Le Brassus-Trained Servicing for Your Audemars Piguet
Le Brassus calibres set their own standards, and so does the bench work required to honour them. Our London workshop services Royal Oak, Royal Oak Offshore and Code 11.59 references with the discipline AP's tolerances demand: complete movement overhaul, hand-finishing refresh where authorised, depth certification and a written 12-month guarantee on every piece signed off.
Few timepieces demand the disciplined hand of an Audemars Piguet. The sharp bevels of a Royal Oak case, the micro-rotor in a calibre 2120, the column-wheel chronograph of a 3126, the in-house 4302 automatic, each carries tolerances that reward correct technique and punish shortcuts. A watch left to drift between services will lose amplitude, accumulate magnetism and risk damage long before the wearer notices a problem.
From a 1972-derived Royal Oak Jumbo to a recent Code 11.59 chronograph or a 44mm Offshore Diver, the workflow at our bench follows the same disciplined route, diagnosis logged on the timegrapher, calibre stripped to component level, hand-treatment of every bridge and pivot, regulation across six positions and certification before the case is closed for the last time.
Every Audemars Piguet service includes the following:
A complete Audemars Piguet service at Martin Oliva is a calibre and case restoration, not a cosmetic refresh. Every timepiece moves through ten dedicated workshop stages before sign-off.
Pre-Service Diagnostic Trace
A timegrapher trace and case-pressure reading are taken on intake, rate, amplitude, beat error and gasket integrity are entered into the service file as the baseline every later measurement is judged against.
Calibre Strip to Component Level
The movement comes apart in indexed stages, bridges first, then balance assembly, escapement, mainspring barrel and gear train. AP's micro-rotor is handled as a separate sub-assembly so the rotor weight never contaminates other components.
Bevel & Finishing Inspection
Côtes de Genève, perlage and the polished bevels that define Audemars Piguet's calibres are reviewed under magnification; hand-correction is performed only where the owner has authorised refinishing.
Multi-Stage Component Cleaning
Each metal travels its own cleaning route, steel and brass through tiered ultrasonic baths matched to the alloy, jewels treated separately and pivots cleaned individually until every trace of dried oil is gone.
Manufacturer-Specified Re-Oiling
Lubrication follows Audemars Piguet's service sheet exactly, every pivot, jewel and contact surface receives the precise oil grade and volume specified for that calibre, dispensed by hand under microscope.
Royal Oak Case Hand-Refinishing
Brushed octagonal bezel surfaces, polished bevels and Royal Oak's integrated bracelet are refinished by hand without rounding the lugs, preserving the original geometry that defines each reference.
Crown, Tube & Gasket Replacement
Sealing components are renewed in full whether or not they have failed, crown gasket, tube washer, caseback ring and any chronograph pusher seals are replaced before pressure certification is attempted.
Depth & Air Pressure Certification
Pressure testing confirms the case has returned to its original depth rating, dry-air and wet cycles are run in sequence and the readings are entered into your service file alongside the regulation record.
Seven-Day Position Rate Trial
Across seven days the regulated calibre is observed in six positions, flat dial-up, dial-down and each crown orientation, so that rate, amplitude and beat error are seen under every mainspring tension before sign-off.
Twelve-Month Written Guarantee
Every Audemars Piguet that leaves the workshop is signed off with a 12-month written guarantee from Martin Oliva, covering the bench work and any component fitted by our watchmakers during the service.
Audemars Piguet Service Prices including VAT
All figures include VAT and the complete ten-stage protocol. "Modern" applies to references in current or recent production; "Vintage" covers discontinued calibres and pre-2000 references that require additional bench time.
All prices include VAT and the 12-month written guarantee. Sapphire crystals, dial or hand replacement, bracelet refinishing and any restoration work are quoted separately after the workshop inspection.
The Service Journey
Four clear stages take your timepiece from the first enquiry to its return in fully serviced condition.
Enquire
Send us the reference number with a note on rate, crown function or anything you have observed. We reply within one working day with an indicative price and arrange insured courier collection or a showroom appointment.
Assess
A senior watchmaker inspects the case, dial, hands and calibre on the bench and issues a written diagnostic. No work is started until you have reviewed the report and approved the quotation.
Workshop
Your AP enters the ten-stage protocol under restricted-access conditions. Turnaround sits between six and ten weeks for time-only and chronograph references; complications require longer.
Return
On sign-off, your watch is packaged in protective storage with its diagnostic file, certification record and 12-month written guarantee, delivered insured or collected in person.
Entrusted with Vallée de Joux Horology
Le Brassus Calibres
Our watchmakers have trained on the architecture and finishing protocols of Audemars Piguet's modern and historical movements, from the ultra-thin 2120 through the in-house 4302 and 3126/3840 chronograph calibres.
Authentic Sourcing
Any component fitted during your service is acquired through trusted horological channels and matched to the exact reference and production year of your watch to safeguard its long-term integrity.
Discreet Handling
Your Audemars Piguet is recorded against its full open-market valuation on arrival, photographed before each workshop stage and returned via tracked insured courier or by private appointment at our showroom.
Audemars Piguet Models We Service
From the most recent Royal Oak references to pre-Quartz-Crisis Jules Audemars time-only pieces, our London bench is equipped to service every Audemars Piguet family.
Audemars Piguet Service FAQs
How often does an Audemars Piguet need to be serviced?
The manufacture's general guidance is a full service every four to five years. Daily-worn pieces, complicated references (chronograph, perpetual calendar) and any timepiece showing rate drift or moisture under the crystal should be inspected sooner, a short assessment at our bench will determine whether intervention is needed now.
What is the typical turnaround time for an AP service?
A standard 3/4-hand service is generally completed in six to eight weeks. Chronograph, perpetual calendar and Offshore references typically require eight to twelve weeks, and grand complications are quoted on a piece-by-piece basis once our diagnostic inspection is signed off.
Can you preserve the Royal Oak's brushed and polished surfaces?
Yes, refinishing Royal Oak and Royal Oak Offshore cases is one of the more demanding parts of the work because the brushed flanks, polished bevels and tapisserie dial must remain sharp. Our bench works by hand, masking polished bevels while satin-brushing the surrounding planes, and refinishing is performed only with your written approval.
Will independent servicing affect my Audemars Piguet warranty?
While a watch remains within Audemars Piguet's own international warranty, manufacturer servicing is generally advisable to preserve the original guarantee. For timepieces outside that warranty, an independent service from Martin Oliva uses correct parts and follows the calibre's service sheet, and is fully covered by our own 12-month written guarantee.
Do you service vintage and complicated AP references?
Yes, our senior bench works on calibres including the 2120 ultra-thin, the 2385 chronograph (Frédéric Piguet base) and the modern in-house 4302 and 4401. Vintage and complicated work is priced under the Vintage column and may take additional time due to component sourcing and the bespoke regulation that older calibres require.
Can clients outside the United Kingdom send a watch to your workshop?
Absolutely. We regularly receive timepieces from clients across mainland Europe, the Gulf, North America and Asia. Contact us in advance and we will guide you through insured tracked shipping, declared values and the customs documentation required for the round trip from your country of residence.
