Hello everyone.
Here is my nightmare story of trying to mod my PPF 5712 V2.
In September 2022 I sent Ricciardo @Harleysta91 PPF V2 5712 for modding.
Other than that I sent a genuine moon disk, which i paid 845$ for.
And I sent him a SW dial later (value of 398$).
The agreement was to service the movement, install the moon disk, do some case work for 550€.
Then the problems started.
1. First he destroyed the genuine Patek Philippe moon disk.
He told me that he would do the mods for free. Even though the moon disk is more expensive that the mods I accepted that. I thought that errors can happen and I should give him the benefit of the doubt. I then sent him a Keylog74 moon disk (170$).
When I learned that other forum watchmakers (@majwilliams0308 , @legend ) have performed moon phase swaps with genuine part without mishaps. I asked him if he can send the watch back to me, so I can send it to @legend. @legend had at that moment told me that he could do the operation and was willing to accept it, even though he was busy at that moment. @Harleysta91 didn’t accept that.
2. Afterwards a lot of more errors happened. He broke the main spring, the paint (text) went off when he was cleaning the bridges. It was really weird that it happened, but again I gave him the benefit of the doubt and in the end he exchanged them with a colleague.
At this time it had been almost a year.
3. After 1.5 year he told me that he had assembled the watch, but the clutch wheel part broke while he was setting the time to test the watch. I have seen no prove of it, so honestly speaking I can’t know if it did happen to my watch, or if he just used the clutch wheel part from my watch for someone else. Because I’ve seen other ppf V2 coming from him. But I just had to take his words for it.
After waiting two years and suggesting him solutions, i lost my patience and contacted @Cicero to help with the situation.
@Cicero told him to install a new movement in the watch and send it back. And he also gave him a direct instruction to send pictures of my watch.
He accepted, but still hasn’t even sent the pictures yet, which was 4 months ago.
I am not sure if the watch is in his possession or not.
I have about 1376€ of watch/parts with him at the moment, and have asked him to keep it and instead send me my money back. I don’t know if he will have the decency to do that.
I know unfortunate things can happen when you are modding a watch. But I expect a Trusted Watchmaker to follow the instructions of the staff at the very least.
Therefore I recommend everyone to think twice before you send your watch to a modder - even if they are a Trusted Watchmaker or not.
I feel I have been very naive with my approach. And I blame myself for it. But I have been thinking what I can tell others, so they don’t get into the same problems.
My recommendations would be:
A. First of all. Before sending a watch to a modder - even if they are a RWI Trusted modder - check their reputation regarding bad cases. Everyone is great and superb when things go well.
Find out how they handled the bad cases. Because that’s where you truly find out who they are.
B. Secondly, only send it to them if you know someone or talked to someone who has experience with them. Don’t only trust them because they are listed as Trusted Watchmaker.
C. Thirdly, involve staff early if there are problems or they keep stalling you. Don’t be stupid like me and wait two years. Because if you give them too much leash it will backlash in the end.
That was my recommendations. I don’t know how this will end, but I will keep you guys posted.
Happy new year everyone. Have a good one and remember to protect your eyes and hands
Here is my nightmare story of trying to mod my PPF 5712 V2.
In September 2022 I sent Ricciardo @Harleysta91 PPF V2 5712 for modding.
Other than that I sent a genuine moon disk, which i paid 845$ for.
And I sent him a SW dial later (value of 398$).
The agreement was to service the movement, install the moon disk, do some case work for 550€.
Then the problems started.
1. First he destroyed the genuine Patek Philippe moon disk.
He told me that he would do the mods for free. Even though the moon disk is more expensive that the mods I accepted that. I thought that errors can happen and I should give him the benefit of the doubt. I then sent him a Keylog74 moon disk (170$).
When I learned that other forum watchmakers (@majwilliams0308 , @legend ) have performed moon phase swaps with genuine part without mishaps. I asked him if he can send the watch back to me, so I can send it to @legend. @legend had at that moment told me that he could do the operation and was willing to accept it, even though he was busy at that moment. @Harleysta91 didn’t accept that.
2. Afterwards a lot of more errors happened. He broke the main spring, the paint (text) went off when he was cleaning the bridges. It was really weird that it happened, but again I gave him the benefit of the doubt and in the end he exchanged them with a colleague.
At this time it had been almost a year.
3. After 1.5 year he told me that he had assembled the watch, but the clutch wheel part broke while he was setting the time to test the watch. I have seen no prove of it, so honestly speaking I can’t know if it did happen to my watch, or if he just used the clutch wheel part from my watch for someone else. Because I’ve seen other ppf V2 coming from him. But I just had to take his words for it.
After waiting two years and suggesting him solutions, i lost my patience and contacted @Cicero to help with the situation.
@Cicero told him to install a new movement in the watch and send it back. And he also gave him a direct instruction to send pictures of my watch.
He accepted, but still hasn’t even sent the pictures yet, which was 4 months ago.
I am not sure if the watch is in his possession or not.
I have about 1376€ of watch/parts with him at the moment, and have asked him to keep it and instead send me my money back. I don’t know if he will have the decency to do that.
I know unfortunate things can happen when you are modding a watch. But I expect a Trusted Watchmaker to follow the instructions of the staff at the very least.
Therefore I recommend everyone to think twice before you send your watch to a modder - even if they are a Trusted Watchmaker or not.
I feel I have been very naive with my approach. And I blame myself for it. But I have been thinking what I can tell others, so they don’t get into the same problems.
My recommendations would be:
A. First of all. Before sending a watch to a modder - even if they are a RWI Trusted modder - check their reputation regarding bad cases. Everyone is great and superb when things go well.
Find out how they handled the bad cases. Because that’s where you truly find out who they are.
B. Secondly, only send it to them if you know someone or talked to someone who has experience with them. Don’t only trust them because they are listed as Trusted Watchmaker.
C. Thirdly, involve staff early if there are problems or they keep stalling you. Don’t be stupid like me and wait two years. Because if you give them too much leash it will backlash in the end.
That was my recommendations. I don’t know how this will end, but I will keep you guys posted.
Happy new year everyone. Have a good one and remember to protect your eyes and hands
fingers crossed.
