Is Dial Swap With RSC Possible?

[onthewaitlist]

Is it possible to swap the dials of your Rolex watches with Rolex Service Centers?

I’m thinking of “freshening” up a couple of my daily watches. (I have a black dial Daytona & gold Rolex Day Date)

[928ktgold]

Daytona If ceramic steel no. DD yes

[joli160]

Ask them to get the correct answer

[peterpl]

You can ask them.

RSC used to allow swapping of any dial and watch as long as the reference number existed as a factory option. Now with all the hype and flippers buying any dial YG Daytona and trying to swap it to a Green dial and making $40k+ Rolex dont like that.

If you want to swap for colors that are not overly hyped like my example above I would say you have a good chance.

[bp1000]

Until about 4 years ago, yes, if available for that model.

Now, no for most popular models. However, I've heard, that once the watch reaches its service internal, no matter what watch it is, it would be possible to swap the dial.

Clearly to stop people buying anything and swapping it to a more popular dial.

Only RSC will give you a definitive answer, call them. I would also get it in writing.

[PaulChronometer]

Does anyone know what happens to dial + hands in case of servicing an Explorer 214270 Mk I? Does RSC swap them for the Mk II parts?
(Not sure if I would want that though)

[bp1000]

Originally Posted by PaulChronometer

Does anyone know what happens to dial + hands in case of servicing an Explorer 214270 Mk I? Does RSC swap them for the Mk II parts?
(Not sure if I would want that though)

The use service dials and handset, made specifically for your reference.

[PaulChronometer]

Originally Posted by bp1000

The use service dials and handset, made specifically for your reference.

Yes, but there are now two versions of reference 214270, which is what made me wonder.

[bp1000]

Originally Posted by PaulChronometer

Yes, but there are now two versions of reference 214270, which is what made me wonder.

If I refer to the sun 16800 which I have more experience with, that was a transitional reference that started with a matte black dial and flat markers. It transitioned to white gold surround markers somewhere in the mid 80s I think.

If you service a 16800 that was from say 1984 or earlier, Rolex replace the dial with a matte black variant. They, in this case stay true to the original watch design.

I would expect it would be the same for the explorer. But you do raise a good point. Take the ceramic bezel of the Pepsi GMT. Manufacturing of this is tricky and the colours change with each mark. I suspect you would get a different colour on replacement, as you would with flat 4 Kermit inserts and slight dial variations. So where do you draw the line.

[Tridor]

My AD has informed me that no more dial swaps are authorized by Rolex. Now, the color and type of dial with which the watch came originally is to follow the watch throughout. This was confirmed to me by someone I know who works for Rolex.