Ding ding... can it be fixed?

[RRGHOST1]

That wouldnt worry me in the slightest.

[rockysw]

as many have said, this ding is nothing to worry about. You cannout stop a watch getting dings and scratches (unless ofcourse you dont wear it).

[georgew]

Originally Posted by padi56

That tiny ding don't need laser welding,what are you going to do every time you see tiny dings want to get them laser welding.Just wear your watch in good health for the next tens years or more now that's far more important than that very very tiny ding.

this right here. Look, I get it is expensive and something you like, but it is a watch. Enjoy wearing it and get it fixed (or don;t) when it may be time for a real service.

[Bald Angus]

That’s a character mark! Keep wearing it!


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[powersweets]

I've been told it can be repaired through welding/polishing without opening the case and voiding the warranty.

I'm tempted given that's it's a very small cost relatively speaking.

Decisions...

[huncho]

i would just leave it because it's not something you're even gonna see when wearing it, and not something anyone else will see either. fix it at service down the road

[OSU1989]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Pretty sure RSC don’t laser weld. If they are looking to polish it I would avoid (sorry didn’t look at the photo but it’s obviously deep) and if they polish they could distort the case. Correct me if I’m wrong though anyone!

The Texas RSC does not laser weld. I would imagine it’s the same policy for the other US RSCs.

[powersweets]

The laser weld has been offered by Steven Hale in London. Who as far as I'm aware have a very good reputation.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by powersweets

The laser weld has been offered by Steven Hale in London. Who as far as I'm aware have a very good reputation.

If you are wanting to laser weld every time you see the tiniest ding, in its life its going to work out a very very very expensive watch. And if you had seen my own working tool watch 16600SD after 5 long year's with well over 600 hours underwater guess you would of had a heart attack. But easily fixed at normal routine RSC ,and now watch has had 4 RSC service's and polish with 4 different RSC world wide.

[Burlington]

Unless you are going to stop wearing it completely, best waiting a few months and then see how you feel about the usefulness of repairing every tiny mark.

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by OSU1989

The Texas RSC does not laser weld. I would imagine it’s the same policy for the other US RSCs.

The NYC facility does laser weld. I have seen the station first-hand. Unless it is functional repair (think gold bracelet), it must be specifically requested. I have asked about this and received confirmation by a lead refinisher during a training session with him.

[77T]

RSCs in a country as large as USA use a strategic approach. Not every site will do everything under the sun.

If the intaking RSC doesn't have the expertise then a simple transship to another one commences.

There is a certain human resource skill-level optimization involved as well as full capacity utilization for physical assets.


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[Dom9]

Originally Posted by Mr Ben

https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_polisher/?hl=en

This guy is used by a number of dealers and tends to have a waiting list but likely to sort you out. The instagram pages are worth a browse just to appreciate how much damage can be fixed…

I would leave it and learn to love it but another vote for The Watch Polisher in London - has done some great work for me!

RSC will never know it was done so no need to worry about the warranty, if you can't live with it, as is.

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by Pepperjack

The NYC facility does laser weld. I have seen the station first-hand. Unless it is functional repair (think gold bracelet), it must be specifically requested. I have asked about this and received confirmation by a lead refinisher during a training session with him.

I have a materials science background and would like to point out that laser welding a watch case is not a free lunch. Differences in the alloy used in the source material can make a significant difference in appearance of the welded area from the case of the watch. Also, there is always some structural change in the metal in the heat affected zone, which is the boundary between the laser welded filler and the case material. I have looked at a number of laser welded watches and this transition area is pretty easy to pick up if you know what you’re looking for.

Also, although laser welding does confine the heat to a quite small area if it is done properly, I personally would not have my watch laser welded with the movement in place, believing there’s a risk that lubricants could be affected or made less viscous and therefore mobile.

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by fsprow

I have a materials science background and would like to point out that laser welding a watch case is not a free lunch. Differences in the alloy used in the source material can make a significant difference in appearance of the welded area from the case of the watch. Also, there is always some structural change in the metal in the heat affected zone, which is the boundary between the laser welded filler and the case material. I have looked at a number of laser welded watches and this transition area is pretty easy to pick up if you know what you’re looking for.

Also, although laser welding does confine the heat to a quite small area if it is done properly, I personally would not have my watch laser welded with the movement in place, believing there’s a risk that lubricants could be affected or made less viscous and therefore mobile.

Yes, when an RSC performs a laser weld on a case, it is done while the case is disassembled. Additionally, any laser welding not performed by an RSC or authorized establishment is considered a modification. It might not always be caught during an evaluation, but they have shared photos with us of some modifications that they have identified. Some watchmakers, like Drew Zimmerman, have been trained by Rolex and are therefore authorized; places like Rolliworks create modified pieces that may compromise your options in the future if the welding is subpar.

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by Pepperjack

Yes, when an RSC performs a laser weld on a case, it is done while the case is disassembled. Additionally, any laser welding not performed by an RSC or authorized establishment is considered a modification. It might not always be caught during an evaluation, but they have shared photos with us of some modifications that they have identified. Some watchmakers, like Drew Zimmerman, have been trained by Rolex and are therefore authorized; places like Rolliworks create modified pieces that may compromise your options in the future if the welding is subpar.

Sounds like a good approach to me. Thanks for the info.
Frank

[powersweets]

Originally Posted by Pepperjack

Yes, when an RSC performs a laser weld on a case, it is done while the case is disassembled. Additionally, any laser welding not performed by an RSC or authorized establishment is considered a modification. It might not always be caught during an evaluation, but they have shared photos with us of some modifications that they have identified. Some watchmakers, like Drew Zimmerman, have been trained by Rolex and are therefore authorized; places like Rolliworks create modified pieces that may compromise your options in the future if the welding is subpar.

Steven Hale is Rolex accredited, RSC even send vintages watches to them. I believe they would use 904L steel so I don't think the repair would be perceptible.

[sgt10p]

If you plan to wear it 24/7 within 6 months there'll be plenty more scratches. If it's a special watch to be worn on occasion, you'll be constantly upset with the damage.

[M@2]

That's the problem with any brand new shiny thing/ cars, watches... the first ding is the toughest. I personally wouldn't be looking to fix that as (to me) it's minor, and you'll likely have many more "patina" moments. Enjoy the journey to making the watch vintage!

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by L_S_SHOE

Ignore it. I’m OCD and have spent far too much time and money obsessing and trying to fix things like this. The fix is never good enough, and you end up wishing you’d done something different. Learn to ignore it, forget it, and the sting of it will fade. You’ll put many more scratches and dings on it in the future and you’ll wonder why you were ever so concerned about that particular one.

This.