Rolex Sea Dweller service
Discussion
I am lucky enough to have a Rolex Seadweller, it is a 2001 and it has never been serviced. I rang up Goldsmiths yesterday to enquire about the price.
£455, will take 12 weeks but for that they clean the bracelet! - that is a lot of money and 3 months off my wrist. The watch is running ok and i do wear it alot but i am trying to wear other watches as it is looking a bit tired ( bracelet is a bit sloppy - and this to replace is near on a £1000!)
Should i take the plunge and have it done - i was told by another Rolex dealer that it does not need to be done every 5 years, but at 11 years should i do it?
Why o why are watches sooo expensive i do understand that they are works of art but £6k for a new Rolex deepsea when you can buy i replica in Turkey that looks amazing for £100! Now i don't want to cause a row but i do have a couple if replica's ( deepsea and Panerai ) and they keep excellent time and have done so for a couple of years.
£455, will take 12 weeks but for that they clean the bracelet! - that is a lot of money and 3 months off my wrist. The watch is running ok and i do wear it alot but i am trying to wear other watches as it is looking a bit tired ( bracelet is a bit sloppy - and this to replace is near on a £1000!)
Should i take the plunge and have it done - i was told by another Rolex dealer that it does not need to be done every 5 years, but at 11 years should i do it?
Why o why are watches sooo expensive i do understand that they are works of art but £6k for a new Rolex deepsea when you can buy i replica in Turkey that looks amazing for £100! Now i don't want to cause a row but i do have a couple if replica's ( deepsea and Panerai ) and they keep excellent time and have done so for a couple of years.
If it's just a service, then I'd find a good local independant. A sevice should be £60 to £100 ish.
What you'll get from an independant:
- Watch stripped, cleaned, oiled and reassembled.
- Told if the watch has any worn out parts. It's a relatively new watch, there won't be any.
- Watch timed in one position, usually face up.
What (I think, please check) you'll get from Rolex:
- Watch stripped, cleaned, oiled and reassembled.
- Case polished.
- Any worn out parts relaced (there should not be any).
- Watch timed and adjusted in 5 positions, should it need it.
What you'll get from an independant:
- Watch stripped, cleaned, oiled and reassembled.
- Told if the watch has any worn out parts. It's a relatively new watch, there won't be any.
- Watch timed in one position, usually face up.
What (I think, please check) you'll get from Rolex:
- Watch stripped, cleaned, oiled and reassembled.
- Case polished.
- Any worn out parts relaced (there should not be any).
- Watch timed and adjusted in 5 positions, should it need it.
Also speak to Steve Burrage hes well respected on the forums.
0116 267 7673
http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/
0116 267 7673
http://www.rytetimewatchrepairs.co.uk/
please note the a Sea Dweller or Deep Sea have to go back to Rolex to have the pressure testing done.
Should you need any parts, as some could be worn after 12 years in use, only Rolex Approved or RSC will have OEM parts.
Steve Burrage cannot pressure test to SD standards, or even Sub standards, or get parts in my experience for the professional series watches, I've tried to use him more than once on other people's recommends, but only ever had "can't do this, can't do that" from him, so I don't bother mucking about anymore, all mine go straight to RSC
Should you need any parts, as some could be worn after 12 years in use, only Rolex Approved or RSC will have OEM parts.
Steve Burrage cannot pressure test to SD standards, or even Sub standards, or get parts in my experience for the professional series watches, I've tried to use him more than once on other people's recommends, but only ever had "can't do this, can't do that" from him, so I don't bother mucking about anymore, all mine go straight to RSC
bry1975 said:
I should send Mr Burrage MY 3,000metre plus rated pressure tester(330Bar) theoretically with stronger bolts could test to DEEPSEA depth about 480Bar with the 25% over rating!
That might not be a bad idea, then I could save a fair few quid come next service time.Mind you mine were tested at 12 years young 5 years ago so I'll not need it until 2020 hopefully, by that time even the indies will charge a kidney just to look at it I'd suspect

Adrian W said:
You don't get the choice with a Deepsea, as Rolex will not sell spares.
To the best of my knowledge (and I'm happy to be corrected) this is true of Sea Dwellers too, isn't it? I was under the impression that Rolex allow only themselves to service them and don't sell parts/gaskets to anyone else.From this thread i either have to send the seadweller back to RSC via Dealer such as Goldsmith or take to approved Service centre and it is done in house - either way it is going to cost me approx £400 to £500!
But i may also have the delight of being informed that various parts need replacing - yet currently the watch is running like a dream - i don't even have to wind it, just set the time, wiggle wrist and off it goes.
I got the watch in 2005 it was used but unworn so it has gone 8 years without a service. Last year i went into a local Rolex dealer and he complimented me on the watch and offered to buy it - he offered me £400 more that what i paid for it!
I'm gonna smuggle some tesco vouchers pass the mrs and cash this in at goldsmiths as every £10 gets you £30! result.
But i may also have the delight of being informed that various parts need replacing - yet currently the watch is running like a dream - i don't even have to wind it, just set the time, wiggle wrist and off it goes.
I got the watch in 2005 it was used but unworn so it has gone 8 years without a service. Last year i went into a local Rolex dealer and he complimented me on the watch and offered to buy it - he offered me £400 more that what i paid for it!
I'm gonna smuggle some tesco vouchers pass the mrs and cash this in at goldsmiths as every £10 gets you £30! result.
rat840771 said:
From this thread i either have to send the seadweller back to RSC via Dealer such as Goldsmith or take to approved Service centre and it is done in house - either way it is going to cost me approx £400 to £500!
But i may also have the delight of being informed that various parts need replacing - yet currently the watch is running like a dream - i don't even have to wind it, just set the time, wiggle wrist and off it goes.
I got the watch in 2005 it was used but unworn so it has gone 8 years without a service. Last year i went into a local Rolex dealer and he complimented me on the watch and offered to buy it - he offered me £400 more that what i paid for it!
I'm gonna smuggle some tesco vouchers pass the mrs and cash this in at goldsmiths as every £10 gets you £30! result.
the choice to have it serviced now, when it's running 100% fine is up to you, but i had mine from new and only serviced it at 11yrs old, when the power reserve dropped from about 48 hrs to less than 24 hrs. i did send it back to Rolex and specifically asked them to just service it - but not to clean or polish the case or bracelet, as i liked the patina it had picked up over the years. there were no bits that needed replacing, so it was 'just' the standard £450ish and 10/11 week wait.But i may also have the delight of being informed that various parts need replacing - yet currently the watch is running like a dream - i don't even have to wind it, just set the time, wiggle wrist and off it goes.
I got the watch in 2005 it was used but unworn so it has gone 8 years without a service. Last year i went into a local Rolex dealer and he complimented me on the watch and offered to buy it - he offered me £400 more that what i paid for it!
I'm gonna smuggle some tesco vouchers pass the mrs and cash this in at goldsmiths as every £10 gets you £30! result.
even if they do service yours, any play in the bracelet won't be improved, as that's just some wear and tear.
cracking watch though

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