GO Pilot returns

[langnam]

Some members may remember about 45 days ago I had to ship my GO back for repair work as the second hand began to stick on the minute hand and the watch was running about 10 seconds fast. The same day I ended up buying the JLC Master Tourbillon, too! Yikes, it's best to keep me out of an AD's show room.
Well, I picked up my GO yesterday, and I must say it's working perfectly. Not only did they correct the sticking hands, but the watchmaker fine tuned the return to zero mechanisim, too. Before, when pressing the button the second hand would return to zero with a little play in the hand, but now, it's click and return with precision. As the watch has just been returned, I haven't had the chance to check its regulation.
The watch went in looking NIB and to my surpise, came home that way too!
Here's a wrist shot

I hang out here a lot, and I'm sure the heat of the sun did the damage to the hand the first time. I haven't decided yet whether or not to expose to super hot days at poolside.

[Archer]

Hey Marc, great that the watch is back and working well!

By any chance did they give you a reason for the problems with the watch?

Just thinking about this......I know you have said you think it is the heat, but the linear thermal expansion coefficients for watch parts are well known so exposure to heat should have been taken into account in the design. I would expect the oils to be a problem in the heat before the parts actually expanded enough at different rates to cause interference.

Anyway, the important thing is that it's repaired, but if it was me I would be doing the same things I did before with the watch to make sure the problem is actually solved. Just my nature.

[langnam]

<<By any chance did they give you a reason for the problems with the watch? >> Well.....of course not, why would a service center want to enlighten a customer?? LOL
I'm sure I'll do the same things with the GO, except for today. Just got back in from poolside, but wore the TT Blue Rolex. I'm not ready to jimmy up the GO just yet!

[Sam]

Glad everything turned out perfectly with the GO. I really like that watch!

And VERY nice pool/backyard you've go there. I'm jealous! ;D

[atomic]

X2, life is good for Marc.

[mamas]

beautiful GO.. very tool like yet so refined at the same time.

[wasatch]

Beautiful watch, and a beautiful pool, Marc! Smart idea with the fence around the pool. You can never be too safe.

[otis]

Glad to hear things are back and running like clockwork (sorry... couldn't resist!) for you.
45 days? Hmm... musnt've been fun. But how does that time compare to others you've serviced? Would be good to know how well some of the other manufacturers look after pieces.

[langnam]

Hi Otis,
I've had a few watches serviced for warranty or cleaning issues, so in looking back the GO was the quickest turnaround at 45 days. My Chopard spent about six months in Switzerland for a cleaning and lube. Six months watchless meant I had to buy the Breitling Navitimer Premier which also went in for a service and new crystal. It took 3 months + if I recall, which meant a Rolex TT Blue Sub was in order! Finally, I had my Seiko Bullhead Chrono cleaned and that took 4 months to be returned. Seiko even sent me the wrong watch back the first time!
I have read that Swatch (which owns the GO brand) openend up a very large service center in New Jersey which probably accounts for the relatively quick turnaround.

[otis]

langnam said:

Hi Otis,
I've had a few watches serviced for warranty or cleaning issues, so in looking back the GO was the quickest turnaround at 45 days. My Chopard spent about six months in Switzerland for a cleaning and lube. Six months watchless meant I had to buy the Breitling Navitimer Premier which also went in for a service and new crystal. It took 3 months + if I recall, which meant a Rolex TT Blue Sub was in order! Finally, I had my Seiko Bullhead Chrono cleaned and that took 4 months to be returned. Seiko even sent me the wrong watch back the first time!
I have read that Swatch (which owns the GO brand) openend up a very large service center in New Jersey which probably accounts for the relatively quick turnaround.

Hmmm... I was thinking that 45 days doesn't sound too bad, compared to some of the other stories I've heard (your seiko now added!). I think it's dissapointing that it takes that long, but I guess we never really know what goes on over there. After seeing Al's report, some of the houses don't appear to employ that many people, and I can only guess that the production of new watches is a higher priority than servicing older ones.

I was just trying to remember about my speedmaser...also part of the swatch group, the turnaround was pretty quick on that, about 35 odd days, I think?

Are you happy to have it serviced in NJ, for instance, or would you prefer that they send it back to Saxony and it take a while longer?

[langnam]

Otis,
I'm sooooo glad the GO stayed in the US. I think Germany is about to start their month long summer shutdown and I know I couldn't handle an extra month of idle waiting. I can also get my Langes serviced in NYC through the only US certified Lange repair center. My German watches will only go to Germany if absolutely necessary.