Rolex wouldn't service my watch

[Torrid]

It makes me wonder about issues like this. Luckily my tastes haven't gotten this expensive yet, so if in 30 years I'm out of luck on my Seastar(most expensive watch I've bought so far) at least I won't feel as bad about it.

[Sgian Dubh]

I have heard that Rolex doesn't like to touch watches over 20 years old because they can no longer guarantee the accuracy of the watch. The watchmaker I go to is really talented and services most of the vintage Rolexes in Calgary for that reason. Unfortunately, at 73 years old, he is semi-retired and there is no guarantee he will continue to work for much longer.

Instead of refusing to service watches, wouldn't it make more sense for Rolex to have customers sign a waiver that the watch might not meet original accuracy specifications, even though it most likely will?

[amanda]

Great thread... I hope your AK comes back perfectly Dr Millar....

Hope you dont mind, I'm going to throw in a question about my AK.

Question if I may - I have an Air-King from 1991 has never been serviced. The RSC in Melbourne quoted me $890AUD to do a full service and polish - includes a new Crystal. That seems like a lot of coin for something I wear once a week (I do keep it wound tho) are the RSC going to do a better job than a non-rolex watchmaker? I got a rough over the phone quote from a guy in Sydney for under half that, including a new Crystal.... I'm assuming he'll put in an aftermarket one (given rolex parts are so hard to come by) do I bite the bullet and spend the extra on the service by RSC or go cheaper with a well known repairer?

Thanks in advance guys......

[MonkeyMagic]

Great thread... I hope your AK comes back perfectly Dr Millar....

Hope you dont mind, I'm going to throw in a question about my AK.

Question if I may - I have an Air-King from 1991 has never been serviced. The RSC in Melbourne quoted me $890AUD to do a full service and polish - includes a new Crystal. That seems like a lot of coin for something I wear once a week (I do keep it wound tho) are the RSC going to do a better job than a non-rolex watchmaker? I got a rough over the phone quote from a guy in Sydney for under half that, including a new Crystal.... I'm assuming he'll put in an aftermarket one (given rolex parts are so hard to come by) do I bite the bullet and spend the extra on the service by RSC or go cheaper with a well known repairer?

Thanks in advance guys......

Is the guy from Sydney call Nic, from the ClockMaker in Mossman? If so, he is an excellent watchmaker and have service several of my watches

[amanda]

Is the guy from Sydney call Nic, from the in Mossman? If so, he is an excellent watchmaker and have service several of my watches

Yep I spoke to him on the phone and he was very pleasant to deal with, much more pleasant than the RSC! He also posts on 'another rolex forum' and his work looks brilliant - he's posted lots of great articles and has shown many watches in disrepair and the work he's carried out... ok done deal I'll save my money and get him to service the watch!

Is it ok to say this much about a business? Forums differ so greatly rules wise.

I have no affiliation with this company whatsoever... just posting my experiences to date. Hope this is ok.

[mbogo]

He rang me today saying he had the watch returned from Rolex, Switzerland.

Pete

Based on that sentence alone, I'd say that the dealer was lying. There are three Rolex Service Centers here in the U.S., so there would be no reason to send it to Switzerland.

I think your dealer was just trying to sell you a new watch.

George

[MonkeyMagic]

Yep I spoke to him on the phone and he was very pleasant to deal with, much more pleasant than the RSC! He also posts on 'another rolex forum' and his work looks brilliant - he's posted lots of great articles and has shown many watches in disrepair and the work he's carried out... ok done deal I'll save my money and get him to service the watch!

Is it ok to say this much about a business? Forums differ so greatly rules wise.

I have no affiliation with this company whatsoever... just posting my experiences to date. Hope this is ok.

Glad to hear that it is Nic from Mossman. He is a really good watchmaker

[jon12w]

Nick also posts on WUS Anomino forum as he is an Anomino dealer, nice bloke as has been said.

[georges zaslavsky]

One of the best Rolex independant restorer /watchmaker in France is Charly. He was working for Rolex before.

[Coates]

I was in Singapore many years ago and had about 4 days before my next flight. I had recently put a heavy scratch on the plastic crystal of my Rolex and thought it would be a good time saving opportunity to have it changed while I was there. I took it to Rolex House on Orchard Road and explained very politely to the service counter what I wanted done. They immediately started giving me enormous condecending attitude (well scripted and rehersed) and claimed they couldn't possibly change the crystal without a complete service which would take at least a month and cost aprox S$400-$500. I tuned into their "game" and wasn't having it. I proceeded to go ballistic on the clerk, got very loud, and demanded to see the manager. The service counter was right in the main showroom area and the place was quite crowded. The manager gave me the same polished dogma. I explained to his entire staff and most of the pedestrians for a block on either side of the building that their policy was elitist and complete bollocks, and if Rolex was anywhere near the product and company they claimed it was they would be jumping all over this request. They reluctantly relented and changed the crystal in about 30 minutes while I sat in the glorious air-conditioned comfort of their posh showroom (built with profits from Rolex sales, including mine). It's not my nature to be like that and have only actually had to resort to such tactics a precious few time in my life, however, I have been in the service business for almost 40 years and know it cold. Their attitude towards the people who made them what they are, stinks.