Changing out second hand & date wheel

[snoopy50]

This is my first post, so please be gentle! I'm looking to buy a 16263 Turn-O-Graph TT/silver or white stick dial, Jubilee band, late 90's or early 00's as my first Rolex. I love the look even better than the 116263. My question to anyone, especially the TechXperts; what is the feasibility/possibilty of changing out the second hand and date wheel to RED along with a complete service? Of course with genuine Rolex parts! Kinda like a bridge between the models if Rolex decided to do that. I think it would be a significant cosmetic upgrade to an older model. Would it be the cost of the parts with the cost of the service, since those parts would have to come out anyway? What would the parts cost for a red second hand and a red date wheel? I would like any and all comments/suggestions. Thanks!

[Kristen Wiley]

It's very simple to replace the date wheel and the second hand. To order the parts from Rolex, you'd have to make sure the AD you take it to has a parts account. They would have to supply the model and serial number within the request, so I'm not even sure Rolex would allow the order for that model.

Independent watch dealers (reputable ones.. TRF has threads about good ones out there) who have watchmakers on staff would be able do the service and would probably swap out the date wheel for a small fee (I'd say around $100 if you want to swap, $250 if you want to keep the solid white wheel).

If you were ok with it, it is also possible to paint the second hand red instead of replacing it, which is 100% removable but just takes a lot of work.