ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Alex* · 1 August 2016, 04:29 PM

I'm looking into buying my first vintage watch. Since my aim is to have this watch in my daily rotation, I want to make sure that it can be easily serviced. I'm looking at a GMT.

The 1675 GMT uses a 1575 movement starting in 1965 until the end in 1980. Sure, these are still serviced by Rolex, and looking at the earliest watches, one can say that there is still Rolex support for a 56 year old watch. However, in my mind this is a bit misleading, the GMT used the same movement till 1980, therefore, if Rolex decides to service a 36 year old watch, they will also service a 56 year old watch.

Rolex doesn't disclose their future plans, but what is your take on this? The 1675 was in production for a long time, but if Rolex decides to drop support, how easy would it be to get parts? What are the risks buying a 1675? Any watchmaker out there that have insight into this?

JP Chestnut · 1 August 2016, 10:51 PM

The movement parts will always be there (or can be made)... at a price. Who knows what that price will be?

RichardF · 2 August 2016, 08:09 PM

The 1575 is a very robust work horse. There are to many Rolex watches still in service today using this movement. I would not worry about that. Yes it's true there are older movements that have been discontinued but they make up a very small foot print of the Rolex movements in service today. FYI my 1978 vintage 18 kt GMT has a 1575 movement and it was just serviced at the RSC in NY... 1378.00. And that was with out having any problems or needing any parts other than the standard crown,tube and crystal. I was advised by Rolex that all gold and vintage models will cost more for standard service. The parts will be around we will just have to pay a little more for them.

belligero · 2 August 2016, 10:05 PM

I wouldn't stress about it.

1575s are out there in huge numbers and there will be full factory support from Rolex for a very long time to come.

77T · 2 August 2016, 10:46 PM

If Rolex dropped support, the price of remaining parts in various watchmaker inventories would rise precipitously. Once prices reached the cost of new fabrication they would level off.

So cost would be your ultimate challenge. And finding scarce parts another one. A simple repair might take much longer than anyone could predict. Check with Bob Ridley or other vintage repair specialists on some antique wristwatches for examples.

As for the 1575 movement - it wouldn't disappear that quickly. The 1570 upon which it is based would have to go along with it.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1470141921.103872.jpg

If it worries you too much, then vintage may not be best route for you yet...

1 August 2016, 04:29 PM	#1
Alex* "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Europe Posts: 3	How future proof is Rolex in terms of repairs? I'm looking into buying my first vintage watch. Since my aim is to have this watch in my daily rotation, I want to make sure that it can be easily serviced. I'm looking at a GMT. The 1675 GMT uses a 1575 movement starting in 1965 until the end in 1980. Sure, these are still serviced by Rolex, and looking at the earliest watches, one can say that there is still Rolex support for a 56 year old watch. However, in my mind this is a bit misleading, the GMT used the same movement till 1980, therefore, if Rolex decides to service a 36 year old watch, they will also service a 56 year old watch. Rolex doesn't disclose their future plans, but what is your take on this? The 1675 was in production for a long time, but if Rolex decides to drop support, how easy would it be to get parts? What are the risks buying a 1675? Any watchmaker out there that have insight into this?

2 August 2016, 10:46 PM	#5
77T 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: PaulG Location: Georgia Posts: 40,736	If Rolex dropped support, the price of remaining parts in various watchmaker inventories would rise precipitously. Once prices reached the cost of new fabrication they would level off. So cost would be your ultimate challenge. And finding scarce parts another one. A simple repair might take much longer than anyone could predict. Check with Bob Ridley or other vintage repair specialists on some antique wristwatches for examples. As for the 1575 movement - it wouldn't disappear that quickly. The 1570 upon which it is based would have to go along with it. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1470141921.103872.jpg If it worries you too much, then vintage may not be best route for you yet... __________________ Does anyone really know what time it is?

1 August 2016, 10:51 PM	#2
JP Chestnut Banned Join Date: May 2012 Location: Ann Arbor MI Watch: Rolex Ref 16600 Posts: 3,908	The movement parts will always be there (or can be made)... at a price. Who knows what that price will be?

2 August 2016, 08:09 PM	#3
RichardF "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: TN Posts: 185	The 1575 is a very robust work horse. There are to many Rolex watches still in service today using this movement. I would not worry about that. Yes it's true there are older movements that have been discontinued but they make up a very small foot print of the Rolex movements in service today. FYI my 1978 vintage 18 kt GMT has a 1575 movement and it was just serviced at the RSC in NY... 1378.00. And that was with out having any problems or needing any parts other than the standard crown,tube and crystal. I was advised by Rolex that all gold and vintage models will cost more for standard service. The parts will be around we will just have to pay a little more for them.

2 August 2016, 10:05 PM	#4
belligero Banned Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: EUR Posts: 487	I wouldn't stress about it. 1575s are out there in huge numbers and there will be full factory support from Rolex for a very long time to come.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)