Dave London
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Yep any mods to a Rolex voids the the factory guarantee. My band wore out and I bought a after market replacement ,the new Rolex SS bracelet almost as much as the watch did. MTC
10 things every Rolex owner should know
- Thread starter DakotaDocMartin
- Start date
That's a BEAST of a watch, Phil! 
Tim: Sad story on the Submariner. I don't think water could have made spots that can't be removed. They must have gotten some kind of solvent on it. Crappy deal though and obviously there's no guarantee you get luxury service on your luxury watch.
Tim: Sad story on the Submariner. I don't think water could have made spots that can't be removed. They must have gotten some kind of solvent on it. Crappy deal though and obviously there's no guarantee you get luxury service on your luxury watch.
That's a BEAST of a watch, Phil!
Tim: Sad story on the Submariner. I don't think water could have made spots that can't be removed. They must have gotten some kind of solvent on it. Crappy deal though and obviously there's no guarantee you get luxury service on your luxury watch.
maybe he was fiddling with hydrogen flouride. that acid will eat away at glass and crystal. i used to use this stuff full strength. bad stuff to fiddle with. i aint buyin waterspots. as you mentioned, they can be removed as quickly as they got there in the first place.
Tim Wells
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
He was wearing it at work like I do everyday and we work outside in all weather. He walked out of the hangar on a day when it was about 6 degrees outside and he watched as his crystal fogged up like a cloud in an instant. This was not a month after he got it back from RSC NY and a $600.00 bill.
He let it sit at home and saw a fingerprint on the inside of the crystal so he took it back in disgust after all that money with the print and spots on the dial. I could barely see them through the dial with the naked eye. They were however, readily visible when out of the case. The store took the movement out, cleaned the print off the inside and put it back together claiming they couldn't see any spots.
The moisture came from wearing it for a month or so with a case tube that was not sealed and was missing a gasket. The condensation caused by the rapid temperature inversion naturally settled onto the dial and was left there. The minerals, vapors, or whatever from oils and lubricants combined with water droplets laid on the dial and etched into the lacquered surface. I tried on the edge with a medical cotton swab to rub some off dry and with a dampened swab to no avail.
On an enameled dial it would have wiped right off. Every time he unscrewed his crown to set the watch he was actually unscrewing the case tube and all as it was stuck in the crown. These tubes are supposed to be installed with green loctite so that very thing doesn't happen. They wanted it to be sent in for a full service, to the same place to fix a problem they caused and over charged for in the first place. Unacceptable.
I took it and repaired it, serviced it, replaced all gaskets and it'll never leak again. The dial he'll just have to live with.
He let it sit at home and saw a fingerprint on the inside of the crystal so he took it back in disgust after all that money with the print and spots on the dial. I could barely see them through the dial with the naked eye. They were however, readily visible when out of the case. The store took the movement out, cleaned the print off the inside and put it back together claiming they couldn't see any spots.
The moisture came from wearing it for a month or so with a case tube that was not sealed and was missing a gasket. The condensation caused by the rapid temperature inversion naturally settled onto the dial and was left there. The minerals, vapors, or whatever from oils and lubricants combined with water droplets laid on the dial and etched into the lacquered surface. I tried on the edge with a medical cotton swab to rub some off dry and with a dampened swab to no avail.
On an enameled dial it would have wiped right off. Every time he unscrewed his crown to set the watch he was actually unscrewing the case tube and all as it was stuck in the crown. These tubes are supposed to be installed with green loctite so that very thing doesn't happen. They wanted it to be sent in for a full service, to the same place to fix a problem they caused and over charged for in the first place. Unacceptable.
I took it and repaired it, serviced it, replaced all gaskets and it'll never leak again. The dial he'll just have to live with.
Last edited:
If he knew a good engraver couldn't he have that "fixed"?
Tim Wells
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
He don't know any. HAHAHA
Crossbolt
Elite Cafe Member
Phil
I'm a new member and was browsing threads; this caught my eye as I admire your work and have experienced a similar problem with Rolex.
Maybe my experience might help. I had similar problems at a Rolex representative jewelers; having declined their kind offer of services I located the actual local Rolex service center (I'm near San Francisco, California). I went there to have a bracelet repaired (an unusual USA rivet style). They not only repaired it but did so using "no longer available" steel micro tube I had acquired for the purpose and did so without sales pressure cleaning it into the bargain and for almost 1/10th the jeweler's quotes. Just a thought.
Thanks for posting your informative replies and inspiring work.
Jeremy
P.S. I've never engraved one either - I'm still figuring out what the best graver is to practice crude English scroll
I'm a new member and was browsing threads; this caught my eye as I admire your work and have experienced a similar problem with Rolex.
Maybe my experience might help. I had similar problems at a Rolex representative jewelers; having declined their kind offer of services I located the actual local Rolex service center (I'm near San Francisco, California). I went there to have a bracelet repaired (an unusual USA rivet style). They not only repaired it but did so using "no longer available" steel micro tube I had acquired for the purpose and did so without sales pressure cleaning it into the bargain and for almost 1/10th the jeweler's quotes. Just a thought.
Thanks for posting your informative replies and inspiring work.
Jeremy
P.S. I've never engraved one either - I'm still figuring out what the best graver is to practice crude English scroll
So far, I've engraved 3 different Rolex watch backs, I really don't know how old these three were, but don't like the feel of Rolex steel. The 3 felt the same to cut, really gummy and under the microscope it look like plowing steel. If the steel is so called superior to any other steel, why are they scratched & damaged so easily? Picture of the 3th Rolex watch back (before engraving )
)Attachments
-
S.A.S. emblem Jamie L-P (blank Rolex back before).JPG
So far, I've engraved 3 different Rolex watch backs, I really don't know how old these three were, but don't like the feel of Rolex steel. The 3 felt the same to cut, really gummy and under the microscope it look like plowing steel. If the steel is so called superior to any other steel, why are they scratched & damaged so easily? Picture of the 3th Rolex watch back (before engraving
It has nothing to do with scratching. It’s about corrosion resistance.
Dave London
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Interesting I have never seen a Rolex with text on the back, usually just plain. But I am far from a expert on the subject
Borzzza
Elite Cafe Member
They might be good watches but the Company itself sucks, why...the mainspring broke in my Submariner, it went off to Rolex, they wouldn't replace another spring unless I had a service, that's ok, but they also wanted to change the glass, the bezel and also the Gold crown, the glass is perfect, the bezel is perfect and not discoloured and the crown is perfect, total price around £1200. I told the shop to tell Rolex what they could do with these extras, they came back with a service and crown or no repair, the thread on the crown was perfect, and the seals come under the service, anyway I had the job done for £850.
That's not all....! Simons pin broke on His Submariner's bracelet, it went off to Rolex, they wanted £3600 for a new bracelet, also they insisted on a service, a new glass and a new bezel, Simon told them where they could go!
For a repitable Company they are the pits for customer relations, also, there are no contact numbers to make a complaint! By the way...I have never engraved one
Phil
To change the broken main spring you must have a full service, which should cost around 1000-1200$, as all the movement has to be unbuilt. But the requirement to change the glass and besel and crown (if any discoloration) are not in the list of obligatory steps, so it is totally a choice of the shop, nothing to do with company policy))
Borzzza
Elite Cafe Member
Borzzza
Elite Cafe Member
So far, I've engraved 3 different Rolex watch backs, I really don't know how old these three were, but don't like the feel of Rolex steel. The 3 felt the same to cut, really gummy and under the microscope it look like plowing steel. If the steel is so called superior to any other steel, why are they scratched & damaged so easily? Picture of the 3th Rolex watch back (before engraving
Do you have the picture of the watch and movement? This case back looks really weird, it can be or very old or most probably a fake.
Dave London
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Amen Phil
Not service customer oriented to say the least
Not service customer oriented to say the least
Borzzza
Elite Cafe Member
Borzzza, those 3 different Rolex watch backs were sent seperate to my address (by the watchmaker who does the maintenance). I never saw the complete watches but I doubt the gentleman-aristocrat owner would buy fakes
Of course)))
Then it should be very old models, and most probably not the new 904 steel.
On a slightly different subject, here's something I learned about Rolex servicing and parts.
I engraved a Tudor bronze that I purchased used. The bezel had a couple of chips in it so I contacted my Rolex watchmaker friend who works for an authorized Rolex dealer. He told me the bronze Tudor is a "restricted model" and he can't get certain parts for it so it has to go back to Rolex. And since it's engraved, Rolex won't touch it because I've committed a grave sacrilege with unauthorized modifying one of their watches. So I was screwed with getting a replacement bezel insert.
Rolex has also shut down supplying parts to Rolex certified watchmakers that don't actually work in a dealer's store. This is a real game changer if parts are needed and you've got an engraved restricted model that can only be sent back to Rolex for parts replacement like bezels, crystals, bracelets, etc. A private watchmaker can service it, but if parts need to be replaced it really complicates things.
I engraved a Tudor bronze that I purchased used. The bezel had a couple of chips in it so I contacted my Rolex watchmaker friend who works for an authorized Rolex dealer. He told me the bronze Tudor is a "restricted model" and he can't get certain parts for it so it has to go back to Rolex. And since it's engraved, Rolex won't touch it because I've committed a grave sacrilege with unauthorized modifying one of their watches. So I was screwed with getting a replacement bezel insert.
Rolex has also shut down supplying parts to Rolex certified watchmakers that don't actually work in a dealer's store. This is a real game changer if parts are needed and you've got an engraved restricted model that can only be sent back to Rolex for parts replacement like bezels, crystals, bracelets, etc. A private watchmaker can service it, but if parts need to be replaced it really complicates things.
Sounds like Rolex is getting too big for their boots.!
Sponsors
