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Old 8 July 2016, 07:13 AM   #1
SubKing
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Rolex Geneve Heritage Service

I was wondering if anyone can spread some light on this?

According to many posts on VRF, there is a heritage dep in Geneva that will service your rare vintage rolex's and the service starts at around 10k.

Also, many have said that the dep in known to make custom parts for special projects like red triangle inserts in the past among other things..

Does anyone know any more info about this? Do they make custom dials and I wonder how they re age them? Since it would still all be original rolex, I wonder if a vintage with period correct custom service parts would fetch a premium over the standard rolex service parts?
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Old 8 July 2016, 07:19 AM   #2
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I think Jed is your man.
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Old 8 July 2016, 09:22 PM   #3
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yes , all correct...the heritage dept will do what isn't done by the other RSC's ...for a fee....

seems the average is about 10k euro.

yes they remake parts ...but they are, in the style of , not exact copies generally

dials ...hmm.... they are pretty , but not exactly period correct , so for example, red depth 6538 dial but with swiss <25t and tritium ....

slow , slow process..... 6 months plus...id allow a year.

the market still seems to be deciding what these watches are worth , but generally it seems , just my take, that its about 1/3 of the way above a watch that has lost its dial , and in most cases seems to be about the value of doing the job ....so essentially the conclusion is that this process is a not for profit exercise, just and excerose for people who have an attachment to a particular watch , often for sentimental reasons, to get it up and going again.
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Old 9 July 2016, 02:19 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jedly1 View Post
yes , all correct...the heritage dept will do what isn't done by the other RSC's ...for a fee....

seems the average is about 10k euro.

yes they remake parts ...but they are, in the style of , not exact copies generally

dials ...hmm.... they are pretty , but not exactly period correct , so for example, red depth 6538 dial but with swiss <25t and tritium ....

slow , slow process..... 6 months plus...id allow a year.

the market still seems to be deciding what these watches are worth , but generally it seems , just my take, that its about 1/3 of the way above a watch that has lost its dial , and in most cases seems to be about the value of doing the job ....so essentially the conclusion is that this process is a not for profit exercise, just and excerose for people who have an attachment to a particular watch , often for sentimental reasons, to get it up and going again.
Jed,
Thanks for all that information! Pretty incredible that Rolex does this. Do you by Chance have any pictures of a watch that has gone to the heritage Rolex dep for restoration? I would so love to see what these dials and inserts look like that they make.
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Old 9 July 2016, 03:29 AM   #5
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Watches missing any parts will be rejected.
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Old 9 July 2016, 03:38 AM   #6
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Wouldn't it be funny if all those "have to be replaced" dials, hands, inserts, etc. from RSC ended up in the parts bin at Heritage.
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Old 9 July 2016, 07:23 AM   #7
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Quote:
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Wouldn't it be funny if all those "have to be replaced" dials, hands, inserts, etc. from RSC ended up in the parts bin at Heritage.
wouldn't be surprised in the slightest
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Old 9 July 2016, 07:27 AM   #8
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great info, thanks for sharing
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Old 9 July 2016, 07:29 AM   #9
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I found this picture over at VRF and apparently, this is what a custom heritage red tri insert looks like, made for a special order over at rolex heritage dep geneve.

at first glance, people will think its just an aftermarket, which is why its important to save the supporting documentation from the heritage dep to prove it is still rolex original part.

I would really love to see a dial by the heritage dep if anyone has a pic?
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Old 9 July 2016, 08:20 AM   #10
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I'd be a bit bothered to have paid for a red triangle that wonky.

H
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Old 9 July 2016, 08:35 AM   #11
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Old 11 July 2016, 05:24 AM   #12
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@hm: to have paid a fortune you meant :-)
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Old 11 July 2016, 05:34 AM   #13
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Interesting I never heard of this before. Thanks for the info.
Agree with others on the red triangle, a regular MKII long 5 would look better IMHO.
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Old 11 July 2016, 06:46 AM   #14
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I'd like to see what they would do with a request to replace a 6542 bakelite insert with something aesthetically and functionally (luminous numbers) similar but modern materials.
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Old 11 July 2016, 06:50 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
I'd be a bit bothered to have paid for a red triangle that wonky.

H
aint that the truth.
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Old 11 July 2016, 10:16 AM   #16
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hmmmmm...... maybe I should send my 6205. Would they reject? The dial is original, but refinished... all else is correct.
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Old 11 July 2016, 02:34 PM   #17
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I've heard the best way to submit a watch is by taking copious detailed pics of exterior, interior, whatever paperwork you have, put it on a thumb drive and submit it to the Heritage Dept, Geneva. They will get in touch and either accept or reject.

Apparently, trying to get in touch and chat about your baby just irritates them. :) You'll have a consultation if they accept it.
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Old 12 July 2016, 01:34 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Carver View Post
I've heard the best way to submit a watch is by taking copious detailed pics of exterior, interior, whatever paperwork you have, put it on a thumb drive and submit it to the Heritage Dept, Geneva. They will get in touch and either accept or reject.

Apparently, trying to get in touch and chat about your baby just irritates them. :) You'll have a consultation if they accept it.
Do you know if they reprint gilt dials and are they using non active tritium or active luminova?

I wonder if they do not do dial or hands at all which is why not one has come up on a forum in conversation over the years?
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Old 12 July 2016, 01:43 AM   #19
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Now I remember one of the reasons that I most commonly keep my vintage Rolex as I find them.

What do you make of this? £10k's worth?



H
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Old 13 July 2016, 11:15 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
Now I remember one of the reasons that I most commonly keep my vintage Rolex as I find them.

What do you make of this? £10k's worth?



H
I guess it all depends how bad of condition the piece is in and how desperate a collector is to restore it while keeping it Rolex original. For instance, Rolex Geneva won't even service a 5510 any longer as they don't have parts, but from my understanding, Rolex heritage dep will service it.

But I agree the red triangle needs to be straight, but seems these repairs made in the heritage dep are hand made items which is why maybe the insert doesn't look perfect? Maybe they make the parts, case by case basis?
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Old 8 August 2017, 07:18 PM   #21
BreezyMan
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Does anyone have a link or more photos of watches done by Rolex heitage dept bump
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Old 8 August 2017, 07:21 PM   #22
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If the watch is missing any parts they will reject it.
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Old 9 August 2017, 04:57 PM   #23
BreezyMan
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is there any more pictures of watches done by them this is
Like
Gold how come no1 is talking about this?
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Old 10 August 2017, 12:17 AM   #24
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Thanks to photo bucket screwing everything up, what ever 1 or two pics I ever found over the years of a heritage dep repaired rolex, they are now gone with the wind..

Maybe Jed has a couple pics he could share of heritage restored rolex? Or if Wood is in a good mood today, maybe he can share one
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Old 18 November 2017, 08:51 PM   #25
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Any updates on this where’s Jed? Help us! Lol
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