As the name title suggest have you ever had QC issues with Christopher ward or any other brand? Does it bother you? Do you think it’s easy to become a perfectionist in this hobby.

1. None that I can recall.
2. It probably would in a new watch.
3. It certainly seems to affect some people more than others.

I don’t recall having any QC with “good” brands on new items. That’s not to say everything has always been perfect.

I have had watches that have run fast or slow, and those have always been dealt with - I’m willing to put those down to “sh1t happens”, particularly in transit. Mechanical watched have hundred of tiny parts - sometimes they get knocked or magnetised. How the issue is resolved is the key.

The one case where I can report poor QC is the treatment of my Tudor BB GMT, which was sent to Rolex St James for a design issue (a jumping date wheel); it came back fully scratched, revealing both a shocking mishandling in the workshop and simply not caring enough to think they shouldn’t send it back to the customer in a worse condition than when it arrived.

I know it’s frustrating when you have a brand new watch and it has to go back for 8 weeks for repair. There is an argument to say it should be replaced outright, but looking at it from the brand’s viewpoint, they have to be given the opportunity to investigate the issue before it can be resolved.

Issues, yes, but considering what I was buying, (NN) nothing that is worthy of a complaint. I have been a notorious moaner, but these days, I take the view that it’s how the company deals with issues that is important.

Yep, too many quite frankly! I think I'm cursed when it comes to watches.

I've had quite a few issues with CWs, brand new, NN and in-warranty. Spinning rotor, lint under crystal, smudges under crystal, misaligned bezel, misaligned hour hand, scratches on a brand new watch ...

Had a poorly machined endlink on my Aqua Terra when it arrived. Sent back to AD and whole bracelet replaced under warranty.

Brand new Alpina Startimer where the crown thread stripped after hardly any use. AD dealt with it terribly and sent back the watch supposedly fixed with no paperwork or communication regarding the "repair". Didn't look or feel right and broke immediately again. Claimed it must be me.
Sent it back to Citizen UK who replaced the tube and crown under warranty in about 4-5 weeks with no quibbles. Came with letter of work undertaken, WR/timekeeping results and a bag with the replaced parts. Brilliant service.

Had an in-warranty Oris Aquis that went back to Chrontime due to scratches on the dial and bezel play. They replaced dial under warranty, tightened bezel mechanism and this took approx 3-4 weeks. Again, great service from their UKSC.

Had a brand new Longines LLD36 that arrived with a scratched sapphire crystal. AD sent it away and it came back with new crystal, but also with lint on the inner bezel.
Sent back again, this time to be returned with the lint moved to the dial and scratches to the gloss dial and bezel.
Sent back for 3rd time and requested replacement dial/bezel. Came back to me with same scratches, slightly buffed out.
Returned for a full refund.

Brand new Longines VHP 36mm that arrived with crazy hands! For those who don't know, the VHP uses independent motors for each of the hands.
When popping the crown back in after adjusting time or waking it from power-saving mode, the hands would return to an incorrect time.
Sent back to AD for refund.

Also had more than my fair share of Seikos with misaligned chapter rings, bezels etc but that's part of their charm I'm led to believe.

I'll update my post if I can think of anymore ...

Edit:-
Just been reminded that I received a new Farer with wonky numerals. Returned for full refund

I haven't personally but my friend bought a lovely Omega AT on a leather strap. On the buckle the Omega branding rubbed off after barely any wear and it had to be sent back to be replaced. Took months to resolve!

StrappedUp wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:19 am Yep, too many quite frankly! I think I'm cursed when it comes to watches.

And all the brands you quote are ones that get a pretty good press on this and other forums.

Yes unfortunately, 3 lint prolems, 2 with CW (different models) and 1 with another British brand. The issues were sorted quickly and without any other troubles. I am of the opinion with lint, this may not immediately show up and manifests itself during the transit/delivery process, i've experienced more problems with getting a battery changed on my cheap quartz watch brands (chrono failing/back light not working). As a fellow member mentioned "**** Happens"
Rgds
Steve

I have owned or currently own ten or so CW watches and haven't had any quality control issues with any of them.

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 2:07 pm

StrappedUp wrote: ↑Mon Jan 23, 2023 11:19 am Yep, too many quite frankly! I think I'm cursed when it comes to watches.

And all the brands you quote are ones that get a pretty good press on this and other forums.

Indeed Steve, although I think I'm just really unlucky.

Part of the reason why I decided to try and settle on a few watches.
Easier to manage and less frustrating for me.
That said, the merry-go-round still continues.

Great to read all your posts thanks for sharing. My experience has been bad with divers in general. Tissot misaligned date windows. A few Christopher ward divers with misaligned bezels or indicies. most of my sealanders have been great think I sent one back once as an indices looked twisted not sure if it actually was though. For a period I thought Christopher ward didn’t make good quailty pieces but realised I have seen it in other brands and that really my expectations are too high I’m after perfection which as we know doesn’t exist.

If you want misaligned bezel spend a grand on a Seiko.

I've got a misaligned bezel on a Rolex I can't be bothered to go in about, it's not bad enough to warrant the effort.

QC fails in every brand, that's fine, but I don't think CW have a name for themselves in lacking QC. I haven't heard repeat stories about it.

Ultimately QC is a lottery

Yes it does seem to be pretty common. I’m surprised brands like Rolex and omega have these issues.

I know problems occur, but even my watches dating back to the eighties have been without QC issue. Even the cheapies.