Servicing a Submariner 1680 - A lot of pictures!

[SearChart]

Thank you all very much for the kind comments.

[crowncollection]

Nice work


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[Old Expat Beast]

Lovely job Bas. So was this a regular RSC service for a customer, or a test of some kind (as you're an intern and this is your first time on this movt.)?

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Lovely job Bas. So was this a regular RSC service for a customer, or a test of some kind (as you're an intern and this is your first time on this movt.)?

Regular service I did work on a seperate 3135 we have, the first time I worked on Rolex back in the beginning. But from there on it was all from customers.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Regular service I did work on a seperate 3135 we have, the first time I worked on Rolex back in the beginning. But from there on it was all from customers.

Great! Did the customer leave instructions about not changing dial, hands, datewheel, etc? I guess so, and if he hadn't, would you have installed replacement parts as routine?

[Daytona88]

Very interesting, educational, and most of all, impressive!

[Passionata]

Very nice

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Great! Did the customer leave instructions about not changing dial, hands, datewheel, etc? I guess so, and if he hadn't, would you have installed replacement parts as routine?

Nope, so that is also why I had to polish the watch. The customer agreed to a full service with polishing.

We replace the plexi every time, I was told that UV makes it brittle.
If the dial and hands (hands are service hands from a few years ago) are bad we will contact the customer and ask if they want it replaced, if not it's their choice. You simply can't change a dial without the customer being fully aware of it, especially when it's a vintage watch and the replacement dial is quite different from the original one.

But in newer models we can obviously get most dials so a change wouldn't be an issue.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Nope, so that is also why I had to polish the watch. The customer agreed to a full service with polishing.

We replace the plexi every time, I was told that UV makes it brittle.
If the dial and hands (hands are service hands from a few years ago) are bad we will contact the customer and ask if they want it replaced, if not it's their choice. You simply can't change a dial without the customer being fully aware of it, especially when it's a vintage watch and the replacement dial is quite different from the original one.

But in newer models we can obviously get most dials so a change wouldn't be an issue.

Right, I was just wondering if your RSC had maybe recommended a dial change, as they tend to do with my older watches when I take them in for a quote and/or service.

[WhatTheDeuce]

Very cool and impressive!


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[travisb]

Great work and thanks for all of the pics!

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Right, I was just wondering if your RSC had maybe recommended a dial change, as they tend to do with my older watches when I take them in for a quote and/or service.

Your RSC recommends a dial change just because it old? We don't do that, if the lume doesn't flake and it isn't damaged we will not recommend a change.

[roadie1]

Very nice!

[brandrea]

Thank you for sharing Bas, incredible how much time and effort goes into servicing these little machines! You must have the patience of Job

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Your RSC recommends a dial change just because it old? We don't do that, if the lume doesn't flake and it isn't damaged we will not recommend a change.

Yes, something about it not glowing any more

But they don't insist.

I did read a post here recently, though, that said RSCs in some countries won't do a service without replacing a tritium dial with luminova.

[1William]

Wow. Great pictures and information. Thanks for sharing. I am more than impressed.

[Hodog16]

Very interesting and great photos to see the inner workings as well. You are well on your way!

[Majin Buu]

Very kind of you to share !!

J.

[DevinH]

Wow.........I mean just. Wow. Good work.


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[NorthernPike]

Very nice job. The watch looks great!
Thanks for sharing with us.

[chopper7]

Vintage goodness. It must be very satisfying to be able to bring a watch back to like new condition. I would dare to guess the owner had a smile on his face when he saw it. Made me smile. Thanks for sharing and good luck and continued success in your career.

[Thenicknackman]

What a fascinating series - amazes me!

[errryry]

Amazing thread! Thanks for all the pictures.

[Sublover2166]

Glad to see work from another watchmaker in addition to Rik and Vanessa.
Do you have any idea as to why the inconsistencies in service pricing in RSC's depending on country? Sounds like Adam in HK pays significantly lower pricing than what the RSC charges here in the US. What is the average service price at RSC in the UK in estimated USD?

[RGAmos]

To my untrained eye, the replacement dial you installed appears to be period correct. Is this indeed so. When I sent my watch in for service, I was told that if non-period correct replacement parts were required, the service center would notify the customer of such before proceeding. Is this true as well.

Thanks ever so much for a truly enlightening post.

[Brandon L]

Great job on the restoration!!!

I lol at finger condoms......

[Headshrinker]

Really nice job, my friend. I have the same watch and could not help notice the whiteness on the number indicators on the dial. Can they be original? My watch is in fantastic shape for its age but the indicators are yellowed somewhat.

[mmalek1]

Great work!

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Glad to see work from another watchmaker in addition to Rik and Vanessa.
Do you have any idea as to why the inconsistencies in service pricing in RSC's depending on country? Sounds like Adam in HK pays significantly lower pricing than what the RSC charges here in the US. What is the average service price at RSC in the UK in estimated USD?

Might have to do with the economy of the country, places like Switzerland and the Netherlands (where I am) habe a pretty high cost of living and people generally have higher salaries, watchmakers included. That could be one of the things that determine the cost of service.

Originally Posted by Headshrinker

Really nice job, my friend. I have the same watch and could not help notice the whiteness on the number indicators on the dial. Can they be original? My watch is in fantastic shape for its age but the indicators are yellowed somewhat.

These had only a very light patina, but there are some that go dark yellow. All depends on the amount of UV light hitting the dial over the years.

[watchnut.com]

VERY nice work Bas! Thanks for the chronicle!