yet another ROLEX question.
 

ok, i got a TUDOR. with the hardplastic lens. i was climbing on a bridge and like an idiot i decided to help the contractor give a quick swing with a sledgehammer. well, i scratched it badly. anyone ever have one switched to the crystal one? $?

Do not believe that you can switch lens types. Believe that the case is different between the plastic and crystal lens.

Might email Ralph and ask him but not sure here. If you can, pls tell me as I have 3 that I would love to switch.

JoeA

thanks, i am gonna call that guy.

i have buffed it alot! my watch too.

honesty, i have buffed my watch maybe 5 times. i gotta remember to take it off in the rough stuff. this new scratch is deeper than the rest.

You could not and should not switch from Acrylic to Sapphire. The former is better anyway, it does not shatter or chip. Just scratches easier but could be buffed out.

Not too expensive to change, maybe $50 parts & labor at any good watchmaker. Make sure to get factory parts and have it resealed and pressure tested. Should take less than 30 mins.

alf

Has anyone ever done the crystal replacement via mail? I need to get a new crystal and the local places all say "takes weeks, send it back to switzerland" etc etc. I am at least 2 mins slow a day w/at least 10 hours of wearing it so I know I need a cleaning too. If anyone has thoughts please post or email.

TIA

joe

Where is a good place to buy a ROLEX?

Joe,

I have a local guy who does them. Turn time may be a couple of weeks but he is good. An old retired watchmaker...

Let me know if you are interested. I do not make a penny, just trying to help. He takes care of all my watches.

JoeA

For New go to your local Rolex dealer. For used visit timezone.com . It is a forum for Watch Idiot Savants with a good classifieds. I could also send you some bookmarks of dealers i like that i could email to you.

alf

Anybody here know who Lance Thomas is?

Lance Thomas?
A watchdealer who's a straight shooter;)

What Alf said. Both times.

Isabo, U do know Lance? Yep he's shot straight at least 5 times...

I'm familiar with his website and I know his story.

Here is his story, worthy of its own thread.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_156_26/ai_82533205

What is his website?

alf

To replace the crystal, the watch needs to be sent to Rolex, U.S.A.

Rolex has apparently backed off having local authorized Rolex dealers do any service.

They have facilities in New York and Dallas. Let me know if you need their addresses.

Also, I recommend that you have your Jeweler send your watch in (fully insured) and make a note of your serial number.

Just a note: When Rolex services your watch, it's a bit expensive. 5 years ago it was about $1,100.00.

More if your replace the crystal.

I had a watchmaker here in L.A. on Ventura Blvd. to be exact, clean my submariner and replace the main spring about 5 years ago and he charged me about $300, keeps pretty good time still, looses a minute or so a month. He does overflow work for Rolex, USA in Los Angeles

Good Deal....

Apparently, Rolex actually does what they would call a recondition. It included even replacing links in the bracelet if they showed any wear.

From my recent understanding, Rolex factory will not supply dealers with parts for Rolex watches.

This policy has not been in place for very long. Maybe the last few years. Parts for the older watches have been available for a long time so chances are better than good that an independent watch maker could service the watch easily.

A good friend of mine and Lances introduced us right after the first episode, I bought my Rollie from him, I went back a 2nd time with my friend right after the 2nd episode. Thereafter my friend told me the rest of the saga as it came from Lance.

The first episode was as described, except lance not wanting to kill the 2nd one told him to take his partner and get out...the Police caught them at the hospital. There was a bullet hole in Lances car and one where it grazed the sidewalk.

In the 2nd episode 2 Black men entered the store with 4 outside and said. "Give it up" and started shooting an Uzi, Lance was hit in the Shoulder and grazed in the neck. Lance wounded the first one and killed the 2nd. The first one was wounded on the floor trying to reload the Uzi, when Lances Partner, who was at least 6' 5" and 275 came from the backroom with a Riot Shotgun. He fumbled with the safety and beat the the wounded shooter on the floor to death with the butt.

After this episode Lance installed bullet proof glass in the store.

The Third episode was as described. A Black man and woman entered and Lance killed the Black man.

The fourth and last try was where 2 Blackmen entered the sore expressley to KILL Lance and not rob him. It seems the Street Gangs had put a price on his head, and the 2 he killed were out to enhance their reputations. Thereafter Lance figured it wasn't worth it to keep the store open anymore, as they might follow him home and kill him. So Lance closed the store, and took to wearing disguises so that he wouldn't be recognized.

So much for the police being able to protect us.

Man after my heart. We need to support anyone with balls like this!

JoeA

$1100+ for cleaning etc? Good God. I am all ears regarding alternatives but will bite the bullet if I have to as this watch is important to me. my email is monish at ix.netcom.com, i am not adverse to mailing to phoenix either if it will save me some $$$.

joe

From what I've read on timezone.com (in the Rolex forums) $1100 is way out of line for your average service. It almost sounds like there was significant repair/recondition work done on your piece.

Quite right...

The service on mine was about half that including insurance, but I only have the 18K Date Just. The $1,100.00 bill was a colleague's 18K presidential that required several links (5) replaced -plus he had not serviced the watch since new 10 years prior.

Joe,

For me that happened when I took my President and GMT master into a Rolex shop and had their "10 year" service done to them. Replaced the plastic crown on one, stem on both and cleaned and serviced both. Was around $1000 for the two of them and the last time that they have seen a factory shop. That was in 1989 and both have done very well ever since.

Check what you can find locally and if not then PM me and will get you in touch with my guy here.

Joe

rolex is determined to exclude the independent watchmaker. imagine if porsche only sold it's products to only authorized techs. i had my 5 year spare parts account terminated with no reason. ROLEX SUCKS! still love the watches.
steve

Steve,

Now I know why the prices of used parts on the internet have gone up so fast. Was wondering what was going on but your email confirmed it.

JoeA

i haven't checked prices lately because i'm still able to sneak around by getting product from friends who still have accounts. i'm not sure how long it will last. the field rep is traveling across the country inspecting shops and sending out letters soon after. all the swiss luxery brands are going in the same direction. do yourself a favor and buy an american vintage wristwatch. millions of spareparts are still available at a fair price and most big suppliers have large systems still in house.
steve

Sounds like it may be time to write a letter to Rolex and ask them how they would like it if we stop buying their product?

Trying to force me to go to their factory service center will result in my having only one or two of their watches, and the rest from another maker. I do not react well to any company trying to force me into anything and my pocketbook can shift to another brand very easily.

Joe

i think most people would be outraged by their parts account policy. be careful who you use as an alternative as all the swiss brands will be doing it if not done already. tag is still ok. sorry to say but the local watchmaker will soon be adjusting bands and changing batteries as his only source of income.
steve

Just looked and Rolex does not put an email on their website. Will call their office in NYC tomorrow and give them an earful.

If they do not care what the customers say, then I like other brands. Will never get rid of my President and one GMT master, (and maybe one Daytona!) but can live without the rest...

Joe

might be good to give them alittle headache on monday morning, like when they showed up at my shop unannounced for a surprise inspection.regards
steve

I've found this thread very enlightening. Let's see if I got things straight. You can expect a Rolex to be a minute off per month, and that's okay. For a comparison, a Seiko Quartz analog I bought over 15 years ago is off less than 3 seconds per month, (as checked by WWV) cost less than $200, has never been serviced and is functioning well. An evidently necessary Rolex service costs between $300 and $1,000. Nobody mentioned the possibility of wearing one might be as attractive to a mugger as a jug of Mad Dog is to an alcoholic. Gee folks, things have improved for me financially over the past decade, but damned if I can see one single good reason here for buying a Rolex...not one. I'm getting a bit bored with the face of the Seiko, though...so just ordered a Quartz Hamilton Khaki King for around $200. Figure I'll rotate them for a bit of variety in life. I wish to thank you all, especially you fans of Rolex, for talking me out of buying one. :) (edit) I've never had the Seiko serviced, but I have had the battery replaced 3 or 4 times...does that count?

The only problem with applying pressure to Rolex is that their watches last for decades even without servicing.

If and when I ever decide to get another one, I'll negotiate with the jeweler the first and second servicing. So if I buy one in 2007, I'll get free service until 2017.....

Hey,hey...don't be too hasty...Many folks buy a Rolex because they want to put on a watch and go about their business regardless of what that business is and not worry about the time.

It's home in the garage, in the office, in the water, hunting, fishing, night on the town etc. It weathers the storm.

The Rolex was the first watch that did not fray the edges of my suit pants pockets, has a bit of style and looks and feels good, it's durable and is definitely solid.

It is the last watch you should ever have to buy.

Agree but you should have them serviced every 10 years min. If you need parts and its not at a authorized service center when they find a problem, then YOU have a problem.

My issue is that I own the watch and do not like it when the factory tries to shove it down my throat who I am going to use for service.

agree w/kqw. This watch is absolutely unbelieveable. Was cleaned once in 80s and that's it. Just started slowing down again (it was new in 1964). I wear it every day and it looks great for work, going out and casual affairs (stainless, datejust). I scratched the crystal working on the porsche and then put a big crack (not all the way through) when it hit door striker plate when I was carrying drywall a few years ago. I'm not sure what could kill it?

joe

THere's nothing wrong with your attitude. It's a very practical attitude. The difference between a Rolex and your quartz watches is kind of like the difference between a Toyota and a Porsche or a Z06 and a Porsche.

If you want accuracy and precision get a quartz. If you want mechanical excellence get a mechanical watch.

In addition, the precious metals used to make that Rolex accounts for a good part of the expense of the watch.

There are no sharp edges, no flaws, no seams visible in the bracelets and most importantly, they go UP in value.

If you have insurance riders on your home owners policy, every 5 years or so you should have the watch appraised again and adjust the policy accordingly.

Ever have favorite and fairly expensive suits or dress pants that after 1 year you notice the edges of the pants pockets frayed? Damn, is usually my response when I discover that.

Will a quartz keep more accurate time? yes, of course, but if you want a "Time Piece" that becomes an heirloom and appreciates in value and you can actually wear/use it...the choice is obvious.