Before/After: Serviced My Mom's Gold Datejust at ABC Watchwerks

[Blake Townsend]

I got my mother's Ref 6917 Ladies 18K Gold Oyster Perpetual Datejust serviced at ABC Watchwerks upon recommendations from this forum. I don't think she had touched it since the mid 1990s when she brought it to Sears to get the battery changed when it stopped ticking. Thankfully sent her away instead of taking advantage.

Funny, when I was using TRF for research the name Dalton Toledo kept surfacing...turns out I know him from the BMW scene a few years ago. We kept in touch and I knew he worked in downtown L.A., so I was happily surprised to find it's the same acquaintance. When I called them up I spoke to Edvi, and it turns out Dalton is in Washington going to school to become a watchmaker, Pretty cool.

I stopped by ABC and had a good conversation with Alex, one of the co-owners, met Edvi and saw Beau the other co-owner. Beau and I both do jiu-jitsu so we have at least a couple things in common.

Anyway, I got my mother's watch fully serviced and, as always, pictures don't do it justice. The Datejust looks great in person and Alex showed me a couple of interesting things about the watch: The dial was upgraded with diamond indices and due to the slight patina in the center, thinks it may have been "born" with the watch. That is, upgraded by the AD when it was originally purchased.

The one thing I decided not to do was replace the link pins. Since the pins as well are solid 18k gold, they're soft and got gently bent over the last ~30 years, making the bracelet expand in length. Replacement was not worth the cost.

I happen to be fortunate enough to be able to visit such a highly recommended place in person, and it was fun being in the thick of the DTLA jewelry district when it was in full swing.

Oh and my local Rolex AD said they'll send it to the Beverly Hills service center then on to Houston, and quoted me $800 for servicing of the movement only NOT including any polishing. Needless to say ABC serviced the movement, refinished the case and bracelet, and replaced the crystal for significantly less, with a warranty.