New service prices!! OUCH!

[Dr. Robert]

as an asides....Rolexes are built/made well.........I only take my watches in for service when they don't run well. i.e. a Rolex I bought new in 1973.......has had 4 services.....last one (the 4th service) in 2005........so in 32 yrs. 4 services.....amortize it...cheaper than my car service bills.

[rfknauss]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

as an asides....Rolexes are built/made well.........I only take my watches in for service when they don't run well. i.e. a Rolex I bought new in 1973.......has had 4 services.....last one (the 4th service) in 2005........so in 32 yrs. 4 services.....amortize it...cheaper than my car service bills.

Bob, you make a great point!

[mailman]

$555 is lot of money for a service on a watch. If you break it down over how long you own it, it isn't that bad.

I went the RSC route once because I wanted all of the paperwork and stuff that goes along with it. I also wanted to build a history with my watch.

Next time, I'm going with Dalton

http://www.rolexforums.com/member.php?u=11154

[mgm]

Originally Posted by mailman

Next time, I'm going with Dalton

http://www.rolexforums.com/member.php?u=11154

[meloncap78]

I got quoted $325 for a full movement overhaul locally by a very reputable jeweler that has been around a long time. They have an excellent watchmaker on staff. I will most likely be using their services in the future as opposed to paying those high prices. That is a steep increase in cost IMO.

[Denver Dick]

Whoa! I'm glad I got my TT DJ 16013 serviced at an RSC in late October. The price was $550 which included a new crown, tube and acrylic crystal. I also went for their recommendations for a new dial ($270), all three hands ($81), and Jubilee bracelet ($1,950). I can only imagine what it would all cost me under this year's new pricing scheme.

[Rikki]

Hi guys Mr. Independant here if you need your watch done right with the right parts send it down my prices are reasonable and you'll like my work. Now just a thought for the price increase is possibly that there are too many watches to repair and not enough qualified watchmakers to do them so to slow the influx of repairs raise the price till you can catch up unfortunatley the dirty little secret is us watchmakers will never catch up till more people are trained in the art. It's supply and demand too many watches not enough of us. Right now as I speak there is 2 generations of work that needs to be done yah you heard that right generations of work and that's just for Rolex. Now add Omega Breitling Patek and the hundreds of other manufacturers and you can see why I work 80 hours a week. Anywho send it on down I'll treat you right Rikthewatchmaker

[Zirotti]

I heard that only RSC can service the Deepsea at the moment, is this true? Either because of the equipment required to pressure test the case or there isn't a caseback wrench yet for it?

[chrislkb]

Same thing happened in Singapore AD too but only in different currency. Gonna own a Rolex only, just imagine owning 10 pcs and to spend a minimum $8K minimum every 4/5 years.

[Big_S]

Just wondering:

I while back I read a couple threads on the fact that there are many more luxury watches out there per cap than x years ago, and the watch service industry is past its saturation point; there aren't, or won't be in the near future, enough watchmakers to service all of the watches that will be due in for maintenance.

Could this be the beginning of the watch industry's solution for this? If they raise the price, demand for services will drop and re-align with the supply curve.

Anyone have any thoughts?

[Rikki]

Kinda my point in previous post. When I went to wostep in 1995 I had a talk with the president and back then he said we would need 25,000 watchmakers by the year 2000 and there were less than 8000 in schools worldwide and that was just to cover what was already made not what will be made. Since the resurgence of highgrade mechanical watches which is the largest resurgence in history the amount of qualified watchmakers has actually decreased mostly because of age and the new qualifications required. So you can see we are all in Deep S**T. So be kind to your local watchmakers and when you find one you like stick with him or her and you won't go wrong. Rikki

[CoopJr]

Originally Posted by walds11

Just for the heck of it I called both the Dallas and NY RSCs. Dallas price starts at $555 and NY starts out at $600 for a basic service, plus parts. Screw that. I will stick with my local watchmaker.

110% I have a sub out now to an AD who has a Rolex trained watchmaker on staff. A complete overhaul and a new crystal is running me $600 + tax.

[Bisquitlips]

I just had a SUPERB service done on my Black TT Sub for 600.00 including taxes at one of my local AD's. Love it! Worth every penny.

[walds11]

$600? Wow! Some "independents" around here do charge the full boat load that the RSCs charge.

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

I just had a SUPERB service done on my Black TT Sub for 600.00 including taxes at one of my local AD's. Love it! Worth every penny.

[bewithabob]

When I had my Datejust serviced a few years ago, I was shocked by the price quoted by my AD, and so I went home and called the service center and realized that the AD was marking up the cost of the service by 30%. In my case, driving 5 miles to the service center was worth the time and effort.

[mixz1]

Just picked up my 1967 meters first 5513 from UltraJewels, the certified Rolex service provider in Mexico. Full service (first in 14 years), new acrylic crystal, tube and all seals. I specified no hands replacement and no face replacement. Band was polished to as new, but only light polish to case. Retained original bezel as well. Total cost was 450 USD net. Watch was in their hands for 8 days. I am very happy with the price and the post overhaul performance of the watch.

I was looking at the original paperwork issued on July 6, 1967, the day I bought the watch. I paid 376 USD for it. How inflation has changed things.

[mlee]

Got my 16700 GMT back from RSC NY about 3 weeks ago. It was sent by my local AD and the basic service price was $750. They recommended a new dial, new hands, etc. and I asked for a new bracelet. Total wound up to be $1400+ but they did an excellent job. It is as new.

Twice this watch has been serviced in Dallas and if anything the watch is more accurate after the NY job.

[jnmarshall]

I use the Dallas center as it is literally in my backyard and easy to drop off and pick up. They definitely do awsome work. And in my opinion much better then the lower cost independants. My experience with the independants is they do just the service, or as I like to call it an oil change. In some cases this is great and all that is needed. They typically do not go beyond that effort. As an examply my wife's "tulex" as people call it on here had been previously serviced independently. I was told corrosion from lotions, perfume and sweat had started to corrode the metal and prevented it from being water proof and pressure checked. This time when it quit I took it to the service center. The service center immediately identified the reason the watch was not waterproof and had been failing pressure testing was the result of a Rolex acrylic crystal was installed instead of the correct Tudor sapphire crystal. They defintely pay attention to detail and know their parts intimately. The only charges I sometime do not know if needed is they always say the tube and crown are worn and damaged and needs replacing. Depending on the model this is an additional required fee or they will not do the service. I've never had an independent tell me this. Maybe it was included in the service? or maybe not and just not pointed out to me either way.

[DSJ]

$782 for my mom's 76193 with new crystal and crown (about $80/year in her case). Very expensive, but they DID do a nice job:

[Rikki]

To JNMarshal unfortunately you haven't been talking to the right independants. When I do a watch I use and put all original parts back to where they belong. I have been working for 3 Rolex AD"s for the last 25 years and you don't get that kind of longevity by cutting corners and doing halfass work. I am now training my son to be a detail specialist and he is coming along just fine. There are all kinds of independants out there usually the ones with Rolex parts accounts are quite a few steps above the rest. I also have Patek parts account Omega Tag and many many others. So don't be eager to dismiss us too fast we may be the only ones left standing if things don't change. Enough for now. Rikki

[Dr. Robert]

Thank the watch gods for indie watchmakers!

[CaveDiver]

Originally Posted by Rikki

There are all kinds of independants out there usually the ones with Rolex parts accounts are quite a few steps above the rest. Rikki

Hi Rikki,
What requirements are required to get a Rolex Parts account? Is there some certification they require before they will provide a watchmaker with an account?
Thanks

[jnmarshall]

Originally Posted by Rikki

So don't be eager to dismiss us too fast we may be the only ones left standing if things don't change. Enough for now. Rikki

Sorry if it came across that way. I certainly do not dismiss the independent and appreciate them. I like that having the option of just getting a movement service when needed and not paying the service center prices. And it is important to me that they use genuine parts and can order them.

[Rikki]

I didn't me anything derogatory ,but having worked at and for 3 different ad's I kinda get how the game is played and believe me it's as much a game sometimes as any business that deals with the public and corporations.As far as getting a Rolex parts account I have had one for about 20 years and before that you could buy Rolex parts at just about any watch supply house in the country. Rolex ended that about 15 years ago and went to watchmakers exclusively and their ad's. Now to keep your account you have to pass the new Century 21 certification. I also believe that you have to have some sort of track record in the business. Now a days the new equipment involved in running and openning a trade shop would easily exceed 50 thousand dollars.Just the tools and equipment you can buy from Rolex once you pass your test is between 25 and 35 thousand dollars.So as you can see we have quite an investment in this thing we do not only in equipment but in the years of training and experience. The certification test is 4 days long including 5 parts Micro mechanical or lathe work, written test,Chronograph, automatic, and quartz. To my knowledge no one has ever scored a perfect score. Ok I'm talked out will answer some more when I catch my breath. Rik

[outtatime]

Does anyone know how much Rolex would charge to completely replace the case on an M-series 16610LV? Not repair/polish, but actually swap?

[JEC]

I haven't heard of any increases in Canada yet. They have a separate Canadian service centre though, it's not the same as the US.

[MILFAN]

Last year the EUR USD was around 1,60 and now its around 1,37. I dont understand the justification, if at all, the prices must have dropped.

Regards
MILFAN

Originally Posted by jnmarshall

Last year I got an estimate from the local Rolex service center for a standard movement service. I was quoted the typical $550. I decided to wait a few months till after the holidays and the bills. I went back last week. I was now quoted $750!! I was told the prices increased this year due to the weak value of the $$ to the EUR. Not sure why US labor is affected by Euro markets?!? Sadly they could not honor my original estimate as it was written more then 60 days ago

[mpkRolex]

I just got an estimate of CAD $700 full servicing

[NorthernPike]

Originally Posted by mpkRolex

I just got an estimate of CAD $700 full servicing

From where? RSC Canada, Toronto?

[usergiovi]

Originally Posted by xxthe_remedyxx

Anyone know any good watchmakers in NYC where I can get my Sub serviced? $750 is pretty crazy.

I have a service in Padua for my 14060 in december 2009.720$!