Service the DeepSea

[STEVEad1]

I must say since joining this forum, Ive learned alot and have a good time seeing everything. I bought my DeepSea back when the came out in 08. So Im thinking its time to send it to my AD where I bought it and get it serviced. The guy charges $375 which does include the pressure test. Clean and polish is an additional $100. So how does that sound and compare to others? As always thanks for everybody's help...SV

[Melanotaenia]

It is my understanding the DSSD has to be sent back to Rolex SA for the pressure test due to the depth ratings of the case. Others should be able to chime in regarding this (only applies to the DSSD, not other Sub models)

[joe100]

Needs to go back to Rolex unless your AD has the equipment to pressure test to the DeepSea depth rating...which I doubt. You paid for 12800 feet. It'd be like buying a BMW and on your first service they removed 3 cylinders out of your engine. Sure it still runs but it's not what it's supposed to be. Don't skimp

[gwalker]

I have had mine regulated 2x not at RSC. Most can pressure test to over2k feet. Plenty enough for me. any one that can pressure test a sub can pressure test DSSD unless you are going to strap your watch to a trident class submarine. Most likely if it doesn't fail at 2k it's not failing at 10k.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by gwalker

I have had mine regulated 2x not at RSC. Most can pressure test to over2k feet. Plenty enough for me. any one that can pressure test a sub can pressure test DSSD unless you are going to strap your watch to a trident class submarine. Most likely if it doesn't fail at 2k it's not failing at 10k.

Which brand pressure tester does your watchmaker (and most watchmakers have it seems) that can test watch pressure resistance to 60 bar?

ps. your 'ok at 2000ft' will be 'ok at 10000ft' doesn't make any sense to me??

Are you an engineer?

[sub-eddie]

I just called (today) to the rolex service center in dallas and they told me that the service starts at 700.00 for the deepsea and that they recommend a service every 5-7 years.

[Adam K.]

Originally Posted by gwalker

I have had mine regulated 2x not at RSC. Most can pressure test to over2k feet. Plenty enough for me. any one that can pressure test a sub can pressure test DSSD unless you are going to strap your watch to a trident class submarine. Most likely if it doesn't fail at 2k it's not failing at 10k.

This!

[mike]

To be honest, that would scare me a little. I would want to know what all is involved in the serice provided, if the watchmaker had a parts account, and as mentioned the pressure testing is probably not going to be to the stated depth.

[STEVEad1]

I just emailed the guy again. He owns the store and Ive done alot of business with him. When I asked about it yesterday he said he could. So I just emailed him about the pressure test depth. I'll be suprised if he cant go the full 3900m. He also said it will be done on a machine and not a water tester like the old days. What does that mean and does it sound right? Is the price right compared to other AD's?

[azguy]

With that watch use RSC, not worth screwing around with it.

Is the watch keeping good time you may be a few years ahead of really needing a service

[psv]

A bit too early to service it unless it is not running well.

When it is time to service mine it will go back to Rolex, I'm not having no local AD amateur messing up my watch internally or externally.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by psv

A bit too early to service it unless it is not running well.

I agree with this.

I'd stick to a pressure test and wait another three years for a full service.

If you are a diver, then the pressure test should be annual, but a full service should be at 5-7 years and I'd lean toward 7, unless something is clearly amiss.

Originally Posted by david_ord

I give my 3 year old daughter a bath daily. The watch gets submerged rather deep... sometimes down to 16 inches in warm water for extended periods of times of up to 15 seconds. It always seems to work fine when it emerges, but appearance can be deceiving. Does this level of wear and tear necessitate a shorter service interval?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by STEVEad1

I must say since joining this forum, Ive learned alot and have a good time seeing everything. I bought my DeepSea back when the came out in 08. So Im thinking its time to send it to my AD where I bought it and get it serviced. The guy charges $375 which does include the pressure test. Clean and polish is an additional $100. So how does that sound and compare to others? As always thanks for everybody's help...SV

Your watch should not need a fall service yet perhaps in two years time unless you dive and just want a pressure check. While the DSSD is tested to extreme depth that no man or future man will ever use, at the moment only Rolex can check to full depth rating.But if any watch passes a 200-300m pressure check it will be fine for scuba.So getting the back off to service even a DSSD should not be a problem to any good watchmaker if its tightened down to the correct torque after.Myself used a SD for many many years with 100s of hours underwater,that was serviced by my watchmaker friend. But only pressure tested to 300m never had a problem with it above or below the water.Its a fact there have been more guys that have gone to the moon,than have gone over 300m underwater just using scuba.

[gwalker]

Originally Posted by padi56

Your watch should not need a fall service yet perhaps in two years time unless you dive and just want a pressure check. While the DSSD is tested to extreme depth that no man or future man will ever use, at the moment only Rolex can check to full depth rating.But if any watch passes a 200-300m pressure check it will be fine for scuba.So getting the back off to service even a DSSD should not be a problem to any good watchmaker if its tightened down to the correct torque after.Myself used a SD for many many years with 100s of hours underwater,that was serviced by my watchmaker friend. But only pressure tested to 300m never had a problem with it above or below the water.Its a fact there have been more guys that have gone to the moon,than have gone over 300m underwater just using scuba.

Exactly. You can go on the side of caution And send it to RSC but if a DSSD is tested to 1500-2000 feet it's fine. A seal or o ring that was incorrectly installed would fail before that. I trust my watch maker and mine was tested to 2000 ft after both regulations by him. That's sufficient for any diving the human body can take. From what I understand the pressure test doesn't actually test the He valve anyway. It's kinda like putting a Y rating tire on my Corvette. Yes it's only rated to 186 mph and the car can go faster but will there ever be an issue. Almost certainly not. Ask your watchmaker what he can test to.

[Dr. Robert]

It's 4 yrs old......unless it's off & not working well, a service can wait.......unless you dive regularly in the Marianas Trench, it should be o.k.

[TSW]

No AD in my town can do the pressure test so all DSSD have to be sent out to Rolex.
And as others already said sounds a bit early for service if it is working well.

[wantonebad]

I'm going on my 6th year with my Z serial sub and I haven't had it serviced yet, I'm thinking somtime after next year for mine. 7 years for a daily wearer is a good bet, it still keeps perfect time. Yours is 4 years in so as others have said I'd wait another year or two.

[STEVEad1]

My job involves deep diving. Ive had it down with me to 236m with decompression around 9 days and didnt have any problems with the much needed Helium through the relief valve. Havent had any problems at all but was told to service the watch between 3-5yrs. So your telling me thats a bunch of garbage? Ok good to know. Just thought with my job I should keep a schedule. Nobody has answered about the price question, if it sounds about right? Whats a good way to follow up on how its keeping time and for how long?

[paracord]

Originally Posted by STEVEad1

My job involves deep diving. Ive had it down with me to 236m with decompression around 9 days and didnt have any problems with the much needed Helium through the relief valve. Havent had any problems at all but was told to service the watch between 3-5yrs. So your telling me thats a bunch of garbage? Nobody has answered about the price question, if it sounds about right?

Wow my above comment applies even more with this info then. You are a diver.

The 3-5 is the recommendation for the seals, especially if you dive a lot (actually i'd have it tested every 2 if you're an active diver).

The internal mechanics will go 5-7 before needing service and regulation.

Either way I'd send it to Rolex to ensure the job is done right and recourse directly from the manufacturer if it isn't for some reason.

[DCgator]

Originally Posted by STEVEad1

Nobody has answered about the price question, if it sounds about right?

It might be obvious now that no one has had their DSSD fully serviced and so one has chimed in on how much the RSC charges for a full service.

[paracord]

Send it to Rolex. Think about it. They've probably services thousands and thousands of DSSD's. They have it down to a science I'm sure.

How many has your local guy done? A couple? If any?

I would never let some local person touch my nearly 10K DSSD.

[CoachRolexRyan]

Originally Posted by paracord

send it to rolex. Think about it. They've probably services thousands and thousands of dssd's. They have it down to a science i'm sure.

How many has your local guy done? A couple? If any?

I would never let some local person touch my nearly 10k dssd.

x2

[rad87gn]

Make sure you absolutely trust who is doing the work. Like others said I agree it's way to early for a service. Give it least 5-7 years between services. Pressure check it every year or two (least to 200m). Only Rolex has the pressure tester for the full depth rating.

[Melanotaenia]

Found this on another thread:


Comex supplied the hyperbaric chamber that Rolex uses to test every DSSD produced

The chamber is a highly engineered steel tank which replicates the pressure experienced at 4,875 metres, some 975 metres over the rated capability of the DSSD.

This equates to 4 tons of water pressure on the crystal.

I would doubt most watchmakers have these in their shop. If a diver, getting it tested by Rolex is probably even more important IMO

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by STEVEad1

I must say since joining this forum, Ive learned alot and have a good time seeing everything. I bought my DeepSea back when the came out in 08. So Im thinking its time to send it to my AD where I bought it and get it serviced. The guy charges $375 which does include the pressure test. Clean and polish is an additional $100. So how does that sound and compare to others? As always thanks for everybody's help...SV

don't let your ad's watch maker service it... they may be rolex certified but they never do the job like rolex. ESP for the Deepsea.. sounds like the guy would BS you and check the watch for timing, give it a normal presure test to 3 bars and send it back to you...

I mean to be honest, with the new lubes rolex has inside the watch as well as gears, it can take years and years before they wore out or dried up.

i think it's a bit early IMHO to send it in to rolex, but to each his own. Me personally, I would wait 10 years before a service on a modern rolex if purchased new from an ad. unless i had a problem with the watch then of course I would have to send it in. but that's just me.

[STEVEad1]

All this is really good stuff. In fact a 2nd reading is in order. So sending it to the Big Boys.. Where and how?

[STEVEad1]

Email sent and waiting for a reply on depth question. How would I go about sending to Rolex? Anybody have an address?

[azguy]

Originally Posted by STEVEad1

Email sent and waiting for a reply on depth question. How would I go about sending to Rolex? Anybody have an address?

Use the search function here on TRf or Google

Same price a s Sub, YM or GMT...............

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by azguy

Use the search function here on TRf or Google

.... Or go to rolex.com, or look at the service guide that came with your watch.

I would definitely send it to RSC, especially if you use it for its intended purpose. You might also want to pressure test it at most once a year or 1 1/2 since you are a diver.

Full service should run you about $600 including polish, and comes with a 2 year warranty good anywhere in the world. I would wait at least one more year before servicing it if it's running fine.

[kilyung]

Call up RSC and they'll send you box and instructions.