Rolex Denying Service on Some Watches
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2021
- Here I talk about how Rolex will no longer services some of their watches. These watches are considered vintage and will either have 15xx series movements or perhaps plastic crystals. Rolex used plastic crystals into the 1980s on some models. They also used the15xx series movements on some models in this era.
-John P
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John, as a person who is a manufacturing engineer that works in a machine shop. There is no reason for them not to support their older watches. It’s not difficult to setup the lathe and run a few hundred or thousand parts off. When they claim to be an heirloom time piece then they should be supporting it for the lifetime of the owner and the lifetime of the next generation.
They won’t contract another machine shop to produce parts because they don’t want somebody stealing / copying the design of their movements.
Reason? To sell new watches
Thanks for the insight!
@@JohnPWatches anytime man. I program Swiss lathes (Tsugami brand). It’s designed to mass produce lots of parts.
@@silverstacker8282 good Point.
Wouldn't any good watch technician be able to service a Rolex?
I just had my 1968 Datejust returned with a letter from Rolex stating that the cost of overhaul is greater than the value of the piece, thus they declined the job. I am glad that a local watch repair shop quoted only $900 for the job.
Years ago, I gave an old IWC pocket watch to repair and they told me they found a replacement dial from the period in their stock. It came back almost like new. That is service.
Now that’s respect for their customers!
This is funny. Hate to say it, these people passing up real horology pieces for a over priced Rolex created this situation. They feel they can do whatever they want.
I'm sick of Rolexs arrogance. Stuff them. By something else
Agreed. Having their products in high demand for decades may have turned them into a really puffed up spoiled brand. So many amazing brands that are unknown by the masses, I mean , by the casual buyer. Just the other day a friend of mine got himself a 2008 model (first bought in a AD in 2011) JLC Master Control Date 37mm, 889/2 movement, for a fraction of a same year rolex datejust. Good purchase because it's a beautiful watch with a solid reliable movement from a top traditional swiss brand, in a like new condition. The Audemars Piguet 2326 is the very same movement from JLC but with a chrono module added to it. It's insane quality for less money.
@@zebra8961 Getting value retention into account when purchasing is safe and smart, but there are good options out there that share this same attribute in the same price range. But ppl have to dive a little deeper and also enjoy the hunt game in order to scape from the old same old. I like Rolex, I buy Rolex. There are good options, sure there are.
@@zebra8961 That's about marketing, about people moving to those other brands. It is clearly not about quality, as many other brands largely surpass Rolex but hold less their value. So, If being into watches is about investments..., there are many other things also better than Rolex.
@@leestrada1 Marketing wise, Rolex doesn't need to spend money to have more clients in the waitlist, I mean, the real need for advertising at this point. They`ve been running on inertia for quite a long time and they will prabably run this way for a long time. An example, unlike Omega and some others watch brands I also appreciate, Rolex has never paid to have its watches featured in movies. Dennis Hopper, Paul Newman, Michael Cane, Guy Pearce, Chistian Bale, Bill Murray comes to mind but it goes like forever. They are overpriced for sure but also proven reliable solid watches. The overprice issue can be approached from so many perspectives, grey market, high-demand for some sport models, snobbish naive casual buyers just following other's biased opinions and struggling to impress ppl around them. It's funny because Rolex shouldn't even be labeled as high horology compared to F.P. Journe, H. Moser, Patek, Laurent Ferrier, AP and so many others. It's somehow funny, don't you agree?
@@zebra8961 Anything from Hajime Asaoka, F.P. Journe, H. Moser, Laurent Ferrier Jacob & Co, Richard Mille will hold better. Royal Oaks from AP, Aquanauts, Nautilus and Calatravas from Patek, and some Vacherons, will hold or appreciate. Grand Seiko has shown good value retention.
Current-day Rolex is a disgrace. Disowning their own history which is what put them in the position they are in today.
They would rather sell blingy crap to the Instagram crowd than look after the watches which made them great.
If rolex isn't willing too service vintage pieces then the prices should NOT be as high as what they are.
Rolex does what it wants and People are still lined up to buy them. Lol
Because itz wooolex , king of kings itz iconic watch ever, everything else is crap, all brands are jealous of woolex, woolex are exceeded parrek level already
I think you can repair mechanical watches for a very long time. If it is completely broken at some point, fair enough, but if it only needs a small repair, that is a waste not to repair it as a reputable brand.
Very recently had my 3.14M serial (circa 1972) 1655 Mk1 Explorer II serviced from the Dallas RSC. It was sent off to their US vintage service location at Lititz, PA. It was sent off to to this facility to be inspected before Rolex could confirm service *could* be done there. After a couple weeks the RSC contacted me and it was good to go for servicing, and I approved the $2200 cost (1575 movement.) After 11 weeks the piece came back exactly as directed by me (no refinishing, no replacement of any exterior facing parts, except crown, keeping it in original factory condition) with a fresh 👑 service warranty card in hand…..Not bad work for a 50 year old watch!! …the Rolex service experience was 💯 excellent for me at least.
This isn't surprising though, as you said. They cannot support their products for ever.
I have a late 70s Omega and Omega has zero parts for it. They are helpful an interested in the watch! They've pointed me to people who can find things for it, but they simply don't have the parts anymore.
I needed a new crystal and Omega themselves pointed me towards someone who could make one for me. The watch is not round! So I really needed the help.
I’m pretty sure I read on the Zenith site that they will manufacture the part if they don’t have it.
Maybe less popular vintage Rolexes will be broken up for parts.
Many brands will do that, including AP, PP, and VC.
I sent my grandpa's 1501 to the RSC in NYC in October 2022 and they received it with no issue. They did tell me that wait times for "vintage" models are increasing cause of parts but they did not deny it.
How long did they quote? Have you received it back? Sent my 1975 sub 5513 movement 1520 (it was my grandfather’s and my dad recently gave it to me with a missing crown) to the RSC in Dallas. Quoted $1100 for service plus $46 for crown and could take up to 26 weeks.
Quote was $2k lol. Lil steep but was because i wanted a new bracelet. Surprisingly i just received it las week! 8 weeks instead of the estimated 15.
I'm a independent watchmaker, You will be surprise how many times I have to make parts for Rolex watches when Rolex service centre rejects some Rolex calibres. I had clients told me that Rolex watch service centre was poor when they did service their Rolex watches, Rolex company had the cheek try to kill off the independent watchmakers like me.
A GOOD independent watchmaker is the way to go for those into vintage Rolex watches. He'll be able to get genuine parts, he has the contacts and knows the shortcuts and pitfalls. I've never used authorized centers in my life and I have only one modern rolex in my small collection, they're all really old. Another great video, man!
A really good watchmaker should literally be able to fabricate any part of a watch himself.
@@andrew_owens7680 Can't agree more, on the assumption he can't get a particular hard to find NOS genuine part for the watch. If and only if a genuine part can't be find, obviously. Totally agree. Cheers mate.
Great advice 👍Rolex can be a bunch of creeps when they want to be. I have a Explorer 1 reference 114270 from 2007 but I have a great watchmaker aswell
@@andrew_owens7680 Movement parts yes, case parts, no.
There is a finite amount of genuine parts in existence. Sure your trusted watchmaker might be able to source parts for a time but at some point you will have to use non Rolex parts or not have a functional watch.
Shame on Rolex. Like stretch on jubilee band, Rolex won't fix just replace AND KEEP YOUR BRACELET. The watch doctor in Pennsylvania will replace the pins for 150 bucks. He has 30 years experience. There is tons of great watchmakers out there to service your watch. Great information and video.
Just back from my local Rolex AD . Both salesmen told me thinks are absolutely crazy , no stock to sell that people want . Plenty of ladies though . To top it off, both always wore Rolex watches , both now have Apple watches in a large Rolex AD !! Sign of them cashing in ?
My 1986 Sub just stopped. The second hand even ran backwards for 20 seconds. Last serviced in 2016. Taking it to a AD. Hope they can fix it. Thx.
The solution is simple. Go for a JLC. Their restoration department repairs anything. I have seen their workshops, they have even plenty of spare stocks for watches >60years in their archives. Anything not available they just manufacture it, all the drawings and workinstructions are in their archives.
I really don't understand many people. Look at the Master Chrono and the price. JLC is so much value for money. But people prefer to pay moon prices for an 8 k watch.
@@midas1929 JLC is so underrated nowadays
Stop peddling Rolex, let’s move on. So many great brands stop shining the light 💡 on Rolex
@@zebra8961 Retain value… lol.
@@zebra8961 Overproducing? rolex produces more than most at around 1,000,000 watches a year. They sell them through channels that most buyers don't get, which is different. Depreciation is not unacceptable, is what you have in PP, VC, Breguet, Omega, JLC, Zenith, Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini... Some Rolex appreciate, because some people have hyped them, not because of their quality being over others, or because they produce few... If you want low production, Rolex is the last place you want.
@@zebra8961 If you’re so hard up that you have to struggle to get a Rolex as cheap as possible, maybe you should get your other matters in order. Like really? You have to jump through all these hoops to save $5K? Just buy gray market and make $5K on real investments. Move on with your life. Most watches don’t appreciate. Buy them because you like them.
@@zebra8961 Overproduction? Nah...
The other brands just need some organized scalpers like what Rolex has.
Sorry you can’t afford one
This is not new. If an AD sends it in, RSC will create frankenwatches if it doesn’t have the parts but has modern parts that could fit (assuming the AD wasn’t the creator of the franken watch).
Rolex should support collectors with older watches. I think a great solution is to outsource these parts and they could still keep a tight hold on this process. Will they do this? Who knows, they kind of seem to want to scare-off would-be future buyers who don't know much about Rolex but still would like to buy one with their hard earned money. Rolex seems to be thumbing their nose at certain aspects of their watch buying public by stopping the stolen watch list, and now this issue. Just my take and I'm sure I don't have all the information but as a company held in a trust they sure keep secrets and don't seem to care much as they are selling everything they make.
Great video. We all knew this. However, thanks for the practical illustration. Bit of an eye opener on who makes aftermarket parts. If Rolex jump ship what can you do. Patek make parts, for a price.
Thank you for giving this information .
Great Videos JP. My watch maker has been around for 265 plus years and will service any watch it has ever sold. Thats a benefit of owning a VC.
I guess when Rolex make approx 1m watches a yr, they can't physically service them. Do you take a 40 yr car into a modern car dealership for service ?
Does this lower old watch values, or do you now need one for spare parts ?
Best thing to do is find a Vintage Rolex Specialist. Also you'll need a to have a wholesale account with Startime if you plan on using them to source parts, I believe and I had to use my resale license and JBT Membership.
Good point
@@JohnPWatches you're always putting out great vintage watch content
Thinking about Omega. Do they do the same as Rolex re denying service?
Not too sure, but they consider 10yr+ old watches vintage and I believe it cost more to service! These watch companies want you to purchase the newer models! As money spent dwindles and collectors lose interest... this may get worse!
The issue with Rolex is they do not embrase their heritage at all IMO and are more intersted in selling you a new watch which is a bit of irony given the lack of availability. For me I have no interest in any Rolex models past 2003 when the dropped the drilled lugs. There was some talk a while back about Rolex creating a certified pre-owned program but it was likley rumors. Until Rolex embraces their heritage and vintage collectors I'm afraid aftermarket may be the only option and I'm not sure tehy currently cover ever vintage part either. Say you have a early 70's 1601 Datejust or a Submariner 1680 that has the 1570 caliber and the balance wheel needs replaced or the gear train teeth are damaged. If you cannot obtain the poarts from Rolex or used your only option is non genuine aftermarket to keep it running. There are aftermarket gear train parts for these older series movements but balance parts for the older 15XX calibers I have not seen which is a bit sad.
Outrageous.
Sent my 1975 submariner 5513 movement 1520 (it was my grandfather’s and my dad recently gave it to me with a missing crown- funny that’s the example here) to the RSC in Dallas. They accepted it for service and Quoted $1100 for service plus $46 for crown and could take up to 26 weeks….
If you have a vintage Rolex, crystal broke, watch doesn't function, either it's a paperweight or you just use the after market part,. Comes down to if they make a true spec or better replacement, and the person is honest on resale. Honestly I would be less worried about a true henselite replacement, than some internal parts. Not a vintage person but I do feel for those who are and run into problems.
FYI - Rolex informs their authorized service centers that vintage models at certain ages will not be eligible for a regular service like you mentioned with the 1500 series movements - essentially a sunset clause. Another model that regular servicing will be discontinued on in the near future is the Rolex GMT 1675, as Rolex has already advised their service centers . However, Rolex doesn't typically deny servicing, they just transition to offering historical servicing of vintage models that are multiple times the cost of a regular service and could be viewed as cost prohibitive. Are you sure they outright denied the service or was the servicing cost simply too much?
Sent my 1975 sub 5513 movement 1520 (it was my grandfather’s and my dad recently gave it to me with a missing crown) to the RSC in Dallas. They accepted it for service and Quoted $1100 for service plus $46 for crown replacement and could take up to 26 weeks.
Again, this only shows that Rolex can never render the Geneva Seal onto a movement. But I find this hard to believe since Rolex (RUSA) completely supports its service center in Litiz, at the Litiz Watch Technicum RUSA, which is where Rolex sends vintages Rolex watches that need service/repair. There, the Rolex Foundation teaches a very select group of people to be watchmakers, and as such, they are taught to re-create parts for vintage watches of all makes. Similar to the Curtis Institute of Music, Rolex provides a highly intensive two-year course to people who want to become watchmakers - free of charge to the student!
Some car manufacturers are starting to re-manufacture oem car parts for their vintage cars. Wonder why can't Rolex do the same?
A low key move to encourage buying a new Rolex versus the preowned market
Are you sure? I remember they made a bezel for a first gen Sub on request just a few years ago. They might exclude them from regular servicelist and calculate cost on request but Rolex not cashing in on vintage??? Sounds like a theory for another universum.
Rolex does have a 'Heritage Department' which handles high-end pieces for wealthy collectors, but info about that department is hard to come by, and what they will and will not do as vague. At the same time, if you have two vintage Subs, one with a new Rolex-made bezel and one with an original bezel in NOS condition, the latter is always going to be worth more and be more collectible.
move over to Patek (per my understanding- they guarantee service and support including fabrication of parts for ANY reference; it may cost an arm and a leg, but Patek will support their references.) I believe Lange would support 'vintage' references as well.
Yeah but what is "vintage" for Lange? 1990s?
@@dimman77 yes, however, the Lange we know was re-established in 1994. The 'original' Lange was established in the 1800's, and lasted until the end of WWii; per my understanding- Lange supports/services even their 'original' references from that earlier period. I read of an elaborate restoration of a rare pocketwatch reference they undertook- took them nearly 3 years to faithfully restore that timepiece to it's full glory.
@@sskumariyer That's old pocket watches that no once really cares about though. Even the pilot's watches they made for the Luftwaffe were giant 55mm with pocket watch movements. I bet they just subcontract to an existing pocket watch restorer. They have no documentation for 'specs' of their pre-zombie era pocket watches anyways, so who would even know if it's "correct" so long as it looks ok and runs.
I work for a farm equipment company and as long as we still have the drawings on file we'll make replacement parts. Heck i put in and order once to laser out and machine 65 year old parts for a chesil plow a farmer was using for a collector piece. I took a while and it cost a bit extra for him but we did it. So yeah unlike electronics I expect a watch company to provide mechanical parts for an item.
AP, PP et al will repair any watch made by them
That's why Rolex will never be P.P., or A.P..
Even VC have some old books and old machine to make any pieces when it's needed.
@@Nightmark2 And VC would also build you the watch you want
Doxa is another company. Try to find after market bezel and bezel springs for an early shark hunter. Good luck
I wonder why having aftermarket parts in vintage watches is looked down upon while in the vintage car world there is a whole industry making aftermarket parts and its considered fine.I think eventually non Rolex parts in Vintage Rolex will be considered acceptable if less than ideal.
Up to a point. Vintage cars that are more original than others command higher prices; all things being equal. In the vintage watch world originality and condition are the key selling factors.
Parsec Enterprises Inc. does a lot of Rolex work. Well priced. Rolex is infamous for its repairs. They cost a ton and take forever. And if any work has been done on the watch they won't touch it. It's ridiculous. Parsec is the largest independent repair center in North America.
Well there are outside services that will fix your rolex. They may use after market parts but at least the watch gets fixed.v
i have my Dads 1958 Vacheron returned after service and now runs beautifully ! My Granddads 1930s Favre -Leuba that had not run for decades came back from a guy in Mumbai again running beautifully! Rolex take the P..s because morons are queuing up to be overcharged!
Every manufacturer eventually obsoletes its parts, so I cannot fault Rolex. Fifty years is a long time. One solution is to use eBay or the message boards to find a broken down watch and then take it to a watchmaker to replace the broken part in your watch. Similar to going to a junk yard to find a replacement part for a vintage car. Second solution could be to find a watchmaker to make the part customized to your broken watch. I am not sure what this will do to the value of the watch, but at least you can wear it again.
50 years? They are not providing parts for 1990 models. That is 31 years, not 50.
They should do like Ferrari and Mercedes and have a department that can make any part they ever made you just have to Pay. Cheers!
Wow! Mercedes will do that?
@@JohnPWatches yup but it's like $500 for a radio knob....
@@frankkollar2278 WOW!
Also Jaguar parts are still produced
Interesting, so will Rolex not service an El Primero Daytona? I expect this out of mid level brands and I guess that Rolex fits the bill here. But Seiko doesn’t service their 1970s chronographs and you can’t get parts for caliber 11 watches. So the collector community scrapes up dead and unloved models of these to bring watches back to life. Go online and see the many caliber 11 Hamilton Fontainbleau watch carcasses are for sale because the movements get pulled to fix a Heuer, Breitling or Hamilton Intramatic.
Vintage rolexes they used outsourced parts from third party companies. when sending them to service they may decline as they cannot source them any longer.
Watch - lol - watch videos all the time, ho hum. Gotta say I was educated by this video. Thanks.
People have been doing third party parts on the vintage car market for years. Yes it might be worth less than a "matching numbers" car but its something the car market has accepted for decades.
That being said for Rolex to charge that kind of money and not provide mechanical replacement parts for watches they should have drawings on is disturbing. We shouldn't be talking about something like an apple watch where they source out most of the parts from vendors here. All those parts Rolex should be able to reproduce in house or from whatever vendors they use to creat those parts. Its not like the materials and parts in an auto watch have changed much since their inception when it comes to the ability to manufacturer them. In most cases they should be cheaper and easier to make now then they where before.
lol
It's not surprising that Rolex is doing this given It's attitude towards customers generally. The more I find out about Rolex the less appealing they are as a brand. Omega are currently restoring my seamster from 1950 and didn't bat a eyelid, fabricating and sourcing parts and doing all the work by hand, That is customer service.
Liked and subbed
Rolex wants factory spec coming out of the service centers, I get it. But if they refuse to service a vintage watch at all because they don’t have the crystal, for example, then nothing on the watch gets serviced? How is that a better situation? As others have noted, as long as Rolex has the plans, the tools and qualified machinists, they could make the parts on small runs and charge accordingly if the owner is willing to pay the cost. Anything can be done if they care enough. Case in point - Boeing made the last B-52 bomber in 1962; their spares contract ran out a long time ago but of course we still fly them. If the Air Force can’t pull a part from a can bird at Davis-Monthan, they have all the drawings from Boeing and can manufacture the parts at depot. Hell, we are even 3D printing some of that stuff. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Maybe they should call it the Hans “Won’t-sdorf” foundation? 3rd party movements looking better?
Thanx John.....Rolex? 😅😅😅😅😅
I fix vintage. Using vintage parts
This is so deliberate they are chocking the market just a little more. Some folks that perhaps liked vintage watches and had as a potential purchase a Rolex will move away or have to get a new watch. This company is pretty much a disgrace at this point.
Where do independent watchmakers source their Rolex parts ?!
This could be a nightmare for vintage Rolex owner. We always believe Rolex is perpetual that is why it commands such high price level, with ir-repairability, the myth crashes, our Rolex may become a piece of garbage as time passes.
I use Rolex authorized watchmakers to do my servicing. They don't refuse to do part of the job, no matter if it is because I don't want them to reset to manufacturer spec or if they don't have all the parts to do whatever changes they like. This is Rolex doing Rolex. If I sent an old Vacheron in someone would probably manufacture whatever parts needed. At Rolex the CNC operator isn't as interested.
If Chris Evans was a watch guy👆
When you buy a used one how can you be sure how many parts are real and after market I bet people will be dumping a lot of them on the market I'll stick with a $75 dollar knock off when it does just get another.
I think if watch has a service history from RSC, Rolex should not refuse the service. If you are buying a vintage watch that never been serviced before by RSC, they most likely refuse the service. In my opinion always use RSC to service your watches. Have a history with them. And most likely they will not turn you down when watch will get really old.
It’s a garbage play by Rolex, if you claim you’re such a luxury brand you don’t do this!! You can send your damaged vintage 911 back to Porsche and get anything done, that’s how a brand leader acts!!
Rolex logic 🤦♂️
Third party manufacturer I can see that going bad.
Shit customer service you spend all that money and then they can’t repair it
This is not right. Many people buy Rolex and other luxury timepieces to hand down from one generation to the next, this makes it impossible, if the generation after you can't get it fixed. At that point hand them a Timex for sentimental value. For the record, I have plenty of Timex watches from the 1950s that still keep great time.
What, we're not chatting anymore?!?
Rolex did not produce movements in 1990, Aegler did
Again, this only shows that Rolex is not Breguet.
One of many reasons I don’t buy Rolex. They are disposable.
Wooolex
They do it, because they can. How come? Well, the demand by casuals is so high, that they can do whatever they want. Their arrogance will only get worse, as it should.
P.S. I own one, have nothing against the watches, but the company is doing ridiculous things.
ROLEX also will not repair watches that are reported stolen.
I find their stand appalling.
And then Rolex pretends to be Patel… whatever ..
Misleading title
Not a huge deal. Find a good watch repair a guy that understands what you’re wanting done. Develop a good relationship. Frankly Rolex should Be providing service and parts on all their stuff. Mercedes can get you parts for 75 year old cars
That's not so easy if you have one watch and need it serviced every ten years.
@@gilessteve That’s funny, I can’t imagine only having one watch. I need to stop.
They should be making parts as needed for vintage pieces. They made the parts before so they should make it a priority to service what they sell.
It's not the aftercare I'd expect of a prestige brand
Like an old car, parts are obsolete! Why carry parts for so many models, when the current models over exceed their work loads! Vintage watches will decrease in value, considerably!