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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 10:57:57 GMT -8
I sent my 1973 Rolex datejust to Rolex Factory Service. They did a marvelous job and I will be attaching photos with comments.
First off, this watch was bought new in Coral Gables, FL back in 1973....
The watch had run faithfully until its demise a couple of months ago, it just plain quit and would go no further, it was off about 2 minutes a week but upon failure... it would not go and something was loose inside.
Therefore at a Rolex AD in Tucson AZ, it started its rejuvenation...
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Oct 6, 2013 11:07:23 GMT -8
Wait till you get the bill . . . . your ticker may just cease to function! laughing1.gif
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 11:12:05 GMT -8
First off I got the estimate for Factory service... $600 Bracelet $975 Hands... $60 Second hand $30
Yikes... bracelet too expensive. They claimed that it was too beat up to be safe... Yeah right.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 11:18:34 GMT -8
Of course I sent them straight to the devil-s lair for the bracelet.... I accepted the rest... But at the AD I had to pay $109 for shipping and handling...
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 11:40:51 GMT -8
Now, on the rolex letterhead I get a Retail Summary letter for service performed at the request of the AD.... I wonder... they get the $108, plus a cut in the service.... Right_?? Plus of course the customary Taxes, which I imagine would not apply had I sent it directly to them... and I think they would have picked up the Fedex charges up and back... maybe.
QTY Description Suggested unit $ Suggested extended $ 1 Factory Movt Service pres, prf &crystal 600.00 600.00 1 Refinish Case 0.00 0.00 1 Pair of Hands 60.00 60.00 1 Second Hand 30.00 30.00 1 Winding Crown 0.00 0.00
I had been told that the hands could scratch the face due to loose luminova.... I accepted the change..... I will put a comment about this later.
It was recommended tat I change the jubilee bracelet because it was badly worn and would not receive any work and was not covered by the 2 yr warranty. Bill $690.00 plus AZ Tax.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 11:58:18 GMT -8
Ok, sorry for the installments but I am downloading stuff on the computer...
Now I mentioned that I got a S& Handling charge from the AD.... $100.00 plus the $8.10 tax.... $108.10. Then at The AD I had to pay the $690.00 plus $$55.89 for tax.... that made the sub total $745.89
Adding the two, I ended up paying $853.99....
Considering that the watch cost in 1973 $300.00, that it lasted 14,600 approximate days without the overhaul, my cost was over that time of 2 cheap cents per day... to save the almost $1000.00 I could have thrown the watch away but it brings me memories, so, even if my wife and many others (and maybe even myself) think I am nuts, I will bite the bullet.
Pictures to follow.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 12:14:32 GMT -8
Here it is... on my ugly wrist. The metal looks quite good, but of course they must have had to shave off tons of stainless Steel to give it the shine and brushed look. The bracelet was just washed in their solvents, no refinishing was done on it, the could have broken it, therefore their desire to sell me the new one. Here you can see the strech that the original (made in USA, not Switzerland) bracelet has.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 12:25:30 GMT -8
This is a side view.... these watches always get the tube and crown change, I botice that the crown is larger and I am thinking that they take off the old threaded tube, bore the case a little, instal a bigger tube and of course a bigger crown. The plexiglass is thicker or maybe it seems so, but the magnifier is much better than it used to be. So it got a new set of hands... hour, minute and second... the hour and minute hands have lume... but it looses brilliance right away... the reason as the lady hearing my complaint was that they use hnds more or less of the year the model was manufactured, therefore the brilliance is...gone... bye bye $60.00.
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Oct 6, 2013 12:29:48 GMT -8
It's a beautiful watch . . . enjoy it for what is is . . . an old friend.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 6, 2013 12:34:31 GMT -8
Now, here is the watch, hot to trot but at 36 mm nowadays it looks smallish... not as small as even 39 mm models I have... maybe it is because of the radiating lined one can try to see from center and passing over the bezel. If it will be such a good watch, we shall wear it in good health with the aftermarket wjean bracelet I have for it and keep enjoying what this instrument measures... time. if it lasts as long as the original version of it, I will be long gone by the time it needs another overhaul. Good work and cheers to the (expensive but good) technicians at the Rolex Factory service in Pennsylvania.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 14, 2013 7:15:05 GMT -8
I have had some time to evaluate the overhaul to this Rolex of so many years... The basic issues that I have with it is that the glass, even if great, seems thicker than the original, the magnification of the date is exceptional but the glass is just telling me "hit me", "c'mon, hit me", because it sticks out and there is nothing to protect it. The crown looks big, too big in my book but that is hat they do, they take off the old tube, bore, put in a bigger tube and therefore a bigger crown.
Since the original bracelet is so stretched,yesterday afternoon I made an effort to once again install the fakeo I have....but even if I was ever so careful, I put it on wrong... I tried to turn it around but decided to install a new aftermarket leather strap... it looked quite nice, then I tried to install a deployant buckle and ran into problems. Apparently the strap is too fat and I must put it on thinner straps or the little stud on the buckle bites into the strap and pays no attention to the holes.... so I just instaled the regular buckle once again. However the first time, I took little care and the little buckle tounge thingie ended un below the buckle and had to redo my work and put the thingie above the buckle.
Right now the watch is with this nice black strap, looks nice but a little odd. I will post a picture later when I reregister to photosmart.
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Post by tedward515 on Oct 14, 2013 8:51:59 GMT -8
I think it looks good and would enjoy it. The all stainless with black dial is a nice combo that I like so much better than so many with the gold highlights. From what I understand the case tube is screwed in, unlike most other watches that are just pressed in. So I would think only the crown itself is oversized. I would also wonder if the crown has never been replaced and its a 40 some year old watch that some of it could be worn down. If you were accustomed to it being worn and get a fresh one that isn't worn, it will feel bigger.
As for the band, the jubilee bands of all makes are notorious for stretch. There is a guy out of Hong Kong that specializes in rebuilding watch bracelets. I think he is expensive though.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 14, 2013 11:26:28 GMT -8
I thank you for the information but am wondering if I could put it on an aftermarket oyster... however the end pieces must install perfectly.
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 14, 2013 15:56:59 GMT -8
Here are pics of the Rolex with leather: 1 2 Here you can see the big crown... 3 Here it is on my wrist...the strap is ok, seems like it is calf, but it is stiff and maybe was a bit large for my arm. I might have to go back to the WJean jubilee that I have.
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Post by lucilinburhuc on Oct 14, 2013 22:09:38 GMT -8
Great watch!! Over here, allmost no Rolex collector sends a watch to a Rolex service centre. They simply refuse to keep the watch original or to give the replaced parts back. Often they replace a tritium dial for a luminova one, reducing the value of the watch big time. Rolex movements are simple movements and there are enough good watchmakers who can service it. Enjoy your fresh Datejust!
Ron
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cartshed
WIS
Veins of Vodka
Posts: 1,918
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Post by cartshed on Oct 15, 2013 4:04:27 GMT -8
Lovely watch Jose, I'm glad you got it sorted out, I know you were debating what to do about it a little while ago.
I can't quite see how badly the bracelet is stretched but I think a competent jeweller/watchmaker might well be able to repair it. My watch guy did a Seiko one for me recently. I thought it might be beyond repair but he set to it with some tiny, round metal bars & a miniature hammer & within about 15 minutes, it was virtually as good as new. Well worth looking into if you can find someone with the right skills.
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Post by timewatcher on Oct 15, 2013 5:53:34 GMT -8
That watch is gorgeous and now after having it all serviced/repaired etc it will definitely last you a life time.......... PLEASE however excuse my bluntness but that Black band does it absolutely NO justice whatsoever!
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 15, 2013 13:37:29 GMT -8
I have a lizard band that I want to try on it...will show it later...
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Post by josejmartinez on Oct 15, 2013 20:11:47 GMT -8
I decided to put the WJean Jubilee on it. It was the bracelet I used before sending it to the overhaul. I had put the original to send it out because Rolex refuses to work on any watch that is not 100% genuine... what would have happened if I had a fake spring bar? OMG, really!!! Ok, I put it on and it looks the same...sorry for the night pictures with an IPhone.. I use the original end pieces because the WJean end pieces are not the right curvature. The bracelet is rather new, maybe a year or two of non constant wear. Tight... A few scratches here and there from desk diving... the clasp is identical to the original...except it dors not have the crown logo. I am in love again.
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Post by pollythecat on Oct 15, 2013 23:19:15 GMT -8
Beautiful watch Jose and the Jubilee bracelet suits it to a tee, I would stick with that.
I have been following this thread and can't believe Rolex will not just service the movement and leave it at that, and they get so upset if a non original part is fitted. I suppose it goes with the Rolex territory.
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