San Francisco Rolex Service Center

[WS9D]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

So I'm not sure what this is actually stating...that they will no longer be authorized to do Rolex Service or that they no longer perform "warranty" repairs or both?



For personal reasons I don't feel comfortable commenting too deeply on this thread but, I WILL state that think Giovanni is top drawer! The reputation of that business speaks for itself. I wouldn't hesitate to send anyone there to have work done if it was convenient for them.

Sorry, let me clarify. They will not do warranty service any longer. Giovanni and team are awesome and I will definitely use for future watch services.


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[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

They weren't able to supply a bracelet for me, a few years ago. They were sending watch heads to RSCNY to get the bracelet fit.

Noted, I will say that depending on the age of the watch, your AD will have equally difficult time doing that and they ARE authorized to do service and warranty repair.

I sent a friend to a local AD who I am friendly with to get a genuine strap and plaque buckle for his recently acquired dead mint never serviced or polished 1501/8 in 18k. This is a very simple operation. Everyone knows the model, the lug spacing at 19mm and they have the watch and serial number. Rolex Dallas required that the AD send the ENTIRE WATCH to Dallas in order to obtain a leather strap and buckle. I told him to put the watch in his pocket, return home and call me. I was trying to help he and the local business and Rolex have a business relationship. Frowned upon by RUSA evidently.

He was planning on a trip to Switzerland later in a couple of months. I told him it was very simple. Go to Bucherer in Zurich with the watch and ask for a genuine strap and buckle. He did so. They had it on premise it was installed on his watch and paid for and out the door in less than 5 minutes.

[RolexguyinSF]

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

Noted, I will say that depending on the age of the watch, your AD will have equally difficult time doing that and they ARE authorized to do service and warranty repair.



I sent a friend to a local AD who I am friendly with to get a genuine strap and plaque buckle for his recently acquired dead mint never serviced or polished 1501/8 in 18k. This is a very simple operation. Everyone knows the model, the lug spacing at 19mm and they have the watch and serial number. Rolex Dallas required that the AD send the ENTIRE WATCH to Dallas in order to obtain a leather strap and buckle. I told him to put the watch in his pocket, return home and call me. I was trying to help he and the local business and Rolex have a business relationship. Frowned upon by RUSA evidently.



He was planning on a trip to Switzerland later in a couple of months. I told him it was very simple. Go to Bucherer in Zurich with the watch and ask for a genuine strap and buckle. He did so. They had it on premise it was installed on his watch and paid for and out the door in less than 5 minutes.

Giovanni is the best. It's nice to have a great service center near where I live.


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[heygawgaw]

Just stopped by SF RSC to have my 16600 pressure checked. They quoted me $100.00 over phone, a little more than regular press check as SD goes to 1220m. When I got there Giovanni took watch examined and said watch looked excellent, but when tested failed 1st phase test, said HE valve leaked. Long story short, Giovanni replaced HE valve and gasket, performed phase 1 and phase 2 pressure check to verify watch was to specifications, all for $200.00. Seemed reasonable to me and Giovanni was the consummate gentleman.


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[btinl]

I wonder if it will be a better place for vintage service now that they are no longer bound by the RSC requirements (i.e. changing hands/dials for flaking tritium, or changing the crystal).

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by btinl

I wonder if it will be a better place for vintage service now that they are no longer bound by the RSC requirements (i.e. changing hands/dials for flaking tritium, or changing the crystal).

Good attitude. I hadn't thought of that.

[havingagoodtime]

Another praise for Rolex SF along with the young and highly skilled, Fabio. They've always been the most friendly and accommodating of any Rolex related shop I've visited. .

[richard371]

Damn this sucks. I always went to them for wnty work. I guess since practicaly everyone in sf wears an Apple Watch maybe Rolex feels there is no need for service here.

[tamiya]

Originally Posted by btinl

I wonder if it will be a better place for vintage service now that they are no longer bound by the RSC requirements (i.e. changing hands/dials for flaking tritium, or changing the crystal).

& will he now do modding??

[Bluesapphire]

I was disappointed when I found out they are no longer a part of the Rolex Authorized Service Center...now I have to go to Davidson and Licht in San Jose, or Shreve. Well, at least after my warranty expires I can go to them and hopefully they'll carry OEM parts. Guess I will have to call them when my other watch needs maintenance.

[TheSecretInTheirEyes]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

Damn, that's really disappointing. One the plus side, they presumably can't charge as much for the same work any more.

Unfortunately the opposite has happened. I just called into their office and the receptionist told me that a full service for a Rolex costs $900 now.

A few years ago when it was still an RSC it cost $700.

[btinl]

Originally Posted by TheSecretInTheirEyes

Unfortunately the opposite has happened. I just called into their office and the receptionist told me that a full service for a Rolex costs $900 now.

A few years ago when it was still an RSC it cost $700.

How does this compare with places like LAWW?

[Speed]

Originally Posted by Steve in SoCal

FYI. Just spoke with the San Francisco Rolex Service Center (unofficial) and they indicated that they no longer do warranty work.


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Just dropped off a Watch. Looks like they had to change their name as well.

Good thing all my watches are out of warranty.

I made sure to speak with Giovanni. He’s still there

(Edit) Sorry I found this thread via search. Didn’t see all the prior posts. Old news / but news to me!

Ah well.

[Speed]

And say goodbye to the green Rolex ouches - we now get independent pouches

[jeffgo888]

ok i dont get it...
whats changed? Are they not an RSC anymore?

[bmrisko]

Originally Posted by Likestheshiny

I'm bummed about this. When I bought my BLNR, they gave it a once-over and sized the bracelet, all for free. It meaningfully impacts my decision to buy another Rolex that I don't have a local service center any more.

No offense, but how often do you actually need service? My family has over 10 Rolexes, some 20+ years old and all are still running like they day they were purchased. To date, only one has seen a service center and that was 2 days after purchase due to a timing issue. AD handled sending it off for warranty repair.

What I'm getting at is basing your buying decision on having a local service center seems a bit extreme, IMHO. I think you're selling your future collection short by doing that...

[Speed]

Originally Posted by jeffgo888

ok i dont get it...
whats changed? Are they not an RSC anymore?

They were (and are) an “independent” Rolex service center. Not owned by Rolex.

Wasn’t an issue - nor is it today really. Just thought it a pity they had to remove the Rolex name from their signage.

They can’t do warranty work as mentioned...but basically do all repairs servicing etc . I just had a mainspring replaced as example / not sold a full service because I could go along without one for a bit.

So they’re basically still - for many intents and purposes - a RSC. Certainly my go to place.

I just feel bad that such a well-run shop by a stellar watchmaker had to deal with all this.

[VintageVagabound]

Originally Posted by bmrisko

No offense, but how often do you actually need service? My family has over 10 Rolexes, some 20+ years old and all are still running like they day they were purchased. To date, only one has seen a service center and that was 2 days after purchase due to a timing issue. AD handled sending it off for warranty repair.

What I'm getting at is basing your buying decision on having a local service center seems a bit extreme, IMHO. I think you're selling your future collection short by doing that...

You've had better success than I have. I bought my GMT-II and immediately had it serviced by Giovanni in SF in 2010. This past year I noticed that it was running a bit slow and would die within 12 hours if it wasn't on my wrist. It was sent off to another service and had a part replaced. Now back to normal again and I can't complain after 7 years. But they all tend to need service at one time or another..usually within 5-7 years

[OysterDavid]

This was what Rolex called an 'Authorized Rolex Service Center' for many years. It was a designated, exclusive Rolex repair shop not owned by Rolex, but owned by a German gentleman for decades and then sold to Giovanni in '07.

This type of shop evolved many years ago before Rolex either could or wanted to expand their corporate owned service centers around the USA. There was this shop in San Francisco and another in Chicago and perhaps some located elsewhere. The shop could call itself 'Rolex', serviced only Rolex products, had access not only to movement parts but also bracelet and dial parts, could do authorized warranty work (reimbursed by Rolex USA) and charged the same rates as the Rolex owned RSC's.

Giovanni distinguished himself by being very accommodating to Rolex owner's, especially those of us who label ourselves as fanatics. Minor adjustments done for no charge, eyeball authentications, friendly banter about watch topics and other discussions were the norm once Giovanni obtained the keys. He was extraordinarily generous with his time and knowledge.

Without having questioned him directly, apparently he only could continue the Rolex USA business model for 10 years after taking over the shop. Now, the location is the same, Giovanni hasn't changed, but he and his shop has the same status as any other independent Rolex facility with a parts account. He can probably charge whatever he wants for pricing and, who knows, maybe he'll start repairing other watch brands to keep the cash flow up.

Although forum members will probably continue to refer to this shop as the San Francisco RSC, that is no longer the name and whatever contract Giovanni had with Rolex USA is no longer in effect. He will be warrantying his own work now without any connection to corporate Rolex.

Giovanni and his crew are all technical artists, but as discussed over and over in this forum, there are other repair shops, some in the same jewelers building as Giovanni who can do fine work as well. This just expands the choices.