Another Michael Young success story

[southtexas]

(I posted a similar thread in vintage but made another here because MY and Rik's work deserves a large audience. If you need work done, use these guys!)

My grandfather recently gave me his gold 1503 (circa '75).

The day I received it:



It was his daily wearer for almost 40 years, and was in need of a little professional attention. The band had some stretch and the movement needed service.

Here's the band on the day I received it:









So the case was sent to Rik at Time Care, Inc. for service of the movement and a light polish/brushing. The band was sent to Michael, and just returned today. Here are the results:











I am amazed at how good this watch looks now, and I am lucky to be able to own such a beautiful heirloom that means so much to my grandfather.

A big thanks to Rik and Michael for bringing it back to life!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[JJL]

WOW, looks incredible!

I still don't understand how that is possible - does anything get replaced? pins, links or is everything the original? It baffles me.

[wantonebad]

That is a great before and after!!!
How long did the band take, heard the wait-time for MY rebuilds can take a few months or more!

[mannyv11]

came out amazing. Enjoy it for many years to come =)

[SWISSAHOLICS]

All I can say is WOW....that looks amazing....what a makeover.

[NukeMan]

I join the choir, W O W !

[themast]

What a wonderful job they did! I am sure you are over the moon with this restored family heirloom. Congratulations.

[Cc1966]

He does a stellar job, we're lucky to have such a service available...

[cop414]

I remember your original thread, that is just amazing! Thanks for the update.

[joseluu]

¡Holy guacamole!

I have one steel jubilee there right now. I hope it comes looking half that good.

[mjclark32]

Wow, almost too good to b true!

[ocwatching]

crazy...that's amazing...congrats

[Sublover2166]

Looks fantastic!!!

[Lgear080]

Speechless

[azguy]

Mind blowing, what did he charge to rescue the bracelet...?

[Furbo]

Don't show it to your grandfather or he'll take it back. :)

Looks like brand new, amazing.

[SaddleSC]

Absolutely amazing how good that looks! Congratulations!!!

Does anyone else find it strange that there is only one person in the entire WORLD that can do this kind of bracelet restoration? Why has no-one else learned how to do this? In the watch community it seems like such a valuable skill.

[masterserg]

Amazing!

[Rags]

Wow that looks absolutely fantastic. What a great job..

[AboutTime]

Originally Posted by JJL

WOW, looks incredible!

I still don't understand how that is possible - does anything get replaced? pins, links or is everything the original? It baffles me.

Yes, that's an amazing result! I too would like to know how that's accomplished.

[Evil-Twin]

Its a real shame that Rolex can not offer this service even though they claim too. Even the fairly stretch and scratched bracelet is an opportunity for Rolex to sell you a new bracelet. ON their web site they claim to meticulously repair and replace parts on a bracelet within the 10 step Service. Rolex has the money and the resources to accomplish this service and use to do it. either they are hiring people with two left hands to service our watches or Rolex thinks they have a captive audience in the replacement bracelet market. Michael Young snubs his nose at Rolex in this area.
Here is an excerpt from Rolex's 10 step service found on page 6. It's printed on their website and shows what you get when you send your watch in for their service.

[antbkny]

amazing

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Evil-Twin

Its a real shame that Rolex can not offer this service even though they claim too. Even the fairly stretch and scratched bracelet is an opportunity for Rolex to sell you a new bracelet. ON their web site they claim to meticulously repair and replace parts on a bracelet within the 10 step Service. Rolex has the money and the resources to accomplish this service and use to do it. either they are hiring people with two left hands to service our watches or Rolex thinks they have a captive audience in the replacement bracelet market. Michael Young snubs his nose at Rolex in this area.
Here is an excerpt from Rolex's 10 step service found on page 6. It's printed on their website and shows what you get when you send your watch in for their service.

It's a cost prohibitive for them train and pay technicians to repair bracelets that will end up costing more than a replacement. It's completely reasonable to me that they would not want any part of this task when they can pull a new one off the shelf.

They don't need a loss leading service, leave it up to the small entrepreneurs to start a cottage industry like MY has. JMHO

[Casey VP-26]

Just does not get any better. Good Luck.

[garymyman]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

How long did the band take, heard the wait-time for MY rebuilds can take a few months or more!

Mine was 6 weeks to the day. Best ~$200 I've spent... on a watch.

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

That is a great before and after!!!
How long did the band take, heard the wait-time for MY rebuilds can take a few months or more!

This project took him about 4 months, including shipping time.

Originally Posted by azguy

Mind blowing, what did he charge to rescue the bracelet...?

At $1,100, I thought it was extremely reasonable. I believe his prices went up a bit since that time, but I wouldn't hesitate to send him another one. I just showed it to a local watchmaker who estimated "his guy" would've charged about $3,000 and it wouldn't have been half as good a job.

Originally Posted by Furbo

Don't show it to your grandfather or he'll take it back. :)

Looks like brand new, amazing.

Haha, that was actually my first thought! And knowing him, he would!!

Originally Posted by Leem

Yes, that's an amazing result! I too would like to know how that's accomplished.

As I understand it, he had to basically recast the entire band. The clasp was cleaned and brushed.

Everyone, thanks for all of the kind words. I can't be more pleased with the results. The price, communication, and entire process went perfectly. It took him a while to get it done, but I was patient and hoping for a near-perfect job, which I believe is what I received. And Rikki's portion of the job went equally as well; great communication, fair price, and rapid turn-around.

[Widows Son]

That is one beautiful watch!!!!!!

[VADanno]

That is an incredible watch, and a better story. Thanks for sharing the before and after images.

[Evil-Twin]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

It's a cost prohibitive for them train and pay technicians to repair bracelets that will end up costing more than a replacement. It's completely reasonable to me that they would not want any part of this task when they can pull a new one off the shelf.

They don't need a loss leading service, leave it up to the small entrepreneurs to start a cottage industry like MY has. JMHO

When they post exactly what you get in the "Service your Rolex" overview. on their website, and do not deliver it, then they are breaching the service that they claim to specifically provide. If they do not provide this serve, then it should be removed from their service overview.
You did not read their written service over view, that I provided???
So what you are saying is that if Rolex says " IN Print" on their website, that it should all be taken with a grain of salt? They are lying, They are stretching the truth, no one believes this stuff from Rolex, they can do and say whatever they want ?
If the watch comes back gaining 40 seconds a day, can they just say " Oh its not cost effective, that as close as the time provided would allow??" So we dropped that from or service agreement, even though we claim to do it. There are ten steps to a Rolex service repair overview, so what you are saying is that they really don't have to honor any of those steps if they find that it is not cost effective. Other people in my camp seems to believe very differently.
Your argument makes for very thin soup
Bill

[Hairdude1]

The bracelet looks brand new, very nice!!!