Caseback engraving

[erico]

This year I bought my first Rolex - 5 digit Sea-Dweller from 2005. It's a grail and I plan to keep it forever and pass it down one day. I bought it for my 40th birthday, which is next month, and my wife wants to have the caseback engraved with my initials and wrap it up so I can "open" it on my birthday.

I took the watch to my local jeweler today (never dealt with him before) and he basically refused to do it. First he assumed the watch was fake. When I told him it is real, he strongly recommended against and said it would ruin the value of the watch. I told him I don't plan to sell it but he still said he wouldn't advise it.

Am I crazy to want to get the watch engraved? A lot of folks on here probably rotate through watches so may not consider doing this, but what are your thoughts?

Also, any recommendations for someone to do the job in San Diego?

[Stan Cooper]

Watch casebacks are engraved all the time by jewelers. It won't ruin the watch as a new caseback is less than $200 from a Rolex Service Center. I had mine replaced last year because I had stripped the serrations on it used to remove it from the case in a hamfisted attempt to remove it myself without the correct tools..

It's best done by a jeweler with a watchmaker on staff who has experience with Rolexes and can reinstall it with a new gasket and pressure test it.

[omar-rye]

I personally see no issues with engraving a case back; I think it's pretty cool and adds a bit of personalization to a mass produced watch. Plus, it is easily reversible.

Give your local Rolex AD A try. They might be up to the task

[mannyv11]

I have 2 of my 4 engraved. No biggie

[CarlOver]

Wait..buy replacement…engrave replacement off the watch and install replacement. If you get rid of it at some point you have the original back that will likely have different engravings/stamps that will make someone else happy.

[erico]

Thanks all. Definitely a weird vibe from the jeweler I met with. My watchmaker gave me a good recommendation for the engraving.

[Calatrava r]

It is a very nice idea to have it engraved and personalize the watch.

[vesnyder]

I purchased my first Rolex in 1984 - when I graduated from college - and had it engraved with my name and year. Gifted it to my son when he turnrd 25. I think it made it more meaningful that it was engraved.

[Jackie Daytona]

Engrave it. It’s yours. It means something to you, it doesn’t really matter others thoughts or opinions.

[wgdaytona]

IMG_2459.jpg
Do what you like. I have an old solid gold pocketwatch that I bought years ago JUST for the engraving. I found it endearing. Enjoy! BUT, BE SURE to see their work and find a quality engraver. They re NOT all created equal, it's a talent.

[Rollieo]

Get the engraving, that jeweler sorry is an idiot. People get engravings on Rolex casebacks all the time.

Originally Posted by CarlOver

Wait..buy replacement…engrave replacement off the watch and install replacement. If you get rid of it at some point you have the original back that will likely have different engravings/stamps that will make someone else happy.

If you do the above though, the engraving probably won’t be upright. I don’t recommend this. The caseback is screwed on, so you don’t know when the threads will exactly end to make sure it’s vertical. You need to engrave the caseback while on the watch. Sorry to call you out Carl, but have you ever tried this?

[joli160]

I like the personal touch.
Find a hand engraver, results are so much nicer

[geoach]

Originally Posted by joli160

I like the personal touch.
Find a hand engraver, results are so much nicer

this........I have my father's DD engraved by him with message to me....means a lot with the engraving............read that Rolex leaves their case backs blank just for that reason

[brandrea]

One of the reason why Rolex have clean casebacks … so they can be engraved. APPROVED.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by brandrea

One of the reason why Rolex have clean casebacks … so they can be engraved. APPROVED.

And many years ago Rolex had there own engravers to put whatever you wanted on case back but that service is gone now.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by padi56

And many years ago Rolex had there own engravers to put whatever you wanted on case back but that service is gone now.

[JTL31]

Not crazy at all! Engraving adds a nice touch. As others have said, it’s readily easy to replace with a plain caseback if/when desired. This one is for my daughter using a special message I always use.




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[Robf52]

Originally Posted by jackie daytona

engrave it. It’s yours. It means something to you, it doesn’t really matter others thoughts or opinions.

+1.

[pedersenkl]

If you want your watch caseback engraved, go for it. Just pick a reputable engraver, that does quality work AND will take care of the rest of your watch.

I had a Rolex Sub engraved recently, through Tourneau/Bucherer when I purchased. Really impressed with the quality of the engaging and I think it adds to the personal value of the watch even though I don't look at it often.

With that said, as my watch collection grows.....I may go back and engrave a few prior timepieces as well....so I don't forget the milestone/anniversary/birthday I got them for. Once you have many watches and you start to get older, you start to forget.