1970-71 Day-Date 1803 - Where to service in LA

[CKLinLA]

The RSS in LA say they cannot perform service on this .....

Does anyone know a reliable place to do it in Los Angeles?

[JoseR]

What was the reason the RSS couldn't service it?

[CKLinLA]

Originally Posted by JoseR

What was the reason the RSS couldn't service it?

They said they could not accept for service because they no longer have all parts that might be necessary!

[mickyd329]

LA Watchworks in Pasadena. Don't try calling as they never answer the phone, but email them instead. They do impeccable work.

[928ktgold]

Originally Posted by mickyd329

LA Watchworks in Pasadena. Don't try calling as they never answer the phone, but email them instead. They do impeccable work.

agree. Had my dad's 1990 Day date serviced for its first time ever last year. there. excellent work

[Dr. Robert]

Sad state of affairs that Rolex will not service vintage watches.
They have factories. They make parts.


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[rockmastermike]

Originally Posted by mickyd329

LA Watchworks in Pasadena. Don't try calling as they never answer the phone, but email them instead. They do impeccable work.

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Sad state of affairs that Rolex will not service vintage watches.
They have factories. They make parts.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Correct and Correct

[MarengoGuy]

May want to contact Montrose Watch Co.( Goggle website) near Glendale - Armen Anserlian is the master watchmaker and very experienced.

Armen is a current Rolex trained watchmaker and has the rare CW21 watchmaker certification qualification.

2nd generation watchmaker and very knowledgeable. His brother Raffi runs the shop and Armen is usually in on Monday’s.

[Kap007]

It seems Rolex will not service vintage Rolex or Tudor. A fella on Wristwatch Revival (YouTube, people have posted him on here before) will service. Usually he does friend's watches, however if contacted he does random watches. He is considered an amateur, but he is excellent. From watching his videos he is always able to restore the non running watches that Rolex will not service. They are typically an easy fix for a watchmaker. Why won't Rolex service the vintage pieces? Plenty of good independents by the way. They will do a great job. The CW-21 trained.

[CKLinLA]

Thank you for the useful information.

And a Happy 2025 to all.

[jb335]

Such a beautiful and classy watch!

I echo LA Watchworks out of Pasadena.

I also echo the shock that RSC won't service a watch from the 1970s.

[Calatrava r]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Sad state of affairs that Rolex will not service vintage watches.
They have factories. They make parts.


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Probably the annual production over the years has something to do with it. They have been over 500,000 pieces per year for decades.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Probably the annual production over the years has something to do with it. They have been over 500,000 pieces per year for decades.

Omega will service their vintage
watches in Biel. If they can do it, why not Rolex?


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[richardlo]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Sad state of affairs that Rolex will not service vintage watches.
They have factories. They make parts.


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Agreed that used to be why Rolex had certified watchmakers if a part wasnt available they used to just make it. I guess that skill is lost and its now just an assembly line of part swapping.

[JoseR]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Omega will service their vintage
watches in Biel. If they can do it, why not Rolex?


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I guess Rolex doesn't care about vintage watches. They've gotten so popular and are selling so many watches that's it's all about making more and selling more $$$ and they don't want to be bother with vintage watches. If it's a Rolex regardless of age they should be able to service it.

[csaltphoto]

Rolex has a very spendy alternative at their Rolex Atelier in Geneva.

" THE RESTORATION ATELIER
Exceptional historic watches are restored exclusively in Geneva, at the Restoration Atelier, by Master Watchmakers who are specially trained in collectors’ timepieces. Due to the very specific nature of their work, the Master Watchmakers in the Restoration Atelier combine on a daily basis in-depth historical research with traditional methods and state-of-the-art techniques. Components that no longer meet Rolex’s quality criteria can be restored or perfectly recreated using techniques of the period. From control of the inherent risks of working on the timepieces to complete traceability of the work realized, each restoration service is executed according to a set of rigorous principles. The restored watch is returned to its owner in a special presentation box, accompanied by a personalized booklet."

https://newsroom.rolex.com/about-rol...-world-service

[JoseR]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

Rolex has a very spendy alternative at their Rolex Atelier in Geneva.

" THE RESTORATION ATELIER
Exceptional historic watches are restored exclusively in Geneva, at the Restoration Atelier, by Master Watchmakers who are specially trained in collectors’ timepieces. Due to the very specific nature of their work, the Master Watchmakers in the Restoration Atelier combine on a daily basis in-depth historical research with traditional methods and state-of-the-art techniques. Components that no longer meet Rolex’s quality criteria can be restored or perfectly recreated using techniques of the period. From control of the inherent risks of working on the timepieces to complete traceability of the work realized, each restoration service is executed according to a set of rigorous principles. The restored watch is returned to its owner in a special presentation box, accompanied by a personalized booklet."

https://newsroom.rolex.com/about-rol...-world-service

Interesting.

[fania123]

I only use Rolliworks for my vintage watches, they used to be in Cali but are now in Florida.

[kgmayer]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

Rolex has a very spendy alternative at their Rolex Atelier in Geneva.

" THE RESTORATION ATELIER
Exceptional historic watches are restored exclusively in Geneva, at the Restoration Atelier, by Master Watchmakers who are specially trained in collectors’ timepieces. Due to the very specific nature of their work, the Master Watchmakers in the Restoration Atelier combine on a daily basis in-depth historical research with traditional methods and state-of-the-art techniques. Components that no longer meet Rolex’s quality criteria can be restored or perfectly recreated using techniques of the period. From control of the inherent risks of working on the timepieces to complete traceability of the work realized, each restoration service is executed according to a set of rigorous principles. The restored watch is returned to its owner in a special presentation box, accompanied by a personalized booklet."

I looked into this last month for the restoration of a 6239 vintage Rolex. The AD I was working with said that the last watch they sent to them took two years and 20k to restore, so make sure you are ok with that. The process is that the AD sends the watch to Rolex in PA, and then they forward on the the atelier. I also learned that once it’s in the system, you have little or no input as to what is done. So, in my case, I did not want the watch polished or returned to “brand new” condition as that would have severely lessened the value and was not aesthetically what I was looking for. I also tried to see if there was a way to speak with someone at the atelier prior to sending it off, and was not successful in doing so. So, at least for me, it was not a viable option. I ended up going with an independent vintage Rolex specialist watchmaker. We sat down together and discussed what I was wanting, and we were clearly on the same page. I don’t yet have the watch back, but expect to be exceedingly pleased.

Kevin