Rolex service

[smilerbaker]

audidoody said:

Cooky said:

Thanks Walrus,

Unfortunatly I can't wear the damn thing everyday, as it is just too 'blingy' and may upset customers I recently bought a second hand Datejust for everyday use and that doesn't seem to be much better at keeping time. So it's back to the trusty old Speedmaster...dated.. but a damn fine timekeeper.

So just tell 'em it's a £50 fake ....

thats what everyone thinks anyway, always the first question asked if anyone notices it

[maxf]

cyberface said:

There's a load of argument amongst the watch geeks about which is better - I'd guess that the Zenith one is probably more accurate (the El Primero movement is a bit of a legend). But my lowly Rolex movement one keeps good time. Perhaps I've just been lucky (and I was so chuffed when I bought it that I wore it *all* the time, and it took a hell of a beating)...

I think it is down to luck. My oyster date get worn a reasonable amount and seriously only needs the time setting about once a year - no way that is going anywhere near a service centre! However, my Sub will gain about 5 minutes a month and my father has an oyster which gains about 5 mins a week!!

[The Walrus]

Believe it or not they recommend a service once a year !!!

My omega has been serviced once in its lifetime of 8 years and missed a beat once which is why it went in for a service.

[smilerbaker]

Marki said:

The Walrus said:

You bought a quartz movement and from Tag whats that all about ????

I appreicate you want an accurate watch but why pay the premium of a tag when a swatch, casio would do the job. I appreciate that for the looks and kudos perspective why you would buy one but for me it is a waste of money ?

My thoughts also ,, no point in a tag quartz

Why not, its a nice looking watch, wasn't very expensive etc etc

Why buy a Rolex when a sekio will do the same job, or the £5 knock off from pettycoat lane will look the same and probably keep better time.

[will2425]

a.g. said:

jamesb300 said:

The Rolex service center in the UK is based in St. James's in central London so you can either drop it in personally in which case you can discuss what you want them to do or get your authorised dealer to send it to them. The service centre has a counter with a couple of service people (in their white lab coats and all) who will take the watch from you. You can even get something like a new dial, etc, fitted to the watch if you wanted it changed.
Allow up to 6 weeks to be done depending on how busy they are. If you go for a full service, which I'm sure they would recommend, about 250 quid is a reasonable guide, but they give you an estimate before they start work. I'd recommend them over an independent as all the work will be guaranteed for a year, all Rolex parts used, and they will maintain an accurate history of the watch in case of problems, etc (bit like a car really).
Cheers, James.

I have had a Daytona for about 8 years. I bought it when it was 12 months old and noticed it was gaining time. Sent it to Rolex who had it for weeks for servicing and attending to the timekeeping. That cost me about £300 and it came back very shiny but still gained time.

Last year I had a problem with the winder/adjustment mechanism so took it to Goldsmiths in Manchester.
That cost me £350, they had it 4 weeks and it came back very shiny, the winder was fixed but it STILL gains time. I was told that I wasnt helping matters by having the second hand/stopwatch running permanently???? Is this true?

How often should they need servicing anyway? I dont think I will bother again unless I have any problems with it because 300 quid a pop seems a bit rich to me. To be fair they do a good job of cleaning it and removing the tiny scratches which it seems to pick up quite easily along with its bad time keeping.

I have a Tissot with a mechanical movement and i can say for certain that running the stopwatch for too long confuses it hugely! (apparently it shouldn't, so i will be getting it checked next time it is in for servicing, but can't be bothered being without a watch at the moment)

it keeps good time whether the stopwatch is running or not, unless you let the stopwatch run for more than a couple of days. if you do this then it will suddenly start to gain time crazily fast (like a couple of seconds per MINUTE, you can see the difference if you hold it next to another watch!)

then after a couple more days it will go back to keeping almost perfect time! (normally about the time it takes for me to get it to the dealers to be looked at!)

so yes, running the stopwatch all the time can bugger things up

[cyberface]

I agree with not using the stopwatch constantly on a Daytona, specifically the Rolex movement one... I did this for a while and it started doing odd stuff like dragging the minutes indicator around every two seconds after a few months running 24x7...

I had it serviced and just use the chronograph when I need it now.

[northernboy]

Cooky said:

I use an independant near Stockport, charges £100 for a clean, lube and vacuum seal, he also polishes the case, crystal and the band. It also seems to keep better time when he does it than when the Rolie dealer did it last.

The last time I sent the Sub to Rolex they had my pants down for £400 and it still gains time. Anyone know if they keep better time when worn everyday?

I wear mine every day, and it is within 1 second/day at the moment. I leave it face down some nights, but wear it most (It is quite new, and I like having it on).

I think that I am lucky with mine, though, as this is well withing expected tolerances.

[thinfourth]

sleep envy said:

The Walrus said:

I appreicate you want an accurate watch but why pay the premium of a tag when a swatch, casio would do the job. I appreciate that for the looks and kudos perspective why you would buy one but for me it is a waste of money ?

Why buy a Ferrari/Porsche/AM when a Ford Ka still gets you to where you want to go?

I think a better argument would be

Would you buy an EVO for £30K (the casio) or a hand built solid gold Ford Ka with ostrich leather seats and a diamond encrusted speedo for £500K (the rolex)

anyway join the movement

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=381728&f=24&h=0

[vipers]

Cooky said:

Anyone know if they keep better time when worn everyday?

From memory, I think the handbook says if you lay it down at night it gains/looses, and if you stand it up at night it will gain/loose, one or the other, so I think the answer is YES, if you wear it 24/7 it will keep better time.

Since mine was serviced it keeps nigh on spot accuraly, just checked the online atomic clock, and my Sea Dweller is only 6 seconds out, last time I altered it was when the clocks went forward.

I recal reading years ago when digital watches came out, someone said "As time pieces become more accurate, we demand more accuracy".........................

Me grans old clock was always 5 mins fast, and we got by.....I might add the only reason I have one is that there wasnt much choice in 1975 for a diving watch, and at £200 in Norway it wasnt an awful lot of money, but the cost today of just over 2.5k is just rediculous for a watch that only shows the time, and date............. and serviced every year, I should cocoa.......

Edited by vipers on Saturday 21st April 20:31

[maxf]

vipers said:

I recal reading years ago when digital watches came out, someone said "As time pieces become more accurate, we demand more accuracy".........................

Me grans old clock was always 5 mins fast, and we got by.....I might add the only reason I have one is that there wasnt much choice in 1975 for a diving watch, and at £200 in Norway it wasnt an awful lot of money, but the cost today of just over 2.5k is just rediculous for a watch that only shows the time, and date............. and serviced every year, I should cocoa.......

Edited by vipers on Saturday 21st April 20:31

Out of interest what was £200 'worth' back in 1975 - more or less than 2.5k today? What was the average wage in 75 compared to now? (I'm '77 vintage - it's a genuine question).

Max

[vipers]

maxf said:

vipers said:

I recal reading years ago when digital watches came out, someone said "As time pieces become more accurate, we demand more accuracy".........................

Me grans old clock was always 5 mins fast, and we got by.....I might add the only reason I have one is that there wasnt much choice in 1975 for a diving watch, and at £200 in Norway it wasnt an awful lot of money, but the cost today of just over 2.5k is just rediculous for a watch that only shows the time, and date............. and serviced every year, I should cocoa.......

Edited by vipers on Saturday 21st April 20:31

Out of interest what was £200 'worth' back in 1975 - more or less than 2.5k today? What was the average wage in 75 compared to now? (I'm '77 vintage - it's a genuine question).

Max

Interesting question, not sure of the answer, I went from a low paid Royal Navy diver to offshore North Sea Rig diver, elevated to nearly 600 quid a month for 2 weeks work, so I guess I was lucky, in fact, I know I was lucky.

My first house, a 3 bed semi in 76 cost £8000, now about £135,000 (checked a similar houuse in the same road sold end of last year), so what was £200 worth? I also brought a new VW Moonraker camper in about 77 for around £8000.

So to be honest I cant tell you, but I still think the Rolex diving watches are awfully expensive to say the least. Lets face it, an £80 Seiko does a sight more than a Sea Dweller, doesnt require expensive refits every year, (according to Rolex), and will almost certainly last you a lifetime. I am sure someone will let us know the real value of 200 quid then.

[maxf]

vipers said:

maxf said:

vipers said:

I recal reading years ago when digital watches came out, someone said "As time pieces become more accurate, we demand more accuracy".........................

Me grans old clock was always 5 mins fast, and we got by.....I might add the only reason I have one is that there wasnt much choice in 1975 for a diving watch, and at £200 in Norway it wasnt an awful lot of money, but the cost today of just over 2.5k is just rediculous for a watch that only shows the time, and date............. and serviced every year, I should cocoa.......

Edited by vipers on Saturday 21st April 20:31

Out of interest what was £200 'worth' back in 1975 - more or less than 2.5k today? What was the average wage in 75 compared to now? (I'm '77 vintage - it's a genuine question).

Max

Interesting question, not sure of the answer, I went from a low paid Royal Navy diver to offshore North Sea Rig diver, elevated to nearly 600 quid a month for 2 weeks work, so I guess I was lucky, in fact, I know I was lucky.

My first house, a 3 bed semi in 76 cost £8000, now about £135,000 (checked a similar houuse in the same road sold end of last year), so what was £200 worth? I also brought a new VW Moonraker camper in about 77 for around £8000.

So to be honest I cant tell you, but I still think the Rolex diving watches are awfully expensive to say the least. Lets face it, an £80 Seiko does a sight more than a Sea Dweller, doesnt require expensive refits every year, (according to Rolex), and will almost certainly last you a lifetime. I am sure someone will let us know the real value of 200 quid then.

Thanks for the insight - my Dad was a RN diver at about the same time! I guess the cost of things has changed - I can't imaging spending the same at VW as for a house these days!

I agree, whichever way you look at it Rolexes are overpriced for what they are (I do like them though). I assume you weren't diving for Comex? Their Sea-Dwellers are worth a small fortune these days.

[northernboy]

As to the question of whether they are "worth" the 3 or 4 thousand pounds for the mid-range ones (and a lot more for some), it does not make much sense to compare them to other things that you can get for the money, or how much less money you can spend for a different watch, as a lot of people buying them are not choosing like ths.

It is actually a choice between having the numbers sitting in your account, and probably still sitting there when you die, or of having something nice on your wrist instead.

[hammerwerfer]

Rolex story. Sorry to digress but I think it sort of fits here.

A friend graduated from Dental school and was struggling getting his practice up and running, as were most of his friends. One lad, who probably didn't have to work for a living to start with, and had always had money during their student days, had bought into a sucessful practice. He was doing quite well and showed up at a party quite proud of his new Rolex.

Word had gotten out about his new purchase before the party, and all the other lads were sporting Rolexes as well. The 20 pound versions of course. Took the wind out of his sails just the same. I don't think anyone ever told him.

[molestrangler]

I think some people are missing the point. You don't buy a Rolex for anyone else but yourself. If you appreciate one of the few handmade pieces of engineering left that has a tradition and history behind it, and if you have ever tried to create a high precision piece of engineering yourself,every time you look at the Rolex on your wrist it is very pleasing, and if you divide that number of occasions into the cost of the watch ( and a Rolex will last a lifetime), it's a bargain.

[vipers]

maxf said:

I assume you weren't diving for Comex? Their Sea-Dwellers are worth a small fortune these days.

No I didnt work for Comex until many years later, and the Comex Rolex's are indeed worth a small fortune, last time I heard, (about 4 years ago), they were changing hands for just over 6k......... nuts or wot? I'm not sure when the Sea-Dwellers came out, so they may have been Sub Mariners, either way, worth a lot of dosh now.

[andy_s]

Took mine into a jewellers who are an agent and asked if they could send it off for a service, they said 'yes of course', I asked if they wanted to know what was wrong/needed looking at, they said 'oh, yes, fine'. I told them about the scratches and a ding and then asked if it would be possible for them to adjust the accuracy as it was consistantly 4 mins ahead per month. She told me it was impossible to do, but I asked again if she could just make a note and pass it on to the service centre for attention. 'It's impossible sir, they don't and won't do it'. Oh, I thought, OK, but paying 250 squid for the service I thought I'd be best asking anyway. She then started asking me about the watch, filling out the form....

'Which model sir?'
'Explorer II'
'Quartz or wind up'
'Pardon?'
'Is it a quartz one sir?'
'Er...are you sure you are an agent?'
'Oh yes'
'..and you are sure they can't deal with a time error?'
'Oh no'
'..but you don't know whether it's quartz or mechanical?'
'...er...no'
'Byeeeee'

So, as for some reason I didn't quite believe she knew what she was talking about, can/do Rolex adjust settings for speeding/slowing movements? What is the smallest increment they can do this if they do it?
Anyone yet have an independent do it successfully?

Than'you,
A

[vipers]

andy_s said:

can/do Rolex adjust settings for speeding/slowing movements? What is the smallest increment they can do this if they do it?
Anyone yet have an independent do it successfully?

Than'you,
A

Andy, they certainly can adjust it, see my previous post, mine was a shocking time keeper, hadnt been serviced in nearly 25 years or so, after the service by an "Official" Rolex dealer, it now keeps just about perfect time, loosing a few seconds a MONTH.

Edited by vipers on Tuesday 24th April 17:23

[andy_s]

Thanks Vipers - I'll go and have a look at that, cheers!

(Edited to spell....and it's only one sentence....doh!)

Edited by andy_s on Tuesday 24th April 19:09

[vipers]

If is any help to anyone, I have two phone numbers from my service card for the Rolex centres, when my watch was serviced in 2003

On the card are two numbers,

London 020 7024 7300

Bexley 01322 521436