Geneva-Standard Servicing for Your Patek Philippe
Entrust your Patek Philippe to a London workshop that treats every reference with the discipline its calibre demands — full in-house overhaul, hand-finishing refresh where required, depth certification and a written 12-month guarantee on every piece returned.
Few timepieces reward careful maintenance as visibly as a Patek Philippe. The micron-level tolerances of a calibre 240 micro-rotor or the column-wheel architecture of a CH 29-535 chronograph are calculated to react to the smallest shift in lubrication, wear or magnetism — and a watch left unattended for too long will surrender its rate and amplitude long before the wearer realises. Periodic servicing is therefore part of ownership, not an interruption to it.
Whether your reference is a hand-wound Calatrava 96 passed from a grandfather or a recently delivered Nautilus 5811/1G, our London bench applies the same disciplined sequence: diagnosis, calibre strip, hand-treatment of every component, careful regulation and final certification before any timepiece leaves our care.
Beyond Patek Philippe, our London workshop also looks after other prestigious houses — see our dedicated Omega repair and service and Longines repair and service pages for brand-specific protocols handled at the same bench.
Every Patek Philippe service includes the following:
A complete Patek service at Martin Oliva is a calibre restoration, not a cosmetic refresh. Every timepiece moves through ten dedicated workshop stages before it is signed off and returned to its owner.
Pre-Service Diagnostic Trace
Before any disassembly begins, the watch is logged on a timegrapher and pressure tester to capture rate, amplitude, beat error and gasket integrity as a baseline reference.
Calibre Strip to Component Level
Bridges, escapement, balance assembly, mainspring barrel and gear train are separated and individually catalogued so each part receives the treatment it requires.
Hand-Finish Refresh of Bridges & Plates
Côtes de Genève striping, perlage and chamfered edges are reviewed under magnification; visible wear is hand-corrected only where the owner has authorised refinishing.
Multi-Stage Component Cleaning
Steel and brass parts pass through separate ultrasonic and rinse cycles tuned to the alloy, with jewels and pivots given individual attention to remove every trace of aged lubricant.
Manufacturer-Specified Re-Oiling
Patek-grade oils and greases are dispensed under a binocular microscope, with the exact volume placed at each pivot, jewel and contact surface as called for by the calibre's service sheet.
Case & Bracelet Hand-Refinishing
Brushed surfaces, polished bevels and faceted lugs are restored by hand without rounding the case profile — preserving the original geometry that defines each reference's silhouette.
Crown, Tube & Caseback Sealing
Every gasket on the case — crown seal, tube washer, caseback ring and (where present) pusher seals — is replaced as part of the standard service rather than only on demand.
Depth & Air Pressure Certification
The reassembled case is certified to the original depth rating of the reference using dry-air and wet pressure cycles, with the result recorded in your service file.
Seven-Day Position Rate Trial
The serviced watch is monitored across six positions over a seven-day period to verify stable rate, consistent amplitude and acceptable beat error under varying mainspring tension.
Twelve-Month Written Service Guarantee
Each completed service carries a 12-month written guarantee from Martin Oliva covering all workmanship and any components fitted by our watchmakers.
Patek Philippe Service Prices including VAT
All figures below include VAT and the complete ten-stage protocol described above. "Modern" applies to references in current or recent production; "Vintage" covers discontinued calibres and earlier references where additional bench time and period-correct sourcing are typically required.
All prices are inclusive of VAT and include the 12-month written guarantee. Replacement components beyond standard service items, full case refinishing and any restoration work requested by the owner 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.
Connect
Share your reference number and a short note on any behaviour you have noticed. We will respond with an indicative price and arrange either insured courier collection or an appointment at our showroom.
Examine
A senior horologist examines the case, dial, hands and calibre under controlled conditions and issues a written diagnostic report that is shared with you for approval before any work begins.
Refurbish
Your watch enters our protected workshop and progresses through the ten-stage protocol. Typical turnaround sits between six and ten weeks depending on calibre complexity and parts availability.
Deliver
After certification, your timepiece is presented in protective storage alongside its diagnostic file, service certificate and 12-month written guarantee — delivered by insured courier or collected in person.
Entrusted with High Horology
Geneva Training
Our watchmakers have trained on the architecture and finishing protocols specific to Patek's modern and historical movements, from the 215 PS hand-wound to the 240 micro-rotor and CH 29-535 column-wheel chronograph.
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.
Confidential Service
Your Patek is registered at full open-market value on arrival, photographed at each stage and tracked through a private workshop ledger — discretion is built into our handling, not an extra service.
Patek Philippe Models We Service
From the most recent Nautilus references to pre-war Calatravas and complicated grand sonneries, our London bench is equipped to service every Patek Philippe family.
Patek Philippe Service FAQs
How often does a Patek Philippe need to be serviced?
The manufacture's general guidance is a full service every three to five years, considerably more frequent than most sport-watch brands. Daily-worn pieces, watches with chronograph or perpetual calendar complications, and any timepiece showing rate drift or moisture under the crystal should be inspected sooner rather than later — a short assessment at our bench will determine whether intervention is needed now.
What is the typical turnaround time for a Patek service?
A standard time-only or 3/4-hand service is generally completed in six to eight weeks. Complicated movements, perpetual calendars and chronographs typically require eight to twelve weeks, and grand complications are quoted on a piece-by-piece basis. A precise schedule is confirmed once our diagnostic inspection is signed off.
Are the published prices fixed or estimates?
The figures shown above are fixed for the standard ten-stage protocol when no additional work is required. If our inspection identifies further restoration — for example, a damaged dial, a worn winding stem, a replacement crystal or bracelet refinishing — we will issue a written quotation for those items and proceed only after you have approved them.
Will independent servicing affect my Patek Philippe Seal or original warranty?
While a watch remains within Patek'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 written 12-month guarantee.
Do you service vintage and complicated Patek Philippe references?
Yes — our senior bench has extensive experience with calibres including the 12-120, 23-300, R 27 minute repeater and the modern 31-260. 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 demand.
Can clients outside the United Kingdom send a watch to your workshop?
Absolutely. We regularly receive timepieces from clients across Europe, the Gulf, North America and Asia. Contact us in advance and we will provide guidance on insured tracked shipping, declared values, and any customs documentation required for the round trip from your country of residence.
