replacing movement in a rolex airking?

[TooLateForAName]

Some years ago my dad was given a rolex airking by the company he worked for. Fast forward a few years and it somehow got water in. He made a terrible mistake and took it to some little stall in Teesside (his excuse is that they had done something well at an omega previously), they held onto it for ages and eventually he went in and demanded it back - unfixed. It then sat in a drawer for a couple of years until he sent it off to Rolex who quoted £1400 (apparently parts are missing). The place that previously looked at it has gone; The watch went back into the drawer.

So, I've seen the interesting posts on here regarding the watch repair stuff and rolex movements being nothing special.

What would be possible? Dad isnt interested in spending that sort of money (although he quite likes the watch) he might run to a couple of hundred but no more. Are the rolex movements modified ETA? Could I source an ETA or something and put a new movement in? I'm quite tempted to buy the watch course and some tools and after playing with some cheapy watches having a go at it. Of course if it is possible to drop a replacement movement in then that would be easy. Ideally the correct movement, but failing that something reasonably decent that works (ETA unitas or Tudor - which I think is just a rolex brand)

He is not looking at selling it on, just getting a working watch.

If it makes a difference the watch has a sticker on saying 14000 which I presume has something to do with identifying the movement (beats?)

[sneijder]

Cyberface will be typing a page long reply now, he'll be along soon !

I've nothing constructive to add but ask how does it wear ? They look rather small by todays standards. I hope this doesn't mean it has a smaller, fiddlier movement in.

But good luck !

[TooLateForAName]

It is a little small by todays standards, but Dad liked it. He has a seiko5 as his everyday watch now (standard not monster) and I guess it is about the same size.

TBH this is as much about an excuse to learn something new while having justification for the cost of tools and such like. It is always nice to be able to understand and fix something.

I am indeed hoping for cyberface or someone similar to come along.

[Dominic H]

Evening Mark,

Your Air-King is a model 14000, which was in the range until 2-3 years ago. The movement, a calibre '3000' is Rolex own design and manufacture. I'm guessing that at £1400 Rolex have charged a huge premium to the normal service charge (c£250) to replace non-standard/rusted parts.
Without seeing the watch it's not possible to be exact, but I'd be surprised if an experienced Rolex watchmaker couldn't do the correct job for far less.

Have a look here to see where to find your nearest BHI listed watchmaker.

http://www.bhi.co.uk/repairer.html

If you get stuck, give me a call. I have several house trained watchmakers I use...

Dom H

[TooLateForAName]

Thanks very much Dominic.

I think I'll get a case opener and take some pics of the inside. I may well take you up on your kind offer when I've seen inside.

thanks

Mark

[sneijder]

..just be careful. I tried to regulate this :



Went in all guns blazing and now it's dead

• Make sure you take pictures as you go along !!

[TooLateForAName]

sneijder said:

..just be careful. I tried to regulate this :



Went in all guns blazing and now it's dead

• Make sure you take pictures as you go along !!

I thought start off with a batch of old movements to get a feel for the things - there are regularly sets of movements on ebay for very little. I wouldn't start with an expensive one, dismantle, clean, put back together a couple and go from there. I've got an old seiko5 that isn't reliable any more (it was cheaper to buy a new one than have the old serviced) so I think that you could play/understand for the cost of a few tools, then look for parts info on ebay and go for it. I've just looked up a few reviews of the 3000 movement and they all seem to say that it is a simple/straightforward movement (some reviews are quite rude about it tbh).

[cyberface]

Rolex don't use modified ETA... the trouble you'd end up doing this is that the watch would immediately be considered a fake... as the counterfeiters use ETA movements in their 'replicas'. Some of these replicas are visually identical to the real thing, and the only real way to tell a replica is that there's no Rolex movement inside, but an ETA copy.

Stick in an ETA and then try to get it serviced anywhere... you may have problems

[GC8]

An ETA will fit using a Tudor ring (Tudor: originally part of Rolex, using ETA calibres in Rolex Oyster cases). Itll be easier and cheaper to find a decent watchmaker who will refurb/repair and service the Rolex action...

[TooLateForAName]

The tudor ring is handy to know. I'll see when I get it open, tbh originality isnt an issue - unless it can be repaired for a substantially smaller sum than the £1400 quoted it isnt going to be fixed at all. And it isnt going to be sold, when dads done with it it will come to one of three sons, none of whom are fussed about having a rolex particularly.

[Watch-Collector]

You are best getting the watch looked at by an acredited watchmaker like Dominic says, you might be surprised at how easy it could be to fix/service, and parts for Rolex movements can be obtained if you know where to look ;-).
Rolex do like charging where they think they have you in a corner!!

[GC8]

Id suggest sending it to Brian at Time-Repairs in Bolton.