Originally Posted by
Neils
Just had a bad experience with RIS the IWC Service Centre in London.
I very recently bought a Big Pilot 5002 "Transitional" (circa 2005), it has the higher beat 21,600bph Cal. 51110 movement. This was a watch I wanted for my collection and I purchased it from a chap in Denmark. The watch required servicing which was quite normal and as a watchmaker myself I was happy to do this but on examination it required a few components within the auto assembly (rotor axle, roller jewel pivots) that I did not have access to. So I took the watch to Berry's jewellers in Windsor for them to send to IWC to perform a service. The estimate report came back and they quoted £700 but also that the "dial" was peeling and was oxidised, they said it was necessary to replace the dial at an extra cost of £390. Total £1,090.
I told them I did not wish for the dial to be changed as it is part of its history & heritage. I had already examined this watch and had detected no issue with the dial at all. They refused to service the watch without also replacing the dial, so I had it returned with nothing being done. It took them over 2 weeks to send the watch back to Berry's and I collected it yesterday. After a 64 mile round trip (2x journeys to Windsor) and all my time, I was back to square one. Oh and Berrys expected me to then pay them £25 for this.
Having thought I must of missed something when I first examined the watch, I took another look this morning and removed the dial. I can categorically tell you that I have examined the dial under a 10x loupe and there is NO sign of peeling or oxidisation what so ever! I am furious with the blatant con to try to extract another £390 on top of the already very hefty price for a service of £700. £700 is expensive for a service of a non complicated movement, so to pay them £1,090 was just not acceptable.
RIS you should be named and shamed and I will be taking this further! I just so happen to have a distant family member on the board for Richemont, so I will be sure to make him aware of this!