CRACKED CRYSTAL - GMT ll C

[newrolexman]

I hit my Rollie GMT ll C ever so slightly on a rock wall when visiting a park. I was walking and probably swinging my left arm and it must have every so lightly brushed up against the wall.

I didnt realize I did any damage until that night and saw a small spiderweb on part of the crystal.

I brought it into my AD and they pressure tested it and it failed.

It was sent to RSC -NYC (3 wks ago) that same day.

I called first and then put a note in the box and stated not to do a service just fix the crystal.

I called this past week (they are swamped with repairs) and they still havent made a decision on what they are going to do.

I gave them my CC # to expedite the process and stated again I perfer NOT to have to pay for a servicing and they said if the watch is over a year old and the technician feels it needs oiling, etc it will have to be done or they will send the watch back to me unfixed.

I want the watch and I knew I was not going to win this one so I just may have an $800 crystal.

Hopefully the watch will be in my hands in the next month.

Glad I have the Panerai 08 still as my daily wear watch.

Case in Point: the sapphire synthetic crystals may be scratch resistent BUT with any pressure on a hard object they will spider like a car window and its not cheap to get them replaced.

More to follow hopefully.


D

[Balboa]

Yup. They are all but impossible to scratch, but they will chip and they will shatter from seemingly minor knocks. The replacement price is just shocking.

Mark

[Imtiaz]

Really? $800 for a Crystal. Mate that's a right royal rip off.

[diablojota]

I'm assuming that's with service. The cost of the crystal itself should run around 150. However the concern is if fragments of the crystal got into the movement since it is shattered.

[flyback]

Originally Posted by Imtiaz

Really? $800 for a Crystal. Mate that's a right royal rip off.

I think he means $800 for the crystal plus the unnecessary service. But because they're the guys with the crystals, it really does amount to a $800 crystal.

[iaymnu]

Same thing for my SD. I had a very small chip on the crystal. It didn't pass the pressure test, and RSC-NYC is charging me $730 for it.

[Tools]

Bummer.........

I am pretty rough and have never broken or cracked one...

I have chipped the edges on a few..... One GMT 16700, I knocked a large chunk out of the edge. They did a service before replacing the crystal to ensure that no small piece popped off the movement side and got in the works..

It's the only way that they would warranty their work......

[newrolexman]

YES

the GOOD news is the crystal is $150 plus labor of abt $120 = $270

the BAD news is the "mandatory" service on a 1.5 year old watch is over $450


so from my perspective the little spidered crystal is very pricey.


With shipping it will be close to $800 I am sure. I havent gotten the final word from RSC yet.

Bottom line to me... I will never wear an expensive watch when going out to hike or swim or do any rugged activity. I ll stick to my $80 G-shock thats basically indestructable.


D

[newrolexman]

Originally Posted by Tools

Bummer.........

I am pretty rough and have never broken or cracked one...

I have chipped the edges on a few..... One GMT 16700, I knocked a large chunk out of the edge. They did a service before replacing the crystal to ensure that no small piece popped of. the movement side and got in the works..

It's the only way that they would warranty their work......

That was my story from them too.

They MAY have to take it all apart to see if a tiny tiny piece of shattered crystal dropped thru the hole where the hand shaft is. If something dropped it will ruin the watch.

This is a wake up call for me on just how vunerable a fine time piece is.

AS I stated above, I dont think I will be wearing my good watches out anymore when doing certain activities. I cant have this kind of expense everytime the watch happens to touch something.

Bummer, I love my GMT.

d

[I6-S54B32]

Originally Posted by newrolexman

Bottom line to me... I will never wear an expensive watch when going out to hike or swim or do any rugged activity. I ll stick to my $80 G-shock thats basically indestructable.

D

Which is why I'm not Rolex "sport" watch person. When I'm doing any physical activity I'm either watchless or wearing a Swatch. My Rolex DJ is on at all other times!

[SLS]

Next time you may want to consider using someone like Dalton, he does RSC quality work for much less. It just serviced my wife's DJ and replaced the crystal...it turned out great & I was very impressed.
~Scott

[newrolexman]

Originally Posted by SLS

Next time you may want to consider using someone like Dalton, he does RSC quality work for much less. It just serviced my wife's DJ and replaced the crystal...it turned out great & I was very impressed.
~Scott

My AD said,,, if I dont use rolex or use someone who would just replace the crystal and not do the service I would lose the remainder of my warranty (6 + months on the GMT)

Rolex said that if I went to a Rolex Authorized repair shop they would tell me the exact same thing,, may need a service. They said the authorized private shops have the same rules as they do.

Rolex has you by the short hairs on a warranteed watch.

If my watch was out of warranty I would have used a good repair person and accepted a non rolex crystal.

I am just dumbfounded with the way Rolex dicates all their tenets.

So,, I will make it happen this time with protest because I saw no other way to maintain my warranty other then to give in.

My GMT kept perfect time,, -2 seconds a month (after being sent in for adjustment 2 months after I purchased it) and I told RSC I expect this watch to be just as perfect if they disassemble it.

They said,, NO guarantees other then -6 +6 seconds a day. My luck the service will mess up the perfection of the GMT.

This entire thing depresses me.

D

[lobo58]

Originally Posted by I6-S54B32

Which is why I'm not Rolex "sport" watch person. When I'm doing any physical activity I'm either watchless or wearing a Swatch. My Rolex DJ is on at all other times!

Same here, except I buy analog Timex watches from Campmor for about $20 a throw. Surprisingly rugged, and when the crystal scratches, so what?

Any other time, though, I'm sporting my Daytona.

[Ronnie Rolex]

Perhaps you should just get it back and send it to an independent. Dalton?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by newrolexman

I hit my Rollie GMT ll C ever so slightly on a rock wall when visiting a park. I was walking and probably swinging my left arm and it must have every so lightly brushed up against the wall.

I didnt realize I did any damage until that night and saw a small spiderweb on part of the crystal.

I brought it into my AD and they pressure tested it and it failed.

It was sent to RSC -NYC (3 wks ago) that same day.

I called first and then put a note in the box and stated not to do a service just fix the crystal.

I called this past week (they are swamped with repairs) and they still havent made a decision on what they are going to do.

I gave them my CC # to expedite the process and stated again I perfer NOT to have to pay for a servicing and they said if the watch is over a year old and the technician feels it needs oiling, etc it will have to be done or they will send the watch back to me unfixed.

I want the watch and I knew I was not going to win this one so I just may have an $800 crystal.

Hopefully the watch will be in my hands in the next month.

Glad I have the Panerai 08 still as my daily wear watch.

Case in Point: the sapphire synthetic crystals may be scratch resistent BUT with any pressure on a hard object they will spider like a car window and its not cheap to get them replaced.

More to follow hopefully.


D

Well if they want $800 to replace a crystal that costs about a $90, then I would tell them the second word is off.For $800 I would want a full service plus new crystal and a bit back in change.Send it to a independent like Dalton on forum and then tell Rolex to stick the rest of the 6 months warranty up where the sun dont shine and save yourself some money and time.

[entropydave]

I must admit I do have my doubts about the sapphire crystal. It may not scratch but if it cleaves easily and the result of that is a huge service then give me acrylic anyday!
My understanding is that Rolex slice the sapphire boule on the bias rather than across the axis of the boule (like a salami). Slicing it on the bias avoids cleavage planes upon which the sapphire would preferentially fracture.
The principle sounds good but doesn't seem to work in practice from what you all are saying!

[lawyerwatchfan]

I'm curious about a "new technology" in crystals. Of course, there is mineral crystal which is somewhat scratch resistant but not nearly as scratch resistant as sapphire. However, mineral crystal is more shatter resistant than sapphire. Invicta Watch Group is apparently now transitioning to "flame fusion" crystals which supposedly offer the scratch resistance of sapphire with the greater shatter resistance of sapphire. They claim that it involves a process of lamination but where the sapphire portion cannot delaminate from the mineral portion. Supposedly, it is also cheaper from the manufactuer's standpoint than 100% sapphire crystal. Any thoughts?

[entropydave]

I dunno - I know that they can manufacture disks of diamon now by vapour depostion - they use it for specialised windows and in coating wear surfaces - I am surprised that it hasn't yet made the transition to watches!

[watchmaker]

Originally Posted by entropydave

I dunno - I know that they can manufacture disks of diamon now by vapour depostion - they use it for specialised windows and in coating wear surfaces - I am surprised that it hasn't yet made the transition to watches!

Using the Mohs scale of hardness diamond is harder than sapphire, and therefore more scratch resistant, but at the same time, it is more brittle and shatters more easily. So, on balance there is more benefit in sapphire than diamond, given that scratching is rarely the problem.

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well if they want $800 to replace a crystal that costs about a $90, then I would tell them the second word is off.For $800 I would want a full service plus new crystal and a bit back in change.Send it to a independent like Dalton on forum and then tell Rolex to stick the rest of the 6 months warranty up where the sun dont shine and save yourself some money and time.

My thought exactly. That must be with full movement service and can't just be the cost to replace a crystal.

[entropydave]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

Using the Mohs scale of hardness diamond is harder than sapphire, and therefore more scratch resistant, but at the same time, it is more brittle and shatters more easily. So, on balance there is more benefit in sapphire than diamond, given that scratching is rarely the problem.

Yeah - I reckon brittleness is going to be a factor. But I don't know how brittle a CVD diamond disk would be if it were 1mm think or so - it should be less prone to cleaving.

[Dalton]

Who said I use non- rolex crystals? hahahaha! I'm not hurt. But just so ya know I get OG parts and yes that crystal does need a specific gasket but it can all be acquired through the proper channels. In some cases, it's all about exchanging the old part plus cash for a new one.

[ayecarumba]

Sorry to hear about the busted crystal...I was a bit surprised to hear about an incident happening "in the wild" as most seem to happen after the short drop onto the tile floor of the bathroom or kitchen!

I've not had a direct experience with a RSC (but have with another major Swiss brand)...it just seems their customer service/treatment could use a little more this:

....and a little less that:



Good luck! I say keep wearing it on all your adventures!

--Paul

[abigsecret]

Did you sent the original warranty card with it?
They would do the service at no charge if you bought it at an AD.

[newrolexman]

Originally Posted by abigsecret

Did you sent the original warranty card with it?
They would do the service at no charge if you bought it at an AD.

I am in SHOCK,, you are right.

Got this in the mail today.

They will fix everything, take watch apart and guess do the buffing.

The correspondence is attached.


Cant believe I am not paying a dime for labor.


Pays to buy from an AD and have all the documentation. I am lucky I happend to put the bill of sale and warranty card with the watch. They told me it wasnt under warranty but I still included it.


Rolex is a STELLAR company!!

Look at the damage for one slight hit on the stone wall.. scratched bazel, nicks, hollly cow.

I am very impressed.. Notice the bottom line,, if one uses non rolex parts and it goes back to Rolex for service,, its considered a counterfeit.. wow.. rude awakening. I ll stick to RSC forever now.

don

attachment:

[Dalton]

nightmare turned good afterall. You're in luck!

[newrolexman]

Wonder how they are going to fix the scratches on the ceramic bezel?

thought it was scratch proof?

guess they will tho.

[ayecarumba]

So glad to hear the RSC treating a customer like this:

..and not like that:

customer service!

Be great if you can post some before/after pics when it's all fixed...

--Paul

Originally Posted by newrolexman

I am in SHOCK,, you are right.

Got this in the mail today.

They will fix everything, take watch apart and guess do the buffing.

The correspondence is attached.


Cant believe I am not paying a dime for labor.


Pays to buy from an AD and have all the documentation. I am lucky I happend to put the bill of sale and warranty card with the watch. They told me it wasnt under warranty but I still included it.


Rolex is a STELLAR company!!

Look at the damage for one slight hit on the stone wall.. scratched bazel, nicks, hollly cow.

I am very impressed.. Notice the bottom line,, if one uses non rolex parts and it goes back to Rolex for service,, its considered a counterfeit.. wow.. rude awakening. I ll stick to RSC forever now.

don

attachment:

[ayecarumba]

Originally Posted by newrolexman

Wonder how they are going to fix the scratches on the ceramic bezel?

thought it was scratch proof?

guess they will tho.

Which part of the bezel are you referring to?

The ceramic is an insert that fits inside the stainless steel (SS) bezel wheel (much like the original GMTs had a SS bezel insert). On their website, Rolex states that it's "virtually" scratchproof...virtually meaning "nearly" or "almost wholly"...so though it's much more scratch resistant than the original SS inserts, it's not impervious. Could it be that only the SS portion of your bezel was nicked/scratched?

--Paul

[newrolexman]

Originally Posted by ayecarumba

Which part of the bezel are you referring to?

The ceramic is an insert that fits inside the stainless steel (SS) bezel wheel (much like the original GMTs had a SS bezel insert). On their website, Rolex states that it's "virtually" scratchproof...virtually meaning "nearly" or "almost wholly"...so though it's much more scratch resistant than the original SS inserts, it's not impervious. Could it be that only the SS portion of your bezel was nicked/scratched?

--Paul

Paul

I didnt know the bezel was stratched until I read the rolex letter.

I was surprised it said "scratched bezel"

Unfortunately I sent it to rolex immediately and didnt take a before pic,,, but when I got home from the park and I looked at the watch I was SHOCKED the side of the crystal was webbed or shattered. I really had no clue since I didnt slam it into the wall.

there was a wall and I swing my arms when walking and it so lightly must have hit the stone wall. And that one hit did a lot of damage I see..

thank g-d the labor is free because of the warranty and that I bought it from an AD. This reconfirms that I will never NOT buy from an AD.

I am really happy Rolex is making good on my GMT. What a great company.