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6 pot
Original Poster
25 posts
53 months
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Afternoon all
I have just got the quote for my watch the total? £1800 yes that's right 1800 pounds of including £800 for a new strap. They tell me the strap is on an exchange only deal so how much would a new strap be to buy with no exchange? (the old one is OK just a bit worn). They also tell me they will not Guarantee the watch is waterproof with the old glass they want to replace it with a new version with a better seal. Would this and the new strap affect the value of it much? (it is a late 70s Submariner) I have no interest in selling the watch as it was a gift 20 odd years ago but want to do the be thing for it. Is there a alternative to Rolex official servicing? I do not mind paying but would like to know what the best thing to do would be.
Thanks Rob
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Motorrad
3,898 posts
56 months
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erm I'd be keeping my strap and sending it to them as just the watch itself or on a NATO (tm the  s) strap if they were being assholes about it. your vintage strap is probably worth more than whatever they are trying to fob you off with..... Send it to a specialist instead- and just the watch at that- there will be someone along soon who will recommend a UK option I'm sure.
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DKL
1,838 posts
91 months
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sneijder
4,859 posts
103 months
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Every time a thread appears with peoples experiences of the official service place, I get the impression Rolex are keen to erase any form of history from their old pieces. Folk seem to have to battle just to get the mechanism seen to, and not polish out dads battle scars from a heirloom watch.
Maybe that's what the majority want, sad if its true.
Nothing like a vintage old piece with yellowing lume and a cracked old dial.
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GCH
459 posts
71 months
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Please please please dont send it to rolex. If its a 70s sub it will have a tritium dial & hands, and then it will come back from them with a new glossy luminova dial and new hands. Basically it will lose all of its originality and character.
Plenty of places that will do an (arguably) better job, for a fraction of the price, and will not just replace the parts and keep the old ones- even if you ask them not to.
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stevethegreek
121 posts
62 months
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Chicane-UK
2,593 posts
54 months
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DKL said: Another thumbs up for Duncan / Genesis Watchmaking. I've sent off a couple of watches to him now and been very pleased with the quality of service (and the work!) that he gives. He's Rolex trained and has endless positive comments on TZ-UK dealing with Rolex watches and many others!
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Riff Raff
2,231 posts
64 months
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As others have said, Genesis. To throw another name into the ring, there is Watchworks. http://www.watchworks.co.uk/index.php/I've been following a few threads on TZ about work that the proprietor has done, and some of the case restoration work he's done is miraculous. As others have said, though, best to keep the piece in as original condition as you can. Which means not sending it anywhere near Rolex.
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Miopyk
38 posts
14 months
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It'a a bit far to go I know but I got a new Jubilee bracelet for my DataJust from a genuine Rolex Dealer in Antigua for $340 all in fitted and kept my old bracelet. This was 3 years ago so prices may have gone up but not by that much. Do a bit of research and it might be cheaper to go abroad.
Miopyk
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gary3170
152 posts
24 months
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GCH said: Please please please dont send it to rolex. If its a 70s sub it will have a tritium dial & hands, and then it will come back from them with a new glossy luminova dial and new hands. Basically it will lose all of its originality and character.
Plenty of places that will do an (arguably) better job, for a fraction of the price, and will not just replace the parts and keep the old ones- even if you ask them not to. excellent advice
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ALawson
4,376 posts
120 months
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As always DomH can probably get what you actually want/need done at a fraction of the cost and in probably a quarter of the time.
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longone
216 posts
109 months
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gary3170 said: GCH said: Please please please dont send it to rolex. If its a 70s sub it will have a tritium dial & hands, and then it will come back from them with a new glossy luminova dial and new hands. Basically it will lose all of its originality and character.
Plenty of places that will do an (arguably) better job, for a fraction of the price, and will not just replace the parts and keep the old ones- even if you ask them not to. excellent advice Why do Rolex Service swop out parts like hands and face if they are still servicable? Colin.
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Riff Raff
2,231 posts
64 months
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longone said: gary3170 said: GCH said: Please please please dont send it to rolex. If its a 70s sub it will have a tritium dial & hands, and then it will come back from them with a new glossy luminova dial and new hands. Basically it will lose all of its originality and character.
Plenty of places that will do an (arguably) better job, for a fraction of the price, and will not just replace the parts and keep the old ones- even if you ask them not to. excellent advice Why do Rolex Service swop out parts like hands and face if they are still servicable? Colin. They change the hands, IME, on every service. I was told it is because the hands can get damaged when they are removed, and they might not fit as snugly as they did before removal after being re-fitted. They won't change a face unless there is something cosmetically wrong with the old one, but it's the cosmetic issues that give old pieces their patina.
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mybrainhurts
71,633 posts
124 months
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6 pot said: Afternoon all
£1800 yes that's right 1800 pounds of including £800 for a new strap. They really do take the piss, don't they?
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6 pot
Original Poster
25 posts
53 months
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mybrainhurts said: 6 pot said: Afternoon all
£1800 yes that's right 1800 pounds of including £800 for a new strap. They really do take the piss, don't they? Yes tey do take te piss. I ave told tem just do the service no cosmetics. I will buy a new strap from my local dealer or talk to some of te recommendations above. Tanks for all te replies. I ave not tougt about value what sould I insure it for?
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mybrainhurts
71,633 posts
124 months
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You absolute cad... 
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6 pot
Original Poster
25 posts
53 months
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mybrainhurts
71,633 posts
124 months
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Ok, I'll downgrade that to rotter... 
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alanm_3
112 posts
108 months
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6 pot, maybe you should get a new "H" key too! ;-)
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longone
216 posts
109 months
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Do they do the same for all models? I've never heard of anyone having RSC swop the hands or face on a Datejust. Are we sure there isn't a good reason for it? Perhaps they feel the luminance of the new face and hands is better than an aged one? It is supposed to be a working tool after all.
I cant understand why a company like Rolex would want to stoop to such tactics. The make a regular profit selling new watches, surely a few Sub dials and hands is peanuts to them?
Colin.
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