Will Rolex micro weld lug dents?

[stil]

Hi All,

I'm curious to know a couple of things from the experts around here. I have a 90's 14060 and there are a couple of small dents on the 7 o'clock lug...right on the corner (as seen in the picture below).

That said, here are my questions:

1) When it comes time to service, will a Rolex RSC repair these dents? If so...do they micro weld and then polish or would they just try to polish the heck out of the lug? Obviously the latter would not be preferred.
2) If I sent it to another watchmaker to have it micro welded would this cause an issue for any future work done by Rolex? More specifically...if a watchmaker other than the Rolex RSC micro welds a Rolex case will Rolex no longer service the timepiece in the future?

Thanks in advance for your input.

[PJ S]

Rolex won't micro-weld – they, like car dealerships, will simply replace parts rather than repair them.
As for future servicing, it's highly unlikely that Rolex will be looking for signs of the case having been repaired.
Unlike companies that offer customisation, where Rolex will hand it back, in your case the watch hasn't been modified, and with no changes to the genuine parts fitted, they will service it as normal.
If you're worried about polishing revealing the micro-welding, you can request the case/bracelet not be touched as part of the service.
Alternatively, just use an accredited independent, as you'll still get the same 2-year service warranty.

[nintendo]

Try michael young!

[xjeeunitx]

Rolex will polish them to a factory like finish. However, once the metal is removed, it's gone forever.

Try abcwatchwerks.

[swils8610]

Rikki from Time Care Inc does it. He laser welds it. He did a GMT for me. Amazing results. You couldn't tell it was touched. Give him a call.

[Danny83]

Abc watchwerks Los Angeles

[Tools]

That scratch

A minute with a file and you won't see it; I would be surprised if a respectable shop would laser weld that..

[Jocke]

If you want to laser weld these scratches so I would suggest you go for a welding training and buying a laser welding machine.
You will have to weld your watch at least once a month.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tools

That scratch

A minute with a file and you won't see it; I would be surprised if a respectable shop would laser weld that..

Have to agree Larry not even big dings.

[DPE]

How can you Weld a dent ? and micro weld, what do you mean ? I really dont think this would even apply. Who told you it is possble? what would they do TIG, Micro TIG, Plasma. I cannot see it happening.
The answer is polish or replace.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by DPE

How can you Weld a dent ? and micro weld, what do you mean ? I really dont think this would even apply. Who told you it is possble? what would they do TIG, Micro TIG, Plasma. I cannot see it happening.
The answer is polish or replace.

It's laser welding.

[xeal]

Out of curiosity, how did it happen?
Did you drop the watch/ what kind of surface?

I hope you get it sorted.
I don't know how much it will cost, but if you are very keen, surely they can change the case.
Again - not sure how much the damage would be!

[watchwatcher]

I'm no expert by any means...but it doesn't seem to warrant a weld job for that damage.

[ronricks]

those are tiny and should be polished out at service time........no need for welding.

[stil]

Originally Posted by Tools

That scratch

A minute with a file and you won't see it; I would be surprised if a respectable shop would laser weld that..

Thanks. It's a really bad picture so it doesn't look that bad. In fact, the dents are not that bad to begin with but I figured it would be nice to have it repaired when I need my next service. Here's a better shot:

[stil]

Originally Posted by swils8610

Rikki from Time Care Inc does it. He laser welds it. He did a GMT for me. Amazing results. You couldn't tell it was touched. Give him a call.

This was my plan...thanks for letting me know it worked out well for you.

[brettpaul]

Originally Posted by stil

Thanks. It's a really bad picture so it doesn't look that bad. In fact, the dents are not that bad to begin with but I figured it would be nice to have it repaired when I need my next service. Here's a better shot:

I don't think they're that bad and would leave them as they simply add character mate!!

[Mick P]

Stil

I would suggest you are best learning to live with this.

Yes it is possible for a welder to drop a small blob of stainless steel ( but not the identical SS grade) into the dings but then the problems start.

The body will have to be filed and smoothed to match the contours of the chamfer etc and whilst that can be done, you would still see a faint join line where the weld meets the original body.

This would be fine, if say you were going to apply a paint or similar covering but polishing over a weld nearly always leave a join line and it would look worse than the ding. Often the line can be disguised but it nearly always comes back.

My Sub has a similar ding and after a few months I learnt to live with it.

Regards

Mick

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Mick P

Stil

I would suggest you are best learning to live with this.

Yes it is possible for a welder to drop a small blob of stainless steel ( but not the identical SS grade) into the dings but then the problems start.

The body will have to be filed and smoothed to match the contours of the chamfer etc and whilst that can be done, you would still see a faint join line where the weld meets the original body.

This would be fine, if say you were going to apply a paint or similar covering but polishing over a weld nearly always leave a join line and it would look worse than the ding. Often the line can be disguised but it nearly always comes back.

My Sub has a similar ding and after a few months I learnt to live with it.

Regards

Mick

A laser welding specialist effects repairs using shards of metal removed from old discarded/condemned watch cases and bracelets as filler metal.
The later watch cases have 904 SS, and that's what goes into the repair as a matter of best practice.
When polished, the filler material looks exactly the same as the parent material and it's impossible to tell the difference in colour after the work is complete.
Corrosion resistance of the repair is the same.

The laser weld repair is more effective than simply applying a blob of material as it's a fusion welding process.

[Rolexdaydateii]

Those are fairly significant dents I don't blame the original poster for inquiring about laser weld..

[strafer_kid]

Given the potential pitfalls, I would be incilned to just live with any dents - they dont seem too bad really and give the watch a bit of a unique character.

[77T]

Stil
You will have to weigh the cost vs the benefit for yourself. But if you choose to have Rikki weld it, then may as well have him also do the overhaul rather than RSC.

That way all is done at once and no back and forth.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Old Geezer]

I had two similar dents on my TT sub. When serviced, RSC polished to minimize their appearance but did not notably change the profile of he lugs. I knew where they were but from a few feet away or to someone who didn't know they existed, they would be invisible.
I'm sure there are craftsmen/women that could weld and polish to make them go away but IMO, RSC will do a fine job too.

[up2nogood]

Originally Posted by nintendo

Try michael young!

For bracelets, yes.
For cases, no.

[theflywrist]

Originally Posted by xeal

Out of curiosity, how did it happen?
Did you drop the watch/ what kind of surface?

I hope you get it sorted.
I don't know how much it will cost, but if you are very keen, surely they can change the case.
Again - not sure how much the damage would be!

Also curious. How did it happen?

[Lord]

(generally) watches are NOT weapons ;-)

...c'mon, how did that happen?

[ec51]

Send it to Riki at Time Care Inc. He works magic.

[springbar]

Originally Posted by stil

Hi All,

I'm curious to know a couple of things from the experts around here. I have a 90's 14060 and there are a couple of small dents on the 7 o'clock lug...right on the corner (as seen in the picture below).

That said, here are my questions:

1) When it comes time to service, will a Rolex RSC repair these dents? If so...do they micro weld and then polish or would they just try to polish the heck out of the lug? Obviously the latter would not be preferred.
2) If I sent it to another watchmaker to have it micro welded would this cause an issue for any future work done by Rolex? More specifically...if a watchmaker other than the Rolex RSC micro welds a Rolex case will Rolex no longer service the timepiece in the future?

Thanks in advance for your input.

There's too much guessing in this thread.

I also had a 14060M with similar damage and had a laser weld fix performed by ABC. It looks great. I subsequently took the watch to RSC Beverly Hills for regulation and no one objected.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by strafer_kid

Given the potential pitfalls, I would be incilned to just live with any dents - they dont seem too bad really and give the watch a bit of a unique character.

I tend to agree and would be inclined to let it slide for 10-15 years and only worry about it if I still felt uncomfortable with it then with a view to specifying no polishing at normal service times.

[WatchinMD]

Agree with the live with it a while sentiment. It will bother you less as time goes by. Maybe see how it looks after a standard polish at it's next service.