Seadweller service

[Texasrecurve]

Well I sent my 27 y/o seadweller to the Dallas service center and got an estimate of 1100.00 for repair. It has never been sent in and was losing time. The trouble is that they say the bracelet is beyond repair (looks pretty dang good to me). I know one of the pins is getting pretty thin, but I don't know why it can't be repaired. A new stainless braclet using mine as a trade in is another 1100.00!! Wow. Any advice??

[Clay]

Rolex does NOT repair or refurbish bracelets.....If you feel it's in good enough shape, then just tell them "No".....Prices must have gone up.....A new 93150 with trade use to be about $600????....I must be getting old....And make sure they don't change any of the original goodies...ie. Dial, Hands, etc....Good luck....

[smallcandle]

Originally Posted by Clay

And make sure they don't change any of the original goodies...ie. Dial, Hands, etc....Good luck....

Good point! You'll want to retain as much of the original character of the watch as possible.

[Tools]

This is an age old question for Rolex. They last forever, except the bracelets... and Rolex charges an arm and leg for one..

Sometimes when you add in the cost of a new bracelet, it gets close to, or surpasses, the value of the watch.

If you have an exotic time-piece it gets even tougher because the value is in the originality..

Depending on the problem, there are options.

. A good jeweler or machinist can replace a bad pin or two, but the labor costs could be excessive.

. There are good quality aftermarket bracelets with solid center links that the original clasp will bolt on to.

. There are used bracelets on the market, and even if it is worn, you might be able to take two marginal bracelets and have a good one... However, parts Dealers think that their parts are precious.

It's too bad that you have already sent it in because if you choose to buy one, they won't send back the original. That said, if you do spend the service and bracelet charges, you will have a like new watch that will go another 27 years for you..

[sexner]

Originally Posted by Texasrecurve

Well I sent my 27 y/o seadweller to the Dallas service center and got an estimate of 1100.00 for repair. It has never been sent in and was losing time. The trouble is that they say the bracelet is beyond repair (looks pretty dang good to me). I know one of the pins is getting pretty thin, but I don't know why it can't be repaired. A new stainless braclet using mine as a trade in is another 1100.00!! Wow. Any advice??

Sending that timepiece in for service at 5-7 yr intervals will take care of small internal issues before they become big ones.


I know...touchy subject/opinion among Forum members.

Good luck

[Skullring]

Well if you divide $1100 over the last 27 years that is about $40 a year you are still getting off cheap. You didn't mention the movement is it ok?

[snoLexKöning]

When looking at bands for my SS Sub they ran about 600 with no trade in from the ADs in my area.

[scottrf]

RSC NY recently quoted me (for a new 93150 bracelet with 580 end pieces) $950 (with no trade in) and $825 with trade in.

[DadsWatch72]

Thats spot on for those prices. And they WILL NOT keep the bracelet if you don't want to trade it in. It is just not true that they will automatically keep the old one.

[Texasrecurve]

Thanks for the responses. Until I started exploring around this board (have only had time to do a little), I did not realize my watch was such a collector's item. As far as the movement, it did eventually stop completely except for the second hand. Is that bad? When I talk to the service center I will tell them I want to keep it as original as possible. If I am not mistaken I think that they WERE talking about replacing the bezel and the hands. I had no idea that it was supposed to be sent in every 5-7 years until I found this forum. I am going to do that from now on though.

[Texasrecurve]

PROBLEM!! Well, I got my written estimate in from Rolex and they want to change the hands and the dial. They say moisture damage. How bad will this hurt the value if I get a new dial and hands?

[DadsWatch72]

Its probably hard for anyone to say without seeing it first. Original hands and dial are always going to have more value to a collecter. Any suggestions here guys? I don't know what I would tell them. At least the hands and dial are still available. I don't know if you should refuse the hands and dial. I don't know what they would tell you if you refused. Maybe they would refuse service. I don't know.

[SUBlime]

I'm NOT an authority on any of this, however, I know where I'd come out in this and I believe I'm right in line with "Dadswatch's" reply in not refusing the new dial and hands since they're still available. That being said, it depends on what is important to you. Are you concerned with the collector's value of your watch or do you appreciate the utility of the newer dial, hands and insert? At some point you're gonna have to get another bracelet regardless, thus your originiality is out the window no matter what. Even if you don't do the dial and hands, I'd do the insert just for aesthetics. They get pretty beat up over time and are a simple affair to replace. If you want to keep the original, just take it to a specialty watchmaker that can order Rolex parts and have them order and/or replace it themselves so you can keep the original (if you're concerned with such things) because if you send it to Rolex, the odds are that you won't get any of your original parts back.

[AIKO]

What is your plan for the watch? Keep it forever or sell it in the near future?

[Texasrecurve]

Well, I am going to keep the watch and never sell it. It has been my daily companion for 27 years and I'll just keep using it. It has been a fantastic watch. BTW, what is the "insert?"

[mborkow]

I'd get the watch back from Rolex without them doing anything and then consider my options without them holding a gun to my head.

[SUBlime]

Sorry, the bezel insert is the black aluminum part of the turning bezel with the 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 50 on it. It just snaps out and in and doesn't cost much. It's a "disposable" item.

[Matrim604]

What I wouldn't do to get my hands on a 27 year old SD :) Fantastic watch, I'd love to see some pictures if you have any!

Tough call though.. my advise to you would be to keep the original dial/hands unless the "water damage" was severe. A little patina however actually gives the watch character. Letting them change the insert might be an idea, I wonder if there is any way they would let you keep the old one just so you have it. Another option would be to have them leave the original insert and have a local watchmaker put a new one in for you.

Anyways, congrats on a fantastic watch. I think it's funny how you havn't serviced it for so long, I actually have an uncle who owns a datejust that he's been wearing for 23 years without service, and it still runs perfect. I suggested to him that mechanical watches should be serviced every 7ish years, and his reply to me was that he's worn his watch every day for 23 years and he hasn't had a single problem yet, he doesn't plan on changing anything now. I couldn't argue with that.

[DadsWatch72]

We don't know what model it is. After thinking about it, I think you should let Rolex do with it what they want. It will come back like new.

[GMTcrazy]

Id do it all....
You will have a new watch when you get it back, new tool kit and all. The SD bracelets are more than the regular sub bracelet.
GT

[GoISU]

^^X2 It will be brand new, since you plan on wearing it forever you may as well fix what needs fixing. Who cares about re-sale, if you are never going to sell it? Once you get it back in tip top shape all this worrying will disappear I'm sure.

[Texasrecurve]

Well I just called the service center back to see why they could not leave the original dial and hands. The lady said that they couldn't, to leave them in could affect the movement and they couldn't guarantee it. As far as the bracelet, it is fine except for the pins where it connects to the watch case need to be replaced. NOPE, they wouldn't just replace the pins. They won't mix old and new parts.

Even though I will keep the watch, it still irks me to lose my original parts. I have no idea how they got water damaged. You sure cannot see that they have any damage. I have not used it for diving for 20 years.

If I get it back from the service center, where is a reputable place to send it? Any recommendations? I want it repaired but leave the dial and hands and put new pins in the bracelet. Thanks for any help!

[cajun_one]

I would buy a new bracelet because it is obvious you are fond of the watch, but other than that I would leave it alone and maybe get a second opinion.

[cajun_one]

Stevemulholland on the site does a lot of parts for watches. If he can't do it he will probably point you the right direction good luck!

[Texasrecurve]

Thanks cajun one for the help!

[Submarino]

I have an amazing watchmaker in Dallas that is Rolex Certified. He worked at the Rolex service center in Dallas for more than 14 years. He is very clean, knowledgeable and decent. He has a very nice shop on Preston Rd. between 635 and Beltline Rd. I can provide his contact so you can get a second opinion. All his work is guaranteed and the watch will look like out of the RSC.

[Texasrecurve]

Submarino that is EXACTLY what I am needing. Please let me know his contact info and thanks a million!

[Texasrecurve]

Well I am a happy camper. Thanks to submarino, I met Manuel Chamosa at Chamosa Watch Repair in Dallas and he is fixing me up. He will be able to keep my original hands and dial. Also he is replacing the pins in the bracelet. The people at the Rolex service department were very nice but quite inflexible as far as insisting on replacing the dial and hands and refusing to repair the bracelet. Their only solution to the bracelet was totally replacing it. Oh well, I really don't get that. I am VERY grateful that Halim clued me in to Manuel.

[nektar]

this is very nice!!!!!!!
trf!!!!!!the best forum.

[Skullring]

Happy to hear you are getting it all squared away. Make sure to post some photos when you get it back.