Corrosion Issue Part 2, Non Rolex Repair Service?

[Delawareguy]

Ok, so it appears that Rolex will not service the watch (1985 Datejust) without replacing the case and back. I don't wear the watch that often as I primarily wear my 1996 GMT II. So I would like to possibly consider a non factory service technician. Who would you recommend for this?

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by Delawareguy

Ok, so it appears that Rolex will not service the watch (1985 Datejust) without replacing the case and back. I don't wear the watch that often as I primarily wear my 1996 GMT II. So I would like to possibly consider a non factory service technician. Who would you recommend for this?

Rik Dietel at Time Care Inc.

He is an independent CW21 watchmaker with a Rolex parts account. He has over 30 years experience and has serviced over 10K Rolex watches.
Call him up and discuss your watch(es). He is a fantastic and HONEST man and will answer all your questions. He is a member here on the forum and services many members watches including mine. He is located in Seminole, Florida so you have to ship the watch to him, but shipping by USPS Registered mail is reasonable and is the safest method. I highly recommend Rik.

[Delawareguy]

Thanks!


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[Schneeflocke]

You also have Vanessa CW21 on the forum, she is also highly recommended from what I have read in the forum.

[perpetual92]

Definitely either one of the two above.

Can you show some pics of the rust or is that in Part 1 ??

[fisherman79]

See picture below of case pitting on a Rolex 316 case due to salt water.
This would probably not pass pressure test. I definitely would not swim with this case anymore.



https://beckertime.com/blog/rolex-90...or-silverware/

[dom_]

I have seen that corrosion on a one owner watch that had never been near the sea or been submersed, I could only assume it was the customers sweat.

[SpaceWanderer]

There is often other chemistry involved. Watches sometimes get exposed to (even submersed in) some pretty nasty stuff. I myself had a Tudor Submariner that got covered in Mar-Hyde, then paint thinner to remove the stuff. I sent it in for service and the chemistry had done weird things to the crystal, but with the seals replaced and a new acrylic crystal it was diving again without problem. The case and back were not damaged, but with exposure to the right nastiness corrosion can definitely get that bad.

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by fisherman79

See picture below of case pitting on a Rolex 316 case due to salt water.
This would probably not pass pressure test. I definitely would not swim with this case anymore.



https://beckertime.com/blog/rolex-90...or-silverware/

Rikki can and has laser welded damage like that in the O ring groove.

[dom_]

Yep it is easy to do and then you just turn it flat on the lathe.

[dera]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Rik Dietel at Time Care Inc.

He is an independent CW21 watchmaker with a Rolex parts account. He has over 30 years experience and has serviced over 10K Rolex watches.
Call him up and discuss your watch(es). He is a fantastic and HONEST man and will answer all your questions. He is a member here on the forum and services many members watches including mine. He is located in Seminole, Florida so you have to ship the watch to him, but shipping by USPS Registered mail is reasonable and is the safest method. I highly recommend Rik.

He must be quite busy, if he has serviced on average one Rolex, every single day, for 30 years. No days off.

I've heard he is good, but I think your numbers might be a bit off? ;)

[Vanessa CW21]

Originally Posted by dera

He must be quite busy, if he has serviced on average one Rolex, every single day, for 30 years. No days off.

I've heard he is good, but I think your numbers might be a bit off? ;)

We can service more than one watch a day...

[SpaceWanderer]

Originally Posted by Vanessa CW21

We can service more than one watch a day...

I would think since there must be testing that goes on (seals, accuracy, etc.) that may take some time without the watchmaker working on the watch, you'd use this time to work on at least one more watch. A full overhaul takes a lot of different tasks, so naturally you would work on more than one in a day. Or am I wrong about this?

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by SpaceWanderer

I would think since there must be testing that goes on (seals, accuracy, etc.) that may take some time without the watchmaker working on the watch, you'd use this time to work on at least one more watch. A full overhaul takes a lot of different tasks, so naturally you would work on more than one in a day. Or am I wrong about this?

I'm sure a watchmaker works on several watches throughout the day. In different stages of service.

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by dera

He must be quite busy, if he has serviced on average one Rolex, every single day, for 30 years. No days off.

I've heard he is good, but I think your numbers might be a bit off? ;)

Not my numbers, this is what Rik says. He should have an idea on how many watches he has serviced over the years.

[dom_]

One a day is a low amount and not enough.
To give you an example a watch repairer working in a service centre would be expected to do four movement services a day or two chronographs a day. This is however without doing any case work, just purely servicing then casing up.

[Storm Central]

Glen Routledge is a fantastic watch maker with the company Sant Blanc. He's CW21 and AWCI.
I'm not too knowledgable about watchmaker's ordeals, but I know that he's the real deal. While in conversation with him one time he talked about his testings and said how he had to take the tests without the prep classes that watchmakers have had in recent years (kind of like how our kids have prep classes for the ACT, SAT, or any other ordinations ) This may not prove too much; however, I know that he is genuine.
Good luck with your endeavors

[Rikki]

I average over 600 watches a year times 30 is 18000 watches a good watchmaker can service 3 to 5 movements a day just in case you wanted to know. Rikki

[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by Rikki

I average over 600 watches a year times 30 is 18000 watches a good watchmaker can service 3 to 5 movements a day just in case you wanted to know. Rikki

Thanks for setting the record straight!!

[Delawareguy]

Ok, so we have some resolution on the corrosion issue. I ended up discussing with a senior customer relations person and they came up with an alternative solution. There is some kind of laser repair which they can do which will allow the case to be recertified at a much lower cost. Whew...