How Can Rolex Stop Servicing Certain Watches????

[Watchdog]

If what I have been reading in other threads/posts is accurate, Rolex simply stops servicing certain watches or movements.

Are you kidding me?

To me, if true, this is absurd. :

[allanofcalifornia]

This seems awful weird! I never heard of this but could understand if they no longer had the parts to service certain models.


Allan

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by allanofcalifornia

This seems awful weird! I never heard of this but could understand if they no longer had the parts to service certain models.


Allan

I know, my friend. It is "awful weird" indeed. But this is what I have read.

[SLS]

Ahhh, welcome to the world of vintage Rolex...now you know why independent watchmakers are thriving in the vintage community! For the first 15 years, a RSC is fine, but after that
Scott

[Alcan]

The Toronto RSC told me a while ago that they will still service any Rolex for which they still have access to all the parts, providing it doesn't have what they called an "exotic" dial. I guess the fear there is that in the unlikely event that the dial was damaged during servicing, it couldn't be replaced.

Two years ago they did a complete service on this circa 1960 gold Rolex for Nancy. All the parts are still available for the 1400 movement.




What I found interesting about this overhaul was that the RSC does not always do all work in-house. They sent the case/bracelet out to a goldsmith they deal with to have a repair done, and they wanted to send the dial out to a third party to be refinished, citing staining on the dial. We declined the dial work.

[frank gama]

sent my 1956 oyster via my AD for servicing but it was returned with this nice letter from Rolex.

[Jimbits76]

Yep I've had one of them for my 1957 Oyster Date.

Luckily we have Chris Heal and Tylden Reed here in the Uk who try their best to ensure the watches keep ticking!

Tylden Reed has had mine though since Feb 08 and has struggled to get parts....I'm getting a little anxious now and want the watch back!!!!!

J

[SLS]

Originally Posted by frank gama

sent my 1956 oyster via my AD for servicing but it was returned with this nice letter from Rolex.

I have always wondered why Rolex can't make the parts....afterall, they employ quite a few watchmakers!
Scott

[jdc]

well I remember a member having a vintage oysterdate serviced at Rolex UK, I suppose it depends on the parts situation. Rolex do not seem to have the same commitment as Omega to vintage watches

[Ken Cox]

I see this a little differently, but not necessarily more correctly.

I wonder if it has something to do with training their in-house technicians.

I mean, we might call them watchmakers, but they really might have only the training they need to take care of the current Rolex production.

It could also have something to do with efficieny, again, because of set-ups for current watches.

A vintage watch (a 15 year old watch has become vintage?) might require different tools, extra skills, more head-scratching, etc., so as to reduce the profit margin and otherwise tie up a productive technician.

If I wanted to make money with a service center, I would have certain technicians work on only specific watches so that they would have the right tools, parts and procedures right at hand, and in a day might service one extra watch or even three extra watches.

A GMT Master II technician would work on only GMT Master II watches, and he would have the tools, manuals, parts and fixtures all set up to maximize his productivity.

Throw a vintage watch into the production flow, and it might slow things up to where a technician spent a half or whole day on one watch, including searching for parts and manuals.

Just a guess on my part.

[watchmaker]

It is not cost effective to tool up a workshop to make all parts for a movement. The cost to the customer would be in the region of £300 for a wheel £500 for a balance staff, and very few people would acceptc that if it was issued as a work estimate. Sadly, there comes a point where the RSC can't help, and it's off to the independants who make parts

and as for Rolex staff. There is a combination of technitians that work on 1 calibre, and watchmakers that can do pretty much everything, including making some parts, usually winding stems and balance staffs.

[DS/B MINI S]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

It is not cost effective to tool up a workshop to make all parts for a movement. The cost to the customer would be in the region of £300 for a wheel £500 for a balance staff, and very few people would acceptc that if it was issued as a work estimate. Sadly, there comes a point where the RSC can't help, and it's off to the independants who make parts

and as for Rolex staff. There is a combination of technitians that work on 1 calibre, and watchmakers that can do pretty much everything, including making some parts, usually winding stems and balance staffs.

I believe their thought process might be...Why make parts...When you can make New watches

[mike]

It's always struck me as more than ironic that Rolex turns their back on many of the very references upon which their heritage was built.

In many ways it has fallen to the collector to become the caretaker of a rich and wonderful history.

[mlehman]

Well if anyone is looping for an excellent guy to work with PM me for his name and #..a couple other guys on here use him for their rare watches

I`m not affiliated with him in any way..just a nice guy that does great work

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by mike

It's always struck me as more than ironic that Rolex turns their back on many of the very references upon which their heritage was built.

In many ways it has fallen to the collector to become the caretaker of a rich and wonderful history.

Exactly!

[sfmariner]

I just got my first rolex and in doing the research one of the reasons I heard for spending the money for this type of watch was that they are designed to last 100 years...I guess that only applies if they don't break after 40-50 years.

My new GMT II is less than a week old so I guess I'm OK for a while...and if I'm still around in 50 years a watch probably won't be my biggest concern.

[cmr]

Originally Posted by SLS

I have always wondered why Rolex can't make the parts....afterall, they employ quite a few watchmakers!
Scott

patek and vc do just that, they will make the parts if they don't already have them for any watch they have ever sold.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by sfmariner

I just got my first rolex and in doing the research one of the reasons I heard for spending the money for this type of watch was that they are designed to last 100 years...I guess that only applies if they don't break after 40-50 years.

My new GMT II is less than a week old so I guess I'm OK for a while...and if I'm still around in 50 years a watch probably won't be my biggest concern.

There are plenty of very capable watchmakers and aftermarket movement parts that will keep any Rolex running efficiently for another 100 years if need be.....

We should not get hung up on the manufacturer keeping their products parts in stock indefinitely........

[Tools]

Originally Posted by cmr

patek and vc do just that, they will make the parts if they don't already have them for any watch they have ever sold.

Yes, they do........... and Patek has just recently re-emphasized that they will repair any Patek ever made..

But, you will pay dearly for this service............ right now a basic service for an automatic is 800.with any complications starting at 1500......... Even a battery exchange is 140 bucks..... Their vintage "estimates" could run well over the cost of a new Rolex..

............ Patek Service Charges



..............

[onkyo]

Originally Posted by mike

It's always struck me as more than ironic that Rolex turns their back on many of the very references upon which their heritage was built.

In many ways it has fallen to the collector to become the caretaker of a rich and wonderful history.

Very unfortunate that Rolex will not bend over backwards to support their origins and history.

The problem is Rolex is too big..... like any other company with a focus on selling new watches. That is what drives their business.

[Boopie]

Originally Posted by Tools

Yes, they do........... and Patek has just recently re-emphasized that they will repair any Patek ever made..

But, you will pay dearly for this service............ right now a basic service for an automatic is 800.with any complications starting at 1500......... Even a battery exchange is 140 bucks..... Their vintage "estimates" could run well over the cost of a new Rolex..

............ Patek Service Charges



..............

Curious...why such a high price for a "battery exchange" on a Patek? Do they open the caseback in a sterile environment? Pressure test?

While my Tiffany tank-style quartz watch is nowhere near the watch that a Patek is, Tiffany does exchange batteries for free, for as long as I own the watch.

[cmr]

Originally Posted by Tools

Yes, they do........... and Patek has just recently re-emphasized that they will repair any Patek ever made..

But, you will pay dearly for this service............ right now a basic service for an automatic is 800.with any complications starting at 1500......... Even a battery exchange is 140 bucks..... Their vintage "estimates" could run well over the cost of a new Rolex..

............ Patek Service Charges



..............

yes you are right about that but that lack of service on vintage rolex makes them all but useless to pass down as a family heirloom. it makes more of a live in the moment kind of watch unfortunately.

i have a new daughter and i had my wife take some pictures of her wearing her platinum ym while she was pregnant. our rolex's, complete with all boxes and paperwork will be handed down to her when we are gone. the first thing i thought of was rolex not servicing them if she wanted to hand them down to her children. every time i think about it i am disheartened to say the least.

[DaytonaSS]

I couldn't wait to pick up my SS Daytona this weekend.

Guess what? I am going to pick up a Timex, instead.

Thanks TRF.

[BigHat]

I like Rolex, own a few of them and probably will buy more, but this is should serve as a "cold shower" to those here that think they are some sort of "uber company" at the pinnacle of quality and customer service. They aren't.

[boa2]

Many companies in a variety of industries have a cut-off point. Take your shovelhead Harley to a dealer and see if they'll service it. They won't...and with good reason. It's too expensive for the company.

With Rolex, a good percentage of that service time would be spent telling a customer that their watch doesn't have original parts. Or explaining why it only costs $450 to service their 1998 Submariner, but servicing the piece from 1968 is going to cost $3500.

I don't know why we whine about this so much, when quality service for a vintage piece is a mere phone call away.

[cmr]

Originally Posted by boa2

Many companies in a variety of industries have a cut-off point. Take your shovelhead Harley to a dealer and see if they'll service it. They won't...and with good reason. It's too expensive for the company.

With Rolex, a good percentage of that service time would be spent telling a customer that their watch doesn't have original parts. Or explaining why it only costs $450 to service their 1998 Submariner, but servicing the piece from 1968 is going to cost $3500.

I don't know why we whine about this so much, when quality service for a vintage piece is a mere phone call away.

getting parts for a old shovel head is very easy, getting parts for a rolex is almost imposable and they made it that way.

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by DaytonaSS

I couldn't wait to pick up my SS Daytona this weekend.

Guess what? I am going to pick up a Timex, instead.

Thanks TRF.

I wouldn't let this discourage buying a Rolex watch that you like. Like vintage car collector, one wouldn't expect to get parts from the manufacturer and many independent watchmakers either have the parts or they can source them. this would not be a real issue for most people who buy current modern Rolexes.

[cody p]

Originally Posted by DaytonaSS

I couldn't wait to pick up my SS Daytona this weekend.

Guess what? I am going to pick up a Timex, instead.

Thanks TRF.

reminds me of a beatle's tune..."hello goodbye".

[TheVTCGuy]

I have to stick up for Rolex on this one, maybe because I'm an Engineer, deal with this kind of stuff every day, or maybe I'm just a practical kind of guy... (or maybe I'm just an .. )

Part of my responsabilities with the Electronics company I work for, yes, it's the Japanese one, four letters, make a lot of TVs and stuff... anyway, part of my responsabilities include the help desk and repair depot. We won't gurantee repair on anything over 7 years old, and with some models, 5 years. Now, we're talking Electronics, not mechanical watches, so the advances of the product is probably 10 times that of a Rolex, i.e. an electrical component manufactured today is 10 times more advanced then one made 7 years ago, so 5 to 7 years is about the norm in the industry.

For my company, as humongous as it is, to gurantee servicing and tech support on products from the 60s, 70s, 80s, even the 90s is absurd. The parts are old and not manufactured any more, and my help desk team would need to be trained on components from 40 years ago?! It is just not feasible, practical or economical.

I know we're talking Electronics, but I think it's the same for mechanical timepieces. To keep an inventory of parts, AND the staff trained on equipment 40, 50, 60 or more years old is just too cost prohibitive.

[Gold Crown]

Rolex should at least be able to repair its watches for 50 years. For what they charge for the watch, OR at least have a complete service replacement movements available in exchange for taking and rebuilding and then re using the one in your watch.