The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Old 26 June 2015, 07:25 PM   #1
CAL3135
"TRF" Member
 
CAL3135's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 226
Rolex Service Costs in Australia

The cost of a standard service at a RSC in Australia starts at $1,000.00 AUD plus parts. And most authorised Rolex dealers with resident watchmakers will charge the same. That, to me, is simply a rip-off.

If the cost of standard service, with no replacement parts, in the US were $750.00, what would you do? And if anyone knows of any reputable Rolex service options in Australia, PLEASE share!

Last edited by CAL3135; 26 June 2015 at 08:51 PM.. Reason: Adjusted price based on exchange rate.
CAL3135 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 June 2015, 07:27 PM   #2
pacific17
"TRF" Member
 
pacific17's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Real Name: Owie
Location: MNL/SFO
Watch: G-Shock DW003
Posts: 1,504
Last time it was around $750? I cant remember what the exact amount is. What would I do? Avoid getting it serviced until its an absolute must.
__________________
pacific17 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 June 2015, 03:04 PM   #3
CAL3135
"TRF" Member
 
CAL3135's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 226
After some more searching and reading reviews, I visited a Swiss specialist based in Canberra, where I live, and asked what they charge for a service. He asked me WHY I wanted to get my Sub serviced: "Is it running poorly? Is it displaying any other signs of mechanical problems?" I told him that, as the watch is 6 years old, and consistently gaining 8 seconds per day (regardless of the position it's in), and as most service centres, authorised dealers, manufacturers, etc., recommend 5-7 year service intervals, I thought I should get it serviced. He advised that service centres generally recommend those intervals to "Keep money in the service centres -- to keep people spending". He said he'll check it on the Timographer and regulate it, which will cost $68. He'll keep it for a few days and see how it runs, and if it appears to need additional attention, we can go from there.

I've had several watchmakers give pretty much the same advice, so it sounds good to me. A damn sight cheaper, too.

I'll post an update a week or so after the regulation has been done.
CAL3135 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2015, 05:00 PM   #4
avirom
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: israel
Posts: 123
service on yuor sub

to tell you the truth i would be very doubtful to hand over my watch or any watch to a watchmacker who asks you "why" you want to have your watch serviced....

as for the "shortcut" that he suggests for a fraction of the price, from my personal experience - don't do it, I tried that shtick with my omega with an "older watchmaker", you end up running back and forth to him to get the watch working right until he gives up on you (for $68 there is a limit of how much time and effort he will invest in your watch) and then you will end up paying again, this time much more, when you take the watch to a real service center to have it serviced properly.

imo there is no short cut for a proper service.
avirom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2 July 2015, 06:08 PM   #5
CAL3135
"TRF" Member
 
CAL3135's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 226
Okay, so the watchmaker gave the watch a light examination and said all visible lubrication and jewels, etc., looked brand new and 'perfect'.

He put the Sub on his Timegrapher and it was a nice straight line (or two of them) with no scattered dots. Very good to see! Means the movement is most likely clean and healthy. Beat error was 0.2-0.3 in all positions. Amplitude was between 285 and 305 depending on the watch position. Over 24 hours, the watch now gains exactly 1 second per day with the dial up, and loses 1 second per day with the dial down. With the crown up it loses 3 seconds per day, and with the crown down it loses 2 seconds per day.

Main case-back gasket replaced and pressure test done. All up a cost of $65 USD, and if I need further adjusting after another week or so of wearing the watch, no further charges.

I understand it's not a service, and there could still be parts requiring attention, but all signs indicate a healthy watch which is now keeping perfect time. And I've found a very honest watchmaker who provides great customer service.

I'll still get a proper Rolex service done in the next year or two, but this means I can relax a bit till then.
CAL3135 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 2 July 2015, 06:23 PM   #6
busytimmy
"TRF" Member
 
busytimmy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Sydney, Australia
Watch: ing the detectives
Posts: 3,745
Quote:
Originally Posted by CAL3135 View Post
Okay, so the watchmaker gave the watch a light examination and said all visible lubrication and jewels, etc., looked brand new and 'perfect'.



He put the Sub on his Timegrapher and it was a nice straight line (or two of them) with no scattered dots. Very good to see! Means the movement is most likely clean and healthy. Beat error was 0.2-0.3 in all positions. Amplitude was great: around 285 in flat positions and 310 with crown up or down. Over 24 hours, the watch now gains exactly 1 second per day with the dial up, and loses 1 second per day with the dial down. With the crown up it loses 3 seconds per day, and with the crown down it loses 2 seconds per day.



Main case-back gasket replaced and pressure test done. All up a cost of $65 USD, and if I need further adjusting after another week or so of wearing the watch, no further charges.



I understand it's not a service, and there could still be parts requiring attention, but all signs indicate a healthy watch which is now keeping perfect time. And I've found a very honest watchmaker who provides great customer service.



I'll still get a proper Rolex service done in the next year or two, but this means I can relax a bit till then.

Well played.
Please PM me the details of said watchmaker. Thanks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
busytimmy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3 July 2015, 06:44 AM   #7
CAL3135
"TRF" Member
 
CAL3135's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 226
And Rolex have just confirmed 10-year service intervals in line with the new 5-year warranty period.
CAL3135 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 3 July 2015, 08:01 AM   #8
123Blueface
"TRF" Member
 
123Blueface's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: USA
Watch: All
Posts: 4,936
Basic service in the U.S., with no parts, is $700.
What would I do? I authorized the work and will pay when the watch is ready.
Yeah, I could save money by having it done locally. In fact, probably about half that. However, I see it as a grand daddy of a watch, deserving of what it costs to maintain. It's got to be a factor when buying the watch, no different than servicing a high end vehicle v a low end.
123Blueface is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 July 2015, 09:00 AM   #9
CAL3135
"TRF" Member
 
CAL3135's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 226
Quote:
Originally Posted by 123Blueface View Post
Basic service in the U.S., with no parts, is $700.
What would I do? I authorized the work and will pay when the watch is ready.
Yeah, I could save money by having it done locally. In fact, probably about half that. However, I see it as a grand daddy of a watch, deserving of what it costs to maintain. It's got to be a factor when buying the watch, no different than servicing a high end vehicle v a low end.
I completely agree. However, I was under the impression services at RSCs cost less in the US; i.e., we tend to pay more in Australia for pretty much everything, and I thought it was the case with services, too. I have no problem paying for a service, and I'm all for taking care of valuable and/or sentimental possessions. I just don't like being bent over a barrel.

Rolex put a parts ban on independent watchmakers in Australia in 2012 (they will only supply parts to 'authorized' service centers), and that resulted in a prompt rise in service fees. Sometimes service recommendations are purely to keep the money coming in on a more regular basis. That is what I disagree with.

I've heard and read absolute horror stories about things that have happened to watches as a result of an authorized service, and I've heard and read extremely good things about services performed by independents. A label doesn't necessarily mean a higher quality of service. It can mean a better quality product—this is definitely the case with a Rolex—but not service.
CAL3135 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 7 July 2015, 06:04 PM   #10
CAL3135
"TRF" Member
 
CAL3135's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 226
Very happy with the timekeeping since the regulation was done 5 days ago. I set it against time.is and recorded some results. If the left watch is left sitting around, it loses between 1 and 2 seconds per 24 hours, depending on the position it's in. If the watch stays on my wrist for 24 hours, it literally does not lose or gain one second. That's a better result than I had hoped for. Enough obsessing about accuracy from me.
CAL3135 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 July 2015, 07:51 PM   #11
NucMed
"TRF" Member
 
NucMed's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Real Name: Peter
Location: Ust-Kamenogorsk
Watch: Tudor 7928/0 II/67
Posts: 12
Rolex service costs in Australia

Quote:
Originally Posted by CAL3135 View Post
I have no problem paying for a service
Hi, I realise I'm a little late to the party here, but there's a watchmaker in Sydney that took over Ross Beer's customers when he died in 2013.

The name of the place is Kalmar Antiques in the Queen Victoria Building

Shop 23, Level 2, Queen Victoria Building, 61 2 9264 3663

sales@kalmarantiques.com.au

The price I've paid over the past ten years for service from Ross Beer and then Kalmar has been AU$500 for a full service on my 1601 and 5500 watches.

They were also able to service my 1967 7928/0 Tudor Submariner ... so are able to access parts not available through Rolex.

Cheers, Peter
NucMed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 August 2015, 10:06 AM   #12
SpaceWanderer
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: N/A
Posts: 172
Quote:
Originally Posted by CAL3135 View Post
And Rolex have just confirmed 10-year service intervals in line with the new 5-year warranty period.
I know they confirmed the 5-year warranty, but I've yet to see any official statement about a 10-year service interval. And no, the posted letter circulating the forums allegedly from Rolex to ADs is not confirmation of anything. They never officially stated any set time interval in the past, either, and if you can find it in an official Rolex document to customers I'd love to see it.
SpaceWanderer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 21 August 2015, 07:30 PM   #13
solidice
"TRF" Member
 
solidice's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 9
I had my 2003 subby 14060m serviced by Rolex Australia about 6 months ago. Total cost came in at about $950, this included a new glass as it had a big scratch, and a new bezel.

I dropped it of at Watches of Switzerland and they sorted out the rest. I am not sure if they add any extra cost to it to make something from it.
solidice is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 24 August 2015, 12:43 PM   #14
madmax21
"TRF" Member
 
madmax21's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Toronto Canada
Watch: GMT Master ll
Posts: 1,036
that is a rip off

I would have to agree that is a big rip off since I just finished paying about a thousand dollars with parts and that included taxes in Canada
madmax21 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 September 2017, 03:12 PM   #15
RRyan
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1
Quote:
Originally Posted by solidice View Post
I had my 2003 subby 14060m serviced by Rolex Australia about 6 months ago. Total cost came in at about $950, this included a new glass as it had a big scratch, and a new bezel.

I dropped it of at Watches of Switzerland and they sorted out the rest. I am not sure if they add any extra cost to it to make something from it.
Very late to this party - but I just dropped off my 1989 16610 date Sub at Langfords in Brisbane to be sent to RSC in Sydney after having a guy at Watch Tech (Vintage Watch Co's watchmaker) look over it. Pretty scared at the what the outcome of the quote will be to be honest. But it is good to hear $950 plus the glass.
RRyan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 September 2017, 07:16 PM   #16
tamiya
"TRF" Member
 
tamiya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Real Name: Willy
Location: AU, SG, MY
Posts: 1,248
Quote:
Originally Posted by RRyan View Post
Very late to this party - but I just dropped off my 1989 16610 date Sub at Langfords in Brisbane to be sent to RSC in Sydney after having a guy at Watch Tech (Vintage Watch Co's watchmaker) look over it. Pretty scared at the what the outcome of the quote will be to be honest. But it is good to hear $950 plus the glass.
Threads from over 2yrs ago matey. oz expenses have soared since.

I too have been sniffing around in recent mths for servicing in Melb. Currently anyone independent with "Rolex experience" also quoting A$1k + abnormal parts; think that's about same as RSC but perhaps with more "customer control" over parts changed. Independents might be slightly cheaper, haven't yet chatted to everybody on my list yet.
tamiya is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 September 2017, 08:37 PM   #17
watchmavan
"TRF" Member
 
watchmavan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2016
Real Name: Michael
Location: Melbourne, Aust
Watch: Polar 16570
Posts: 1,166
Can anyone recommend someone in Melbourne who is good and not part of the Rolex gravy train?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
watchmavan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 September 2017, 12:10 AM   #18
tamiya
"TRF" Member
 
tamiya's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Real Name: Willy
Location: AU, SG, MY
Posts: 1,248
Quote:
Originally Posted by watchmavan View Post
Can anyone recommend someone in Melbourne who is good and not part of the Rolex gravy train?
I'm needing answers myself, none too forthcoming here https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=534971

What exactly are you wishing to service, may I ask?

Current consensus (from the fellas I've gone to meet) rule of thumb is, if it's 1990s & later it's best to send to RSC.

The newer models' parts are scarce and sounds like nobody's got a local parts account, I get the feeling some may source from greymarket overseas or aftermarket.
tamiya is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 September 2017, 09:34 AM   #19
SeaDwellerBund
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: California, USA
Watch: SD4000 Steel&Gold
Posts: 49
With all the 1:1 fakes down to movement reproductions, It appears a real gamble if not sourcing direct from the company proper. For the gamblers I guess that's ok.
SeaDwellerBund is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30 January 2021, 12:59 PM   #20
stevenke
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Australia
Posts: 7
Quote:
Originally Posted by CAL3135 View Post
After some more searching and reading reviews, I visited a Swiss specialist based in Canberra, where I live, and asked what they charge for a service. He asked me WHY I wanted to get my Sub serviced: "Is it running poorly? Is it displaying any other signs of mechanical problems?" I told him that, as the watch is 6 years old, and consistently gaining 8 seconds per day (regardless of the position it's in), and as most service centres, authorised dealers, manufacturers, etc., recommend 5-7 year service intervals, I thought I should get it serviced. He advised that service centres generally recommend those intervals to "Keep money in the service centres -- to keep people spending". He said he'll check it on the Timographer and regulate it, which will cost $68. He'll keep it for a few days and see how it runs, and if it appears to need additional attention, we can go from there.

I've had several watchmakers give pretty much the same advice, so it sounds good to me. A damn sight cheaper, too.

I'll post an update a week or so after the regulation has been done.
Wow we live in the same state. By the way are they A.J. Watch Repairs ? . Currently having my ORIS servicing by them. Quoted $386 for service, wheels for automatic section, back seal, case tube seal. I just bought a 2017 datejust from oversea, not sure if i should bring the watch in for them to have a look or send it to rolex straight away.
stevenke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 February 2021, 12:45 AM   #21
jordan5
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Seoul
Posts: 11
its 800+ here in KOREA. thats expensive
jordan5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


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

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Takuya Watches

Bobs Watches

My Watch LLC

OCWatches

DavidSW Watches

Coronet


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.