Well, I can tell you my own horror story on that. Got the watch in 98. In 1999 the small second hand got stuck at around the 12 position. I lived in Paris at the time. Brought the watch to Heurgon, AD on Rue Royale. Very good address. Had all my warranty papers in order. They accepted the watch without a problem. We write down what is wrong with it on the repair order. The service center is Blvd. Raspail in Paris (Cartier Service center). That's merely 15 minutes from the shop. Still they say it will take 4-6 weeks. 6 weeks later, I call. No watch. I put some pressure on. Another 2 weeks and they call me to pick it up. Watch comes back with a note that they couldn't find any problem. I then re-demonstrated the problem to the sales person. We sent it in again saying that the customer really wasn't very happy and they better do a decent job this time if they don't want to have a letter to the higher-ups. Watch comes back another 6(!) weeks later. Problem is fixed but there is a scratch on the case back. ...!!!??? The frogs are killing my frogman watch!

At that point I am so fed up that I tell them to note the scratched case back and return the note to Panerai/Cartier. I didn't want to send the watch for another 6 weeks just to get the scratch polished out. Never heard from them again. I swore I would not buy another Panerai or Cartier.

FFwd to summer 2008. Somehow, I managed to break the winding mechanism. I have no idea how, as I am always super careful. Something must have come "derailed". I give the watch to Wempe in Berlin who sends it in for a quote. Complete overhaul and repair $450. After ten years that's OK.

The watch was back within 6-8 weeks. Service center was in Germany. Problem completely fixed. Watch super nicely polished including the scratch on the case back. Looks like new. Wempe kept it for me for 3-4 months because I couldn't pick it up any earlier. I was super happy. That's until I managed to put two little scratches in my freshly polished bezel. AAARGH!

So, is the service in USA supposed to be as bad as the one I have experienced in France?

The German service for JLC is EXCELLENT. They would even supply you with a courtesy new croco strap and send the old one along, when you sent in the watch. I had my Master Date overhauled in 2007. The silver (solid silver) dial had some oxidation. That was changed as a courtesy even years after the warranty period. The overhaul incl. repair of a crown problem that I hadn't even noticed was Euro 250.

I couldn't agree more with ankritec's comment on the old and new Master lines. The old one is much nicer. JLC has three different GMT/Worldtime mechanisms, all in-house.

A fascinating topic really.

Till