Damage from OF adjustment, or wear & tear?

[Mr. Superlative]

I'd like to solicit opinions from those who own watches with an OF strap on whether or not these minor blemishes could be the potential result of "watch maker negligence" during strap change, or are simply "wear & tear".

For context, I've not had the watch (Ref: 126519) all that long. When purchased, the strap was adjusted a couple of times to get it right. I didn't notice anything at the time, but upon closer inspection, have seen some marks today.

My dealer promptly offered to take a closer look, and has asked me to bring it in at my convenience. Tbh, I could not have asked for better service, they've been superb.

My intent is to simply eliminate if these marks could potentially be the result of the watch maker when carrying out the strap adjustments, OR caused by my own actions. If the latter, I do find it a bit odd as to how this may have occurred, as the location is not exposed. Should the offer be made of a polish, I'm likely to politely decline.

FWIW - I'm not overtly precious about these things. The marks are so minuscule, no one else would ever seem them. Hence the image quality!

I don't "baby" my watches, I do wear them as intended and whilst I'm not intentionally negligent or prone to mindless bashing, I do tend to go about my normal PC-worker-bee day, without over thinking about the wrist timepiece.

Being White Gold, I appreciate its also more sensitive precious metal, compared with Stainless Steel, too.

What do you think, normal wear, or something I should be concerned about with the watchmaker?

[stanleyleecm]

It is a very odd place from "wear and tear" damage, almost certain that this is a result from spring bar pin damage.

[Harry-57]

Looks like it's been dropped or suffered a glancing blow. If I did that to my watch (full disclosure - I have) I would live with it. If somebody did it while caring out servicing/adjustment work I would not. I don't baby my watches either.

I don't baby my car but if it came back from a service with body damage (full disclosure - this happened to me) I would be looking for high quality repair or compensation.

[johnsonsxusfrt]

that is tool damage from the spring bar being removed

[KatGirl]

Those are tool marks. Whoever adjusted the band effed it up, IMO.

Kat


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[brandrea]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Those are tool marks. Whoever adjusted the band effed it up, IMO.

Kat


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Have to agree.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Those are tool marks. Whoever adjusted the band effed it up, IMO.

One can only surmise that the watchmaker was wearing boxing gloves or had their eyes closed.

[WiseRat]

100% that is from incompetent spring bar removal. Did they try to pry out the springbar from the top side?!? Baffling.

[Bald Angus]

Looks like the watchmaker used a chisel and hammer to gain access to the spring bar.

[ArtNouveau]

Definitely tool marks. There have been a handful of similar stories here in the past, OF straps are a very tight fit in the lugs without much room for the forks of the tweezers.

[N0trub]

I did not take pictures…I let some schlep at my AD remove the bracelet to see the serial number for a service…never again will i allow anyone but a certified watch maker touch my watches. Took him a long time and two metal spring bar removal tools. I could not look and when polishing came up they begged me. You live and learn. My rookie advice no one at the ad but me and the watchmaker will touch my watches.

[123Blueface]

Person who did that deserves to be fired.

[GoldenSub]

As others have said definitely tool marks. I would be contacting the people responsible.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Hell of a couple chunks out of that lug!...

[928ktgold]

Originally Posted by N0trub

I did not take pictures…I let some schlep at my AD remove the bracelet to see the serial number for a service…never again will i allow anyone but a certified watch maker touch my watches. Took him a long time and two metal spring bar removal tools. I could not look and when polishing came up they begged me. You live and learn. My rookie advice no one at the ad but me and the watchmaker will touch my watches.

There is no serial number under the straps. It’s at the bottom of the rehaut. No need to remove the straps at all. Ouch these pics are painful. I have a 2023 116519 and know how awesome but fairly delicate they are. I had my local RSC in Beverly Hills only change my strap. I wouldn’t even let the AD do it despite offering a free OF strap exchange. I paid the $400 or so to buy and new strap from the RSC so they could do it with the utmost care.

Edit oh I see you’re not the OP

I’m wearing my OF today. I see what they’re did they pryed the OF band from the top to access the spring bar from underneath with a second tool. What an idiot and a brute.

Rolex really should add notches to the underside of the OF bands to make it easier to remove and avoid these problems.

[Calatrava r]

Look like marks from changing the strap. Perhaps they can soften them out. As they don't bother you it may be best to leave it alone. I would discuss with the store manager, so no further marks are made.

[Hollie_Rollie]

IMO those aren’t negligible.

I’m hoping for a positive outcome for you , OP


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[CarlOver]

I wonder what laser welding a gold case would cost.

[train-time]

OMG, I feel so sorry for you. If that was done by a trained watchmaker, then he's either incompetent or doesn't care. If it was a SA, then he or she is a moron and shouldn't be allowed to touch anyone's watch in the future.

I recall a member that took his RG YM to RSC to change out the OF strap and the spring bar popped out of the front and took a chunk of RG out of the inside top of the lug. It went up the ladder at RSC with various attempts to fix it with no satisfactory result and they ended up replacing the case.

[77T]

That's not the surface I'd expect to get gouges from strap removal because the work is done from the underside.

While wearing the watch I also don't think you could have caused the gouges since the elastomer strap would protect the lug.

But if the person doing the strap reinstallation work didn't have the proper watch case holder then a springbar tweezer slipping out with sharp forks or a forked springbar tool could do such a thing.

As for laser welding white gold, nobody but RSC would have the proprietary alloy of white gold wire stock. Any other stock could have more zinc than Rolex and never match.

If I am correct about the cause of the gouges, then maybe address it with the AD for remediation at RSC?


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[dg8dg7]

Good gracious. That is a spring bar tool that was leveraged and pressed up against the outside edge of that lug. OP, I'm really sorry to see that. As others have said, it's not wear and tear, thats specifically related to a springbar installation.

Sounds like the boutique is willing to work with you, but I'd definitely not rest untilt hey made that right.

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[Andad]

IMO only a new case will give you an acceptable end result.

As has been said, laser welding to match the material would be difficult and not really acceptable give the amateur attempt at removing a spring bar.

This type of damage has always been a possible issue when changing the OF straps and there are a few threads on similar situations.

[geoach]

I would be mad as hell plain inept comes to mind. Ask for a new watch no demand one!

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Andad

IMO only a new case will give you an acceptable end result.

As has been said, laser welding to match the material would be difficult and not really acceptable give the amateur attempt at removing a spring bar.

This type of damage has always been a possible issue when changing the OF straps and there are a few threads on similar situations.

^^^^Bingo^^^^

Who ever did the strap change was a butcher without the proper tools and skill level. That said, we see this all the time from back store adjustments at ADs.
I would want a new case as this is NOT normal wear and tear and you would never see this in 30 years of ownership.

[Mr. Superlative]

Thank you all for the feedback.

As predicted, the dealer hasn’t openly admitted any fault. They claim the surfaces damaged would not get marked from the strap adjustment. I beg to differ, and countered there is no way I could have caused that damage from my own doing.

For now, I've left my watch with them as they offered to "further examine" the damage to suggest potential solutions - maybe polishing or even a case replacement (potential subject to cost).

Has anyone been in a similar situation, on their own OysterFlex watch? (SkyDweller, Yachtmaster, or Daytona?)

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Mr. Superlative

Thank you all for the feedback.

As predicted, the dealer hasn’t openly admitted any fault. They claim the surfaces damaged would not get marked from the strap adjustment. I beg to differ, and countered there is no way I could have caused that damage from my own doing.

For now, I've left my watch with them as they offered to "further examine" the damage to suggest potential solutions - maybe polishing or even a case replacement (potential subject to cost).

Has anyone been in a similar situation, on their own OysterFlex watch? (SkyDweller, Yachtmaster, or Daytona?)

Don’t let them try to charge you for anything. If they did the strap adjustment, they did the damage. Unfortunately, we’ve all heard stories of SAs damaging links and screws, doing simple bracelet adjustments. The same happened here, just with an OF band, and resulting lug damage. Hope it gets sorted out!

Kat


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[Mr. Superlative]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Don’t let them try to charge you for anything. If they did the strap adjustment, they did the damage. Unfortunately, we’ve all heard stories of SAs damaging links and screws, doing simple bracelet adjustments. The same happened here, just with an OF band, and resulting lug damage. Hope it gets sorted out!

Kat


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Thanks, Kat. They claim my watch was only touched by the In-House specialist watch maker, and not an SA.
Really hoping they can sort it; I miss it already!

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

One can only surmise that the watchmaker was wearing boxing gloves or had their eyes closed.

Originally Posted by Mr. Superlative

I'd like to solicit opinions from those who own watches with an OF strap on whether or not these minor blemishes could be the potential result of "watch maker negligence" during strap change, or are simply "wear & tear".

For context, I've not had the watch (Ref: 126519) all that long. When purchased, the strap was adjusted a couple of times to get it right. I didn't notice anything at the time, but upon closer inspection, have seen some marks today.

My dealer promptly offered to take a closer look, and has asked me to bring it in at my convenience. Tbh, I could not have asked for better service, they've been superb.

My intent is to simply eliminate if these marks could potentially be the result of the watch maker when carrying out the strap adjustments, OR caused by my own actions. If the latter, I do find it a bit odd as to how this may have occurred, as the location is not exposed. Should the offer be made of a polish, I'm likely to politely decline.

FWIW - I'm not overtly precious about these things. The marks are so minuscule, no one else would ever seem them. Hence the image quality!

I don't "baby" my watches, I do wear them as intended and whilst I'm not intentionally negligent or prone to mindless bashing, I do tend to go about my normal PC-worker-bee day, without over thinking about the wrist timepiece.

Being White Gold, I appreciate its also more sensitive precious metal, compared with Stainless Steel, too.

What do you think, normal wear, or something I should be concerned about with the watchmaker?

OP that’s definitely not normal, hope they take responsibility for it


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[ap1]

Sadly I've owned a few OF watches and had these same marks on 2 of them. It’s DEF from them changing the strap, either the tool or having the spring bar pop out against the gold while removing.

based on my own experience multiple times from different ADs I think marks are almost expected at this point.

It gives a pit in my stomach. I’m so jealous of those of you whom the stock sizes fit your wrist so you don’t have to even face this issue.

Btw, my favorite AD does this with a razor blade and it works like a charm. His changes are always perfect and he’s the only one i trust at this point with OF. Like if I buy another one, I’ll ask for the extra strap and bring it to him only. Then I’ll ship them the original side back.

I’ll add it amazes me that at this price point, they hand it to a rookie to change these things out.

[SublimeZ06]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Those are tool marks. Whoever adjusted the band effed it up, IMO.

Kat


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I agree. Someone was very rough with that watch.