312 misaligned hour hand - Panerai struggling to fix...

[Speed]

So I talked a watch neophyte buddy into buying from a Rock Solid trusted seller. He wanted an auto Pam and settled on the 312 after a year of thinking about it.

Not long after buying the watch - and wearing it sparingly - he noticed the hour had was so misaligned...he could not tell if it was resting on the hour correctly or not.

A local AD nicely sent it off to Panerai for him. Eight weeks pass and he gets a call saying the watch came back looking exactly the same...so back to Panerai. Now, nearly a month later Panerai QA calls the AD saying the hand is still misaligned. It's supposed to be back any day now.

Is such a thing so difficult to fix?!?

[Patton250]

So Panerai admits its misaligned and won't fix/replace it?

[Speed]

Originally Posted by Patton250

So Panerai admits its misaligned and won't fix/replace it?

Apparently they are on their second attempt... The AD upon seeing the first result told my friend it was not fixed and she's sending it back. Since he is working through the AD, I don't know what Panerai is really saying.

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Speed

Apparently they are on their second attempt... The AD upon seeing the first result told my friend it was not fixed and she's sending it back. Since he is working through the AD, I don't know what Panerai is really saying.

I bought a Panerai from a trusted seller here and the first thing he told me after handing me my new beautiful PAM392 was "the Panerai service center sucks"

I hope they don't prove him right.

Please let's us know how it all turns out.

[Speed]

I hadn't heard the best things about Panerai service...but what makes it worse is hearing a nervous Nellie friend encounter an issue via a referral I facilitated.

On a more selfish note - I acquired a 312 not too long ago. Fingers crossed!

[Patton250]

Originally Posted by Speed

I hadn't heard the best things about Panerai service...but what makes it worse is hearing a nervous Nellie friend encounter an issue via a referral I facilitated.

On a more selfish note - I acquired a 312 not too long ago. Fingers crossed!

Yeah I don't blame you for being uncomfortable but it is NO way your fault. If it were me that was your friend that took your referral and bought it I in no way would blame you. In fact I'm sure I would make sure you knew that. In the end it will be made right. Unfortunately stuff happens. It's just more painful when it's a luxury watch.

[Hockeymonkey]

What is it with these luxury brands delivering poor service? Not just Panerai, my Tiffany watch had sub-dials that could not be aligned no matter how much we all tried. First repair was like they did not even look at it. That took 3 weeks for nothing. Second repair took 4 weeks but they finally got it right.
I wonder if Panerai sub-contracts any of their repairs?

[Cru Jones]

Originally Posted by Hockeymonkey

What is it with these luxury brands delivering poor service? Not just Panerai, my Tiffany watch had sub-dials that could not be aligned no matter how much we all tried. First repair was like they did not even look at it. That took 3 weeks for nothing. Second repair took 4 weeks but they finally got it right.
I wonder if Panerai sub-contracts any of their repairs?

well, sadly, it happens with all brands (rolex & patek included)....but, i also think one is more prone to posting (complaining) about a negative experience on the internet, so, the vast majority of positive/normal experiences go unreported on forums.

[Speed]

Agree that negative posts get airtime while business as usual or positive comments don't get posted as much.

That said, anyone know if an hour hand gone astray should be an easy fix??

[Speed]

Update...

The AD says Panerai claims the hour wheel is bad and has to "order" a new part? WTF? Ready end of month. So approaching 4 mos!

They don't have them in stock? They're Panerai for gods sake. Don't they have to have them on hand during routine service?

[chenht]

I sent my 6 months old 312 (in perfect condition) back to Panerai when I noticed water condensation on the crystal. It came back with 2 deep scratches on the case!!!!!!!

[Speed]

That sucks!

So I suppose no one knows the "severity" or difficulty in replacing an hour wheel? I'm sensing some BS from the AD... It shouldn't be so hard and the part cannot be so "exotic" that the actual OEM has to "order" it.

[Cru Jones]

^ i honestly have no idea....maybe post the question on p.com? you might cast a wider net there for this type of question.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

^ i honestly have no idea....maybe post the question on p.com? you might cast a wider net there for this type of question.

Thanks Cru.

I'm just bloody curious now. 🙄

[mfer]

FYI, I'm told same thing.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by mfer

FYI, I'm told same thing.

Sorry Mik... I don't follow you? You were told Panerai has to order this part? Did you have a similar issue?

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Speed

Sorry Mik... I don't follow you? You're told Panerai has to order this part?

I was told 4 months to replace my dial.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by mfer

I was told 4 months to replace my dial.

Holy Crap. Why? Did they have to ask Switzerland to make a dial from scratch?

[Psmith]

Sorry to hear, Bill - hope this is resolved sooner

[Speed]

Originally Posted by Psmith

Sorry to hear, Bill - hope this is resolved sooner

Thanks Clive.

Feel bad for my friend.

Selfishly also hoping MY 312 stays healthy.

Seems to me another weak link is the strap change system...have not heard to many issues here - but do see some things pop up on other fora. Love this feature I must say, but interesting that it is not present on many other models.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Speed

Thanks Clive.

Feel bad for my friend.

Selfishly also hoping MY 312 stays healthy.

Seems to me another weak link is the strap change system...have not heard to many issues here - but do see some things pop up on other fora. Love this feature I must say, but interesting that it is not present on many other models.

You'll be fine. Very few strap issues reported. If you watch is healthy, it'll likely stay that way.

It just is what it is regarding repair waits. I've come to terms with it. Now it would be nice if Panerai would make up for this long wait with a nice black semi-matte gator.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by mfer

You'll be fine. Very few strap issues reported. If you watch is healthy, it'll likely stay that way.



It just is what it is regarding repair waits. I've come to terms with it. Now it would be nice if Panerai would make up for this long wait with a nice black semi-matte gator.

Any idea why Mik? Only one watchmaker on site maybe?😜

Such a delay for a standard part...

[mfer]

Originally Posted by Speed

Any idea why Mik? Only one watchmaker on site maybe?��

Such a delay for a standard part...

Didn't say I understand it, just said I came to terms with it!

[Speed]

Originally Posted by mfer

Didn't say I understand it, just said I came to terms with it!

Haha.

Well, it certainly is a travesty.

[Vbmrk]

Fwiw - I had purchased a 514 a little over a year ago from a private seller. When I received the watch the hour hand was way off. I had my local AD send the watch to Panerai and about 1 month later I received it back completely fixed. Also since the watch was still under warranty the only thing I paid for was having the watch shipped back from panerai.

So I was a "lucky" one I guess. Sucks your friend is going through what they're dealing with. Hope it works out for the best.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by Vbmrk

Fwiw - I had purchased a 514 a little over a year ago from a private seller. When I received the watch the hour hand was way off. I had my local AD send the watch to Panerai and about 1 month later I received it back completely fixed. Also since the watch was still under warranty the only thing I paid for was having the watch shipped back from panerai.

So I was a "lucky" one I guess. Sucks your friend is going through what they're dealing with. Hope it works out for the best.

I thought perhaps since a 312 hour hand moves independently / you need to do that to set the date etc...that it comes under more stress. Not sure if it is a common issue - and not familiar with your movement.

At any rate, poor qa for my friend and so silly they don't have the bloody part on hand.

[R1@160@alltimes]

Originally Posted by Speed

So I talked a watch neophyte buddy into buying from a Rock Solid trusted seller. He wanted an auto Pam and settled on the 312 after a year of thinking about it.

Not long after buying the watch - and wearing it sparingly - he noticed the hour had was so misaligned...he could not tell if it was resting on the hour correctly or not.

A local AD nicely sent it off to Panerai for him. Eight weeks pass and he gets a call saying the watch came back looking exactly the same...so back to Panerai. Now, nearly a month later Panerai QA calls the AD saying the hand is still misaligned. It's supposed to be back any day now.

Is such a thing so difficult to fix?!?

Now the question is.....is the mechanism/watch itself impacted in any way as a result of the "misaligned" hand?

[Speed]

Originally Posted by R1@160@alltimes

Now the question is.....is the mechanism/watch itself impacted in any way as a result of the "misaligned" hand?

No idea. The last communication from Panerai via the AD was the hour wheel needed replacement. Hoping no further damage was done!

[Vbmrk]

Originally Posted by Speed

I thought perhaps since a 312 hour hand moves independently / you need to do that to set the date etc...that it comes under more stress. Not sure if it is a common issue - and not familiar with your movement.

At any rate, poor qa for my friend and so silly they don't have the bloody part on hand.

The 312 uses the p9000 while the 514 uses the p3000 movement. However both movements have the hour hand moving independently to set the date.

[xjeeunitx]

I would imagine that the job would be easy? Open case, remove crown, remove movement, remove hand, reinstall hand, put movement into case, install crown, close case, and lastly, conduct pressure test?