Dog leash nicked a part of my top right lug. Laser weld?

[Sir Thalas]

So there is probably alot of these posts, but yeah. Unfortunately, the metal part of my dog's leash took away a tiny bit of metal from my 126710BLRO's top lug. I know it's tiny and I probably will acquire more down the road. If I were to flip it, I would probably have it fixed right away, but i'm planning to keep it. When service comes, will it be possible to laser weld it without polishing the whole watch case?

I'm really bummed out because I bought the watch in pristine condition, but at least I will remember my 14 year old dog because of it.

[JodyHighroller]

Yes, that is possible to fix with laser welding.

Keep in mind that area will have to be polished after welding for it to look right. Also, if you’re looking at servicing/fixing the ding in 5-10 years from now during major service you’ll probably want to opt for polishing the whole case for it to match. Would look odd for just one lug to be pristine. Most important thing is having a competent watchmaker do the work and then there is no need to worry about over polishing, etc.

[Sir Thalas]

Originally Posted by JodyHighroller

Yes, that is possible to fix with laser welding.

Keep in mind that area will have to be polished after welding for it to look right. Also, if you’re looking at servicing/fixing the ding in 5-10 years from now during major service you’ll probably want to opt for polishing the whole case for it to match. Would look odd for just one lug to be pristine. Most important thing is having a competent watchmaker do the work and then there is no need to worry about over polishing, etc.

Thank you for your answer. Do you think it would be possible to fix it now without polishing the whole watch?

[JodyHighroller]

Originally Posted by Sir Thalas

Thank you for your answer. Do you think it would be possible to fix it now without polishing the whole watch?

I’d opt to fix it now via laser weld if you don’t want to polish the whole watch.

[214270Explorer]

If you wear a watch every day you are going to get all manner dings, scratches, scrapes, etc. It is what happens. "Life."
Do not become one of the obsessed "repair every mark" people or you will go nuts and soon learn to hate your watch for the misery caused.
Just my two cents.

[MorningTundra]

It’s easily repairable and the cost of these minor repairs is coming down each year. But as far as they go, it’s really very minor. You might want to put on a few more before sending it away...

[Gab27]

You may want to talk to someone who does the laser welding and specializes in cosmetic refinishing, but I would assume you would need to have it polished after the laser welding to look correct. Additionally, that looks extremely small and the super case has a lot of lug width on it, so laser welding might not be necessary...I literally have to zoom in to see it. Finally, given its position, are you even able to see it when wearing the watch?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Sir Thalas

... at least I will remember my 14 year old dog because of it.

Exactly.

I would leave it. You'll get used to it, and have something on your wrist to remember your dog when he's gone.

[Hollie_Rollie]

That can be fixed to new pretty easily imo. Rolliworks and La Watchwerks are magicians. It’ll be $$$ for just a refinish. Check out their Instagram pictures of their work. It’ll make you feel more at ease whenever you ding the watch as there’s plenty of proof that they can return it to near factory specs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Leicaman]

Can’t decide if this thread is an attempt at sarcasm or if the OP is serious in getting it “fixed”

[Brny11]

Originally Posted by MorningTundra

It’s easily repairable and the cost of these minor repairs is coming down each year. But as far as they go, it’s really very minor. You might want to put on a few more before sending it away...

A watch sits on on of the most mobile parts of the body. You sure can get it fixed just for you to ding / scratch it again. Unless you plan on selling, you should enjoy your watch and own it. Do not let it own you.

Edit: didn’t mean to reply to this post

[afmars]

That small ding is better than having any laser weld and refinish job. If you laser weld you will have a non-factory finish on the ENTIRE lug and that would bother the crap out of me vs that small ding which you will never see.

[AG23]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Exactly.

I would leave it. You'll get used to it, and have something on your wrist to remember your dog when he's gone.

Exactly this. It will trigger fantastic memories down the road...

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Exactly.

I would leave it. You'll get used to it, and have something on your wrist to remember your dog when he's gone.

Have to agree and in the real world that ding is so miniscule not worth the effort or cost to even think about having it laser welded.

[Goin2drt]

That ding is so small leave it. Honestly if that bothers you then laser weld it and put the watch back in the safe to never wear again and only admire.

That will be the least of your love marks you will get if you truly wear the watch.

[mountainjogger]

I would not repair this.

Wear your watch. Walk your dog. Enjoy both.

And remember Murphy's Law. If you get this fixed, you may promptly get another ding.

[Andad]

What nick?

[jaySL350]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

I would not repair this.

Wear your watch. Walk your dog. Enjoy both.

And remember Murphy's Law. If you get this fixed, you may promptly get another ding.

The above,,,j

[GoingPlaces]

I'd leave it. There might be more later. Doesn't look that bad to me.

[GONZO2LR]

fix it, put back in box, buy a timex and get rid of the trouble making dog...he might bite your Rolex next time!

[Tensai]

These watches were made to be used and beat up.
I don't think Steve McQueen was running out for a laser weld every few months

[GoingPlaces]

Originally Posted by Tensai

These watches were made to be used and beat up.
I don't think Steve McQueen was running out for a laser weld every few months

Exactly. We love the persona of Rolex being durable and all purpose however as soon as our babies get a mark it's off to get them repaired.

[Deepseadoug]

I’d just leave it. Out of every 10 lug fix jobs that get posted 2 look good and 8 make the watch look soft and over polished depending on who does the job.

[jimbones43]

I’d leave it alone…as others have said youre going to get more nicks and dings. Enjoy the watch and don’t obsess.

[Tomas Eriksson]

Originally Posted by afmars

That small ding is better than having any laser weld and refinish job. If you laser weld you will have a non-factory finish on the ENTIRE lug and that would bother the crap out of me vs that small ding which you will never see.

I agree with this.

[garyk]

+1 on Murphy’s law. Almost never fails...

[JacksonRain]

Originally Posted by Hollie_Rollie

That can be fixed to new pretty easily imo. Rolliworks and La Watchwerks are magicians. It’ll be $$$ for just a refinish. Check out their Instagram pictures of their work. It’ll make you feel more at ease whenever you ding the watch as there’s plenty of proof that they can return it to near factory specs


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Ummm.They really are not. If they do some decent work, however.

You can get it laser welded, but it will never be exactly like the factory. I would be able to tell. Maybe many others would not. They will have to refinish and polish down the lug, underside of the midcase. You just can't get it back to factory. But you can get awfully close.

And Rolliworks would likely do a better job than LAWW, because of the mechanism they would use to restore.

If it bothers you a lot, you can try to get it fixed. Try to sleep on it for a month or so.

Good luck.

sorry for the spelling and grammatical errors - using speech recognition and small mobile device

[Gwai]

Originally Posted by mountainjogger

Wear your watch. Walk your dog.

Sage advice.

Cheers
Marc

[Loevhagen]

[kieselguhr]

My thoughts on the matter are a laser weld + refinishing at a prominent watchmaker like for example LAWW would run you about $500, maybe more. So after 8 weeks or so you get your pristine lug watch back. You’re so stoked. A week goes by when suddenly while closing a door, the lock bolt inadvertently wallops the watch and you have a similar dent on the opposite lug. Well then are you going to send it in for a $500 fix each and every time you get a minor ding?