Service by IWC

We have seen posts of service of old watches or tired models being given the spa treatment and a watch is given a breath of pure oxygen and Viagra and its like a teenager, full of life. But what happens to the crop of mega models, such as the GC, Perpetuals, repeaters and tourbies, are these serviced at the nearest service centre or are they shipped back to their birthplace. I appreciate that some service centres may be able to handle some of the above in comparison to other service centres. Are there any models apart from the Sidereal that are guaranteed to go back to the factory for routine service?

All the high complications go back to Schaffhausen. The Perpetuals and Doppels often go back but that depends on the service center.

Dear Michael,

First, please accept my greetings from Portugal!

This is my first day at the IWC Forum, and I would like to take the opportunity to ask for your comments and advise:

I bought, several years ago, a "Der Fliegeruhr" CLASSIC Mark XVI, ref. 3255. It was my first International Watch Cº wristwatch.

I was (and still am) so happy with my Mark VI that I decided to buy another IWC, this time a "Der Fliegerchronograph" SPITFIRE (the steinless steel bracelet version), ref. 3705, with unit number 2964880.

This last IWC Spitfire chronograph was bought in one of the local portuguese IWC dealers, FERDIOR, in Arrabida Shopping Center, Vila Nova de Gaia.

My Spitfire chrono always had problems, although beeing an astonishing time keeper: +1" per day.

First, the chronographer seconds hand did NOT return to ZERO, but to the position "2" or "3" seconds in the scale dial. Also the chronograph hours hand did NOT STOP, when the chrono was stoped after 3 hours of time measurements (up to 3 hours, there was no problem).

The watch was sent for repair by FERDIOR to TEMPUS DISTRIBUIÇÃO, the IWC portuguese DISTRIBUTOR, in Lisbon, to the spanish IWC Service Center RICHMOND IBERIA, S.L. (Portugal do not have any IWC Service center, for my great sorrow).

After THREE months (on the 19th October 2010), my watch was returned with the chronograph seconds hand fixed, but NOT the problem of the hours hand!

It was returned again to the same spanish RICHMOND IBERIA S.L. IWC Service center.

After THREE MORE MONTHS, it was returned from Spain with the VERY SAME PROBLEM (they only checked the water resistance, and confirmed the perfect time keeping).

But the most appalling incident was that my NEW Spitfire Chrono was returned with a small scratch in the BRUSHED metal case!!!

I went AGAIN to FERDIOR, and told them I would NEVER send again my IWC to the spanish IWC Service Center, I wanted instead that FERDIOR took the responsability to send my watch directly to Schaffhausen.

I was told they could only send my watch to the same spanish RICHMOND IBERIA Service Center, and if I wanted to send it to Schaffhausen I had to pack it, pay the postage and send it by myself...

Is it possible that International Watch Cº has such a careless Service Center in Spain? And portuguese IWC customers do not deserve a local and competent Service Center?

Thank you very much for a response to my complain,
Armando Fernandes

Hi Greg,
At the UK service center we service all current IWC models except Minute Repeaters and Tourbillions. Porsche Design are returned to Switzerland due to limited availability of parts as are watches with serial numbers lower than about 2300000. Older models such as 1st generation Ingenieurs and others with calibres 852 upto 8541 as well as ladies models from the 50's + 60's with 400 series calibres are also done in our UK workshops, as long as the case or dial don't need restoration.
Leo

Armando Fernandes' story is the horror story I am most afraid of, apart of my watches being stolen, when watches are concerned. I once, a long long time ago, had a battery of my Ultra Sportivo replaced by the local AD that is not an AD anymore. It took weeks, and the back was damaged after this: apparently he didn't have the right equipment to open the watch.

The watch mentions Swiss Made, this "made" should include the right skills and attitude that are very Swiss to me and that are not automatically associated to other places. Reading and acting on the problem sheet is the least that can be expected, I would expect end to end meticulous service.

I would send the watch to Schaffhausen if I were you, Armando.

Kind regards,
Paul

Good day, all, from a newbie here in USA northeast.

I bought a Fliegeruhr Mk XVI from a very gentlemanly-sounding collector in California who was not wearing this handsome watch enough -- he said he wears, mostly, that big, expensive submariner watch, whose name I forget...

I <love> the watch for its looks -- I think there are few that look better. However, I soon started to experience a small problem (which might not be a problem at all). If I do not wear the watch for one day, it has several times stopped; I took it to the local IWC dealer/service centre and, first thing, they looked down their noses at me, presumably thinking the watch was not legally mine (ie, no proof of ownership -- maybe I'm over-doing it; but that was how they made me feel!)(I also like to wear it on a nylon "Zulu" strap) Secondly, they wanted an <enormous> amount of money for the service that they said it needed (two years old?) -- I have never paid that sort of money before for servicing!

After collection, the watch again stopped when I had not worn it for one day, so it went back to them again. This time I got to speak with the workshop manager himself and he promised to fix it under warranty. It came back to me with a scratch on the rear plate (spanner/wrench slipped?) and it still occasionally stops when left unworn for about a day. The crown is now very stiff in operation, so that I suspect it may be over-tightened somehow? Is this feasible? Perhaps it is not winding adequately during daily wear?

Question: surely this watch has 36 hours of operation, minimum? I have taken to winding it manually almost every day now. Should I give the dealers another jolt or simply accept the limitations? It seems to me that it should run reliably longer than it does...

I should be grateful for any input, so thank you in advance!

Hi Christopher,

It's difficult or impossible to assess a mechanical/operational situation via words electronically communicated, but you should wind the watch about 40 times (that is, 40 360 degree revolutions of the crown) before wearing it. It then should last about 36 hours if not in motion, longer if it's being worn (in fact, if worn daily it should continue without winding).

If you're doing that, and the watch stops there is an issue. It's a problem with buying second-hand --you don't know about prior problems, unauthorized service, etc..

Thank you, Michael! Much obliged: I shall likely make manual winding a habit from here on -- perhaps I do not move my arm enough; but generally it keeps really good time when worn daily. Only occasionally (sometimes I plain forget to put it on!) does it exhibit this tendency.

The manual winding still strikes me as being very stiff -- compared, say, with my old Omega Dynamic!