Rolex Repair

[aschen]

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.

Wear mine 85% of the time including working on cars, sleeping, and showering. It is just a lowly explorer though.

Ironically it is the most espensive watch I own but it is still my beater. They are tough great watches if you look past the snob apeal. I really enjoy vintage watches and wear them the other 15% of the time. Mostly somewhat cheaper though substantially more fragile watches though.

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by mgatepi

My Rolex has tremendous sentimental value to me and someday it will go to my son...

Likewise with mine, a GMT 1 that my late wife gave me for my birthday in 1974. I now have a son in law who I can leave it to.

And thanks for the detailed insider information, javadog.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by javadog

You can approve or decline whatever you wish. When I had them service my 5512, I was quite explicit as to what they could or couldn’t do. They had no problem with it.

Correct.

If/when you send a Rolex to an RSC, you will receive a work order in which you can approve or decline individual services. If there is something not mentioned, it is always a good idea to address it prior to the final work-order sign-off.
That being said, I would probably stick with The Dallas RSC (for most "modern-ish" refrences). IME, NYC is somewhat less "flexible" (and/or more pushy) regarding service recommendation latitude, for some reason.

Originally Posted by javadog

I’ve never seen them over polish anything, it looks like it did when it left the factory.

It does happen. I've seen more than a few watches that have been over-polished via RSC service. It has usually been with watches that had a fair amount of nicks/scratches to begin with and/or those that have been service-polished several times. I've seen bracelets where the coronet has been completely polished off by the RSC (especially on precious-metal references). Even Rolex themselves have previously acknowledged/stated a finite number of factory service polishes before a case is considered to be no longer serviceable (somewhere around 6-8 times, IIRC).

Originally Posted by javadog

That’s definitely something you can’t always say for independent service facilities or local contractors, they simply don’t have the time, skill and equipment to do what Rolex does.

Depends. As of my last watch sent in to an RSC, they don't offer laser/micro-welding, so the amount of material removed during a polish is dictated by the worst/deepest scratch. A few reputable indys do offer laser-welding, so if a case has just one nasty scratch/ding, they can weld it up prior to case polishing, which requires far less material to be removed as a whole, to achieve the same results. Some of those same indys will also weld up the lug holes prior to polish, and then re-drill them after polishing (which Rolex does not do). This results in crisp/sharp lug holes, as opposed to "dished" holes.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by javadog

I only took my Rolexes and Tudors to the factory service centers. In the US, which is what we're discussing in this thread, there are two.

Three now (again). RSC Beverly Hills has been back on line for a while now, though they only accept in-person appointments (no mail-in service).

Originally Posted by javadog

My guess is that any people that were disappointed with them doing "unauthorized" things were simply not engaged in the process and the fault lies with them and not Rolex.

Agreed.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by t6dpilot

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?

Originally Posted by javadog

Scott, that’s the only place I would send it.

Dallas RSC will not service that watch. A 6263 is obviously a significant piece and would fall under Rolex's "Restoration Project" process/protocol if you want them to service it, which requires sending it to Geneva (by way of NYC). There is a $2k "pre-estimate" fee for NYC to evaluate it, which can take 6+ months. If approved, NYC will send it off to Geneva where the service estimate is performed (which can easily exceed $20k on that piece). They will source the correct (NOS) parts if available, and manufacture any parts needed that can't be sourced. The entire process can take 2-3 years.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Dallas RSC will not service that watch. A 6263 is obviously a significant piece and would fall under Rolex's "Restoration Project" process/protocol if you want them to service it, which requires sending it to Geneva (by way of NYC). There is a $2k "pre-estimate" fee for NYC to evaluate it, which can take 6+ months. If approved, NYC will send it off to Geneva where the service estimate is performed (which can easily exceed $20k on that piece). They will source the correct (NOS) parts if available, and manufacture any parts needed that can't be sourced. The entire process can take 2-3 years.

No kidding? When did they start that crap?

[javadog]

Out of sheer curiosity, I called the Dallas RSC and they took a look at how many 6263 watches have been serviced in the last year and it’s just a couple. Those did go to Geneva and I suspect Scott's would too. That does not make me a happy camper; it’s fine if you have a truly valuable watch that needs more than what Dallas can do, but this sounds like a case of pocketbook thievery.

They did say that you can send it to Dallas or New York, the initial inspection fee is two grand and that comes off of the service fee, if you decide to do the work. It sounds like the service starts at about 10 grand, which I think is ridiculous for a watch that just needs routine servicing.

What utter crap.

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by javadog

No kidding? When did they start that crap?

Yeah, it's crazy for the "special" references now. Probably based on the aforementioned lack of remaining vintage parts, and the climbing demand/significance (and market value) of such pieces.

To make matters worse, most (if not all now?) of the reputable indy watchmakers with Rolex parts accounts have had those accounts terminated by Rolex.

There are still a few indys in the US that I would trust with such a piece (who have a decent parts stockpile), but a standard service/overhaul will still typically be north of $5k on it, and will take a looong time, especially if there are any HTF parts (which is basically all of them) that need to be replaced, and you want to avoid using aftermarket parts.

[aschen]

Pretty please: post a pic of the 6263!

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by javadog

Out of sheer curiosity, I called the Dallas RSC and they took a look at how many 6263 watches have been serviced in the last year and it’s just a couple. Those did go to Geneva and I suspect Scott's would too. That does not make me a happy camper; it’s fine if you have a truly valuable watch that needs more than what Dallas can do, but this sounds like a case of pocketbook thievery.

They did say that you can send it to Dallas or New York, the initial inspection fee is two grand and that comes off of the service fee, if you decide to do the work. It sounds like the service starts at about 10 grand, which I think is ridiculous for a watch that just needs routine servicing.

What utter crap.

Yup, and I doubt you could get one serviced @ Rolex for anywhere close to the "starts at" price these days. The one I personally know of was a Paul Newman 6263, and that service was WELL north of $20k.

[ErVikingo]

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.

it rotates with other similarly nice timepieces. Bike rides, gym and race days I wear a Garmin Fenix

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Yeah, it's crazy for the "special" references now. Probably based on the aforementioned lack of remaining vintage parts, and the climbing demand/significance (and market value) of such pieces.

To make matters worse, most (if not all now?) of the reputable indy watchmakers with Rolex parts accounts have had those accounts terminated by Rolex.

There are still a few indys in the US that I would trust with such a piece (who have a decent parts stockpile), but a standard service/overhaul will still typically be north of $5k on it, and will take a looong time, especially if there are any HTF parts (which is basically all of them) that need to be replaced, and you want to avoid using aftermarket parts.

I think I’m a little more cynical than you are. I suspect as the values of these things have climbed, Rolex have seen an opportunity to make more money. They have never been more vertically integrated as a company than they are today, they could easily make production runs of parts and restock their spares, if they chose to. They remind me of Ferrari, when they started their Ferrari classic program. No real value in that for the average guy, just a way to make a bunch more money.

Sounds like Scott needs to talk to you about his watch, I’ve been out of the hobby a few too many years.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by javadog

Out of sheer curiosity, I called the Dallas RSC and they took a look at how many 6263 watches have been serviced in the last year and it’s just a couple. Those did go to Geneva and I suspect Scott's would too. That does not make me a happy camper; it’s fine if you have a truly valuable watch that needs more than what Dallas can do, but this sounds like a case of pocketbook thievery.

Originally Posted by Eric Coffey

Yeah, it's crazy for the "special" references now. Probably based on the aforementioned lack of remaining vintage parts, and the climbing demand/significance (and market value) of such pieces.

If Paul had one, he'd sell it and start posting pics of his limited edition Timex. We'd hear all about how his quartz watch keeps great time and how comfortable it is to wear and how he doesn't have to deal with snobs or worry about bumping it against stuff.

[javadog]

Well, to Paul’s credit, he decided he didn’t need certain complexities in his life and I reached the same decision about a dozen years ago. I didn’t like having to send some of my watches back to the factory in Europe to get simple service work done, I didn’t want to put up with dwindling supplies of spare parts, those were certainly contributing factors to my decision.

[sc_rufctr]

Just sayin... If you're able to own a Rolex you should be able to get it serviced properly.

[greglepore]

Seahawk- I ‘ve had an identical Bond Seamaster since the 90s. Great watch, but have had the braclet issues. Jack Alexyon in NC is my go to for service. Bezel is currently frozen in place, would live to have a diy trick to free it.
My story is similar, Dad had a early 60s Omega Connie that Is now mine, had Jack clean that up. When I was a younger atty, bought the Seamaster after my first reasonably large contingent fee.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[masraum]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Bezel is currently frozen in place, would live to have a diy trick to free it.

Easy peazy!

[h.wong]

google OC Watch Guy... in Orange County... (Huntington Beach)

talk with Patrick the Owner... Super guy..!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by greglepore

Seahawk- I ‘ve had an identical Bond Seamaster since the 90s. Great watch, but have had the braclet issues. Jack Alexyon in NC is my go to for service. Bezel is currently frozen in place, would live to have a diy trick to free it.
My story is similar, Dad had a early 60s Omega Connie that Is now mine, had Jack clean that up. When I was a younger atty, bought the Seamaster after my first reasonably large contingent fee.

Excellent! I looked him up and will use him on the next service.

Best and thanks

[t6dpilot]

Photo of subject Daytona. Looking into it further, I think the correct reference is 6265? Sigma face without red DAYTONA lettering.