Tru-Beat w/"Service Watch" on dial. "Property of Rolex Watch Division Tokyo" on back

[powerfunk]

Has anybody ever seen a watch with "Service Watch" on the dial? Based on that and the "Property of Rolex Service Division Tokyo" on the caseback, I'm assuming this was a "practice watch" for internal Rolex watchmakers (like those old steel Day-Dates). Somebody on reddit saw this at Nakano Broadway:

[Dan S]

Haha, maybe it was a loaner watch they gave you when your watch was being serviced!

[hutch300]

Dan, I have heard in the old days you could get a loaner watch when yours was in for service. It would make sense but I'd love to learn more about this.

[joe100]

I’d say that’s what this is. Some companies still offer a watch to wear while yours is in for service .

[powerfunk]

Oh I hadn't even considered the loaner possibility! Thanks guys

[Dan S]

If I hadn't written "Haha," I would be looking a lot smarter right now. :-)

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by Dan S

If I hadn't written "Haha," I would be looking a lot smarter right now. :-)

Lmao

[Crown & Shield]

I wonder how it eventually ended up being sold...

[baumare]

Lovely watch, I'm more inclined to think that is a practice watch for Rolex watchmakers because of the Deadbeat function

[KY..]

Very cool looking watch.
If customer loaner watches and watchmaker practice watches existed in the 1950’s shouldn’t there be plenty of information or people with first hand knowledge around?
It’s not like it’s 1000 year ago.

[Bxtek]

Wow, this is very cool! Very interesting too! It would great to find out the full history on a piece like this and if others exist. Never thought about loaner watches while yours is in service. Just like those cars driving around that says "Courtesy Car" to use when yours is in the shop.

I don't know how it would be though if you wore a watch like that at the time to a wedding or formal event because yours was in service. You're all dressed up in a tux or formal attire and wearing a watch that is obviously not owned by you.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Bxtek

Wow, this is very cool! Very interesting too! It would great to find out the full history on a piece like this and if others exist. Never thought about loaner watches while yours is in service. Just like those cars driving around that says "Courtesy Car" to use when yours is in the shop.

I don't know how it would be though if you wore a watch like that at the time to a wedding or formal event because yours was in service. You're all dressed up in a tux or formal attire and wearing a watch that is obviously not owned by you.

Oh good idea, a watch for a church service.

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by joe100

I’d say that’s what this is. Some companies still offer a watch to wear while yours is in for service .

Hublot had some fun ones.

[Woody]

One of the customers on the last YouTube video pushed out by watch trader referenced the availability of loan watches from Rolex. He said that in the 70s/80s his grandfather/father would drop his day-date off for service with Rolex in Geneva on his way to a break/work in the Mediterranean. He would be issued with a temporary replacement watch which he would hand back a couple of weeks later when collecting his serviced day-date. First time I had heard of such an arrangement.

[harry in montreal]

Equally important; I wonder if the true beat module survived and is in there ? Funny that this would be used as a loaner. From what I know, the modules could oft break and were removed and detached

[boring_sandwich]

RSC St James used to loan you watches while your watch was in for a service as recent as 6 years ago. They were all Tudor at that time although a few years prior
Rolex models. They were only engraved on the case back though "Property of Rolex"

[330ci]

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

Equally important; I wonder if the true beat module survived and is in there ? Funny that this would be used as a loaner. From what I know, the modules could oft break and were removed and detached

My biggest regret is not buying a TB 10 years ago, they never had that module though.

There was one with a broken module that went for $5,500 on the bay. That was probably the closest I would've gotten.

This beast is so cool though. Not sure what they'd ask but whatever it is, is probably worth it

[harry in montreal]

I think I remember that broken true beat from eBay. Someone listed the module
Alone within the past few years. It sold for big bucks and was in unknown condition