Service time UK RSC or other

[andrewjb88]

Right I haven't had time to pop down to London recently, the Rolex has also been tucked away in its box (been wearing the Seamaster daily) decided to get it out last night and give it some wrist time. Think I might get chance to pop down next week and drop it off.

Quick question, I reckon the bracelet is stretched, will the RSC do anything about this? posted a video below

https://youtu.be/Ajd77xVzexw

[John DSSD]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

Or......as you are only in MK, get on a train to London and take it personally into Rolex RSC in St.James Sq.

This. Eliminate the middle man and take it in yourself. I wouldn't trust royal fail with my watches.

[John DSSD]

Originally Posted by andrewjb88

Right I haven't had time to pop down to London recently, the Rolex has also been tucked away in its box (been wearing the Seamaster daily) decided to get it out last night and give it some wrist time. Think I might get chance to pop down next week and drop it off.

Quick question, I reckon the bracelet is stretched, will the RSC do anything about this? posted a video below

https://youtu.be/Ajd77xVzexw

RCS won't do anything about the bracelet, most members advise sending it to Micheal young in Hong kong.
http://www.classicwatchrepair.com

[accountank2000]

You'd expect some stretch in a 20-yr old bracelet, but it doesn't look too bad -not like it's risking falling apart at any moment...

I get the impression that RSC don't have a 'cure' for general stretch and their options are either, a) do nothing, b) replace a couple of links if there are one or two that are particularly bad, c) say that it's too badly mangled that they aren't going to work on it but offer you an entire brand new bracelet (the expensive option!).

There are some specialists that would work on individual links and replace pins where needed to do a refurb (like michael young mentiond on this and other forums with good reviews over the last decade) - but I don't think that's something RSC want to do, because they have to preserve their reputation with completely standard parts and QC. They need to give you a 2 year guarantee on what they do; so the options for them are to have you walking around with either new high quality parts, or your original vintage parts in natural (polished or unpolished) condition; not "original parts worn out but hammered back into shape".

[andrewjb88]

It's not bad but compared to a colleagues watch that's about 6 years old its noticeable.

[andrewjb88]

Originally Posted by John DSSD

This. Eliminate the middle man and take it in yourself. I wouldn't trust royal fail with my watches.

That's what I'm doing, but my usual trips to London involve alcohol.

And I'm doing dry October (well Late September till early November) so I'm finding it hard to justify the trip haha.

[andrewjb88]

Watch finally got taken to Rolex UK HQ yesterday for service! estimate 5 weeks from the date that I accept the quote.

little disappointed, the women who served me was wearing a Radley watch.

[andrewjb88]

Here's the list

[Beckster]

Good luck. I’m sure you won’t regret it!

[daemonix]

Originally Posted by andrewjb88

All,

had my work bonus through this month so decided its time to send my 16203 Datejust that I inherited from my late father earlier in the year off for service! its well overdue, it actually runs fine, maybe a little fast but apart from that is in good working order. 1998 model last serviced in 2002.




So what do I do? send it off to the UK RSC via an AD or do I use somebody else and save £££?

I'm in between UK RSC or Prestige Time Services (have been recommended them several times).

I'm slightly swaying towards UK RSC for 2 reasons, the first being I fancy it going back to Rolex. The second is, my family has a good history with John Pass (AD in Crewe and Newcastle-Under_Lyme) but I live in Milton Keynes. I have no history with either of my 2 local AD (Fraser Hart MK or Baker Brothers Bedford) so I'm wondering if I take it to Baker Brothers in Bedford if I can have a chat with them and build up a bit of a relationship, basically I'm hoping to purchase a new black Submariner in the next 5 years so want to start the foundations early.

Just take down to London yourself. You should also know that sometime after Nov 6-10th (???) they cant give it back to you before the new year.


EDIT: oups I missed that you already did :)

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Stevec14

My view would be RSC. Will come back looking like new, 2 yr warranty and run great.

Be good to give the old work horse the service it deserves I reckon!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yep.
Time for it to start a new chapter in life.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by andrewjb88

Here's the list

Are you going for the full spa treatment?
Or just movement service?

[accountank2000]

FWIW when my seadweller (16600) was in for a movement correction recently (was running 5-10s fast), the RSC (Kent) received it 19/20 Sept and delivered it back 24 Oct, so the five week estimate was bang on.

Actually I sent it via Watchfinder (from whom I'd bought the watch) - it still had Rolex warranty from the previous service before I'd bought it, so I could have sent it to them direct, but would have taken me further out of my way or needed to arrange postage to get it to them.

In the end I just dropped it into Watchfinder and they dealt with getting it to and from Rolex all FOC including sending it back to me royal mail special delivery <9am. Probably added a week altogether to have it go in and out of the Watchfinder service centre before and after, en route to Rolex - but per the paperwork, the Rolex bit was five weeks as originally estimated.

[andrewjb88]

I spoke to a few AD and they all said it would add 1-2 weeks doing it through an AD and also £100 extra for the privilege, for a £13 train ticket it was worth taking it down there.

[andrewjb88]

Originally Posted by Dirt

Are you going for the full spa treatment?
Or just movement service?

Decided to go for the full spa, dad wore it as a daily but I'm not (got the Seamaster and Tudor GMT for that) so I want it to look nice for the "special" events I do wear it for.

[andrewjb88]

well the quote is back and I need to sit down to read it! £2,512.70 in total!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Do you think Rolex UK will let me just "service" it without the crown, crystal and bracelet being replaced?

Will they polish watch + bracelet if I don't have the bracelet replaced?

And will they replace the broken springbar or will they say that's only included in new bracelet?

[andrewjb88]

Spoke to RSC UK, they said it needs crown and crystal for waterproofing (when we say chips in crystal they are the normal chips around the edge that can hardly be seen by naked eye)

They will replace the broken springbar but won't polish the bracelet so will end up with a polished watch and not bracelet.

[daemonix]

Originally Posted by andrewjb88

Spoke to RSC UK, they said it needs crown and crystal for waterproofing (when we say chips in crystal they are the normal chips around the edge that can hardly be seen by naked eye)

They will replace the broken springbar but won't polish the bracelet so will end up with a polished watch and not bracelet.

maybe take it to the usual recommended guy up in Hull or something?

[andrewjb88]

That's what I'm looking for now proper recommendations?

Told UK RSC to send it back to me, they are going to replace the broken springbar before its sent.

[tattooedfagin]

Need to take my Daytona into RSC, anyone clued up on latest prices for service ?

[DPE]

I would have the service, but if the bracelet is good I would keep it as it is, No polish. Give you memories of the past.

[Stevec14]

You can request them not to polish. Just service the movement and the pieces you want....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[andrewjb88]

Christian Dannemann (watchguy.co.uk) is doing the service for me now using genuine Rolex parts. Ultrasonic cleaning but no polishing.

[AdamG]

leave as is