1964 1675 GMT master service??

[PreservedSwine]

As a Christmas gift, my wife thought she would surprise me and sent my favorite watch to be serviced, and I'm concerned. She took it to a local Rolex dealer here in Naples, they looked at it and determined they don't service anything that old, and promptly shipped it off to some place in Ohio.

Should I be worried? I'm concerned the value will decrease with the removal of original parts, and installation of newer ones.

Any suggestions on what's okay to be replaced, and what isn't? I'd like to give this one to my son eventually, and am trying not to panic.

I know very little about vintage Rolex's, so feel to correct this line of thinking.

Thank you,

~Swine

[lee fowler]

You need to ask for a movement service only and no polishing.

[vrfman]

Yes you should be worried. Get you watch back asap and thank you wife and only send it to LA Watch Works (Eric Ku) that are used to handling $1M vintage Newman Daytonas, vintage dials, caution, movements, will not steal your vintage parts, do exactly what you want and not polish your watch or steal your insert (in my experience) and there are a couple of others. Hope that helps, and there are a few vintage specialists with integrity & know how to handle a watch like yours, but someone you don't know...absolutely not. It could come back w/all "new parts" and your vintage insert, handset, dial, bracelet, end links, could wind up on eBay (worse case scenario, but happens every day, not saying it will happen, but I hope you took a bunch of photos before it left, to cover yourself, but get it back asap, and PM me, and I'll tell you others to consult that I know & come hightly recommended by many vintage collectors; but ensure you have a 5-10X magnifying glass, inspect every inch/part of your watch in comparison w/ your photos to ensure it has not been swapped out/stolen. Hope that helps.

[springer]

Originally Posted by vrfman

Yes you should be worried. Get you watch back asap and thank you wife and only send it to LA Watch Works (Eric Ku) that are used to handling $1M vintage Newman Daytonas, vintage dials, caution, movements, will not steal your vintage parts, do exactly what you want and not polish your watch or steal your insert (in my experience) and there are a couple of others. Hope that helps, and there are a few vintage specialists with integrity & know how to handle a watch like yours, but someone you don't know...absolutely not. It could come back w/all "new parts" and your vintage insert, handset, dial, bracelet, end links, could wind up on eBay (worse case scenario, but happens every day, not saying it will happen, but I hope you took a bunch of photos before it left, to cover yourself, but get it back asap, and PM me, and I'll tell you others to consult that I know & come hightly recommended by many vintage collectors; but ensure you have a 5-10X magnifying glass, inspect every inch/part of your watch in comparison w/ your photos to ensure it has not been swapped out/stolen. Hope that helps.

Sounds like you've had some really bad experiences with vintage. That's too bad. Personally, in over 40 years of collecting, I can't say that I've ever had a watchmaker remove original parts and substitute other less valuable parts although I'm sure it can happen. While you paint a worse case scenario for an unscrupulous watchmaker somewhere, I'm sure this is not usually the case with most watchmakers. Unscrupulous individuals can be found in any business or profession.

There are many competent and reliable watchmakers scattered across the USA that can properly service this watch as well as a few here that frequent this forum.

[vrfman]

Thats' so true and I'm sure you''ll be fine, I have no affiliation w/ LAWW but not so w RSC; not even me so much but seeing once amazing vintage watches I wanted to buy, only to receive updated photos w/the coveted Service Papers (I keen eye is just as good as svc papers, but she folks don't have the time or connections as some of us, so it makes them feel good, which I understand, but when I see RSC papers, I start asking to see the detailed receipt to see how much was "improved/made like new" often times "free," but nothing is free, as you see your fat font insert for $2500, but have a nice new shiny one "free" that has a luminova pearl...shameful. Nope, personally I've had great luck but have been doing tis a long time and seen & heard awful stories and guess just didn't want u to be one, if u could avoid it. There's also another guy in Dallas w/a great reputation and others. Take care. Should u happen to have a 64-65ish GMT guilt dial or handset, I'm looking for them. Or if u know someone who has them, I'd appreciate it. Best, VRM

[PreservedSwine]

Thank you both for your input

[PreservedSwine]

A little update- I spoke with the repair manager. The watch has a bad spring, a balancing issue, and they want to replace the crystal. I said okay, but insisted no polishing. The cost was $1695 for the crystal, movement service, new spring, new O-rings, and cleaning and lubricating. They're going to send the old parts back to me. They said everything is authentic. Overall seems reasonable, but again, this isn't my area of expertise.
Thanks again!

[datejust24]

What is the name of the establishment servicing your GMT?

[PreservedSwine]

My wife brought it to Bigham Jewlers, in Naples, Fl. They're one of two Rolex service centers and retailers in Naples. However, they sent it somewhere for service, and I'm unsure where they sent it. I'm assuming Rolex. I will confirm

[PreservedSwine]

My wife brought it to Bigham Jewlers in here in Naples, Fl.

I have no idea where Bigham sent it. I assumed Rolex?? But will confirm and let you know.

[vrfman]

How did your watch service turn out? I just came across this old message and was curious. No rush. I hope they didn't ruin your watch or loot it & you used Edvi at LA WatchWorks? Ciao, WT

[circles]

Originally Posted by PreservedSwine

A little update- I spoke with the repair manager. The watch has a bad spring, a balancing issue, and they want to replace the crystal. I said okay, but insisted no polishing. The cost was $1695 for the crystal, movement service, new spring, new O-rings, and cleaning and lubricating. They're going to send the old parts back to me. They said everything is authentic. Overall seems reasonable, but again, this isn't my area of expertise.
Thanks again!

Holy moly! You paid $1600 for a service THREE years ago?

[joli160]

2017 thread

[PreservedSwine]

Yes, this is a thread revival (on purpose)

I received the watch back from Bigham Jewlers in Feb 2018. Everything seemed fine, until I jumped in a pool last weekend, and the watch fogged up.

AFter receiving a few pm's about the cost of the Bigham Jewler service, I searched here and settled on Rolliworks in Ca.

I emailed them, and they promptly responded. One more email and they emailed a shipping label. I sent them the watch on a Monday, and they called me on Wednesday. Wow.

However, Michel (who really seems to know his stuff) suggested that maybe my crystal may not be authentic.... and he found a plethora of brass shavings in some "very basic" areas. He even asked where I had it serviced previously. I had mentioned it was serviced 2 years ago (it was actually three, my memory failed me). He was clearly wondering who did such a lousy job. He suspects things aren't adding up. It catastrophically failed the water pressure test, the amount of metal in the case, and he suspects the crystal may not be Rolex.
I'm a little upset, as it was taken to a ROLEX dealer, and we paid a premium for supposed premium service. I can understand substandard repair, we all have our off days, but a non-rolex crystal is criminal in my opinion.
How does one go about pursuing something like this? Has anyone experienced something similar? How did you get resolution?

Please advise,
Thank you

[Dan S]

Sorry to hear about the water in your watch. It's always risky to swim with a valuable vintage watch, since you never know when the water resistance will fail unless you're having it checked regularly.

I'm sorry to say it, but realistically I don't think you have any recourse at this point. Sometimes there is a warranty, but I doubt it was longer than a year, and it may not have included water-resistance anyway. The AD apparently sent the watch to one of the repair places they use, probably because they get a very cheap price from them and can charge a large mark-up. I suspect that the watchmaker did not have a Rolex parts account, and so just used aftermarket parts.

Unfortunately, this can easily happen when an AD (basically a jewelry store) is used as a middle-man for something like this. You might get lucky (e.g. I know that my own watchmaker does high-end vintage repair work for some Rolex ADs around the country with whom he has relationships), but you might not, and you have no control. It requires extra effort, but for vintage pieces it's worth the trouble to research a really top-notch watchmaker. I think it will be in good hands now.

[stmoore]

First off, who did the service? Not the place in Naples. To whom did you pay?

Pro tip: Don’t swim in your 1964 gmt. Wear a new watch in that environment.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by PreservedSwine

Yes, this is a thread revival (on purpose)

I received the watch back from Bigham Jewlers in Feb 2018. Everything seemed fine, until I jumped in a pool last weekend, and the watch fogged up.

AFter receiving a few pm's about the cost of the Bigham Jewler service, I searched here and settled on Rolliworks in Ca.

I emailed them, and they promptly responded. One more email and they emailed a shipping label. I sent them the watch on a Monday, and they called me on Wednesday. Wow.

However, Michel (who really seems to know his stuff) suggested that maybe my crystal may not be authentic.... and he found a plethora of brass shavings in some "very basic" areas. He even asked where I had it serviced previously. I had mentioned it was serviced 2 years ago (it was actually three, my memory failed me). He was clearly wondering who did such a lousy job. He suspects things aren't adding up. It catastrophically failed the water pressure test, the amount of metal in the case, and he suspects the crystal may not be Rolex.
I'm a little upset, as it was taken to a ROLEX dealer, and we paid a premium for supposed premium service. I can understand substandard repair, we all have our off days, but a non-rolex crystal is criminal in my opinion.
How does one go about pursuing something like this? Has anyone experienced something similar? How did you get resolution?

Please advise,
Thank you

I'd just get it fixed up by Rolliworks. They have an excellent reputation with vintage Rolex - you're probably in the best hands possible.

I wouldn't bother trying to get any kind of resolution from the previous cowboys. It was years ago, and the hassle will cause you a lot of unnecessary stress.

Let the past go and move on with the new guys who know what they're doing.

[214270Explorer]

Your dealer seems to have shipped it some where "other" than a genuine Rolex service depot. Some dealers are known to do that, and that is more than a good reason to ship it yourself and cut out the unknown factor of a 'middleman.'

Send to Rolliworks or to either one of the CW221 Ridley's, Bob or Phillip. (Texas and Arizona)

[PreservedSwine]

Originally Posted by stmoore

First off, who did the service? Not the place in Naples. To whom did you pay?

Pro tip: Don’t swim in your 1964 gmt. Wear a new watch in that environment.

I paid the place in Naples, Bigham Jewlers. They supposedly shipped it to “Rolex” since it was very old, and they didn’t do in house service on a watch of that vintage.

Thank you everyone for replying. I’m frustrated we took it to the largest and most reputable Rolex dealer in SW Florida, and I can’t understand the issues I’m currently experiencing.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by PreservedSwine

I paid the place in Naples, Bigham Jewlers. They supposedly shipped it to “Rolex” since it was very old, and they didn’t do in house service on a watch of that vintage.

Thank you everyone for replying. I’m frustrated we took it to the largest and most reputable Rolex dealer in SW Florida, and I can’t understand the issues I’m currently experiencing.

If the jeweler shipped the GMT to a Rolex Service Center on your behalf you would still get the RSC paperwork showing what work was done. Did you get Rolex service paperwork?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by PreservedSwine

. . .
Please advise,
Thank you

Another watchmaker will occasionally badmouth the previous work so that you know what a great decision you made to send it to them this time. It's been 3 years and gears grind and wear, and you may see that result on any well used watch.

You now have your watch at another shop that, I presume, is going to take care of it.

What advice are you looking for?

[yowlie]

Also, aftermarket crystal is not that bad of an offense. Everyone knows its not OEM and it does the same thing. I have a really good guy here and he will talk people out of OEM crystals on wearer datejusts and such, and he didn't want to put my tropic on a 1680 until it needed a full service, because you shouldn't be disassembling old watches unnecessarily. You're are just asking to knock off a bit of lume or pull some paint off the edge.

[jlovda]

I am in the Cleveland, Akron, Canton area. I had my 45 year old 1675 and 5513 watches serviced by Basche's Jewelers in North Olmsted. CW-21 certified. If that's where it was send, they do great work.

[Max7857]

Originally Posted by PreservedSwine

I paid the place in Naples, Bigham Jewlers. They supposedly shipped it to “Rolex” since it was very old, and they didn’t do in house service on a watch of that vintage.

Thank you everyone for replying. I’m frustrated we took it to the largest and most reputable Rolex dealer in SW Florida, and I can’t understand the issues I’m currently experiencing.

I think you owe it to yourself and Bigham to go in and discuss the issue. I would ask for Dan. He is extremely knowledgeable on modern and vintage pieces. I believe he is also familiar with Rolliworks and has used them for some vintage pieces.

I have found Bigham to be very accommodating and honorable in all my dealings with them. They can’t help to make things right if they don’t know there is something wrong. Good luck.

[SBC1986]

You are probably lucky this didn’t go way worse for your watch. You cant bring an antique to a random shop and expect for good things to happen.

[PreservedSwine]

Originally Posted by SBC1986

You are probably lucky this didn’t go way worse for your watch. You cant bring an antique to a random shop and expect for good things to happen.

This isn’t a “random shop.” This is the premier Rolex dealer and service center in one of the highest income per captita cities in the USA, that had an excellent reputation. This is why I’m frustrated, as I paid for premium service from THE premier Rolex dealer in this area.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by PreservedSwine

This isn’t a “random shop.” This is the premier Rolex dealer and service center in one of the highest income per captita cities in the USA, that had an excellent reputation. This is why I’m frustrated, as I paid for premium service from THE premier Rolex dealer in this area.

Did you get Rolex Service paperwork?

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by swish77

Did you get Rolex Service paperwork?

Since the watch is apparently a 1964 model, I think we know the answer.

These days, dealers (no matter how large or well-known) have limited good options with respect to vintage watches. I doubt they have any interest in dealing with people who bring vintage watches for repair. It's just a pain in the neck for them, with very limited upside. So they just tell the customer a story, hope to get the watch in running condition, and send them away.

[hutch300]

Go see them, let them know what happened. Nothing more you can do except research and ask more questions in the future. At least you have the watch and once its all fixed up you will feel much better.

[SBC1986]

Originally Posted by PreservedSwine

This isn’t a “random shop.” This is the premier Rolex dealer and service center in one of the highest income per captita cities in the USA, that had an excellent reputation. This is why I’m frustrated, as I paid for premium service from THE premier Rolex dealer in this area.

There is no connection between high income populations and skilled watchmakers. As for premium service, watches are either properly serviced or not. I would not expect low quality work from any pro service. Just my .02.

I have founds dealers are terrible at servicing anything, they want to sell new watches. Check out some independent skilled watchmakers next time. Ridley being one.