Service Options

[vesnyder]

I have a 35+ year old OP Datejust and am looking for service options. It has been almost 20 years since I've had this watch serviced and it is losing almost 20 seconds per day. The path of least resistance is to take the watch to the local AD and have them service the watch - whcih they shared, because of the age, they may have to send it back to Rolex. Can I send it directly to Rolex and save money bypassing the AD? Can I get a better price and good service by some of the third party service providers? Any service recommendations and options would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Rolex fan 61]

Send it back to Rolex for a full service.

[BisonHead]

Would send it to Phillip Ridley, LAW or Rolliworks personally. Not RSC

[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

I have a 35+ year old OP Datejust and am looking for service options. It has been almost 20 years since I've had this watch serviced and it is losing almost 20 seconds per day. The path of least resistance is to take the watch to the local AD and have them service the watch - whcih they shared, because of the age, they may have to send it back to Rolex. Can I send it directly to Rolex and save money bypassing the AD? Can I get a better price and good service by some of the third party service providers? Any service recommendations and options would be appreciated.

Thanks

Locate a competent watch repair business, take the watch to them, have it serviced. It is not very difficult.

[othertbone]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

Locate a competent watch repair business, take the watch to them, have it serviced. It is not very difficult.

Yep this.

I'll never understand why anyone would go to RSC for a watch out of warranty. Rolex is not hard to work on, and you will save a ton and get your watch back in a couple/few weeks.

[tvad]

If you share your general location, perhaps folks can recommend a good repair shop nearby. I have one I can recommend in Los Angeles. The watchmakers/co-owners are all prior Rolex Service Center employees.

[Dirt]

You've certainly had your money's worth out of this watch over the latest extended service interval.
Why not simply get the AD to send it to Rolex?
It's what i've always done and for the most part, everything's worked out fine in the end

[GeoffS]

Originally Posted by othertbone

Yep this.

I'll never understand why anyone would go to RSC for a watch out of warranty. Rolex is not hard to work on, and you will save a ton and get your watch back in a couple/few weeks.

I always thought the issue was with Rolex not releasing spare parts and so disassembling, cleaning, reassembling, oiling etc is fine elsewhere (trusted location only) but if parts need replaced than that's a different problem. Is that not the case?

[othertbone]

Originally Posted by GeoffS

I always thought the issue was with Rolex not releasing spare parts and so disassembling, cleaning, reassembling, oiling etc is fine elsewhere (trusted location only) but if parts need replaced than that's a different problem. Is that not the case?

Not that I am aware of

[blue lion]

Rik at Time Care Inc

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by Dirt

You've certainly had your money's worth out of this watch over the latest extended service interval.
Why not simply get the AD to send it to Rolex?
It's what i've always done and for the most part, everything's worked out fine in the end

Given the time span, why not go the AD/RSC way?

[BillA]

Originally Posted by blue lion

Rik at Time Care Inc

Many of these shops that repaired Rolex in the past no longer have parts accounts with Rolex. I thought I read somewhere that Rik no longer can get parts from Rolex.

[Sublovin]

You can certainly send directly to a Rolex service center. Not sure if it saves you money versus having a dealer do it.

[002]

Originally Posted by othertbone

Yep this.

I'll never understand why anyone would go to RSC for a watch out of warranty. Rolex is not hard to work on, and you will save a ton and get your watch back in a couple/few weeks.

Because it’s not as easy or cheap as everyone online claims. It’s a pain in the butt to weed through all the hacks. Most places actually quoted me 125-200% of what the manufacturer quoted and didn’t have parts. This was for omega, Rolex, Heuer, Tudor and poor man’s Heuer.

I finally agreed to test it out with my least important piece, the budget Carrera. The quote was high, but it’s an old sears tradition chrono, so no AD suppprt. We agreed just service the movement and replace gaskets. No polish. He says he understands and works with high end vintage, so no prob.

I pick it up. “Don’t take it near water, I didnt replace any gaskets, I don’t have them.” Scratched the perfect case and to top it off, relumed my second hand at “no extra charge”!?

Point is, local quality watchwork is a forum buzz phrase like “AD relationship” “bundling” “never polished” or “over polished”. I’m sure it exists somewhere, but in practice it’s not as simple as the flippant, arrogant one liners on TRF.

That is why people that don’t know a good local watch repair center gravitate towards RSC.

[SearChart]

RSC always gets my vote, obviously.

[jimcameron]

Originally Posted by 002

Point is, local quality watchwork is a forum buzz phrase like “AD relationship” “bundling” “never polished” or “over polished”. I’m sure it exists somewhere, but in practice it’s not as simple as the flippant, arrogant one liners on TRF.

I agree. It is not as simple, but locating a competent independent watch repair facility should be within the skill set of any TFR'r. At least 50% of TFR's are into some type of research profession, they just can't seem to carry over that skill to a watchmaker.

There are plenty of Rolex parts floating around in the independent watch repair industry. Unless the ref. someone is trying to have repaired is a very unique piece, parts are available.

Is Rolex trying to squeeze out the independent repair guys? It wouldn't surprise me, they don't want to lose a dime on anything.

[Oxfordian]

Not sure how close you are to your nearest RSC, if reasonably close it might be worth visiting with the watch, having a chat and then determining if you want to leave the watch or whether you want to go down the independent route.

For me a watch of this age, not serviced in 20 years, I would send to RSC

[Nikrnic]

Originally Posted by GeoffS

I always thought the issue was with Rolex not releasing spare parts and so disassembling, cleaning, reassembling, oiling etc is fine elsewhere (trusted location only) but if parts need replaced than that's a different problem. Is that not the case?

Recently true. Parts are still out there but are becoming harder to source. I just had a trashed 42 yr. old lady DJ and the same age DJ36 both rebuilt by my independent jeweler who verified this. He still found everything for the movements plus a domed acrylic lens for one. 4 weeks total to fix on each.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

[garyk]

I was told by the AD last night that my YG Daytona, like all Daytona’s will be sent to Rolex for their service. Does anyone know what that costs these days?

[kieselguhr]

My experience working with independents in California is that I have been quoted equivalent prices to RSC. Restorative services are the only reason to go with independents. Otherwise movement servicing, I’ll stick to RSC all the time, every time.

[klenboy]

If RSC can still service it go with them.

[Seibei]

RSC is a no brainer if you ask me.