AP service and parts for old watches

[benlee]

Does any one knows for how long will AP officially or unofficially service their watches and stock the parts for it? 20 years or 30 years? Or no limit? I heard that Rolex guarantee a 20 years time frame but typically can do much better than that. PP and Vc typically service their watches for life as I understand including some very old vintage pieces. This is obviously a concern if I move to the higher end and most costly watches because what I am buying now will becoming "old watches" in 20 to 30 years time. It will be good to have the assurance that my watch can be serviced at a much later period.

By the way, I seldom heard of people talking about "Vintage AP watches" in this forum as well as others and it's seldom mention in watch magazines as well, only the latest RO or ROOs. Just wondering..

[Hairdude1]

I would assume for the lifetime? I am no expert

[singe89]

AP catalogs all their new watch parts electronically so they should be able to service current watches for a very long time. They also have a full restoration center above their museum (and if I remember correctly it was actually Audemars' house/workshop) with parts from all their old/vintage watches that they can use to hand create replacement parts for their vintage watches.

During my visit they were also repairing a minute repeater from another manufacture that has long been out of business. The watch was from the 1800s and the watch maker said AP was repairing it for a customer since the piece came from the Vallee de Joux and it was important to keep the watch making tradition and history of the area. Watching these skilled artists hand make the parts then sculpt and heat treat the minute repeater wire to make the perfect sound was amazing.

[robisan]

I assume all new watches bought now from any of these luxury brands can be serviced 30+yrs from now..

[kilyung]

They apparently keep all the tools/dies so should be able to make any part necessary for service.

[capote]

I read on some forum about a guy that couldn't get a new bezel to his vintage Royal Oak from AP, maybe its from case to case. The only companies I know that will service any watch that left their factory is Patek and Vacheron.

[diver2012]

I can't believe AP couldn't supply a replacement bezel for a watch that can't be more than 40 years old.

[subtona]

That sounds a bit like trying to predict the future?
I Don't think anyone can know for sure.