Took macro shots of my brand new 5164a. Very disappointed

[WWC]

I would tend to agree with the OP on this one. For that amount of money, even entry level Patek’s we’re talking about lots of money here. I would expect there to be higher QC and if we’re comparing it to Grand Seiko, then yes, I’d expect much more on the 5164a.

I haven’t put either one of my Patek’s under the macro, so who am I to say whether these flaws are coming across all models and pieces?

[Soondooboo]

are you sure that's not a fake? If it's real then that's pretty disappointing.

[sgwatchguy]

Wow, that is disappointing. Second thread like this in just a few days.

[Ichiran]

Would you have macro shots of other pateks please?

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Would you have macro shots of other pateks please?

Not sure these help much and not as close up as the OP’s.

[Ichiran]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Not sure these help much and not as close up as the OP’s.

Looks perfect to me.

However, OP and above comments seems to be on entry pieces. I wouldn't consider the 5212 an entry watch, but how is the finishing on your 5212, Russell?

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by Ichiran

Looks perfect to me.

However, OP and above comments seems to be on entry pieces. I wouldn't consider the 5212 an entry watch, but how is the finishing on your 5212, Russell?

Well to be truthful I’ve not looked beyond a simple visual check which looks perfect. But I don’t doubt it would show some flaws at 1000%+.

[Russell996]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Well to be truthful I’ve not looked beyond a simple visual check which looks perfect. But I don’t doubt it would show some flaws at 1000%+.

[Tay821]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Well to be truthful I’ve not looked beyond a simple visual check which looks perfect. But I don’t doubt it would show some flaws at 1000%+.

Russell - What macros lens/camera do you use to get these? iPhone + a lens?

Thank you

[sgwatchguy]

Originally Posted by Russell996

Not sure these help much and not as close up as the OP’s.

Stunning

[Sveng]

The quality of this delivery goes against Patek standards. No, it has nothing to do with "entry level" and is unacceptable. Feel free to disagree but this is not my opinion, this is backed up by Patek's own philosophy.

Moreover, this is not the only post out there pointing at this below par execution. Google is your friend.

[ts3]

Never took macro shots of my entry level Patek and for piece of mind I will probably keep it that way. Inconsistent lume would be unacceptable for me though. I'd have them fix it on a brand new watch.

[1William]

That is disappointing for a PP. Grand Seiko is a different watch but typically does better than that.

[jamerson80]

Not sure I would consider the 5205G an entry piece, but mine has the same paint issues on the second hand as posted above. Another poster in another thread had posted numerous pictures of different models and stated PP outsources some of their hands, hence the shoddy finishing. Hard to believe, but after seeing pictures I am inclined to agree...

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[Heff]

Maybe something people aren’t realizing here is that if entry Patek isn’t comparable to Grand Seiko or the like at a lower price point, then maybe GS is a better value than the Patek.

I’m sure I’ll get grief for that because a lot of people put brand reputation before the actual watch itself, and can’t understand how a GS might be better.


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[Becweb]

No matter what we say, it is indeed a tad disappointing as you are paying top money for a stainless steel watch, and not much extra effort is needed in making the hands look better than that.

[learningtofly]

The fact that an Aquanaut is an entry level Patek doesn't make it an entry level watch per se. The standard of finishing in the OP's photos is actually pretty surprising, and not in a good way (and I say that as someone who has owned and loved both an Aquanaut and a Nautilus).

[subtona]

The hands are unfinished on the sides, kind of like sweeping the dirt under the rug.
I noticed this on my perpetual calendar “grand complication” as well.
There is no excuse, it is disappointing.

[scurfa]

That is a surprise, I studied my 5196 before purchase and I would consider that to be the entry level model and that one is perfect.


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[enjoythemusic]

Please post lume pics, sounds like it might be a 'defective' timepiece.

[cbalster]

imagine you are a watchmaker at the factory. you know that the watch is going to be sold no matter what. in fact, it's already sold out for the discernible future and it will be sold sight unseen perhaps many times over. you know that his watch will be worth more the second it is sold. how would you expect things to play out?

i also smile to myself thinking about a patron coming to the AD to collect his aquanaut with loupe in hand. the champagne has been chilled, and the patron examines the watch and says, "no thanks, the finishing is off, please call me when a better example arrives." HAHA. good luck with receiving that call.

[RoscoPico]

definitely worth considering but also keeping in perspective.
if op's shots are 20x mag, then we'd have to compare other brands with similar macro shots

an entry level patek could be 20k, but that is still 20k no matter how you look at it.
will patek hold value, appreciate, etc etc ?
sure, but not if it becomes known for poor finishing.

[yellowfinger]

I will ring my AD tomorrow and see what their response it.

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[yellowfinger]

Does anyone know how to delete this thread?

I had a chat with my AD after sending them this link. I am asked to delete this thread immediately.

[ct.matt]

Originally Posted by yellowfinger

Does anyone know how to delete this thread?

I had a chat with my AD after sending them this link. I am asked to delete this thread immediately.

Not possible, only the forum admins or mods have that ability. Why would your AD care about a post on a forum that doesn’t mention them by name or location?

[IBDOC]

Originally Posted by yellowfinger

Does anyone know how to delete this thread?

I had a chat with my AD after sending them this link. I am asked to delete this thread immediately.

Originally Posted by IBDOC

Gut feeling says they’ll smile, be apologetic, appease him with some PP-branded trinket and then put his name on the Troublemaker list.

Called it

[BNABOD]

Originally Posted by yellowfinger

Does anyone know how to delete this thread?

I had a chat with my AD after sending them this link. I am asked to delete this thread immediately.

You are asked to do what ? Let them hide the truth ? No , you say, up your game PP especially for the ridiculous price they charge and fix my watch assuming it is even a fluke and maybe PP might learn from this . Like a restaurant deleting bad reviews , when justified the bad review should help the place get better ....

[IBDOC]

Originally Posted by BNABOD

You are asked to do what ? Let them hide the truth ? No , you say, up your game PP especially for the ridiculous price they charge and fix my watch assuming it is even a fluke and maybe PP might learn from this . Like a restaurant deleting bad reviews , when justified the bad review should help the place get better ....

The AD asking him to delete the thread is more akin to a restaurant manager fearing for his job because corporate won’t be happy if they find out which outlet that bad review online refers to...

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by IBDOC

The AD asking him to delete the thread is more akin to a restaurant manager fearing for his job because corporate won’t be happy if they find out which outlet that bad review online refers to...

It's not at all the ADs fault, so PP should not do anything to said AD. Heck, before the whole CV19 closure I got a new Rolex, it was defective out of the box (sent it to RSC). NEVER would ever think of blaming the AD, not their fault at all.

This may be how lawsuits against a manufacturer may happen if AD loses their status over factory defects being posted for all to see. It is PPs production factory that needs to do better QC. Posts like the OP's aids the factory to find QC problems. PP should be thankful for the help in finding problems within their suppliers / manufacturing.

Still hoping to see a lume shot.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by yellowfinger

Does anyone know how to delete this thread?

I had a chat with my AD after sending them this link. I am asked to delete this thread immediately.

Curious why you shared this link with your AD. Of course, they would ask you to delete it. My concern is your contact with them about this thread may hurt your chances of getting more watches from them.