What would you do? Service or not?

[jordtattoos]

First and foremost I would like to say hi to everyone here on the Rolex forum! I have been reading topics here for a long while and thought it was about time I joined!

I have a bit of a dilemma and would love to hear some opinions on what you guys may do in my current situation.

I have a 2017 Rolex Submariner Hulk (116610lv) and it is my first Rolex. I have since purchased the two tone blue (116613lb) and thoroughly enjoy wearing both alternating most days.

I have a local Second hand Rolex dealer and decided to take my Hulk to the guys there to get my bracelet changed over for the white Everest rubber strap for the summer. Upon getting the watch back after the strap change I noticed some scratches/ marks on the lugs where they had obviously done a bit of a notch job at changing the strap. The firstly offered me “full retail” money back for the watch to which I obviously declined! The cheek of it right? After discussing options they are now offering to send the watch to Rolex for a full service free of charge to return the watch to “as new” condition.

My question to you guys is, do you think this is going to devalue the watch at all by having the marks “buffed” out? Is this the avenue you guys would go down personally if you were in my position?

By the way I am all for embracing marks and scratches and indeed have put some on the watch from daily wear myself, I don’t really baby them I just try to be mindful they are on my wrist and that’s about it. But the marks on the lugs from incompetency on the Jewellers behalf just don’t sit well with me and it kind of annoys me knowing they are there.

I cannot attach pictures below for you guys just yet because my post count is so low but will do as soon as I get to 10

Thank you guys for your time!



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[andrewjb88]

I'd get it done, you didn't damage it yourself so get the marks taken out! make sure it does got to RSC London / RSC Kent, you will get a service card back with it.

[jordtattoos]

Originally Posted by andrewjb88

I'd get it done, you didn't damage it yourself so get the marks taken out! make sure it does got to RSC London / RSC Kent, you will get a service card back with it.

Thank you for your reply! I’m thinking that way too at the moment! I will definitely make sure it’s either RSC London or Kent if I go ahead with it! Thank you for the heads up! It would be my first ever rolex service and I wasn’t expecting to do so until at least 7 years or so providing there were no issues before that. The whole scenario just has me feeling a little bummed out to be honest :/


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[Blansky]

I'd probably live with it until I sent the watch in for service in 2028.

And I'd also learn how to change things like watch straps as well so you don't have to have people handling your watches. And learn how to do minor buffing.

I'm not saying you should start changing the oil in your cars yourself, but it is handy to handle watches with a bit of confidence and do minor maintenance.

[SearChart]

I wouldn't service a watch for just a few scratches on the back of my lugs.

[jordtattoos]

Thanks all! Its something I’m sure I could do had I owned the tools but unfortunately did not at the time and entrusted a local jeweller (with a decent sized second hand Rolex section) with the job but as I say they managed to mark it up and as I say it’s just left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth as I do really like to take care of my things. Although I don’t baby them as I say but it’s more that those marks are there because of a bit of a naff job on their behalf you know? :/


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[OysterBracelet]

Easy to scratch the lugs when attempting to fit an ill-fitting rubber strap that is not of Rolex manufacture.

I would move on and live with it. I personally would be too embarrassed to take advantage of such generosity from a small business.

[Tools]

Let me see if I understand this

. You have a 2 year old Sub DateLV.

. It got a few scratches during a strap change (that anybody at home could do)

. This shop is willing to pay 800 bucks for a full Rolex service because of easy to fix scratches.

Something here just doesn't add up.

[jordtattoos]

That’s correct, they marked the watch and are offering a Rolex service to remove marks they put there yes. As stated above I’ve not taken them up on the offer I was merely asking for people’s opinions as to how they would be in my situation.

[Blansky]

Originally Posted by Tools

Let me see if I understand this

. You have a 2 year old Sub DateLV.

. It got a few scratches during a strap change (that anybody at home could do)

. This shop is willing to pay 800 bucks for a full Rolex service because of easy to fix scratches.

Something here just doesn't add up.

Maybe they didn't mean they'd do a service, just send it in to be buffed out.

[jordtattoos]

The guy did say it would be a full Rolex service, hence me asking would you guys even bother with that as a solution you know? It does seem a little excessive for a couple of scratches but it’s the solution they offered to fix the situation


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[jordtattoos]

It was a full service they offered for sure, this is why I brought up this thread basically because it does seem a bit much for what are essentially a few scratches on the lugs, but that is the solution they offered to rectify the issue that they made. Just seems a bit much to have a watch serviced already for that issue alone but as I say that’s what they have offered

[kieselguhr]

Well OP, I dinged up the lugs on a new watch only a week old while swapping out the bracelet for a nato. I paused for a brief moment, said oh well and moved on. I would only want the watch to be polished every 7 to 10 years or so when it gets sent in for a full service.


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[timedate]

two things, you should have taken it to official rolex, and why would you want to put a rubber strap on it anyway?

The bracelet is half the point of owning a rolex.

Echo the advice about doing it yourself, and i change my car oil aswell, so i know it got done.

A full service for a scratch, seems odd, next that will get messed up, just buy a cape cod and buff the scratches out.

[jordtattoos]

Originally Posted by timedate

two things, you should have taken it to official rolex, and why would you want to put a rubber strap on it anyway?

The bracelet is half the point of owning a rolex.

Echo the advice about doing it yourself, and i change my car oil aswell, so i know it got done.

A full service for a scratch, seems odd, next that will get messed up, just buy a cape cod and buff the scratches out.

I put a rubber strap on it because I like it, not everything has to be the way you or anyone else sees as the correct way of doing things. Those straps exist because people like me who want to buy and wear them are out there ;) as for “should have taken it to official Rolex” in hind sight you’re correct, however being a well know jeweller in the area and being what I thought was a pretty straight forward procedure I didn’t give the fact they may mark up the watch a second thought. It is what it is I guess so I’ll have think about my options. Thanks to everyone who gave their thoughts anyways 🙏

[timedate]

you are quite right, they are called free opinions,

changing the strap was a straightforward procedure, but many people cannot do straightforward things, yet claim to be specialists, you see it everywhere.

good luck, but these scratches could easily be tackled by you.

[jordtattoos]

Originally Posted by timedate

you are quite right, they are called free opinions,

changing the strap was a straightforward procedure, but many people cannot do straightforward things, yet claim to be specialists, you see it everywhere.

good luck, but these scratches could easily be tackled by you.

Thanks for the advice! And your right I think if your going to fall yourself a specialist and apparently all the stave gave “Rolex training” for things like this but have managed to mark it up. As you say though I will definitely look into getting these out myself as a full service does seem a bit much to me for that small issue!

[ILuvSubs]

Getting a service is overkill for a few scratches on the lugs. Perhaps you can ask them to pay you the $800 to cover the cost of a future service when you can ask for a polish from the RSC.

I personally wouldn't try to polish out the scratches myself with a Cape Cod. I would leave that to the RSC at the next service.

There are plenty of YouTube videos which give step by step tutorials on how to remove the bracelet from a 6 digit Rolex sports watch. It can be a bit daunting and tricky at first, but there are ways to do it to minimise damage to the lugs and bracelet (e.g., putting tape on the lugs to prevent scratching and placing the watch on a towel to prevent scratches).

Also, please feel free to search the forum to find the appropriate spring bar tool to buy (most recommend the bergeon 7825).

After you do it a few times, it does get easier.

[jordtattoos]

Originally Posted by ILuvSubs

Getting a service is overkill for a few scratches on the lugs. Perhaps you can ask them to pay you the $800 to cover the cost of a future service when you can ask for a polish from the RSC.

I personally wouldn't try to polish out the scratches myself with a Cape Cod. I would leave that to the RSC at the next service.

There are plenty of YouTube videos which give step by step tutorials on how to remove the bracelet from a 6 digit Rolex sports watch. It can be a bit daunting and tricky at first, but there are ways to do it to minimise damage to the lugs and bracelet (e.g., putting tape on the lugs to prevent scratching and placing the watch on a towel to prevent scratches).

Also, please feel free to search the forum to find the appropriate spring bar tool to buy (most recommend the bergeon 7825).

After you do it a few times, it does get easier.

Thank you so much! I will certainly look into getting myself a good spring bar tool! I had actually seen YouTube videos of people changing straps over using tape etc to prevent scratches and completely think I could have done it without marking the watch had I purchased a tool and done it myself, in hind sight this is the route I wish I had taken but as I say I assumed (wrongly obviously haha) that a respected jeweller with a large second hand Rolex section would have been trustworthy enough to do a decent job for me. I agree though a service right now does seem like overkill but it was the option they suggested to fix it for me not something I requested from them. I am like you, and am also a little apprehensive of trying to take the scratches out myself purely because I don’t think I would get the finish back as Rolex do professionally themselves.

[OysterBracelet]

Originally Posted by jordtattoos

Thank you so much! I will certainly look into getting myself a good spring bar tool! I had actually seen YouTube videos of people changing straps over using tape etc to prevent scratches and completely think I could have done it without marking the watch had I purchased a tool and done it myself, in hind sight this is the route I wish I had taken but as I say I assumed (wrongly obviously haha) that a respected jeweller with a large second hand Rolex section would have been trustworthy enough to do a decent job for me. I agree though a service right now does seem like overkill but it was the option they suggested to fix it for me not something I requested from them. I am like you, and am also a little apprehensive of trying to take the scratches out myself purely because I don’t think I would get the finish back as Rolex do professionally themselves.

Even RSC won't be able to restore the original finish of the watch. This is only applied in the factory.

Maybe try fitting this strap yourself next time - I'll wager money you'll also mark it.