Oysterquartz Needs Service in Charleston, Wash DC, or RSC

[No SUBctitute]

My friend has a men's Oysterquartz that is currently not running. If her purpose is to get it up and running so someone can wear it, what is the best way to approach it:

1) Go to the Rolex AD in Charleston or Wash DC and get a new battery, and hope that solves it?

2) Go to a Rolex AD in the DC area with a Rolex tech and allow them to change the battery and maybe be able to triage if anything else is wrong?

3) Go to an independent (anyone notable in Wash DC or Charleston?) for new battery or further work?

4) Send it in to RSC yourself?

5) Something else?

[KY..]

Sounds like it has not been serviced in quite a while so I would look for a quality local watchmaker to replace with the correct battery for under $100 and see if it starts working while you wait.
No mall watch kiosk/booth for this.
If it does not start working then consider talking to an AD.

[zapokee]

I just got a new battery (Maxell SR44W, 1.55V) for my Oysterquartz. About 10 bucks on Amazon. Now the watch is running like, er..., clockwork.

The RSC will probably insist on a full service along with a battery change, which will be a shade under 1,000 bucks. While expensive, this is also a good option. It will keep the watch running for years to come. They might not service these old electronic movements for much longer, so I'd get a full Rolex service while you still can.

Good luck with it!

[Andad]

I have changed the battery on my OQ.

It is slightly more complex’s than a Seiko but not too bad.

The battery clip cover screw is tiny and there is a thin insulation cover that has to be positioned.

A watchmaker with a Rolex case back remover should do it easily.

If it runs ok with a new battery then the next decision regarding servicing is yours.

[1William]

Without a service history I would contact the RSC and see what it would cost for a service. Depending on how much the owner wants to put into the watch I would submit it for service, wait, and get a fresh watch back for years of wear. Next time around it would just be a battery change.

[ronricks]

Only RSC’s have the ‘motor’ and circuit boards for the OQ now. I would have her send it to Dallas or NYC service center and have a full service done. It’s going to be expensive if they do motor, circuit board and the service itself that is going to be about $2,400 alone. Then you will have crystal and crown. I would reject replacing dial and hands they will suggest this or outright tell you they won’t service without replacement. I would not let Rolex polish the watch. After service I would then have the watch sent to somewhere like la watchworks and let them put a proper polish on it.

[Dan S]

The wording in the OP suggests that maybe the owner is not interested in the watch herself, so maybe she would consider just selling it in its current state. It's not always advantageous to pay for a repair before selling.

[JustinK]

If its not the battery you have no other option than Rolex as parts are hard to get for these.

Send it directly to Rolex for service. They will make you ship it registered and pack it a certain way so be sure to get the instructions from them directly before mailing.

I would decline a dial and hand replacements as well as the bracelet if they offer.

Normally I would not polish a watch but this one would benefit from polish in my opinion.

[No SUBctitute]

Thank you for all the advice. I will advise her to first get the battery changed from a competent watch shop that has a Rolex caseback tool (that is a necessity, right?).

And, if the new battery gets it running, then she can decide whether to seek any LIGHT polishing before someone in the family starts wearing it, or they sell it.

If the new battery doesn't get it running, then a service seems pricey. They can decide whether to send it in to RSC or try to sell it. Maybe a quote from RSC on how much to repair it would assist in the sale, even if unfixed.

[dhknola]

I think it's had a light polish already. Good luck with it!

[Incroyable12]

Originally Posted by dhknola

I think it's had a light polish already. Good luck with it!

It looks very polished unfortunately.

[AJMarcus]

In the Washington, DC area I highly recommend Herndon Clock and Watch in Herndon,VA. The proprietor Dung Lam is a certified Rolex parts watchmaker and is outstanding. Only shop I ever trust with my Rolex and Omega pieces. Cheers.