Vintage rolex - ouch
Discussion
So I am 36 born in 1977. Bought myself a little bday present of a 1977 Rolex Submariner. More as a collectors item as bought a Daytona black earlier in year which will be my sons who is now 2mths old.
But
I took the watch to Goldsmiths to be sent to rolex for a service.... The response was as follows.....(quote that is)....
watch requires a full service retail £670.00
oscillating weight as damaged retail £55.00
dial including hands as heavily damaged and luminous powdering retail £485.00
2xlinks retail £110.00 (£55.00 each)
exchange of bracelet as scratched and very worn retail £850.00
optional work:
new bezel insert retail £40.00
After I got back up after taking a full size 12 in the man jewels I sat there and thought .... Is it worth it?
Worth noting bought from reputable dealer etc. Do I bring back to former glory or keep as is.... Part of me thinks this will add further value to the watch.
Thoughts welcome
But
I took the watch to Goldsmiths to be sent to rolex for a service.... The response was as follows.....(quote that is)....
watch requires a full service retail £670.00
oscillating weight as damaged retail £55.00
dial including hands as heavily damaged and luminous powdering retail £485.00
2xlinks retail £110.00 (£55.00 each)
exchange of bracelet as scratched and very worn retail £850.00
optional work:
new bezel insert retail £40.00
After I got back up after taking a full size 12 in the man jewels I sat there and thought .... Is it worth it?
Worth noting bought from reputable dealer etc. Do I bring back to former glory or keep as is.... Part of me thinks this will add further value to the watch.
Thoughts welcome
DJPetrolHead said:
So I am 36 born in 1977. Bought myself a little bday present of a 1977 Rolex Submariner. More as a collectors item as bought a Daytona black earlier in year which will be my sons who is now 2mths old.
But
I took the watch to Goldsmiths to be sent to rolex for a service.... The response was as follows.....(quote that is)....
watch requires a full service retail £670.00
oscillating weight as damaged retail £55.00
dial including hands as heavily damaged and luminous powdering retail £485.00
2xlinks retail £110.00 (£55.00 each)
exchange of bracelet as scratched and very worn retail £850.00
optional work:
new bezel insert retail £40.00
After I got back up after taking a full size 12 in the man jewels I sat there and thought .... Is it worth it?
Worth noting bought from reputable dealer etc. Do I bring back to former glory or keep as is.... Part of me thinks this will add further value to the watch.
Thoughts welcome
Unless it is impossible to read the time definitely do not get the dial and hands replaced.But
I took the watch to Goldsmiths to be sent to rolex for a service.... The response was as follows.....(quote that is)....
watch requires a full service retail £670.00
oscillating weight as damaged retail £55.00
dial including hands as heavily damaged and luminous powdering retail £485.00
2xlinks retail £110.00 (£55.00 each)
exchange of bracelet as scratched and very worn retail £850.00
optional work:
new bezel insert retail £40.00
After I got back up after taking a full size 12 in the man jewels I sat there and thought .... Is it worth it?
Worth noting bought from reputable dealer etc. Do I bring back to former glory or keep as is.... Part of me thinks this will add further value to the watch.
Thoughts welcome
Unless the bracelet is so loose as to be unsafe to wear - don't replace.
I once got a new face for a 50's explorer against my better judgement and nearly cry every time I look at it.
Have no repect for anything Goldmiths say having had half a dozen watches in for repair that the local showroom had damaged on battery changes - everything from coil damage ("It's not the battery, Sir, we can send it for service at ££££"), through water damage in rain thanks to back seals pinched in a visible loop, to fitting the wrong battery (too thick) and distorting the back trying to force it on ("There appears to be a casing issue, Sir, we can get a quote for you for a new case").
They're salesmen and nothing else, and in this case I'd suggest that they're following their calling. Apart from anything, how they can quote for two extra links and a new bracelet in the same breath is a little mind boggling!
The list they've given may well return the watch to you "like new" but that just makes it neither one thing or the other - not a new watch, but neither is it a watch that's survived the same time on earth that you have. The one thing it certainly won't be is a "like new" 1977 watch, because half the parts will be new.
They're salesmen and nothing else, and in this case I'd suggest that they're following their calling. Apart from anything, how they can quote for two extra links and a new bracelet in the same breath is a little mind boggling!
The list they've given may well return the watch to you "like new" but that just makes it neither one thing or the other - not a new watch, but neither is it a watch that's survived the same time on earth that you have. The one thing it certainly won't be is a "like new" 1977 watch, because half the parts will be new.
Contac Mike Wood before you do anything, I'm sure he will advise you on the best action to take,
http://www.theoldwatchshop.com/
http://www.theoldwatchshop.com/
Adrian W said:
Contac Mike Wood before you do anything, I'm sure he will advise you on the best action to take,
http://www.theoldwatchshop.com/
Have to agree. http://www.theoldwatchshop.com/
Good advice on here.
If you are ever interested in selling, it could be really difficult if you replace everything.
People that want a vintage Rolex also want all the parts (especially dial and hands) to be original.
Those that want a newer looking Rolex will buy newer rather than one from 1977
If you are ever interested in selling, it could be really difficult if you replace everything.
People that want a vintage Rolex also want all the parts (especially dial and hands) to be original.
Those that want a newer looking Rolex will buy newer rather than one from 1977
If it's not running properly, send it to a specialist as already said, or back to Rolex. But, don't for heavens sake let them change the dial or hands. It'll ruin the history and value of the watch.
I think most people will say use an independent specialist for vintage stuff, but 58 Airking was serviced by Rolex and they did a grand job. Left it all original outside, just change a few essentials inside, and it's run like a charm ever since.
I think most people will say use an independent specialist for vintage stuff, but 58 Airking was serviced by Rolex and they did a grand job. Left it all original outside, just change a few essentials inside, and it's run like a charm ever since.
DO NOT change dial and hands. This is part of the originality of a vintage Rolex and people buy them for the patina.
Rolex apply the logic of turning a worn watch into a near new one. You can have it serviced by them but specify do not change hands/dial/bracelet and no polishing.
Personally I'd use a specialist just to get it running correctly.
Finding a vintage with age faded hands and dial the same colour is hard enough (and that's without some cheating by exposing them to the fumes from an extinguished match). They're out there but at a price. Nice 1675 GMT on eBay at the moment for £8k+. That's at least a £3.5k premium but finest original watch I've seen. Just cant justify paying that much for it.
Rolex apply the logic of turning a worn watch into a near new one. You can have it serviced by them but specify do not change hands/dial/bracelet and no polishing.
Personally I'd use a specialist just to get it running correctly.
Finding a vintage with age faded hands and dial the same colour is hard enough (and that's without some cheating by exposing them to the fumes from an extinguished match). They're out there but at a price. Nice 1675 GMT on eBay at the moment for £8k+. That's at least a £3.5k premium but finest original watch I've seen. Just cant justify paying that much for it.
Contact my watch maker Eyal Shoker. He restored 2 of my watches which were in a bad bad state. One was a Rolex. Both are like new now.
Never more than £400 all in, including parts.
He works on Patek's, Paul Newman daytonas and much more expensive stuff.
Contact me for details. He is London based.
Never more than £400 all in, including parts.
He works on Patek's, Paul Newman daytonas and much more expensive stuff.
Contact me for details. He is London based.
Under £650 for me. Politely decline all work other than the service and the movement part.
The service will be sort-of reasonable value for money as it adds to the watches provenance. They may play dumb (Goldsmiths as much as Rolex), but they know very well that owners of older watches will probably not want thier watches 'restored' and the original parts and features lost.
The service will be sort-of reasonable value for money as it adds to the watches provenance. They may play dumb (Goldsmiths as much as Rolex), but they know very well that owners of older watches will probably not want thier watches 'restored' and the original parts and features lost.
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