What watch do you wear?

[vash]

when I retire I want this!!

the Omega Moonwatch. talking a big game probably.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by vash

when I retire I want this!!

the Omega Moonwatch. talking a big game probably.

If you want one of those, I'd suggest a vintage one. One with straight case lugs, a 321 movement, basically the version that actually went into space, not one of the modern replicas.

They're out their, I've owned one in the past.

[Cdnone1]

Love this watch. Just realized the date is wrong. I can't really read the date without glasses

[vash]

Originally Posted by javadog

If you want one of those, I'd suggest a vintage one. One with straight case lugs, a 321 movement, basically the version that actually went into space, not one of the modern replicas.

They're out their, I've owned one in the past.

I'm good with a new one. I've sent many rolexes and my Tudor off for repairs. that is not enjoyable to me. I just want to use it and see what time it is..and whatever all those other little dials tell me. hahahha.

I actually have an old Omega that needs some factory love. but I havent pulled that $900 dollar trigger yet. pains me.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by vash

I'm good with a new one. I've sent many rolexes and my Tudor off for repairs. that is not enjoyable to me. I just want to use it and see what time it is..and whatever all those other little dials tell me. hahahha.

I actually have an old Omega that needs some factory love. but I havent pulled that $900 dollar trigger yet. pains me.

I've owned modern Omega's, too. My favorite was the all-titanium version of their SeaMaster. Bracelets have issues, can come apart when you least want it to... mine did. Took 6 months to get a couple tiny parts from Omaga to fix it.

Ahh well...

One like this:

[MikeSid]

On the subject of service, I have a Sub from the about 2002 that is due for a service. I've basically worn it everyday for the last 23 years without any service and it's been fine. But I get the sense the springs might be a little worn by now.

What is the best way to send out for service? I have an authorized dealer a couple blocks from my office. But I seem to remember someone suggesting shipping it right to the repair facility.

Any tips for how to get this done? It's a new enough piece that there is no patina to preserve and I am fine with a full service and accepting replacement parts.

[aschen]

I dropped my explore off at our local AD a few years ago. I told them to not polish just out of principal even though its nothing too special.

They made it painless, sent to rsc and I had it back in a few weeks. I think it was 800$ to service plus 200$ for optional new crystal. Thereabouts

[javadog]

Originally Posted by MikeSid

On the subject of service, I have a Sub from the about 2002 that is due for a service. I've basically worn it everyday for the last 23 years without any service and it's been fine. But I get the sense the springs might be a little worn by now.

What is the best way to send out for service? I have an authorized dealer a couple blocks from my office. But I seem to remember someone suggesting shipping it right to the repair facility.

Any tips for how to get this done? It's a new enough piece that there is no patina to preserve and I am fine with a full service and accepting replacement parts.

Send it here:

Rolex factory Service Center Dallas
2601 N Harwood St, Dallas, TX 75201
Phone: (833) 765-3900

Call them to have them explain the procedure. It's easy.

[Steve Carlton]

Aren't there perfectly capable watch repairmen that can service a Rolex for a lot less?

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Aren't there perfectly capable watch repairmen that can service a Rolex for a lot less?

Not in my experience and I've done it for 40 years.

Plenty of people will say, sure, my guy's the best!

I've seen watches ruined by the local yokels.

[vash]

I dropped my watch off at a factory store and let them handle it.

my Tudor cost me $800 or more last time and I had to argue with some dude about leaving my bracelet alone. I think the bracelet alone was another $900 IIRC. mine was shipped to the watch factory, Switzerland. I dont think my watch costed that much new when I bought it decades ago.

[mgatepi]

I have a Vintage Rolex I bought in 1988 and a Tag Carrera I wear everyday. I dont wear the rolex so much anymore becasue of its value.
I am considering a new watch and the Grand Seiko has caught my eye. They have some really nice looking watches and the price isnt that bad for a Spring Drive.

[MikeSid]

I'm going to spring for the factory service, I just didn't know if there was a difference between having my local authorized service center ship it out, or sending it to, say, Dallas, myself. I'm assuming that my local place would send it to Dallas, or the one in Philadelphia. But I'm not sure it needs to go to Switzerland.

[ckcarr]

Well, a new Rolex will cost you $15,000 minimum these days, so a "tune up" every five or ten years for $800 doesn't seem unreasonable. The inner workings of these watches are like those miniature engines you sometimes see on YouTube. I wouldn't trust just anyone.

[Steve Carlton]

Originally Posted by javadog

Not in my experience and I've done it for 40 years.

Plenty of people will say, sure, my guy's the best!

I've seen watches ruined by the local yokels.

Done what for 40 years? I'm sure there's plenty of guys that can mess up a Rolex, but I suspect there are some with a good reputation that can be vetted online at a watch forum. Just throwing it out there. It sounds like taking an old Porsche to a dealer vs a reputable indy. I don't know, I'm more in the camp of waiting until there's a problem before servicing it. I've only had nice watches since 2011, but my first one was a quartz 300M. Retail price $2,250 and discounted price $1,575 through an AD. Works perfectly, no muss no fuss. Has the right time on it except a dead battery or a clock change. Nowadays I can't find a single Omega I like that's quartz anymore.

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-seamaster-diver-300m-quartz-36-25-mm-21230366101001

[aschen]

I wouldent send until it doesnt keep time well or has some other problem.

Reputable indy for a rolex is fine, especially if you are trying to preserve vintage condition and want sympathy in parts changing. They arnt all that much cheaper from my limited experience. $5-700 ive been told by a few shops.

I have bought watches on and off for about 25 years. I am a hoarder so never got rid of any of them. I currently have maybe 8 lower cost watches say under 2k. I will no longer buy at this price point since it doesnt make a lot of sense to service. Most of these cheaper watches are still working fine or at least good enough. One of them loses a min a day which isnt great but not worth servicing.

I say buy watches below about 600$ or above say 3k. Lots of nice watches in between but not for me due to service practicalities. Exceptions for watches you love of course. Its not a rational hobby.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by MikeSid

I'm going to spring for the factory service, I just didn't know if there was a difference between having my local authorized service center ship it out, or sending it to, say, Dallas, myself. I'm assuming that my local place would send it to Dallas, or the one in Philadelphia. But I'm not sure it needs to go to Switzerland.

You could have your local dealer send it out for you but I find it easier to mail it directly to the service center in Dallas. Actually, I usually just took it their myself when I was in Dallas but that's a different experience.

Call them, they'll tell you how to ship it. They don't want you to ship it in the original box; they will ship it back in one of their service boxes.

I like Dallas better than the east coast center. It won't need to go to Switzerland. That's only appropriate for special watches that need parts made that are no longer available and you don't need that, or want to pay for it.

[ckcarr]

I'm finding this entire watch culture really interesting.
Fine guitars, luxury watches, firearm collections.... high end motorcycles, cars, airplanes...
It's good to be a capitalist!

What I have learned, and believe is true regarding Rolex.

They make around 1 million new watches per year. However the worldwide demand is far higher than that.

At one time the secondary market didn't exist as it is today, but now there's a lot of money in it. Back when I bought my first (and only) Rolex you could walk in and pick from a display case. Now they, the dealers, say the displays are just that, for display only and they have no inventory. This story is not true however as they receive weekly shipments from Rolex. They have inventory locked in their vault which is available for sale.

Meanwhile, now however, you must physically walk into a Rolex dealer. There are no on-line sales. They will tell you they have no inventory - as the nice lady said to me last week.
You have to introduce yourself, give them all your personal information... maybe have coffee, or buy a trinket or two.. And they say thank you, please keep in touch.

Then, behind the scenes, after you leave they check you out to the best of their ability. They scour social media, look for repetitive purchase histories in a master Rolex database. They are looking for the flippers... And in their way, trying to protect the brand. The directive is to sell to genuine customers, not flippers. If you check out, and you seem OK, that's still not enough. You need to be earnest, returning to the store and build a relationship with them, keep inquiring...

Then one day, you may get a call saying they have a Datejust, or Oyster perpetual for you... Or maybe actually the one you want... No way will they sell you one of the higher end watches though, those are reserved for their real and loyal customers. Now, once you get that call you have to act. You'll probably be given 48 hours to decide and be there to claim the watch. If not... They will never call again.

It seems crazy..

And that's why the Rolex tax exists.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Done what for 40 years? I'm sure there's plenty of guys that can mess up a Rolex, but I suspect there are some with a good reputation that can be vetted online at a watch forum. Just throwing it out there. It sounds like taking an old Porsche to a dealer vs a reputable indy. I don't know, I'm more in the camp of waiting until there's a problem before servicing it. I've only had nice watches since 2011, but my first one was a quartz 300M. Retail price $2,250 and discounted price $1,575 through an AD. Works perfectly, no muss no fuss. Has the right time on it except a dead battery or a clock change. Nowadays I can't find a single Omega I like that's quartz anymore.

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-us/watch-omega-seamaster-diver-300m-quartz-36-25-mm-21230366101001

Had Rolexes serviced for 40 years... a bunch of them... as well as other watches. Maybe 3 dozen in total.

Used the local "factory trained" guru until I learned a little bit about the world and got wiser. Tried the largest independent service outfit in the US once, on the first service for a ladies 18kt President that I'd bought new for my wife. It quit running after a year.

I bought a new Submariner around 2000 and wore it for a few years until a guy that I worked with convinced me to sell it to him. He ran his Harley into a rocky, roadside ditch at around 70mph, hit a road sign pole with his wrist (the one he wore the on) and it spit him off. Ugly, compound fracture of the wrist. I went back to find the watch in the ditch a few hours after he got to the hospital. The band had separated from the case and was in three pieces, scattered over several yards distance. I took it to Rolex in Dallas, they made it look and run like new again.

I tended to service a watch every 5 years. You can go longer than that but I chose not to. If you wait till you have running problems, you're unnecessarily wearing things inside the watch.

[t6dpilot]

Originally Posted by vash

when I retire I want this!!

the Omega Moonwatch. talking a big game probably.

Hey Vash, I like your taste. I have a couple of older Daytonas (very blessed) and the only other watch I would desire to own is an Omega Speedmaster. Pre-moon would be great, but those are very rare. I think a new one is just fine if you are not into the vintage vibe. Don't wait until you retire. So many people "wait" and I am a firm believer of the responsible here and now.

For visual candy, check out www.windvintage.com. You vintage watch fans will love it.