Rolex Repair

[944 S2]

May want to use Rolex if for no other reason than resale value.

[t6dpilot]

Javadog, I was pleased to read your detailed description of your background in the vintage Rolex community. I have a 1973 Daytona 6263 Oyster Chronograph that needs service. I have been wringing my hands with where to send it. Obviously, it is an extremely valuable watch and it has a strong sentimental value to me. I had heard that sending it to Dallas was risky as they liked to replace parts and return it to new. Like my perfectly "sunburnt" dial, for example. That would crush me. Would you trust a watch like that with them?

[javadog]

Scott, that’s the only place I would send it. I would send it registered mail, or just wait until you want to take a long weekend off from work and fly down to Dallas with it on your wrist. There are plenty of great restaurants in Dallas, even with this stupid virus floating around. I think some of the museums are open, so there’s plenty to do down here. You would enjoy the hospitality that Rolex offers and would be able to relay your concerns to them in person. If you decide to mail it, enclose a detailed letter specifying that you want a service done but, if you have any limitations, list those clearly. I cannot imagine them replacing the dial, as that’s not a wear item and the replacement of a dial was never even suggested in any of the services I had them perform on all of my watches.

I don’t know what condition your case and bracelet are in, my personal preference was to always refinish them to as-new. Some people value patina, but if you put two original, untouched watches side-by-side and one of them was like new and the other had some wear, the like-new one would be worth more. If in doubt, contact one of the Rolex gurus in the watch world for their opinion. I am out of that world now and although I had a watch similar to yours, I sold it sometime back and haven’t followed the recent sales. If you have any more detailed questions, send me a PM and we can talk.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by javadog

blah, blah, blah, watch blah, blah, watch, blah

Meh, what do you know you poopyhead! It's not like you work there or own the company.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by masraum

Meh, what do you know you poopyhead! It's not like you work there or own the company.

The ironic thing is that I sold off my entire watch collection and haven't worn, or owned, a watch in probably five years, or more.

[NutmegCarrera]

One more data point here:
I’ve done both. Used a “certified watchmaker” who no longer worked at an AD for Rolex. He did an “okay” job - after I returned the watch to him after a day.
Took the same watch (now an 18 year old Explorer II) to the local Rolex A.D. - who has an in house certified watchmaker.
The bill was less than $800, and watch looks brand new - with a 2 year warranty that Rolex backs.
You don’t have to have the exterior polished. I’m not sure why anybody wouldn’t want this - but it’s an option.
Also-
Rolex WILL NOT SELL PARTS to anybody that isn’t an AD. Same with the oils/greases that they use.
So why would you go anywhere else?
I look at < $1000 every 20 years as pretty reasonable maintenance. I wear mine every day. Looks as good now as when my wife bought it for me. And, the value is more than 2x what she paid for it.
I’ll be taking my 1988 vintage Tudor sub in sometime in the next couple years for the same.
Would love to get the bracelet completely rebuilt/replaced as the links are the ‘folded’ type, and I wore that watch from 1988 to 2004 or so. It’s pretty loose.
That one is becoming pretty rare. Blue, no date sub. Prices are climbing for them, too.
I think the difference between the factory (or AD with certified watchmaker) is much greater than “Dealer vs. independent shop” when it comes to auto repairs.
And my opinion is worth $0.02 - at best.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

I just paid $600 for a full monty service on my Omega from factory dealer. Very pleased with the results.

Finally got my wife's seamaster back from the factory. $650 and 6 months (!) allegedly because of the rona.

But it's back and it looks like new!

Next time we go independent, and I have a 2yo Mil Gauss that will force a tough decision in 8 years or so. We're lucky to have an awesome watch guy in Santa Fe.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by mjohnson

Finally got my wife's seamaster back from the factory. $650 and 6 months (!) allegedly because of the rona..

Corona my ass, Omega was always slow. I once waited about that long for them to supply a couple replacement pins for the bracelet of my titanium Seamaster. They didn't have to do anything to the watch, just send the pins to my local dealer so he could put the bracelet back together.

Only watch I ever owned that had the bracelet fail while I was wearing it. Liked the watch, hated the bracelet construction and the company that made it.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by NutmegCarrera

One more data point here:
I’ve done both. Used a “certified watchmaker” who no longer worked at an AD for Rolex. He did an “okay” job - after I returned the watch to him after a day.
Took the same watch (now an 18 year old Explorer II) to the local Rolex A.D. - who has an in house certified watchmaker.
The bill was less than $800, and watch looks brand new - with a 2 year warranty that Rolex backs.
You don’t have to have the exterior polished. I’m not sure why anybody wouldn’t want this - but it’s an option.
Also-
Rolex WILL NOT SELL PARTS to anybody that isn’t an AD. Same with the oils/greases that they use.
So why would you go anywhere else?
I look at < $1000 every 20 years as pretty reasonable maintenance. I wear mine every day. Looks as good now as when my wife bought it for me. And, the value is more than 2x what she paid for it.
I’ll be taking my 1988 vintage Tudor sub in sometime in the next couple years for the same.
Would love to get the bracelet completely rebuilt/replaced as the links are the ‘folded’ type, and I wore that watch from 1988 to 2004 or so. It’s pretty loose.
That one is becoming pretty rare. Blue, no date sub. Prices are climbing for them, too.
I think the difference between the factory (or AD with certified watchmaker) is much greater than “Dealer vs. independent shop” when it comes to auto repairs.
And my opinion is worth $0.02 - at best.

You bring up a good point about the parts.... Not only do local watchmakers use parts from god knows where, or even just not replace parts that should be replaced, there's one other thing...

If you give a watch to Rolex to service, they won't do so unless you allow them to remove and replace any aftermarket parts in it. Period. They may even refuse to work on a watch that's been serviced numerous times by independents.

I'd suggest you service the watches at least every ten years. The recommendation used to be five years but Rolex has made some advances in the lubricants they use and I think ten years is maybe OK, if not optimum.

I'd replace the entire Tudor bracelet before thinking of rebuilding it. Newer bracelets are better.

[stevej37]

I hope nobody takes offence at my questions....but do any of the Rolex owners here actually wear their Rolex watches? If so...do you ever use it for telling the time?
Thanks.

[Seahawk]

I am plebeian, a peasant basically.

The below is what I liked, what effort and money I was willing to put into a watch. I don't collect a thing, never have. More than a Seamaster seemed odd to me. I wear it everyday; flew with it, farm with it, live with it.

I based this on watches I inherited from relatives (the coolest is a Hamilton Standard Navy issue from WWII) that all had a lived in feel. My Dad's watch, worth nothing, speaks to me since I see it in my minds eye on his wrist in the exact same shape today as it was then.

Again, modest people without panache.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by javadog

The ironic thing is that I sold off my entire watch collection and haven't worn, or owned, a watch in probably five years, or more.

That is a bit surprising.

What's the deal, once you've had those other watches, a more mundane watch just doesn't do it for you? Or has your love just worn off and now that we all have cell phones with accurate time, you just don't feel the need?

[javadog]

Originally Posted by stevej37

I hope nobody takes offence at my questions....but do any of the Rolex owners here actually wear their Rolex watches? If so...do you ever use it for telling the time?
Thanks.

Originally Posted by masraum

That is a bit surprising.

What's the deal, once you've had those other watches, a more mundane watch just doesn't do it for you? Or has your love just worn off and now that we all have cell phones with accurate time, you just don't feel the need?

I wore one daily for decades. My first daily driver was a Datejust that I picked up in Zurich in 1982. I had that watch until 5 or 6 years ago. My last daily driver was an Explorer 1 that I bought around 2000, give or take. It was the most accurate watch I ever owned. I kept it on my wrist 24/7 and it was adjusted so well that it neither gained or lost any significant time. It was pretty close to +- 0 seconds per day.

I used it to read the time: that was before I had a smart phone. It wasn't a status piece. One of the things that got me out of the watch hobby were all of the changes that took place from the industry trying to pander to the segment of the buying public that was all about the "look at me" aspect of watch ownership. Couldn't stand those little *******s in the watch forums, can't stand what they did to the watch industry.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I am plebeian, a peasant basically.

The below is what I liked, what effort and money I was willing to put into a watch. I don't collect a thing, never have. More than a Seamaster seemed odd to me. I wear it everyday; flew with it, farm with it, live with it.

I based this on watches I inherited from relatives (the coolest is a Hamilton Standard Navy issue from WWII) that all had a lived in feel. My Dad's watch, worth nothing, speaks to me since I see it in my minds eye on his wrist in the exact same shape today as it was then.

Again, modest people without panache.

I had the titanium version of that watch. It was very comfortable to wear, certainly more comfortable than a Rolex Submariner. I wore mine a bunch, until the bracelet came apart.

Hated the company, though. Lousy after sales service and my local Omega dealers were *******s, too.

[NutmegCarrera]

Java dog-
Love the idea of replacing bracelet.
However, it appears to be rare - like hen’s teeth.
If I could find one, it looks like cost would be on the order of $2k.
That watch basically looks identical to the Rolex sub of that vintage, with exception of the dial.
The outside of the clasp has the Tudor ‘crest’, but the inside of the clasp is labeled as “Rolex”. I believe the links in the expander are also stamped with “Rolex”.
I’m afraid that if I asked the Dallas service center to do anything to it, I’d get a bill for a new one - and never see the old one again.
Incidentally, the case is also marked as a Rolex part.
I think all that really differed from the Rolex version back at that time was which movement was used and what the dial appearance was. Even the screw down crown has the Rolex logo.

Of course, today - the Tudor brand is completely separated from any Rolex design cues.

My folks got the watch for me for graduation - and had the back engraved.
Definitely not leaving my possession while I’m taking nourishment - unless my son somehow ‘earns’ it.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by NutmegCarrera

Java dog-
Love the idea of replacing bracelet.
However, it appears to be rare - like hen’s teeth.
If I could find one, it looks like cost would be on the order of $2k.
That watch basically looks identical to the Rolex sub of that vintage, with exception of the dial.
The outside of the clasp has the Tudor ‘crest’, but the inside of the clasp is labeled as “Rolex”. I believe the links in the expander are also stamped with “Rolex”.
I’m afraid that if I asked the Dallas service center to do anything to it, I’d get a bill for a new one - and never see the old one again.
Incidentally, the case is also marked as a Rolex part.
I think all that really differed from the Rolex version back at that time was which movement was used and what the dial appearance was. Even the screw down crown has the Rolex logo.

Of course, today - the Tudor brand is completely separated from any Rolex design cues.

My folks got the watch for me for graduation - and had the back engraved.
Definitely not leaving my possession while I’m taking nourishment - unless my son somehow ‘earns’ it.

If you want a new bracelet and want to keep that one for originality, send it off for service with a generic leather strap on it. They'll be happy to sell you a newer bracelet, if you want one. I have no idea what they now offer for that watch but bracelets have improved hugely in the last few decades. I'm not a big fan of restoring worn bracelet links. You'll never get one fixed well enough for me to be happy wearing it. I've watched some of the Youtube videos of guys restoring the 18kt gold President bracelets and the workmanship I've seen was hideous.

Each part of a bracelet has a part number and there are books out there that go into some of the details as to which parts are original to which bracelets. Most of it is devoted to Rolex bracelets but there may be some information on Tudor, as well. I never looked into the older Tudor bracelets, as the only vintage Tudor I owned had a brown leather strap and was all the better for it.

[NutmegCarrera]

SteveJ37-
For what it’s worth - I’ve worn mine every day since middle of 1988.
My habit is to use these to tell time. Frankly, I’m lost without my watch.
I rely on the GMT movement for travel & keeping track of “home” and local times.

I typically take it off to do yard work and go biking. Otherwise - I’m always wearing one.
1988-2004 Tudor Submariner
2004-2018 Rolex Explorer II
2018-2020 Rolex Air King (While Explorer II was out of commission - I dubbed a shot playing golf)
Currently - alternate between Explorer & Air King

I love the look & feel. But it’s a tool.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by NutmegCarrera

SteveJ37-
For what it’s worth - I’ve worn mine every day since middle of 1988.
My habit is to use these to tell time. Frankly, I’m lost without my watch.

Cool...I didn't think many used them on a daily basis. (because of the value)
I wear a $200 Skagen...that I always remove for bike riding..working on a car...or anything that might damage it. A Rolex...would prob sit on my dresser all the time.

[javadog]

Neither one of my sons wears a watch. I gave a Datejust to my oldest kid when he graduated high school, he’s worn it some but I bet it hasn’t been worn in 10 years. My youngest kid never had much of an interest in watches. I did give him the first nice watch I ever owned, which he seems to have misplaced somewhere along the way. It’s probably lost for all time.

Kids...

[mgatepi]

I wore my GMT everyday from 1987 to 2019. Just recently had it serviced and retired it to the winder, only to be used on special occasions. I replaced it with a new TAG Carrera. Nice watch, but not a Rolex....
My Rolex has tremendous sentimental value to me and someday it will go to my son...hopefully he will wear it.