Well you won't see this happening much - I just got my 5146J back from Patek Service today after dropping it off in October. It is now extremely shiny and new looking! So far very happy with the results - I'll be wearing a few days to check accuracy - but I will expect only the best.
Patek send their watches back vacuum sealed from the factory and I guess the dedicated collector would leave them sealed in their bank vault. Not me though - I bought it to wear - though I probably knocked off a couple grand off the resale value just by wearing it. I don't care!!
Here is how it arrives - serial# smudged in pic:
Still vacuum packed
The watch back - tantalisingly hidden by a service sticker
just one shot more before I opened the pack
And here it is looking extremely shiny and new
The service was (reassuringly) expensive as it included a new strap, crystal and bits as well on top of the standard service charge listed on the Patek website.
Anyway - thought you'd enjoy seeing this unveiling and I hope to have another 10y of trouble free pleasure from this annual calendar.