Rolex Sea Dweller 16600 repair

[NickXX]

Hi all,

My 2005 SD has stopped and needs a service/repair. My usual watch repair place are unable to service Sea Dwellers - presumably because of the pressure testing requirement.

Does anyone know of anyone independent who can service these, or is my best bet to send it back to Rolex?

Thanks,
Nick

[So]

NickXX said:

Hi all,

My 2005 SD has stopped and needs a service/repair. My usual watch repair place are unable to service Sea Dwellers - presumably because of the pressure testing requirement.

Does anyone know of anyone independent who can service these, or is my best bet to send it back to Rolex?

Thanks,
Nick

I would have thought the problem with an indi, unless he is local, would be getting it to him. Last time I looked into it I couldn't insure to high enough a value.

[don logan]

Hi

MAYBE it's the same for all indy repairers RE SDs, but if it ISN'T I'd say this guy will be able to help you!

https://www.russelltalerman.com/

[cbmotorsport]

Just use your normal guys and get them to pressure test it to 300m (which I'm sure they can do)

Really no need to have the watch pressure tested to the depths Rolex tell you it's capable of.

[NickXX]

don logan said:

Hi

MAYBE it's the same for all indy repairers RE SDs, but if it ISN'T I'd say this guy will be able to help you!

https://www.russelltalerman.com/

Ah, thank you don - I'll give him a shout. I'm based in London, so would be nice and easy to drop it off in person.

[bristolbaron]

No Rolex approved repairer ‘should’ service Seadwellers. They’d risk their status if found out.

[don logan]

NickXX said:

don logan said:

Hi

MAYBE it's the same for all indy repairers RE SDs, but if it ISN'T I'd say this guy will be able to help you!

https://www.russelltalerman.com/

Ah, thank you don - I'll give him a shout. I'm based in London, so would be nice and easy to drop it off in person.

No problem, it’s a slightly unusual set up, he’s not a “shop” as such, he’s on the top floor of a building off Regent St, I’ve seen faces from the shops in Burlington Arcade picking repairs / refurbs up from him and he refurbed a GMT bracelet really well for me and polished another one too!

[So]

don logan said:

NickXX said:

don logan said:

Hi

MAYBE it's the same for all indy repairers RE SDs, but if it ISN'T I'd say this guy will be able to help you!

https://www.russelltalerman.com/

Ah, thank you don - I'll give him a shout. I'm based in London, so would be nice and easy to drop it off in person.

No problem, it’s a slightly unusual set up, he’s not a “shop” as such, he’s on the top floor of a building off Regent St, I’ve seen faces from the shops in Burlington Arcade picking repairs / refurbs up from him and he refurbed a GMT bracelet really well for me and polished another one too!

Had a quick look. Not inexpensive. On a par with Rolex themselves?

[don logan]

So said:

don logan said:

NickXX said:

don logan said:

Hi

MAYBE it's the same for all indy repairers RE SDs, but if it ISN'T I'd say this guy will be able to help you!

https://www.russelltalerman.com/

Ah, thank you don - I'll give him a shout. I'm based in London, so would be nice and easy to drop it off in person.

No problem, it’s a slightly unusual set up, he’s not a “shop” as such, he’s on the top floor of a building off Regent St, I’ve seen faces from the shops in Burlington Arcade picking repairs / refurbs up from him and he refurbed a GMT bracelet really well for me and polished another one too!

Had a quick look. Not inexpensive. On a par with Rolex themselves?

I'm sure he isn't for repair work, but I'm guessing he can do repairs to individual issues rather than an entire service that takes WEEKS AND WEEKS!

I didn't want a service, I just wanted a GMT bracelet refurbed, he would also be good for vintage work where you might not want the watch to come back all polished up and with new parts!

[RiggaTheMighty]

bristolbaron said:

No Rolex approved repairer ‘should’ service Seadwellers. They’d risk their status if found out.

What is that statement based on?
I could tell you of at least 10 workshops in the uk, including mine, who service Seadwellers.
If you’ve had the training and you have the equipment required, you can do all professional models.

[bristolbaron]

RiggaTheMighty said:

What is that statement based on?
I could tell you of at least 10 workshops in the uk, including mine, who service Seadwellers.
If you’ve had the training and you have the equipment required, you can do all professional models.

It’s based on information given from Rolex UK to an independent accredited workshop.
They will not sell the necessary machine to test the helium valve to accredited workshops and Seadwellers are to be serviced by Rolex UK only.
The workshop has sufficient pressure testing equipment, But without valve testing equipment is unable to service them.

If you have been able to obtain the machine from Rolex UK I’d love details, he’d get one ordered immediately!

[AlexB]

I don't know what you might expect a non-Rolex service would cost, but I had my 16660 Sea Dweller serviced by Rolex last year and it was about £400 +VAT for the service - expensive, but nowhere near what I thought it might be...

[RiggaTheMighty]

bristolbaron said:

RiggaTheMighty said:

What is that statement based on?
I could tell you of at least 10 workshops in the uk, including mine, who service Seadwellers.
If you’ve had the training and you have the equipment required, you can do all professional models.

It’s based on information given from Rolex UK to an independent accredited workshop.
They will not sell the necessary machine to test the helium valve to accredited workshops and Seadwellers are to be serviced by Rolex UK only.
The workshop has sufficient pressure testing equipment, But without valve testing equipment is unable to service them.

If you have been able to obtain the machine from Rolex UK I’d love details, he’d get one ordered immediately!

If your FIL has a Fathometer, then he is able to test a Seadweller to the required depths.
Also if Rolex have supplied a Fathometer (and the hot plate, that is required for testing after) then that means he is qualified to service Seadwellers, as well as all of the other Professional models.
The tooling required for the Seadweller is supplied only once a Fathometer is purchased.
Also, I’m sure you said that he has the lapping machine as well, which also is only supplied once the Professional models are “unlocked” by accreditation.

All of our guys have been back to Rolex for an updated accreditation on the new Calibre in the last few months, so maybe that is part of the requirement.

Skydwellers though........that’s a whole other story. Haha

[bristolbaron]

RiggaTheMighty said:

If your FIL has a Fathometer, then he is able to test a Seadweller to the required depths.
Also if Rolex have supplied a Fathometer (and the hot plate, that is required for testing after) then that means he is qualified to service Seadwellers, as well as all of the other Professional models.
The tooling required for the Seadweller is supplied only once a Fathometer is purchased.
Also, I’m sure you said that he has the lapping machine as well, which also is only supplied once the Professional models are “unlocked” by accreditation.

All of our guys have been back to Rolex for an updated accreditation on the new Calibre in the last few months, so maybe that is part of the requirement.

Skydwellers though........that’s a whole other story. Haha

An update from this, I spoke with my FIL again who double checked with Rolex. All Seadwellers have to be sent back to them. Anyone accredited offering to service these watches are acting outside of Rolex’s terms of accreditation.

I don’t understand how the misinformation has come about, but Rolex UK have categorically stated no UK agents other than themselves are accredited to work on them.

[don logan]

bristolbaron said:

An update from this, I spoke with my FIL again who double checked with Rolex. All Seadwellers have to be sent back to them. Anyone accredited offering to service these watches are acting outside of Rolex’s terms of accreditation.

I don’t understand how the misinformation has come about, but Rolex UK have categorically stated no UK agents other than themselves are accredited to work on them.

What’s to stop an independent doing the work if they have the right equipment?

[NickXX]

Bit of an update on this. I've found somewhere who was happy to service it - but they are unable to get any cosmetic parts for it (such as a new bezel if I wanted one). I'm guessing this is because the movement is shared with the Submariner, so internal parts can be obtained?

[UnclePat]

If they cannot get any cosmetic parts for it, then it’s probably because they don’t have a parts account with Rolex, which means they won’t be able to get any new movement parts from Rolex either.

Of course, there are ways & means if they have other contacts who can help out with parts supply, and the 313x movement isn’t rare.

In terms of just servicing, it’s a simple, straightforward movement that any competent watchmaker shouldn’t have bother with, provided it’s only a simple disassembly, cleaning, oiling & reassembly (which often cures a lot of ills in itself, without the absolute necessity for replacement parts).

However, it does make me wonder what your service entails. Probably cheaper than a Rolex-accredited service, yes, but without the replacement of many worn parts that are included as standard with a Rolex-accredited service. It’ll still run fine of course, and likely for many years, but it may not be the most optimal or comprehensive of routes, if that matters to you.

There are clear pros & cons with both routes – pays your money, takes your choice etc.

[alanm_3]

I had my SD4c serviced by Rolex earlier this year. Including a new crown, it cost me just over £800