Why won't Rolex service older models?

[stat]

Will RSC refuse to service our current watches 50 years from now? Do they not keep an inventory of parts for very long? What is their policy for how long they will service a watch? This is a bit odd to me. Thanks guys.

[Zirotti]

It's like any manufacturer. If you take a 55 Chevy into a Chevy dealer, they may or may not service it as they will have to source parts from aftermarket companies as GM no longer produces or stocks parts. They can't stock and keep making parts forever.

[DDG]

Caterpillar used to say "There are no orphans". They could get you all the parts you could afford, for anything they made.

[Zirotti]

Originally Posted by DDG

Caterpillar used to say "There are no orphans". They could get you all the parts you could afford, for anything they made.

That make sense though. If you have a Caterpiller, you are probably using it for mission-critical work.

If your 50 old Rolex isn't keeping perfect time, no one's gonna die ;) But, I would bet it would depend on which Service Center you call.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Zirotti

It's like any manufacturer. If you take a 55 Chevy into a Chevy dealer, they may or may not service it as they will have to source parts from aftermarket companies as GM no longer produces or stocks parts. They can't stock and keep making parts forever.

Cannot understand why I am sure Rolex have all the schematics for all past movements.And Rolex are supposed to be watchmakers and how hard can it be to make a part if necessary for a older movement.IMHO Rolex has let down its past Heritage watches by putting a cut of time for service.Even Brands like Seiko with there high end watches guarantee service for 50 plus years.

[Howie]

I sent my vintage 666 Ingenieur to IWC - they had to send it out to Switzerland, and it took 6 months, but they had all the parts to service the movement and they sent me serial archival papers showing when and where the watch was originally purchased back in 1970.

Now that's service!

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by patrick09

I think I read some where recently Rolex not supporting watches over 30 years old?

Originally Posted by tinstar

30 years max

That is straight from Dallas RSC

My 1601 is 44 years old and the Fukuoka RSC didn't even blink when I brought in for a service. The lady at the reception just smiled and gave me some documents to fill out. When I came back one week later to talk about the quote, the technician didn't even mention the age of the watch. When I asked him if it could be serviced he just laughed and said of course it can.

So, I wonder is this 30+ year stuff only to do with sports models?

Originally Posted by Alcan

The Toronto RSC told me they'll service any older Rolex providing they still have access to parts and it doesn't have what they term an "exotic" dial.

They recently overhauled Nancy's circa 1960 cocktail watch, had all parts for the cal. 1400 in stock. That's not bad for an almost 50 year old watch.

Exactly!

Originally Posted by padi56

Cannot understand why I am sure Rolex have all the schematics for all past movements.And Rolex are supposed to be watchmakers and how hard can it be to make a part if necessary for a older movement.IMHO Rolex has let down its past Heritage watches by putting a cut of time for service.Even Brands like Seiko with there high end watches guarantee service for 50 plus years.

I have to agree. It just doesn't make sense. I would have thought that Rolex would have worked out that people were going to need to service their older models in the future and therefore would have created a vintage division of some sort specifically for servicing these 30+ year models. It seems like a no brainer to me. Definitely sad.

[Jackxv]

When you've got a family hairloom and want it serviced, get in contact with Geneva.

If the watch was regularly serviced and contains no aftermarket pieces or repainted dial they will try to service it.

Remember the 15XX caliber was produced from end 50's untill end 70's and there still are a lot of parts around. Same for the manual precision movements.
The 30XX movements were produced from end 70's till end 80's and the 31XX were produced from then untill now.

The buggers are the BB and 10XX movements.

I wouldn't worry about the movement, the cases, crystals and dials will be the problem.

Jack

[spuds]

Don't Omega guarantee that they'll always be able to service their watches 'for the life of the watch' or something.....??

[Tools]

Originally Posted by spuds

Don't Omega guarantee that they'll always be able to service their watches 'for the life of the watch' or something.....??

No, I believe that Patek says that... But Omega does have a very good Vintage Support system.. It just might take a year or so for the work...

[spuds]

Originally Posted by Tools

No, I believe that Patek says that... But Omega does have a very good Vintage Support system.. It just might take a year or so for the work...

Looks like you were right mate: I got this from the Omega website.


Is it true that Omega watches are designed for life?
Omega guarantees repairs and the delivery of spare parts for its watches for at least 20 years from the date production is discontinued. Beyond this time, Omega will do its utmost to ensure collectors' items and vintage watches can be repaired.

[Cato]

Originally Posted by Tools

No, I believe that Patek says that... But Omega does have a very good Vintage Support system.. It just might take a year or so for the work...

Yeah, and routine servicing or regulation takes about that long at their NJ center.

I love my Bond SMP, though.

[lukestevenson]

Originally Posted by spuds

Don't Omega guarantee that they'll always be able to service their watches 'for the life of the watch' or something.....??

omega have a seperate comany department called swiss time that service older models.

[cornerstore]

Originally Posted by stat

Will RSC refuse to service our current watches 50 years from now? Do they not keep an inventory of parts for very long? What is their policy for how long they will service a watch? This is a bit odd to me. Thanks guys.

I think I read some where recently Rolex not supporting watches over 30 years old?

[Speedmeister]

Omega is very good about servicing vintages. I have never heard of them not servicing a watch. My guess is they will service the popular sportswatches like Speedmasters and Seamasters indefinitely. You might run into a problem if it's a very rare Omega, but not likely.

That's the one thing that bothers me about Rolex.

PS. Chevy might not service your 50 year old car but Mercedes will. They will manufacture any part not available for all their cars going back to the beginning... probably not cheap though.

[tinstar]

30 years max

That is straight from Dallas RSC

[Singslinger]

Originally Posted by tinstar

30 years max

That is straight from Dallas RSC

Yes I was told the same thing too.

[Alcan]

The Toronto RSC told me they'll service any older Rolex providing they still have access to parts and it doesn't have what they term an "exotic" dial.

They recently overhauled Nancy's circa 1960 cocktail watch, had all parts for the cal. 1400 in stock. That's not bad for an almost 50 year old watch.

[Jackxv]

I think it's a shame Rolex no longer services the old watches.

But I also understand the amount of parts that should be kept in storage because of the huge amount of calibers used.
Not to mention dials, bezels, bezel inserts, hands and etcetera.

You're speaking in hundreds of thousands different parts.

But for the 10XX and 15XX there should be supply for another 50 years. There a sold in large numbers and I even think they can make a profit out of it, everbody will pay almost every amount asked for restoration (original) of their watch.

Jack

[jnmarshall]

Just had my wifes '47 Tudor princess serviced at the RSC. No problem. The cost was a little higher as it needed a few parts for repairs as it just quit working.

[mike]

It's an issue that drives collectors nuts and an issue that frequently comes up on various fora.

In some sence Rolex has turned their back on the very watches upon which the legend has been built. Yeah I know collectors make up a small part of the watch community and Rolex is in the business of selling watches.

That understood how about the guy (and there are a few) that have used one watch their whole lives and have more than a passing attachment to it??

I've said it before, the history that is Rolex is now the realm of the collector to maintain. Sad.

Rant off.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by mike

It's an issue that drives collectors nuts and an issue that frequently comes up on various fora.

In some sence Rolex has turned their back on the very watches upon which the legend has been built. Yeah I know collectors make up a small part of the watch community and Rolex is in the business of selling watches.

That understood how about the guy (and there are a few) that have used one watch their whole lives and have more than a passing attachment to it??

I've said it before, the history that is Rolex is now the realm of the collector to maintain. Sad.

Rant off.

Mike,

You are so right...

Here is where Rolex may be missing the boat - even more. WIS's like you (and like I aspire to be) are influencers. I.e. we can nudge friends, family and forum posters over the edge toward Rolex - or not.

Most manufacturers want to keep their influencers / brand champions etc. happy so they convince other buyers to buy and buy often.

The high-end PC hardware guys get it..While not a completely apples to apples comparison, loyalty programs and liberal parts /exchange / upgrade programs of a company like EVGA (high-end NVIDIA-based PC graphics cards & motherboards) will keep me recommending them to friends building gaming rigs and I will certainly not buy anywhere else when I build my next rig...

Perhaps Rolex feels it their brand is so addictive that they folks will keep buying no matter what.

[sakuraba]

Originally Posted by mike

Rant off.

I love how you can just turn it on and off, Mike.

My whole day today was one rant after another. Hate this rain!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by mike

It's an issue that drives collectors nuts and an issue that frequently comes up on various fora.

In some sence Rolex has turned their back on the very watches upon which the legend has been built. Yeah I know collectors make up a small part of the watch community and Rolex is in the business of selling watches.

That understood how about the guy (and there are a few) that have used one watch their whole lives and have more than a passing attachment to it??

I've said it before, the history that is Rolex is now the realm of the collector to maintain. Sad.

Rant off.

Have to agree with you there Mike and lets be honest here if a part is not available then they should be able to make it.But today Rolex is more of a assembler than watchmaker.Now Seiko for there high end brands will service repair no matter how old watch is.

[ParisDakarBmw]

They should offer to repair all of their watches that have original parts. If a watch is beyond repair, they could simply mark that in the computer and send it back. Otherwise just find a good previously certified Rolex watchmaker.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by stat

Will RSC refuse to service our current watches 50 years from now? Do they not keep an inventory of parts for very long? What is their policy for how long they will service a watch? This is a bit odd to me. Thanks guys.

They, Rolex, would rather see you purchase a new Rolex. That's why.

[Denver Dick]

I saw some yearly production figures for Rolex over the past 60 or 70 years. IIRC, they have produced far more watches over the past 30 years then they did in the previous 60. So, it may be that there just aren't enough 50+ year old watches around to justify making a run of parts. Given the very large number of watches I saw produced during the 3035 movement period ('77-'87), there should be plenty of those around to continue to justify a run of parts every so often. And, as for the 3135 period . . . heck, we're still in it. Just my

[Denizen]

Originally Posted by Art 1

They, Rolex, would rather see you purchase a new Rolex. That's why.

and what if the watch is no longer being made?!?...you're SOL.

i bought a SD and have no interest in getting a DSSD or whatever humongous watch Rolex is trying to cram down our throats.
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i read somewhere that Rolex will only guarantee service for 30 yrs after the model has been discontinued.

i agree with Speed & mike that i wish Rolex would offer longer service & parts on their watches. decades from now, my IWCs and Omega will be able to get serviced and can be handed down to another generation while my Rolexes will be a bit more problematic.

[mkultra]

Patek will indeed service any watch ever made by them and will make the necessary parts but it is a process that can take years according to what I have read on this or other "fora"

[hng]

I've asked the same question from RSC and was advised 30 years but for sure they need to know what model etc.