Am I or is AD being unreasonable?

[buckeyechemie]

After getting my Z Serial 16622 appraised, I procured a red date wheel for the purpose of swapping with the factory black date wheel. The ADs watchmaker refuses to swap the date wheel without a full service, the std service not being quoted, of course. They seem to be overly conserved that "their name" will be attached to it, and don't want to touch it unless they can assure the movement is functioning by their hands after a service.

I explained to them that I don't expect to impart any warranty on the movement, as they'd just be touching the hands, dial, and date wheel. I just want a red date wheel that changes at midnight and reinstalled hands that line up at 6:00 and 12:00. The YM is currently running +2 sec (and change) per day, having settled in from +5 when purchased about 50 days ago from DAVIDSW.

A non-rolex shop is willing to do the swap for $225 as an overnight job, and I'm not sure I want to pay $450 per service to swap and swap back.

I figure that this straightforward of a job can be accomplished with about $135 in parts from esslingers.com and the first and last minutes of a youtube video detailing the 3135 service. I am an engineer (which probably gives me more confidence here than I should have). I would not attempt full disassembly, but the dial removal looks to be very straightforward.

Is it unreasonable to ask that and AD provide a simple swap?
Is $225 a reasonable price for what should be a 1/2 hour job for the watchmaker?
Should I go the route of the esslingers "open all"?
Am I underestimating aspects of the date wheel swap by my hand?

I'm looking for informed opinions here, please.

Dave

[Tools]

Many Dealers will not change watch parts without doing a full service.. If they have to take part of it apart, why not do the whole job and know it is right.

225 is outrageous for a watchmaker to just change hands. Some independent watchmakers with Rolex parts accounts would probably do a service and change your hands for not too much more..

As to doing it yourself, let us know how that turns out...

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by buckeyechemie

After getting my Z Serial 16622 appraised, I procured a red date wheel for the purpose of swapping with the factory black date wheel. The ADs watchmaker refuses to swap the date wheel without a full service, the std service not being quoted, of course. They seem to be overly conserved that "their name" will be attached to it, and don't want to touch it unless they can assure the movement is functioning by their hands after a service.

I explained to them that I don't expect to impart any warranty on the movement, as they'd just be touching the hands, dial, and date wheel. I just want a red date wheel that changes at midnight and reinstalled hands that line up at 6:00 and 12:00. The YM is currently running +2 sec (and change) per day, having settled in from +5 when purchased about 50 days ago from DAVIDSW.

A non-rolex shop is willing to do the swap for $225 as an overnight job, and I'm not sure I want to pay $450 per service to swap and swap back.

I figure that this straightforward of a job can be accomplished with about $135 in parts from esslingers.com and the first and last minutes of a youtube video detailing the 3135 service. I am an engineer (which probably gives me more confidence here than I should have). I would not attempt full disassembly, but the dial removal looks to be very straightforward.

Is it unreasonable to ask that and AD provide a simple swap?
Is $225 a reasonable price for what should be a 1/2 hour job for the watchmaker?
Should I go the route of the esslingers "open all"?
Am I underestimating aspects of the date wheel swap by my hand?

I'm looking for informed opinions here, please.

Dave

My brothers and I are all engineers. My older brother thought he could apply his years of mechanical engineering experience to his Land Rover. Eight years later it's still in pieces in his garage. A proper Land Rover mechanic would probably have resolved the issue in hours. Moral of the story, unless you are trained to do the work, it's best left to those who are, unless you're willing to be without your watch whilst you learn the new trade.

[waQstar]

Originally Posted by buckeyechemie

After getting my Z Serial 16622 appraised, I procured a red date wheel for the purpose of swapping with the factory black date wheel. The ADs watchmaker refuses to swap the date wheel without a full service, the std service not being quoted, of course. They seem to be overly conserved that "their name" will be attached to it, and don't want to touch it unless they can assure the movement is functioning by their hands after a service.

I explained to them that I don't expect to impart any warranty on the movement, as they'd just be touching the hands, dial, and date wheel. I just want a red date wheel that changes at midnight and reinstalled hands that line up at 6:00 and 12:00. The YM is currently running +2 sec (and change) per day, having settled in from +5 when purchased about 50 days ago from DAVIDSW.

A non-rolex shop is willing to do the swap for $225 as an overnight job, and I'm not sure I want to pay $450 per service to swap and swap back.

I figure that this straightforward of a job can be accomplished with about $135 in parts from esslingers.com and the first and last minutes of a youtube video detailing the 3135 service. I am an engineer (which probably gives me more confidence here than I should have). I would not attempt full disassembly, but the dial removal looks to be very straightforward.

Is it unreasonable to ask that and AD provide a simple swap?
Is $225 a reasonable price for what should be a 1/2 hour job for the watchmaker?
Should I go the route of the esslingers "open all"?
Am I underestimating aspects of the date wheel swap by my hand?

I'm looking for informed opinions here, please.

Dave

Please contact abc watchwerks in la, speak with Edvi, use me as a reference if you like, they will have you taken care off your way, they have done quite a bit work for me.

[buckeyechemie]

Thank you all, for the free advice.

Dave

[SpaceWanderer]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

My brothers and I are all engineers. My older brother thought he could apply his years of mechanical engineering experience to his Land Rover. Eight years later it's still in pieces in his garage. A proper Land Rover mechanic would probably have resolved the issue in hours. Moral of the story, unless you are trained to do the work, it's best left to those who are, unless you're willing to be without your watch whilst you learn the new trade.

Well said.

[subtona]

think of it as elective cosmetic surgery.

if it ain't broke, don't fix it or have someone tinker with it.

things go wrong, the AD knows this and wants to cover his butt, i can't blame him… would it be fair to say, if it coincidentally broke after you received it back, you would surely expect him to fix it.

just my opinion as someone who has had a few post service issues.

[Sunny Arizona]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

My brothers and I are all engineers. My older brother thought he could apply his years of mechanical engineering experience to his Land Rover. Eight years later it's still in pieces in his garage. A proper Land Rover mechanic would probably have resolved the issue in hours. Moral of the story, unless you are trained to do the work, it's best left to those who are, unless you're willing to be without your watch whilst you learn the new trade.

Imparting great knowledge to the RF community. I have an arrangement with experts in all fields, you don't do my job and I won't do yours.

[DCgator]

Originally Posted by Sunny Arizona

Imparting great knowledge to the RF community. I have an arrangement with experts in all fields, you don't do my job and I won't do yours.

Roger that!

[padi56]

Myself quite surprised that a AD would offer to put a part in the movement that's not for that particular watch.

[THC]

Originally Posted by padi56

Myself quite surprised that a AD would offer to put a part in the movement that's not for that particular watch.

You beat me to it Peter

[mfer]

Also, if you pay someone to do the work and they scratch the dial, they pay for the dial. If you do it, you pay for the dial. Paying someone professional, you have to account for their "insurance" costs as well.

[mnbookman]

Originally Posted by mfer

Also, if you pay someone to do the work and they scratch the dial, they pay for the dial. If you do it, you pay for the dial. Paying someone professional, you have to account for their "insurance" costs as well.

And that person is remembering all the black, glossy dials they were given in watchmaking school, which they failed or for so long.

[KenNethcole]

I had Jewelers On Time swap case back, change second hand, and date wheel on my Sub for almost half the price you were quoted.