Expensive watch fails after 5 year

canary2211

I bought an expensive (for me - over £500) watch 5 years ago. It is a self-winding mechanical watch. From day 1 it kept very poor time (2minutes a day lost). It went back under 2 year warranty to be regulated. I later had it serviced by an independant repairer who warned me it was in poor shape. Now it has broken...

I am considering whether to request a refund/repair from the retailer on the grounds the item was not "of satisfactory quality" ie it did not last for the time you would expect it to and be free of any defects. I expect to service a mechanical watch and the retailer told me that, but I had anticipated it would last a life time (or more than 5 years).

Before I waste my time trying the retailer, should I just give up and put it down to experience (and buy a £5 plastic electronic watch)?

arcon5

If you have any rights to a repair or refund (for which they can give a partial-refund which reflects the use you have had) you would have to prove the fault is infact inherent. You can take it to an independant jeweller for a report on the fault and perhaps the cause, but proving the fault is inherent after such a long period of time may be very difficult.

You should though still talk to the retailer and see what they suggest... then go from there.

Without knowing what brand/make the watch is, it's hard to determine a reasonable length of time for it to last

texranger

canary2211 wrote: »

I later had it serviced by an independant repairer who warned me it was in poor shape. Now it has broken...

this could invalidate any warranty etc. as they could say this repairer damaged the watch

shaun_from_Africa

this could invalidate any warranty etc

Agreed, and it's even more likely that the fact that they told you "it was in poor shape" will go against you as the retailer can claim that although you were aware that the watch was "dodgy" when serviced, you didn't contact them at this time.

vuvuzela

500 quid is expensive for a watch for most people. What make/model is it and how is it 'broken' ?

dacouch

vuvuzela wrote: »

500 quid is expensive for a watch for most people. What make/model is it and how is it 'broken' ?

To be fair, it shows the correct time twice a day

texranger

if i purchased a £500 watch i would insure the watch, and i would not let any independant repairer service it, i would take it to the retailer i purchased it from to have it serviced or a service repairer authorised by the watch manufacturer.

but as i stated earlier you let an independant repairer service this, so i would say this loses you all warranties etc. as it could be said they damaged the watch

baza52

texranger, you love posting the obvious, the OP want help not sarcasm

Techhead_2

I've seen this mentioned with regard to mechanical watches before. Two minutes lost over a day is 99.86% accuracy. I'd say that is quite good for a mechanical watch in poor shape.

vuvuzela

Techhead wrote: »

I've seen this mentioned with regard to mechanical watches before. Two minutes lost over a day is 99.86% accuracy. I'd say that is quite good for a mechanical watch in poor shape.

Frankly it's terrible performance to lose that per day. I've got 30 or so mechanical watches and only the unserviced ones of 25+years old come close to losing or gaining that much (and most of them run far better than that).
A 500 quid mechanical watch should have at least a Sellita SW200 if not an ETA 2824-2 movement. Either of those out of the box as new should be able to perform easily to +-10 sconds/day. Both are compatible and parts are easily available for watch repairers to buy.

canary2211

it is an Oris - a leading Swiss brand. It went to an independant repair only once out of warranty - largely because Oris want 150 to service it!

it is a Oris Artelier 561 wit ETA2671 movement.

I dont know what the damage is - but for several weeks it has not self wound properly, often stopping inside just a few hours off the wrist. Now it will not wind/restart and there is a nasty rattle!

I cannot imagine retailer to be very helpful. If I pay £30 at the supermarket for a plastic digital watch I understand and expect may be only a couple of years. But 5 years and £550 for a jewelled Swiss watch with a quality movement is not good enough.