was [for the most part] a positive experience so don't worry too much

[jojosnr]

Thanks and I am happy for you in your positive experience. I can understand the acceptable quality level in terms of percentage of defects from the manufacturer's position be it 3.99 or even up to 6 sigma, but to an owner with one PAM, the defect position is 100%.

I hope OP could emphatise with us small guys.

Originally Posted by Travelller

Sorry to hear the AD's repair attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, but I was even more surprised that they had actually attempted it...

While OP's Quick-release system is [clearly] not fool-proof, the number of failures posted [on the 'Net] is so small compared to the number produced that you should not expect to see a "refined design." I understand your well-warranted frustration but like many, I change the strap regularly on my 233 (at least 2x weekly) and I've never had an issue in the past two years of ownership. In fact, I now own both the screw and Quick-release versions and prefer the QR by far. Regarding Mike's comment above, it could be possible to damage the threads of the standard screw-in case in which case OP would have to re-tap the lug and this would require the use of a larger screw; Something that I don't think OP would do - hence, a case replacement here too...

Good luck getting your PAM back sooner than later. I've had OP [Richemont Northern EU] service my 217 and it was [for the most part] a positive experience so don't worry too much

[jojosnr]

Just to clarify, it was the OP boutique's in house watch tech that did the first attempt.

Originally Posted by Travelller

Sorry to hear the AD's repair attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, but I was even more surprised that they had actually attempted it...

[mborkow]

I'm cynical by nature but this sounds to me like the beginning of a stall tactic which will be followed by a phony excuse for why they won't warranty this repair.