Extended warranty or new case?

[leed]

Hi All,

I am wondering if someone can give advice here.

I sent my watch to get it repaired which was covered under warranty and it came back fixed however the service centre polished my watch (both case and bracelet). I was extremely disappointed about this as I have specified them not to polish but they did not read the note.

After expressing my concern, I was offered a new bracelet but I suggested to them about the case being polished. I am offered with 2 choices:

1) Case replacement + new bracelet

2) Another 5 year extended warranty on top of my current warranty + new bracelet

I am wondering which option would be better? Am I crazy for leaning toward a new case instead of extended warranty?

[Mystro]

Take #2 and don’t look back.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by leed

Hi All,

I am wondering if someone can give advice here.

I sent my watch to get it repaired which was covered under warranty and it came back fixed however the service centre polished my watch (both case and bracelet). I was extremely disappointed about this as I have specified them not to polish but they did not read the note.

After expressing my concern, I was offered a new bracelet but I suggested to them about the case being polished. I am offered with 2 choices:

1) Case replacement + new bracelet

2) Another 5 year extended warranty on top of my current warranty + new bracelet

I am wondering which option would be better? Am I crazy for leaning toward a new case instead of extended warranty?

Was the polish done badly if so please post pictures and if you go down a new case route it would have totally new case special serial .And if you ever went to sell your watch it would effect the value downward.My own SD 16600 has been serviced and polish now by 4 different RSC worldwide still looks good and now 25 years old.

[OTX]

I would take option 1.

[stevestil]

I’d probably take option 1 as well. I don’t know if I’m in the minority here but I would prefer to service my watches outside of RSC and warranty isn’t a huge selling point to me. If my watch is within the 5 years and needs service I’d send it to RSC and pray they just service without polishing but once the warranty is up that’s fine with me also. Plenty of independent watch makers and shops that do a better job than RSC that can tell you what’s actually wrong with your watch and what they did to fix it. They’ll also keep you updated throughout the process.


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[inadeje]

I would take open 2 - unless - the case has been disfigured through their actions.

[joli160]

You being extremely disappointed take option 1, warranty is highly overrated anyway

[Bxtek]

How bad was the polishing? If a good job was done, you basically wouldn't be able to even tell. If they did a good job, I would select option #2. A whole different set of issues/concerns with a different serial number as padi56 had mentioned.

Just out of curiosity......is this accidental polishing a common thing with RSC? I've read other posts before just like this. Where people specify no polish, but they accidentally end up polishing it anyway! As detailed and specific on how Rolex is, on how it needs to be all original down to the last part before they are able to even service it.....I figured they would be just as detailed on the work orders/instructions!

[ViperB]

I would take #1 with RSC paper work to back it up.

[thesharkfactor]

You didn't mention what watch it was? Any pics of the work?

[harvey]

3 sell it as you won’t be happy with either options 1 or 2.

[swils8610]

Option for sure.


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[Hollie_Rollie]

Originally Posted by thesharkfactor

You didn't mention what watch it was? Any pics of the work?

This. Without knowing more I would take option 1.

[KatGirl]

Option 1. Essentially, you will have a new watch.

Kat


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[padi56]

Originally Posted by harvey

3 sell it as you won’t be happy with either options 1 or 2.

Cannot understand today's anti polish syndrome as long as any polish is done correctly by any RSC then no problem.

[123Blueface]

I recall reading where in a similar situation, they replaced the case to include original serial number.
That’s the only way I would go for new case.

[Roddypeepa]

Rolex don’t do polish on warranty as a rule. Or do they?


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[928ktgold]

Originally Posted by KatGirl

Option 1. Essentially, you will have a new watch.

Kat


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Agree

[jb335]

If you don't think you'll ever sell, I'd go option 1. Kind of a new watch.

On another note, it is beyond me how RSC mistakenly polishes watches so often. TRF is a small % of Rolex wearers and I see a thread like this almost monthly, which means RSC is doing this quite regularly. Maybe even daily!

Everyone makes mistakes, but this is one that should not be common at all. Seems RSC mgmt should do a better job of avoiding unwanted polishes.

[sportsfan0704]

Service case significantly drops the value of your timepiece. Most modern Rolexes can take multiple good polishes before you notice any shape changes, especially GMT and subs. A service bracelet replacement would also reduce value.

[S.Explorer]

Option one but with existing serial number on the new case. It can be done - there's a thread where RSC over-polished a 16610LV and replaced the case with a new one with the existing serial number.

[ChronoZach]

Op, I would take #2 I don’t know what condition your case was before? How do the lugs look ? I sure RSC just cleaned it up so it was minimal? So it would look new again So if you get a new bracelet it would new again with an extra 5 year warranty.

Should decide to sell it, the warranty goes with it. Win-win

Cheers,

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Roddypeepa

Rolex don’t do polish on warranty as a rule. Or do they?


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They do to take care of their “handling marks”. You would be surprised how much a watch can get scratched up just with doing a routine service to just the movement. You should never notice if the case back was removed but many times RSC leaves signs the case back was opened.

[georgekart]

If it's an older watch, probably the option 2 is better as the case will differ from the original significantly and be way off. Say an early 16610 in a late 16610 case would just look wrong because the old 16610 is supposed to have lug holes, earlier serial, no reahut engraving, tritium dial, etc, whereas now it will suddenly have no lug holes, rehaut engraving, later serial AND will keep the tritium dial. If it's a modern watch with a random serial, take the option 1. You get a brand new case and bracelet. And your movement is serviced so you get 2 years of warranty anyway.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by inadeje

I would take open 2 - unless - the case has been disfigured through their actions.

This.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Without pictures of the polished case and bracelet guesses are meaningless. If they objectively hurt the case and bracelet then take option 1. If it’s a nice tasteful well-executed factory polish then take option 2. Personally I’m a sucker for extra warranty and lean slightly in that direction in the absence of pictures.

[INC]

Originally Posted by padi56

Cannot understand today's anti polish syndrome as long as any polish is done correctly by any RSC then no problem.

Once upon a time I saw a 16233 on the wrist of an AD employee and I couldn't believe it was a 16233 because it was visibly smaller than mine. But I was assured that it was an original 16233.

Just "polished".

[Roddypeepa]

Originally Posted by Mystro

They do to take care of their “handling marks”. You would be surprised how much a watch can get scratched up just with doing a routine service to just the movement. You should never notice if the case back was removed but many times RSC leaves signs the case back was opened.

So you’re saying they take care off micro scratches and marks that they may or may not make, taking off the caseback with their tools but they don’t tackle them any other ones that may/may not have been there before, despite asking for a detailed condition report before agreeing to the work? They’re nothing if not thorough.

Thanks for the clarification.


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[Old Geezer]

If the polish was done well, I'd take option #2. I understand it has lost its patina but there is nothing that can be done about that now.
The bracelet is what is most subject to wear, and you are getting a new one plus warranty extension too which you will probably never use but is nice to have.

FWIW, I have all my watches refinished when they go in for service. My 25 year old 16610 has been serviced 3 times and refinished each time. If it has lost a few microns of metal, it certainly is not discernible with the naked eye.

[Old Geezer]

Originally Posted by jb335

On another note, it is beyond me how RSC mistakenly polishes watches so often. TRF is a small % of Rolex wearers and I see a thread like this almost monthly, which means RSC is doing this quite regularly. Maybe even daily!

I agree that they should not overlook any instructions when they receive a watch for service, but I think the percentages of services they preform where they are requested to NOT polish a watch is so miniscule as to be a real outlier in their workflow. TRF obsession with no polish is not the real world and these complaints are from RSCs all over the world, not the same one repeatedly.