scratched wg bezel

[NitroRacer]

Hi all. You may recognize my username b/c I have been asking about polishing a WG bezel on a DJ. The reason I ask is b/c there are some scratches that came with the watch. It may not have been a virgin, but then again its BRAND NEW. Not used. Any defects should be the responsibility of the AD. Is there anyway to have this replaced by them or under warranty? I know Rolex didn't ship it with scratches so it's obv. the jeweler's fault. Can I reasonably expect them to replace the bezel? I don't want it polished b/c I don't want to diminish the fineness of the fluted appearance. What should I do?? The scratches are driving me nuts, especially b/c I didn't put them there! Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[Defiancekofb]

Originally Posted by pgeorgan

Hi all. You may recognize my username b/c I have been asking about polishing a WG bezel on a DJ. The reason I ask is b/c there are some scratches that came with the watch. It may not have been a virgin, but then again its BRAND NEW. Not used. Any defects should be the responsibility of the AD. Is there anyway to have this replaced by them or under warranty? I know Rolex didn't ship it with scratches so it's obv. the jeweler's fault. Can I reasonably expect them to replace the bezel? I don't want it polished b/c I don't want to diminish the fineness of the fluted appearance. What should I do?? The scratches are driving me nuts, especially b/c I didn't put them there! Any help is appreciated, thanks.

If you noticed this after the fact, then i'm afraid your out of luck. It's like purchasing a new car from the dealership, by the time you get home, you realize there is a scratch on the hood. If you ask them to fix it out of the dealership's pocket they will say it was your fault. RSC will only cover warranty issues such as regulation, any mechanical problems. Anything cosmetic will be seen as something out of pocket for the customer & trust me the WG bezel doesn't come cheap. It's unfortunate, but I guarantee you will scratch the watch down the road anyway.

PS - Of course you could always go and raise hell at the AD and see if they fold (replace it for free) or stand their ground. (your out of luck)

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I feel your pain, man!

For how long have you had the DJ?

I doubt if your AD will change the bezel, but have a try anyway. You have to convince him that YOU did not make that scratch, and that's the tough part.

Was the watch in the window display? Íf so, you could use this as reason for the scratch. Often window display models show scratches from being pulled in and out of the window.

[NitroRacer]

Ya. I guess you are right. Unless I can put up a fight. What is the cost of replacing the WG bezel? Is it worth it? Do they have to expose the inside of the case/under the crystal to do it? If so, I don't think it'd be worth it until I put a few years of use into it.

[seantk]

Go to your AD and see about getting the bezel replaced under warranty -. otherwise you will never be happy. Your watch will receive scratches, however you are the one who should put them there.

I just returned a brand new Sea Dweller to RSC because it had streaks in the dial.

Good luck

Sean

[NitroRacer]

I've had it for ONE WEEK! It was in the counter display. Thing is, I KNOW it was them b/c i remember them being there I just didn't think to say anything ( this is my first R ). I've never touched the bezel like that, no way.

[marshallr47]

I would say take it back to the AD and see if they can do something about it. If they would like to try and polish it then let them know if it's not to your liking after wards that you would like the bezel replaced. This will also determine what type of AD you have and where you should ever shop there again. Keep us posted and good luck.

[NitroRacer]

Originally Posted by seantk

Go to your AD and see about getting the bezel replaced under warranty -. otherwise you will never be happy. Your watch will receive scratches, however you are the one who should put them there.

I just returned a brand new Sea Dweller to RSC because it had streaks in the dial.

Good luck

Sean

Would the AD be able to get it replaced under a Rolex Warranty if it was the dealer's fault?? If they could do it at no cost I'm sure they'd do that, but I feel like it will cost them since they are responsible.

[NitroRacer]

I don't know, maybe I won't. The scratches aren't THAT bad, and I know if I go through with this, it will just perpetuate this type of behavior even more. Inevitably, it will get worn, however slow the process may be. Certainly an argument can be made for me not standing up for what is mine, but I feel like I should pick and choose my battles, so that if something comes around that I really need done, I won't feel like the boy who cried wolf. I prob. should just be thankful that I have one of these things and that I keep my health while it lasts!

[Defiancekofb]

Originally Posted by pgeorgan

Would the AD be able to get it replaced under a Rolex Warranty if it was the dealer's fault?? If they could do it at no cost I'm sure they'd do that, but I feel like it will cost them since they are responsible.

The problem with this is that with seantk's problem is his watch was technically mechanical because it was a scratch on the bezel. So it was a problem you could identify that originated from the factory. Your problem is that the WG bezel is an external watch part. So you can try to argue that the AD scratched it, but you know they will try to cover their asses by stating you didn't complain about the scratch when you took delivery of the watch, so it's entirely on yourself, that your trying to pull one over on the ADs. However, I agree with the previous posters, at LEAST try to raise a stink about it and see if the odds are in your favor.

[buz-lh]

Do you have a pic showing the scratch?

[Trurolexer]

So sorry to hear that...

[NitroRacer]

Originally Posted by buz-lh

Do you have a pic showing the scratch?

They aren't visible unless you are within 8 inches, its in the right light and you know where to look. Am I just obsessing? They are small.

[Defiancekofb]

Originally Posted by pgeorgan

They aren't visible unless you are within 8 inches, its in the right light and you know where to look. Am I just obsessing? They are small.

So it's a hairline scratch? Slide your fingernail across the scratch, if you can feel it, then it's a scratch, if not it's a hairline scratch, perhaps it happened when you were polishing the watch. Even if you polish the watch with your polishing cloth your basically rubbing the dirt and dust on the watch, which will cause hairline scratches. Many people are advised not to use the polishing cloth, but instead to just wash the whole wash with mild soap then dry it to avoid hairline scratches associated with polishing.

[NitroRacer]

Originally Posted by Defiancekofb

So it's a hairline scratch? Slide your fingernail across the scratch, if you can feel it, then it's a scratch, if not it's a hairline scratch, perhaps it happened when you were polishing the watch. Even if you polish the watch with your polishing cloth your basically rubbing the dirt and dust on the watch, which will cause hairline scratches. Many people are advised not to use the polishing cloth, but instead to just wash the whole wash with mild soap then dry it to avoid hairline scratches associated with polishing.

No NO, they are DEF. scratches. I know the difference between a hairline scratch and a scratch where the metal is no longer smooth to the naked eye. It's the latter.

[NitroRacer]

I'm going to test a high-quality gold polish on ONE flute with surgical precision to see if I can't get some results. Spot treatment may work. I don't want a rehaul if its just a few marks. I've had bad experiences with that. Worst case scenario, a new bezel is like $500 If i can't get it under warranty if its that bad.

[fwellers]

I've noticed some minor marks on my white gold fluted bezel also. I think that they were there from the AD, but for me, it's not worth it to pursue.
As a matter of fact, before I turned in the SD that I bought last week ( turned it in the same night I bought it because I decided on the DJ instead ), I noticed a decent scratch on the bracelet that I definitely did not put there.

Before I made up my mind to get the DJ, I was going to live with that scratch too.

I guess my feeling is that I am going to wear it, and put scratches on it anyway, so minor imperfections that I didn't catch at time of purchase are just not important enough to me to go through the hassle.

Much more important to me is that the it's keeping precise time.

All this would be different if the blemish was huge or unsightly or in the crystal. But minor stuff I don't sweat.

Go now and do likewise.

[NitroRacer]

I have good news !!!!!!! Standby for finalization. :) :) :) :)

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by pgeorgan

I have good news !!!!!!! Standby for finalization. :) :) :) :)

Can't wait for the good news! Does it involve pictures?!

[NitroRacer]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

Can't wait for the good news! Does it involve pictures?!

YES YES YES

[NitroRacer]

So, as many of you know, I had been lamenting about the marks on my bezel (see above). Well, my AD was gracious enough to replace the entire watch for me at no extra cost. My original DJ was a Z-series, but they switched it up for an M and didn't charge me. I will post pics if anyone wants to see, but it looks like the ones I posted when I first got the other DJ. The watch was never in display in a case but they did take all the plastic stickers off for me except the back-face one, I suppose b/c they didn't want me to try to take it back somewhere else and make the instant $700 profit on retail from the change to M from Z. Rightfully so, I guess. Anyway, I am very happy with the decision to complain about the scratch as I was not expecting them to go that far for me.

[marshallr47]

That is awesome news, congrats. Enjoy your new scratch free watch for many years to come.

[sbakar]

Great to hear that your AD gave you the benefit of the doubt. I`m sure the watch is being unloaded on some ignorant (or non WIS!) sucker as we speak

This is actually one of the qualms I have about having a Rolex shipped out-of-province by an AD. What if there are scratches on it when I receive it and who will they trust. This can easily be problematic. Not getting an example that`s been sitting on the shelf should not be so hard: get the clasp code and serial number and make sure it is fairly recent.

Probably best to buy it after seeing it!

SNB