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Old 29 August 2020, 07:51 PM   #1
Morvargh
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Cal. 1030 Spare Parts

When I was serving in the RAF in the Middle East in the 1960s I could have bought a genuine Rolex Oyster Perpetual for what seems pennies now. I have kicked myself ever since for not byuing one so to make up for it at long last I was able to treat myself to a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date (1955) for my birthday last year. The watch is working beautifully but I thought the manual winder felt a bit rough so I sent it to a specialist repairer for examination. He reported that the watch is a calibre 1030 and that the reversing wheels were worn which was the problem with the winder. However he also reported that calibre 1030 reversing wheels were no longer available and nothing could therefore be done about it. So the question is, does anyone know of any hidden stashes anywhere in the world of cal. 1030 reversing wheels? I think the Rolex Part Number is 7017/7018.
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Old 29 August 2020, 08:04 PM   #2
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Why not just send it to the RSC for service? They have just finished my Ref: 6494 (Rolex Oyster Date) from 1958. Admittedly this model has a 1215 movement, but I am sure they will likely still be able to service your calibre 1030. As an aside, my 6494 was purchased from an ex-RAF serviceman. He bought the watch new (likely to have been in Singapore) in the late 50s. He also served in the Middle-east (Egypt, Oman and the Trucial states). Hope you manage to get your watch back up and running soon. Good luck.
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Old 29 August 2020, 10:21 PM   #3
Morvargh
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Interesting, thank you, I never thought of that. I'll make contact. I was in Aden in 1964 serving at RAF Khormaksar. I think a Rolex Oyster Perpetual cost around £30 then. Sounds ridiculous now but it was a more than a couple of weeks' wages back then!
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Old 30 August 2020, 12:24 PM   #4
R.W.T.
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Why not just send it to the RSC for service? They have just finished my Ref: 6494 (Rolex Oyster Date) from 1958. Admittedly this model has a 1215 movement, but I am sure they will likely still be able to service your calibre 1030. As an aside, my 6494 was purchased from an ex-RAF serviceman. He bought the watch new (likely to have been in Singapore) in the late 50s. He also served in the Middle-east (Egypt, Oman and the Trucial states). Hope you manage to get your watch back up and running soon. Good luck.

Rolex haven't accepted a 1030 for service in over 20 years. On especially rare occasions they might do something but now that watch would go to Geneva...and the price would be astronomical.

They turn down all 15xx movements at this point in the States. They were turning down 1655's and 1675's 10 years ago.
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Old 30 August 2020, 03:47 PM   #5
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Rol...-/184412821863
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Old 30 August 2020, 06:21 PM   #6
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Rolex haven't accepted a 1030 for service in over 20 years. On especially rare occasions they might do something but now that watch would go to Geneva...and the price would be astronomical.

They turn down all 15xx movements at this point in the States. They were turning down 1655's and 1675's 10 years ago.
I guess that is the position in the USA, but here in the UK they have happily serviced a 1215 and a 1575 for me in the last couple of years. I think it is worth the OP looking into this option - the worst that can happen is that they so no. There are also a number of spare parts on eBay so that might be another option for the OP to look into. Whatever the OP decides I very much hope he gets the watch back up and running
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Old 30 August 2020, 07:24 PM   #7
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I guess that is the position in the USA, but here in the UK they have happily serviced a 1215 and a 1575 for me in the last couple of years. I think it is worth the OP looking into this option - the worst that can happen is that they so no. There are also a number of spare parts on eBay so that might be another option for the OP to look into. Whatever the OP decides I very much hope he gets the watch back up and running
The difference being, the 1215 is just a slowbeat version of the 1225 which was manufactured into the late EIGHTIES...the 1030 was last used in 1959.

It's a 21 year difference. 1030 parts have all been obsoleted for decades. I doubt at this point that Rolex UK will take a 1030. They might but I hightly doubt it. Otherwise they'd be flooded with 6542's, 6536-1, 6538, 6541....It would be all the rage. I could FLY to Uk and have my watch done by them...when Geneva won't even do it for less than a bank. Happy to be wrong.
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Old 30 August 2020, 07:39 PM   #8
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OP, there’s absolutely no harm in giving RSC a call. London is currently closed I believe, but if it’s a question of a drive to Kent, it must be worth it if they can help. Good luck.
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Old 31 August 2020, 06:27 PM   #9
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Originally Posted by Morvargh View Post
When I was serving in the RAF in the Middle East in the 1960s I could have bought a genuine Rolex Oyster Perpetual for what seems pennies now. I have kicked myself ever since for not byuing one so to make up for it at long last I was able to treat myself to a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date (1955) for my birthday last year. The watch is working beautifully but I thought the manual winder felt a bit rough so I sent it to a specialist repairer for examination. He reported that the watch is a calibre 1030 and that the reversing wheels were worn which was the problem with the winder. However he also reported that calibre 1030 reversing wheels were no longer available and nothing could therefore be done about it. So the question is, does anyone know of any hidden stashes anywhere in the world of cal. 1030 reversing wheels? I think the Rolex Part Number is 7017/7018.
The reversers are just pricey. It's not that they are so hard to source.I'd be more worried about the sole plate and lack of the "fix" the sole spacer, part 7005-1. Also, the reversers are very difficult to clean thoroughly. They often "hang" if they aren't cleaned completely. The old oil gums up inside the channel. You might not really need reversers..they might just need to be cleaned multiple times. They also require a good bit of lubrication once cleaned. If he hasn't done alot of 1030s, tell him to soak the reversers in one dip and then work the drivers around with one dip in them with his tweezer to clear out the old gummy oil. Once they are totally free, THEN run them through the cleaner. It might solve your problem.

If you wind your watch by hand with a hanging reverser you are likely to break the crown wheel. They are very brittle and stiff hand winding will cause you to sheer the teeth off. Also if the reverser hangs while hand winding you are turning the rotor weight with the crown. The teeth on that crown gear will not take that. The part is next to impossible to source and runs 250-300 used.

If you don't have a 7005-1 get one. You need it. Here's what happens if you don't have it.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rolex-cal-1...8AAOSwuUJd6DGT
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Old 20 September 2020, 07:58 PM   #10
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Thanks everyone for your helpful thoughts and suggestions. I emailed RSC with an explanation of the winder issues of my Rolex and with pictures of it. They replied saying quote, Dear Peter, thank you for your email but sorry we don't have the spare parts to service Rolex watches. unquote. Thanks for the link to the revering wheels in the USA. I also found two for sale in Italy so as suggested, sourcing isn't the problem it's cost and finding someone to do the work. Two repairers I have contacted so far have said they will not fit 3rd party spare parts even though they are new old stock. So my hunt is now for a repairer who will do the work before I buy the reversing wheels. Thanks again for all the help - much appreciated.
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Old 20 September 2020, 08:18 PM   #11
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Thanks everyone for your helpful thoughts and suggestions. I emailed RSC with an explanation of the winder issues of my Rolex and with pictures of it. They replied saying quote, Dear Peter, thank you for your email but sorry we don't have the spare parts to service Rolex watches. unquote. Thanks for the link to the revering wheels in the USA. I also found two for sale in Italy so as suggested, sourcing isn't the problem it's cost and finding someone to do the work. Two repairers I have contacted so far have said they will not fit 3rd party spare parts even though they are new old stock. So my hunt is now for a repairer who will do the work before I buy the reversing wheels. Thanks again for all the help - much appreciated.
Peter, I’ll dm my watchmaker based just outside London.
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Old 21 September 2020, 12:10 AM   #12
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Two repairers I have contacted so far have said they will not fit 3rd party spare parts even though they are new old stock.
Perhaps these people do not work very much on vintage watches, because this is basically the only way to repair them. I don't know any manufacturers still supplying parts form the 1940s and 1950s. My watchmaker has a large inventory of old Rolex parts, but for non-Rolex movements, he often purchases spare parts from suppliers (and these are often used parts) or takes them from parts movements.

I'm sure you can find someone in the UK who is accustomed to repairing vintage watches.
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Old 21 September 2020, 08:34 AM   #13
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Thanks everyone for your helpful thoughts and suggestions. I emailed RSC with an explanation of the winder issues of my Rolex and with pictures of it. They replied saying quote, Dear Peter, thank you for your email but sorry we don't have the spare parts to service Rolex watches. unquote. Thanks for the link to the revering wheels in the USA. I also found two for sale in Italy so as suggested, sourcing isn't the problem it's cost and finding someone to do the work. Two repairers I have contacted so far have said they will not fit 3rd party spare parts even though they are new old stock. So my hunt is now for a repairer who will do the work before I buy the reversing wheels. Thanks again for all the help - much appreciated.
They're insane. I'd do it in heartbeat if you were in the US. These people are worthless....the kind of useless conundrum worshippers that really make life intolerable.

"There are no NEW parts available from Rolex...so it can NEVER be fixed."

meh meh meh meh meh!

F-ing tripe. It makes my blood boil. I'd do it with USED parts. Here are genuine sealed Rolex NEW OLD STOCK reversers and they won't use them? Why don't they just go out of business...?

They probably don't know how. They probably don't know enough about how the movement works to even do it. I have factory service bulletins on the 1030 from 1954 explaining the lubrication process. They don't care.

I gave a very good explanation of ways to try and even use the reversers you have, which probably are fine....these people don't want to help..they want an easy route to making too much money for nothing. Parts changers. They go the cabinet in a standardized world and get any part that is new that works in a current movement and drop it in.

There are guys with 500 times the skills that I have that pride themselves on problem solving. They may not always want to do this type of work because it's not always super profitable bottom line...but if they're worth their salt they'll try and help you.

Disgraceful. Sorry. If it weren't for Covid I'd be in London for a meeting and I'd pick the watch up from you and return it within the year fixed.
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Old 22 September 2020, 12:33 AM   #14
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Thanks for the PM with the link to the repairer in London. I've made contact and I think he's the sort of craftsman that R.W.T is talking about above. Very genuinely interested in the watch, very helpful and keen to get the watch back working as it should. He'll service the watch for me for a very acceptable price so I'm back on track and if I do end up needing reversing wheels I know where I can get them now. So thanks again for this great forum.
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Old 22 September 2020, 06:58 AM   #15
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Thanks for the PM with the link to the repairer in London. I've made contact and I think he's the sort of craftsman that R.W.T is talking about above. Very genuinely interested in the watch, very helpful and keen to get the watch back working as it should. He'll service the watch for me for a very acceptable price so I'm back on track and if I do end up needing reversing wheels I know where I can get them now. So thanks again for this great forum.
I really hope you get someone to help you.

Please do show him what I said about the reversers. Yours really may be okay...they may just need severe cleaning!
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Old 22 September 2020, 07:14 AM   #16
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Thanks for the PM with the link to the repairer in London. I've made contact and I think he's the sort of craftsman that R.W.T is talking about above. Very genuinely interested in the watch, very helpful and keen to get the watch back working as it should. He'll service the watch for me for a very acceptable price so I'm back on track and if I do end up needing reversing wheels I know where I can get them now. So thanks again for this great forum.
Great news.
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Old 22 September 2020, 08:22 PM   #17
Morvargh
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I really hope you get someone to help you.

Please do show him what I said about the reversers. Yours really may be okay...they may just need severe cleaning!
Thanks I'll certainly do that.
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Old 23 September 2020, 04:19 AM   #18
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Delighted to read your latest update, but apologies for leading you up the garden path with the duff RSC advice. Looking forward to hearing about your watches return to full health .
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Old 18 May 2021, 08:10 PM   #19
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The Epilogue....

It's been a while since this thread and the small matter of a pandemic kind of shut things down for a year or so but I thought it was about time to post the conclusion.

As reported in the thread, my ©1958 6534 Cal1030 Perpetual Date was pretty poorly with worn out reversers which prevented it being wound. I'd been turned down by a couple of repairers on the basis that they couldn't get parts for the watch. Then rootbeer7 kindly PMd me the details of a repairer in London who I contacted and who accepted the watch.

He did a fantastic job and the watch came back to me restored to full working condition, and for a very acceptable price too. I wear the watch every day and wind it every other day and it's keeping excellent time. I have to keep reminding myself that this beautiful watch is 63 years old when it looks and runs as well now as on the day it was made. I expect it will do another 63 years on the wrists of my children and grandchildren!

Thank you for all your advice and help along the way.
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Old 18 May 2021, 08:43 PM   #20
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Very nice. Everyone enjoys a happy ending.
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Old 18 May 2021, 10:57 PM   #21
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It's been a while since this thread and the small matter of a pandemic kind of shut things down for a year or so but I thought it was about time to post the conclusion.

As reported in the thread, my 1958 6534 Cal1030 Perpetual Date was pretty poorly with worn out reversers which prevented it being wound. I'd been turned down by a couple of repairers on the basis that they couldn't get parts for the watch. Then rootbeer7 kindly PMd me the details of a repairer in London who I contacted and who accepted the watch.

He did a fantastic job and the watch came back to me restored to full working condition, and for a very acceptable price too. I wear the watch every day and wind it every other day and it's keeping excellent time. I have to keep reminding myself that this beautiful watch is 63 years old when it looks and runs as well now as on the day it was made. I expect it will do another 63 years on the wrists of my children and grandchildren!

Thank you for all your advice and help along the way.

Lovely thread to read; great that everything worked out.


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Old 18 May 2021, 11:16 PM   #22
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Brilliant news....it looks great, i love a happy ending
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Old 18 May 2021, 11:40 PM   #23
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Congratulations. Enjoyed reading about this watch journey and problem solving.
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Old 19 May 2021, 12:36 AM   #24
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It's been a while since this thread and the small matter of a pandemic kind of shut things down for a year or so but I thought it was about time to post the conclusion.

As reported in the thread, my ©1958 6534 Cal1030 Perpetual Date was pretty poorly with worn out reversers which prevented it being wound. I'd been turned down by a couple of repairers on the basis that they couldn't get parts for the watch. Then rootbeer7 kindly PMd me the details of a repairer in London who I contacted and who accepted the watch.

He did a fantastic job and the watch came back to me restored to full working condition, and for a very acceptable price too. I wear the watch every day and wind it every other day and it's keeping excellent time. I have to keep reminding myself that this beautiful watch is 63 years old when it looks and runs as well now as on the day it was made. I expect it will do another 63 years on the wrists of my children and grandchildren!

Thank you for all your advice and help along the way.
Lovely watch! Congratulations. Love the roulette date wheel.
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Old 19 May 2021, 07:37 AM   #25
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Congratulations, I’m so glad it worked out. Beautiful watch.
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Old 19 May 2021, 06:05 PM   #26
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GREAT NEWS!

It can be done...you just have to find the right people and have a little forgiveness for the age of the watch.
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Old 19 May 2021, 11:25 PM   #27
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Really glad things turned out well in the end!

So the 1030 can have a date or no date? There is no different caliber number for the date version? I just received a 1955 Oyster Perpetual (no date) yesterday and it has the 1030 in it as well. Quite amazed at how well it is running given its age.
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Old 23 May 2021, 04:25 PM   #28
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Technically no...it's the same as the 15xx series.

1030 is the base calibre automatic.

Calendar versions are 1035 1036 1055 1065 1065 GMT

The auto bridge on the 1035 1036 will say 1030 just as the 1565 1565 got and 1575 will say 1560 and 1570
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