09-13-2019, 10:33 PM | #1 |
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Rolex vintage DateJust repair
Hi guys, hopefully you can lend some advice. I inherited a vintage date just from an uncle who passed away. Watch is approx 30 years old? It has been my daily for many years. I recently dropped it and something broke internally. It now runs very fast.
I checked into an authorized Rolex repair in Boulder and they wanted minimum agreement of $1250 up front before the watch was even looked at. Seems steep for a watch that is probably worth $2500? Is the "authorized" Rolex repair worth it? Are non authorized repair shops ok? Anybody you would recommend in Colorado ? I love the watch and want to fix it. Also want it to be done right. At the same time don't want to be bent over... Thanks in Advance.
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09-14-2019, 04:29 AM | #2 |
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You should check over here. You’ll likely get some great suggestions.
https://www.rolexforums.com/index.php
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09-14-2019, 08:22 AM | #3 |
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I have an older Sea Dweller, and although it's expensive I get it serviced at Rolex. They will warranty the watch when it's done and it will be like new. They don't just fix it, they service it and replace anything that is worn and need of repair, including new seal etc. The watch is buffed and polished and will come back looking as close to new as possible, they also bench test the watch to ensure it's keeping excellent Rolex time, so a bit slow or a bit fast.(if you want a timepiece that keeps excellent time get a Timex for $30.). The turn around time is usually a few weeks. There are some folks out there who aren't authorized and who can service the watch but you get what you pay for. My 2 cents. Good luck.
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09-14-2019, 11:52 AM | #4 | |
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Last edited by hogwldfltr; 09-14-2019 at 12:54 PM.. |
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09-14-2019, 01:13 PM | #5 |
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I may be totally wrong, but I thought that Rolex parts were impossible to get.
There is a market for used Rolex parts because Rolex will not sell to independent repair shops - I don’t even think Rolex sells parts to authorized dealers ? |
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09-14-2019, 01:29 PM | #6 | ||
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Also, I've never heard of anything like an RSC (Rolex Service Center) demanding money just to look at a watch. Since there are none in Boulder it wasn't a Rolex shop. The two biggies in the US are in Dallas and NYC. If it would make you feel better than you might contact them and see what they say. Last edited by hogwldfltr; 09-14-2019 at 01:48 PM.. |
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09-14-2019, 04:21 PM | #7 |
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You know, I may have been confusing with Richemont threat to stop making ebauches available, or something similar.
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09-14-2019, 05:53 PM | #8 | |
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09-15-2019, 04:25 PM | #9 |
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Thanks for the replies! The shop in Boulder is an "authorized Rolex dealer". They still send it to Dallas for "Rolex repair" or have an independent local guy that "may bee cheaper". They didn't demand the $1250 upfront, just an "agreement" I think.
I am leaning toward the Rolex repair. There is just so much "unknown" with all the independent guys. I will check out the Rolex forum, thanks! I will also check out Rik Dietel at Time Care Inc. Thanks!!!
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09-16-2019, 08:27 AM | #10 |
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there are tons of independent watchsmiths in the denver area that can service that for less than half what you were quoted.
just start calling around and see what they say. The 1570 or 3035 movement, depending on what year your datejust is, is a very simple movement that any competent watchsmith can work on.
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09-16-2019, 11:11 AM | #12 |
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Personally I would take the plunge and go with the Rolex center. My wife inherited a watch from her grandmother, and had it serviced at a local "authorized dealer". Never seemed quite right after that service, so a few years later we sent it down to the center in Dallas. Ended up they had tweaked the case, so that had to be replaced, new serial # on the case, and all that, but the watch came back basically brand new, a full new set of papers due to the case change etc.
That service cost nearly 5K though... so we basically ended up with a "new" old watch with family history. Her dad still wears the matching men's watch daily as well. |
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09-16-2019, 07:37 PM | #13 | |||
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I had my wife's Tudor serviced by RSC. It was expensive; they screwed it up and tried to blame her because it acted exactly the way it did when we sent it to them. The service cost more than the watch did. The second time in they fixed it correctly. |
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09-17-2019, 08:53 AM | #14 | |
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so many horror stories of vintage watches going in worth 10s of thousands and coming out worth 10k
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09-17-2019, 09:28 AM | #15 | |
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09-17-2019, 07:53 PM | #16 | |
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09-18-2019, 01:07 PM | #17 | |
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this guy does good work.
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09-20-2019, 09:23 AM | #18 |
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I'm sorry, but the fact that someone is giving you an "estimate" before the Rolex repair facility they even looks at it is a problem. Rolex will not give an estimate until they receive the watch.
I've sent several of my current and past watches to Rolex for repair/service and not once did I get a price until they had the watch in their hands and assessed it personally. Basically, I sent the watch to them with the specifics of what I was looking for. This varied by watch for me and Rolex was happy to oblige with my requests. When I received the price from them, I had to give them the go ahead to do the work. They would not start the work UNTIL I said to go ahead. If I didn't approve of the price or the work being done/suggested - they would simple return the watch. At best, you're probably looking at a rebuild of the movement, plus the part that broke. I'd say you'll be into it for less than $1000 easy. The watch can't be replaced for this amount and should last a long, long time. Do yourself a favor, go to another AD and have them send the watch to Rolex. You can't go wrong with sending it directly to Rolex for service. You know EXACTLY what you're getting, plus a warranty on the repair.
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09-22-2019, 06:53 AM | #19 | |
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09-23-2019, 09:46 AM | #20 | |
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My AD, with whom I'd sent it through, thought it would be "great to have a brand new watch again" with all the new parts and actually argued with me about it. They had no clue that the insert as-is was worth 10x what a new one is worth ![]() Of course RSC had made several "recommendations" during the service - polish the case, change the dial and hands, replace the insert etc. My dial and hands to not glow at all anymore. I declined and they serviced just the movement and sent my watch back. Now I have a warranty on the service work and fully backed and authenticated by Rolex. This is a big deal when it comes to watches without any paperwork as my GMT does not have any.
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09-24-2019, 05:41 PM | #21 | |
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09-28-2019, 08:36 AM | #22 | |
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