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retiredUKdiver · 19 June 2013, 01:28 AM

Hi

This is my first posting. I have a Submariner Date model 16800 which I have used for diving for 26 years and which has done 2,000 dives plus. I bought it in 1986 for the same cost as servicing one with Rolex today. Now I have stopped diving I am unprepared to pay out to have it 'officially' serviced, but am prepared to take a risk and have it serviced by a competant non authorized technician.

So - can anyone recommend one please (preferably UK based but I would consider other recommendations from this forum)? I only want the thing re greasing and a mainspring, but I don't care if these are Tudor or re-manufactured. If I can't get this done at reasonable cost then I will sell it.

FYI - in the old days before these things became jewelry, I used to take it into the Rolex shop in London and they would turn it around for me in 4 days as I was a diver. I never got charged for bezels and even got two new bracelets thrown in over the years. I'm looking at my 1988 invoice now and it was for £78 ($117) including a new bezel and bracelet. But now it has all changed and I'm disappointed that Rolex have forgotten their roots. Over the years there must have been about 20 of my friends that bought them when they saw the work/abuse that mine got and that it survived anything. We used to tie them to an outboard prop to wind them up! Anyway - nothing is forever, including the owner!

mike@ec · 19 June 2013, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredUKdiver

Hi

This is my first posting. I have a Submariner Date model 16800 which I have used for diving for 26 years and which has done 2,000 dives plus. I bought it in 1986 for the same cost as servicing one with Rolex today. Now I have stopped diving I am unprepared to pay out to have it 'officially' serviced, but am prepared to take a risk and have it serviced by a competant non authorized technician.

So - can anyone recommend one please (preferably UK based but I would consider other recommendations from this forum)? I only want the thing re greasing and a mainspring, but I don't care if these are Tudor or re-manufactured. If I can't get this done at reasonable cost then I will sell it.

FYI - in the old days before these things became jewelry, I used to take it into the Rolex shop in London and they would turn it around for me in 4 days as I was a diver. I never got charged for bezels and even got two new bracelets thrown in over the years. I'm looking at my 1988 invoice now and it was for £78 ($117) including a new bezel and bracelet. But now it has all changed and I'm disappointed that Rolex have forgotten their roots. Over the years there must have been about 20 of my friends that bought them when they saw the work/abuse that mine got and that it survived anything. We used to tie them to an outboard prop to wind them up! Anyway - nothing is forever, including the owner!

that is a great way to wind them up... never thought of that

Dan Pierce · 19 June 2013, 01:52 AM

Can't help with the "who" but look for a independent watchmaker w/ a Rolex parts account. It wil be cheaper than going to RSC and you can control how much of your watch is replaced so it keeps as much of it's present value as possible. Hope you keep that classic.
Good luck and welcome to TRF.
dP

Spunga · 19 June 2013, 02:04 AM

Where in the UK are you?

retiredUKdiver · 19 June 2013, 04:19 AM

Hi. I live in S Devon betweeen Dartmouth and Kingsbridge. However, I travel regularly to Bristol, Warwick, London and around the south. Also I have no problem with posting it.

Hopefully you are going to tell me you can assist :-)

Nick Howard

Spunga · 19 June 2013, 04:25 AM

There is a guy in Kent, his name is Tylden Reed.

If he's still kicking and breathing you could try him. You should be able to google him for contact details.

T. Ferguson · 19 June 2013, 05:08 AM

In the USA many ADs can refer you to an independent they will use occasionally to save customers some money on service. The main thing is to have confidence that only OEM Rolex parts will go into your watch.

retiredUKdiver · 19 June 2013, 06:55 PM

Thank you Paul (Spunga) and others that have responded. I have spoken to Tylden Reed (what a pleasant gentleman he is) and he is most sympathetic and understanding of Submariners that have been used in anger and it looks like my watch will continue to sit on my wrist for a few more years.

As this forum has been of great assistance to me I will give feedback once the job is completed

Thanks again

kanikune · 19 June 2013, 07:08 PM

http://watchguy.co.uk/

?
You'll get a nice report on top :)

Spunga · 19 June 2013, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredUKdiver

Thank you Paul (Spunga) and others that have responded. I have spoken to Tylden Reed (what a pleasant gentleman he is) and he is most sympathetic and understanding of Submariners that have been used in anger and it looks like my watch will continue to sit on my wrist for a few more years.

As this forum has been of great assistance to me I will give feedback once the job is completed

Thanks again

No problem. Glad to help.

He is a lovely person!!!

If you ever meet him, to spot him he's the guy with a watch on both wrists.

Good luck with that.

CKL1213 · 20 June 2013, 08:48 PM

photos if possible, we would really like to see a real Sub tool watch which endured 2,000 dives.

nowadays we are getting question like "can I wear my Sub for shower?"

Glenn422 · 20 June 2013, 10:51 PM

What a cool way to wind it up!

retiredUKdiver · 21 June 2013, 08:40 PM

Here are some images. The current bezel is very scratched and there are numerous deep gouges and 'chunks' out of the case. The bracelet is now a good copy as I won't pay out for a proper one and you can see I am waiting for a spring bar to be delivered. However it still works well and that justifies what seemed like a vast amount of money in 1986. I only ever take it off when working on vehicles and having a bath. I believe that anything mechanical is better being 'worked' than sat idle. I clean the bracelet by leaving it in Coke overnight, but don't put the watch in as the Coke wrecks the O ring on the crown!

Justso · 23 June 2013, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredUKdiver

Here are some images. The current bezel is very scratched and there are numerous deep gouges and 'chunks' out of the case. The bracelet is now a good copy as I won't pay out for a proper one and you can see I am waiting for a spring bar to be delivered. However it still works well and that justifies what seemed like a vast amount of money in 1986. I only ever take it off when working on vehicles and having a bath. I believe that anything mechanical is better being 'worked' than sat idle. I clean the bracelet by leaving it in Coke overnight, but don't put the watch in as the Coke wrecks the O ring on the crown!

Retired Diver,

Welcome to the Rolex Forums!

I have the same exact watch, and I also dive with it. I know you asked for a UK watchmaker recommendation, of which I cannot give. However, I can give you a recommendation for a watchmaker across the pond who I would trust 100% to restore my timepiece carefully, meticulously, and at a fair price. I, like yourself, will not use RSC to restore my watches for many different reasons.

You can read my review of using Rik at Time Care to restore my watch. His work, reputation and integrity speaks for itself - and many, many others on this forum will back up exactly what I'm saying.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=285798

The 16800, to me, is one of the most beautiful eras of the Submariners.

T. Ferguson · 23 June 2013, 04:27 AM

I know a guy...

Seriously, I'm lucky in that I have a local independent that knows what he is doing. In addition to being a CMW21 he has Rolex advanced training and a parts account. He was an AD in my area for decades before selling the retail side and focusing on watchmaking. Most of his customers are Rolex ADs that use him as a cost saving alternative for their customers - in fact that's how I came across him again, through the local AD he sold his store to. His turnaround time is faster and there are no shipping/insurance costs or hassles.

If you don't have someone like that then RSC is the safest way to go. Obviously any warranty work would go through the RSC. Or if I was a flipper then RSC papers would carry more weight to a buyer than an independent would. But I've yet to sell a watch.

Cc1966 · 2 August 2013, 12:32 AM

Still laughing about winding with the boat's prop

!

rmfnla · 2 August 2013, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cc1966

Still laughing about winding with the boat's prop

!

They drive on the wrong side of the road, too...

19 June 2013, 01:28 AM	#1
retiredUKdiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UK Watch: Submariner 16800 Posts: 5	Non certified Rolex servicing - who? Hi This is my first posting. I have a Submariner Date model 16800 which I have used for diving for 26 years and which has done 2,000 dives plus. I bought it in 1986 for the same cost as servicing one with Rolex today. Now I have stopped diving I am unprepared to pay out to have it 'officially' serviced, but am prepared to take a risk and have it serviced by a competant non authorized technician. So - can anyone recommend one please (preferably UK based but I would consider other recommendations from this forum)? I only want the thing re greasing and a mainspring, but I don't care if these are Tudor or re-manufactured. If I can't get this done at reasonable cost then I will sell it. FYI - in the old days before these things became jewelry, I used to take it into the Rolex shop in London and they would turn it around for me in 4 days as I was a diver. I never got charged for bezels and even got two new bracelets thrown in over the years. I'm looking at my 1988 invoice now and it was for £78 ($117) including a new bezel and bracelet. But now it has all changed and I'm disappointed that Rolex have forgotten their roots. Over the years there must have been about 20 of my friends that bought them when they saw the work/abuse that mine got and that it survived anything. We used to tie them to an outboard prop to wind them up! Anyway - nothing is forever, including the owner!

19 June 2013, 01:52 AM	#3
Dan Pierce 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: D'OH! Location: Kentucky Watch: Rolex-1 Tudor-3 Posts: 36,180	Can't help with the "who" but look for a independent watchmaker w/ a Rolex parts account. It wil be cheaper than going to RSC and you can control how much of your watch is replaced so it keeps as much of it's present value as possible. Hope you keep that classic. Good luck and welcome to TRF. dP __________________ TRF Member# 1668 Bass Player in TRF "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Band Commander-in-Chief of The Nylon Nation The Crown & Shield Club Honorary Member of P-Club

19 June 2013, 05:08 AM	#7
T. Ferguson "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Left Coast Posts: 7,025	In the USA many ADs can refer you to an independent they will use occasionally to save customers some money on service. The main thing is to have confidence that only OEM Rolex parts will go into your watch. __________________ *Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.*

23 June 2013, 04:27 AM	#15
T. Ferguson "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Left Coast Posts: 7,025	I know a guy... Seriously, I'm lucky in that I have a local independent that knows what he is doing. In addition to being a CMW21 he has Rolex advanced training and a parts account. He was an AD in my area for decades before selling the retail side and focusing on watchmaking. Most of his customers are Rolex ADs that use him as a cost saving alternative for their customers - in fact that's how I came across him again, through the local AD he sold his store to. His turnaround time is faster and there are no shipping/insurance costs or hassles. If you don't have someone like that then RSC is the safest way to go. Obviously any warranty work would go through the RSC. Or if I was a flipper then RSC papers would carry more weight to a buyer than an independent would. But I've yet to sell a watch. __________________ *Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.*

2 August 2013, 12:32 AM	#16
Cc1966 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Real Name: Christopher Location: Georgia, USA Watch: ing the Sea... Posts: 6,713	Prop Winding! Still laughing about winding with the boat's prop!

19 June 2013, 02:04 AM	#4
Spunga Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: England Posts: 650	Where in the UK are you?

19 June 2013, 04:19 AM	#5
retiredUKdiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UK Watch: Submariner 16800 Posts: 5	Hi. I live in S Devon betweeen Dartmouth and Kingsbridge. However, I travel regularly to Bristol, Warwick, London and around the south. Also I have no problem with posting it. Hopefully you are going to tell me you can assist :-) Nick Howard

19 June 2013, 04:25 AM	#6
Spunga Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: England Posts: 650	There is a guy in Kent, his name is Tylden Reed. If he's still kicking and breathing you could try him. You should be able to google him for contact details.

19 June 2013, 06:55 PM	#8
retiredUKdiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UK Watch: Submariner 16800 Posts: 5	Thank you Paul (Spunga) and others that have responded. I have spoken to Tylden Reed (what a pleasant gentleman he is) and he is most sympathetic and understanding of Submariners that have been used in anger and it looks like my watch will continue to sit on my wrist for a few more years. As this forum has been of great assistance to me I will give feedback once the job is completed Thanks again

19 June 2013, 07:08 PM	#9
kanikune "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Finland Watch: Rolex OP '58 Posts: 135	http://watchguy.co.uk/ ? You'll get a nice report on top :)

20 June 2013, 08:48 PM	#11
CKL1213 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Malaysia Posts: 367	photos if possible, we would really like to see a real Sub tool watch which endured 2,000 dives. nowadays we are getting question like "can I wear my Sub for shower?"

20 June 2013, 10:51 PM	#12
Glenn422 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: TRF Posts: 721	What a cool way to wind it up!

21 June 2013, 08:40 PM	#13
retiredUKdiver "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: UK Watch: Submariner 16800 Posts: 5	Here are some images. The current bezel is very scratched and there are numerous deep gouges and 'chunks' out of the case. The bracelet is now a good copy as I won't pay out for a proper one and you can see I am waiting for a spring bar to be delivered. However it still works well and that justifies what seemed like a vast amount of money in 1986. I only ever take it off when working on vehicles and having a bath. I believe that anything mechanical is better being 'worked' than sat idle. I clean the bracelet by leaving it in Coke overnight, but don't put the watch in as the Coke wrecks the O ring on the crown!

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