Oyster Perpetual ref. 1002 service cost

[loop0]

Hi folks, first post here. So couple months ago I bought my first rolex, a mint oyster perpetual ref 1002 from 1978.

The watch was running fine, but the winding was grinding and heavy to operate and I also started to hear a click every time I shook my hands. So I decided to take to a reputable service where I live. The estimate came back and they want to charge me $1250 for a full movement overhaul service. I think this is a little high, specially because the watch costed me 2k. They have a $200 decline fee. I asked them for more details about the service and why it is costing this much.

Any advices? Is $1250 a reasonable price for a service on a watch that despite the signals that needed service was just running fine?

I appreciate your feedback!

[Tools]

No, that is not reasonable unless they are planning to replace every part on it, which is not likely what you would want. I would want to see a complete breakdown of what this entails, along with options of what is needed and what is recommended.

I would also have issues with this shop for their 200 dollar decline fee.

[Claven2]

What shop is that? Remind me never to go there!!

[loop0]

So this is what they are doing:
* Complete disassembly of all parts of the movement
* Ultrasonic cleaning of movement
* New mainspring
* Polish crystal
* New crown
* New case tube
* Ultrasonic clean the case (No extra charge)

I honestly don’t think this justifies the price, they are only changing two parts: crown and case tube.

For this price I can just take to an RSC. What you guys think?

[Rags]

Run from that place.. Call Rik at Timecare in Florida.

[loop0]

Another thing I don’t understand, why would they need to replace the crown and not just the stem?

[loop0]

I’m in new york, any place I could take it here? The current place it is at is Grand Central Watch.

[loop0]

Originally Posted by Claven2

What shop is that? Remind me never to go there!!

Grand Central Watch

[Dan S]

Based on their estimate, it sounds like the watch is in great shape, and just needs routine servicing, in which case their price is exorbitant. The $200 fee is outrageous IMO. That's probably close to what my watchmaker would charge to service the watch.

[Toronto Soup King]

When someone other than RSC quotes me such a high price for no apparent reason, I take that as a signal they are not interested in the work. But a $200 fee if you say "No"?? Even RSC doesn't do that.

My watchmaker would charge a couple of hundred Canadian dollars for a service, plus parts if warranted. Maybe $350 for the exact work you described, it's not an unusual situation, just an unusual price! Go somewhere else.

[jlovda]

And you don't even get a new crystal (I assume it's plastic)?

I feel sorry for you that you are out $200 even if you walk. Was this fee noted to you when you gave them the watch?

[Claven2]

Run away. Fast.

I dont know if RSC still works on these, but even if they do, they will be cheaper.

You need a good independent imho.

[loop0]

Originally Posted by jlovda

And you don't even get a new crystal (I assume it's plastic)?

I feel sorry for you that you are out $200 even if you walk. Was this fee noted to you when you gave them the watch?

Yes, I was told about the fee, but since I was expecting to do the service anyways I didn’t think about it, my budget was around $500 for the service, willing to go a little more, but in no way I was expecting to pay $1250 for servicing a 2k watch that is running.

I only took to Grand Central Watch because I heard good things about them and wanted to take my watch to a trusted place. But this price just makes me sad now.

I asked them about the price again and for more details, let see their response. If they hold at this price I will have to decline, I can’t justify paying this much.

[daveo5]

RSC for sure.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[Robtayham]

You always have to start with RSC. Let RSC work up a free optional estimate quote.

Then, you have options and a cost to benchmark against other options.

But, keep in mind, even I get a Ferrari for cheap, that has nothing to do with the cost of service and repairs.

[iliketime]

thats crazy for an OP

[Claven2]

What's crazy is that they are only polishing the crystal at that price!!! RSC would give you a new crown, new crown pipe and new crystal along with a full service and all replacement parts for at least $400 less.

[steveellissrq]

The quote I just received after being without the watch for 3 weeks for an overhaul of my 1995 Oyster is $1,540 including mainspring, crown and tube, 2 automatic parts, gaskets and polishing of the watch.

The only thing that wasn’t working when I brought tit to my jeweler was the crown thread had stripped. Admittedly I haven’t had a service for about 10 years and wear it every day but it seems pretty stratospheric!

Any thoughts on my next move?

[vintagewaferthin]

Originally Posted by loop0

Grand Central Watch

I have never been totally happy with the job they did on my 5500 Air King. I wouldn't go with them again.

[Woody]

Best put this down to experience. My guess is that they don’t really want to do the work so have provided a high quote knowing you are already committed to paying them $200. I would try to negotiate the fee down and go elsewhere......as a benchmark for you I have just had my Rolex Oysterdate (red 6494) with an old 1215 movement serviced by the RSC in the UK for the equivalent of $780. This includes a “handling fee” of approximately $65 charged by my AD and a premium for the movement being classed as vintage (it is over 60 years old!!). Good luck getting your watch back.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by steveellissrq

The quote I just received after being without the watch for 3 weeks for an overhaul of my 1995 Oyster is $1,540 including mainspring, crown and tube, 2 automatic parts, gaskets and polishing of the watch.

The only thing that wasn’t working when I brought tit to my jeweler was the crown thread had stripped. Admittedly I haven’t had a service for about 10 years and wear it every day but it seems pretty stratospheric!

Any thoughts on my next move?

Search the forum for recommendations on trusted independent watchmakers. A number of repair shops have been recommended multiple times.

[Kingface66]

Ugh. This really pisses me off. I had an experience with Grand Central a couple years ago, when I brought my gilt dial 5513 that was suffering from a very loose and wobbly crown.

Here's the thread (my favorite portion of the exchange was when the woman there whom I dealt with the day I refused service said that, among the many issues with the watch, "the bezel is discolored"


https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...=grand+central

[zapokee]

Just write off the 200 bucks as a learning fee (but negotiate it down if you can), then take it elsewhere.

These guys are already down way more than 200 bucks in lost business from this thread. Are there English words for karma and schadenfreude?

[Claven2]

Originally Posted by steveellissrq

The quote I just received after being without the watch for 3 weeks for an overhaul of my 1995 Oyster is $1,540 including mainspring, crown and tube, 2 automatic parts, gaskets and polishing of the watch.

The only thing that wasn’t working when I brought tit to my jeweler was the crown thread had stripped. Admittedly I haven’t had a service for about 10 years and wear it every day but it seems pretty stratospheric!

Any thoughts on my next move?

Way more than it should be. Rolex quote, or just some independent?