Servicing a rolex - how much?

[Adam B]

Have a s/s daytona - goldsmiths quoted me £385, is it a set price regardless of stockist as I thought it was more like £250?

Can anyone confirm?

[Dominic H]

It used to be £250 a couple of years back. Rolex have a set price for all modern pieces, so it'll be the same at every UK AD. The price isn't so bad, it's the 8 week + wait that's the pain....
You can always call Rolex UK on 01322 521436 to confirm the price of a Daytona service.

Edited by Dominic H on Tuesday 12th May 22:29

[cinque]

Got my S/S Sub with cyclops, year 2000 back just yesterday, from W.O. Switz Royal Exch. Estimate was 10 weeks, delayed by 2 weeks in quality control. Cost £290 included full service, all parts and a very very good valet (some deep scratches on the shoulder taken out). Also included the all important re-seal and 12 month guarantee.

Your Daytona may be a little cheaper to service and have a quicker turnaround as it may not require the specialist re-seal that Subs and Dwellers require, which includes sending them back to the factory in CHF.

HTH

[Dominic H]

cinque said:

Got my S/S Sub with cyclops, year 2000 back just yesterday, from W.O. Switz Royal Exch. Estimate was 10 weeks, delayed by 2 weeks in quality control. Cost £290 included full service, all parts and a very very good valet (some deep scratches on the shoulder taken out). Also included the all important re-seal and 12 month guarantee.

Your Daytona may be a little cheaper to service and have a quicker turnaround as it may not require the specialist re-seal that Subs and Dwellers require, which includes sending them back to the factory in CHF.

HTH

The Rolex service, is excellent. Tired looking, everyday watches are fully serviced including the case/bracelet valet which ensures the watch looks as good as new.

The Daytona is more expensive to service, as the movement is more complicated, it also has 3 points of entry to re-seal (crown, and chrono pushers). The Subs and Seadwellers are serviced and re-sealed in the UK, at the service facility in Bexley,Kent.

[ShadownINja]

Slightly off-topic but for the money how badly could the watch look before it is beyond recovery to the as-new state? It's a lot of money but if you have a £5k watch that is looking tired and they give you what looks like a brand new one back for the price of a service, then it sounds like it's actually worth it.

I mean, if a Sub had a deep scratch through the bezel insert, a lug had a 1mm chunk chipped out of it and the crystal was cracked rather than scratched, would it come back like a brand new watch still? Say if you fell off your motorbike and the watch took a hammering but still worked, is this all covered?

Just being nosey.

[Dominic H]

ShadownINja said:

Slightly off-topic but for the money how badly could the watch look before it is beyond recovery to the as-new state? It's a lot of money but if you have a £5k watch that is looking tired and they give you what looks like a brand new one back for the price of a service, then it sounds like it's actually worth it.

I mean, if a Sub had a deep scratch through the bezel insert, a lug had a 1mm chunk chipped out of it and the crystal was cracked rather than scratched, would it come back like a brand new watch still? Say if you fell off your motorbike and the watch took a hammering but still worked, is this all covered?

Just being nosey.

As part of a service the case is re-furbished, the case sides are polished the top sides satin-finished and the bevel between the case top/case side is re-cut and polished. This will remove nearly all marks, anything too deep and Rolex will estimate for a new case middle. This will mean the watch will have a new serial number starting 44-----, denoting a new case.This is only done in extreme wear or heavily dented case, in my experience 99% of watches do not require this. You'll be pleasantly surprised as to the results achieved by the Rolex service centre.
Your Sub, would have a new bezel insert and sapphire crystal supplied at an extra cost to the service. But you'll be amazed at the quality of the returned watch.

Rolex have a service centre at Bexley, Kent and you can also drop the watch into Rolex in St James, central London.

Last summer, I (my watchmaker) completely rebuilt an 18ct Rolex Daytona that a client had fallen off his mountain bike and ground away part of the bezel, bent the lug and broke the glass. A few £££ later, and the watch was completely rebuilt to the clients satisfaction.

I'd always reccommend someone to return the watch to Rolex for a service. It's not cheap, but if you spread the cost over the service interval (every 5 years) £300 or £60 a year isn't so bad.....

Dom H

[ALawson]

Dom H, my father had a Rolex from circa 1970's that was given to him by the ruling family of the UAE in return for services during the construction of Dubai dry dock.

After being worn everyday for 30 years the strap is buggered and its does not work, would I be able to pop it into you for an appraisal into if it is worth paying for a new strap and service.

Not sure on the model number I thinks its a Rolex Datejust 18K/ss with champagne dial.

Cheers.

[ShadownINja]

Thanks for the reply. "Your sub"... if only.

So how much did it cost the client to fix it?

[Dominic H]

ShadownINja said:

Thanks for the reply. "Your sub"... if only.

So how much did it cost the client to fix it?

I forget the exact figure, but he did mention that teh bill was more painful than the accident....

[Dominic H]

ALawson said:

Dom H, my father had a Rolex from circa 1970's that was given to him by the ruling family of the UAE in return for services during the construction of Dubai dry dock.

After being worn everyday for 30 years the strap is buggered and its does not work, would I be able to pop it into you for an appraisal into if it is worth paying for a new strap and service.

Not sure on the model number I thinks its a Rolex Datejust 18K/ss with champagne dial.

Cheers.

Sure, I'm away for 12 days until 27th May. Call me when I'm back...

Dom H

[andy_s]

£380 for service, new crown, new crystal and some dings removed. 10 years old and I'd swear they'd given me a new watch.

[d8ean]

had my SS daytona done last year at bexley - took 8 weeks and cost was approx £600 - that included a new bezel bit around the outside because it had some deep scratches and i wanted it looking like new.

(9 years old so i figured it was worth it)

[Adam B]

Thanks all

watch is now exactly 5 years old and has been worn most days, dived with it once, and only has surface scratches on bezel and strap

Must admit I fancy the service just to get it back all shiny and new, but obviously its a good idea to service them anyway.

My tight side is telling me that servicing of watches is a bit of a con, and recommended by the manufacturers as its a nice little earner.

Just wondering whether I should wait a year or two, can waiting too long actually damage the watch? Is the common view here that I should get it done every 5 years as standard good practice?

thanks again

[bcadou]

Hello guys

quick question:

I have a submariner that hasnt been serviced or even worn for at least 13 years (inherited watch). It looks like new.

Does it still have to get a service? maybe for some kind of internal lubrification that might have dried and could damage the watch? Or any other reason? thank you

[GC8]

A lube wont do it any harm. Really they should be lubed every year or so, even if a service isnt required. Id speak to an independant BHI watchmaker about this, as opposed to Rolex Bexley or an AD (although some ADs do have BHI watchmakers).

[SVS]

Dominic H said:

As part of a service the case is re-furbished, the case sides are polished the top sides satin-finished and the bevel between the case top/case side is re-cut and polished.

Hi, do you know anywhere reliable that offers a similar service like this for other watch brands (e.g. Longines)?

[RichTT]

GC8 said:

A lube wont do it any harm. Really they should be lubed every year or so, even if a service isnt required. Id speak to an independant BHI watchmaker about this, as opposed to Rolex Bexley or an AD (although some ADs do have BHI watchmakers).

It's not the seals that need greasing (anyone with a caseback opener and some grease can do that) it's the mechanical internals that need oiling that is critical. After 13 years or so it is definitely recommended to give the watch a full service.

[don logan]

I just took a GMT 2c in for a service with Rolex in st James square and was quoted £430 and 12 weeks, both seem incredible! (no, I didn`t think what a bargain and what a fast turn around)

[RichTT]

Par for the course for Rolex.