Servicing a Platinum Daytona

[Chiboy]

My Daytona, which I wear every day, went from being super accurate (like spot on after six months) to losing time consistently. Not the kind of losing time that some here scoff at, but losing like 30 seconds/day. I tried checking for magnetism and demagnetizing (even though it didn't seem to be an issue), but that didn't work. I had bought the watch slightly used in 12/16 and had needed a warranty service because the chrono second hand would get "stuck" sometimes and really slow the watch down. That was done in 2017 and since they serviced the watch, I thought I wouldn't need to send it in so soon. But I did.

The long and short of it is that Rolex sent me the packing box and I sent it back registered and insured for $50k, which is the limit for registered mail. It cost a whopping (to me) $150 to ship, but it was sent registered Priority Mail, so it got there quickly. I sent it Friday, January 19th and by January 23rd, I had a written estimate: $950 service, plus tax and $155 overnight return shipping. No other services were recommended. They estimated five weeks for service. Two weeks later, it was done and I paid their bill and just received the Daytona back today. That's shockingly fast.

I had them perform a "light polish" as 1) DSW had undoubtedly done that before selling me the new-looking year old watch, 2) I don't care about resale value as I'll probably keep it forever, 3) I would expect Rolex to do a good job, and 4) Padi is undoubtedly unhappy with me for caring if the watch keeps good time, so not worrying about polishing it every 7-10 years MAY get me back in his good graces! Offsetting the reasons to do a light polish was my recollection of how quickly the watch picked up hairline scratches when I first got it. So I know they are coming back.

We'll see how accurate the timekeeping is. I am certainly expecting it to be within spec. And I am very glad to have it back on my wrist, picking up scratches and reminding me how heavy and beautiful it is.

Following are pics of the watch post polish. I can upload pics of the watch prior to service if anyone cares.

[illiguy]

Thanks for sharing! I take it you got the new style RSC card (white) with 2-year warranty.

[ZOOK]

Thanks for the info. May I ask which RSC you sent your watch to?

[SearChart]

Glad you are happy!
The 4130 is one of my favourites to work on, absolutely overengineered but very easy and rarely has an issue.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by illiguy

Thanks for sharing! I take it you got the new style RSC card (white) with 2-year warranty.

Thank you for mentioning! I didn't notice it tucked into the little leather case. Then I got to use an NFC for the first time!

Originally Posted by ZO:cheers:OK

Thanks for the info. May I ask which RSC you sent your watch to?

Dallas.

Originally Posted by SearChart

Glad you are happy!
The 4130 is one of my favourites to work on, absolutely overengineered but very easy and rarely has an issue.

I wish you could have worked on it, Bas. You need to come work in the states!

[jb335]

lol at #4

Thanks for sharing and the pics


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[CarlOver]

Originally Posted by jb335

lol at #4

Thanks for sharing and the pics


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I too find this funny. Often the butt of a slight comment but he has earned his reputation.

[turfmanjon]

Looks new to me!


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[Carraig]

Such a wonderful watch. It looks splendid. Had you dropped it at your AD would you need to pay shipping? I have actually never sent my Rolex for service.

[jb335]

Originally Posted by CarlOver

I too find this funny. Often the butt of a slight comment but he has earned his reputation.

Agreed.

He’s a TRF Legend.


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[Apdl]

Looks brand spanking new

[Rolex1982]

It looks great! It’s ready for years of enjoyment! Wear it in good health!

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by Carraig

Such a wonderful watch. It looks splendid. Had you dropped it at your AD would you need to pay shipping? I have actually never sent my Rolex for service.

I don't know. I am sure the ADs get a better shipping/insuring rate (undoubtedly they have a blanket shipping insurance deal for all they send), but I thought it might be beneficial to speak to Rolex directly if they had any special questions or concerns. I can't really believe it would be less expensive to have an AD as middleman rather than dealing direct, but the total cost to ship made it *almost* worth it to fly to Dallas and hand it to them.

[Osmin]

Have you pics from before the service? Thanks!

[Big Tex Rolex]

It looks great … like brand new.

The No. 1 watch in the Rolex catalog, to me.

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by Osmin

Have you pics from before the service? Thanks!

Sure, these are some of the less blurry ones.

[joli160]

That is a fantastic job from the RSC. It looks really brand new without the ‘usual’ horror stories of softening the case.
Enjoy the new honeymoon

[TheHulk]

I like the before and after pics. Ive had my Platona for close to two years and it gets the most wrist time by far. Mine looks like it’s 15 years old. Platinum scratches very easy which I hadn’t realized. I imagine you missed it a ton

[Boopie]

Nice! I’m in the camp of having Rolex clean and polish up the PCL at servicing, as you did.

[scooba]

Superb ! Thanks for sharing.

[996marty]

Nice photos of a great watch

[1st amg]

Damn, I remember when you bought this watch! It's definitely a keeper and happy you still have this beauty. Looks like a top-notch job. Looks like you really wear this heavy hitter most often as well. Thanks for sharing!

[Little machines]

Beautiful watch! One and done watch! Wear and enjoy that great looking time piece.

[Lambo The Jambo]

Awesome piece and even more awesome that you wear the hell out of it!

[rmlovett1]

One of my favorites! Glad everything worked out to your satisfaction!

[Chiboy]

Originally Posted by joli160

That is a fantastic job from the RSC. It looks really brand new without the ‘usual’ horror stories of softening the case.
Enjoy the new honeymoon

I held my breath a teeny bit about the polishing, but honestly didn't really inspect it to death when I got it back. I imagine it's like many people post -- you only hear about the bad jobs and 99% of the time RSC does as one would expect.

Originally Posted by TheHulk

I like the before and after pics. Ive had my Platona for close to two years and it gets the most wrist time by far. Mine looks like it’s 15 years old. Platinum scratches very easy which I hadn’t realized. I imagine you missed it a ton

My only other watch is my TT DJ, which I basically haven't worn since I got this watch. And it's almost 40 years old. So I don't really know how easily platinum scratches compared to other metals.

Originally Posted by Boopie

Nice! I’m in the camp of having Rolex clean and polish up the PCL at servicing, as you did.

Controversial, for sure. I didn't even ask here, as I knew both sides of the argument.

Originally Posted by scooba

Superb ! Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by 996marty

Nice photos of a great watch

Thanks!

Originally Posted by 1st amg

Damn, I remember when you bought this watch! It's definitely a keeper and happy you still have this beauty. Looks like a top-notch job. Looks like you really wear this heavy hitter most often as well. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you! Hard to believe it's been over 7 years! Yes, I wear it all day, every day, except when exercising (which is a lot, lol).

Originally Posted by Little machines

Beautiful watch! One and done watch! Wear and enjoy that great looking time piece.

Thanks, yes. A perfect "one watch" for me.

Originally Posted by Lambo The Jambo

Awesome piece and even more awesome that you wear the hell out of it!

Originally Posted by rmlovett1

One of my favorites! Glad everything worked out to your satisfaction!

Thanks! So happy to have it back and on the wrist. It felt weird not to be wearing a watch for a few weeks.

[brandrea]

Fantastic post and result.

You have a brand new watch again to enjoy, and make memories with.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

My Daytona, which I wear every day, went from being super accurate (like spot on after six months) to losing time consistently. Not the kind of losing time that some here scoff at, but losing like 30 seconds/day. I tried checking for magnetism and demagnetizing (even though it didn't seem to be an issue), but that didn't work. I had bought the watch slightly used in 12/16 and had needed a warranty service because the chrono second hand would get "stuck" sometimes and really slow the watch down. That was done in 2017 and since they serviced the watch, I thought I wouldn't need to send it in so soon. But I did.

The long and short of it is that Rolex sent me the packing box and I sent it back registered and insured for $50k, which is the limit for registered mail. It cost a whopping (to me) $150 to ship, but it was sent registered Priority Mail, so it got there quickly. I sent it Friday, January 19th and by January 23rd, I had a written estimate: $950 service, plus tax and $155 overnight return shipping. No other services were recommended. They estimated five weeks for service. Two weeks later, it was done and I paid their bill and just received the Daytona back today. That's shockingly fast.

I had them perform a "light polish" as 1) DSW had undoubtedly done that before selling me the new-looking year old watch, 2) I don't care about resale value as I'll probably keep it forever, 3) I would expect Rolex to do a good job, and 4) Padi is undoubtedly unhappy with me for caring if the watch keeps good time, so not worrying about polishing it every 7-10 years MAY get me back in his good graces! Offsetting the reasons to do a light polish was my recollection of how quickly the watch picked up hairline scratches when I first got it. So I know they are coming back.

We'll see how accurate the timekeeping is. I am certainly expecting it to be within spec. And I am very glad to have it back on my wrist, picking up scratches and reminding me how heavy and beautiful it is.

Following are pics of the watch post polish. I can upload pics of the watch prior to service if anyone cares.

Watch looks like new now but been on forum since 2005 and this is the only report I have seen where a Daytona with the cal 4130 was loosing time.

[1William]

Good report. Great watch.

[HL65]

Looks good - welcome home!