Rolex wants to replace the hands on my Zenith Daytona

[golfsc]

Sent my Zenith Daytona to Rolex for routine service and they are requiring a replacement of the hands as part of the routine service. They said "flakes" are coming of the hands which will mess up the movement if the hands aren't replaced and they won't do the service without replacing the hands.

I had the routine service done 7 years ago and this was not an issue. I wear the watch often and its working well.

Need help from some of the more experienced WIS.

If I refuse it means I won't be able to service the watch in the future.
If I say yes then I no longer have the original hands.

Thoughts?

[TheVTCGuy]

Wow... Tough call. If it were me, I would change them out. The Rolex watchmakers are a lot smarter then I am and I would believe their recommendation. HOWEVER, I’ll bet I will be in the minority on here.

Whatever your choice, good luck!

[Todd Turbo S]

I’m stating the obvious, but can’t you request the original hands be returned to you with the service?

[Runfar]

same thing happened to me and they did give me the old hands so I have them I suppose if I were to ever sell it?

[peterpl]

just get an independent to service it. Rolliworks or one of those guys

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by peterpl

just get an independent to service it. Rolliworks or one of those guys

Yep, that's what I would do too. LAWW is another. JoT also.

[slillestrand]

Originally Posted by peterpl

just get an independent to service it. Rolliworks or one of those guys

I would do this as well.

[mkruger311]

Most are going to recommend an independent service. I wouldn't always trust the hands will be given back.

[ROLEXster]

Serviced my dad's 44 yr old DJ recently.

Dropped off at AD.
Look at the Additional notes section:
DO NOT change dial + hands
DO NOT polish

The hands are flaking.
And the dots on the dial is starting to flake,
You can see from pic.

RSC did full service without changing hands or dial.
.
.
.

[SubGMTExplorer2Fan]

Originally Posted by ROLEXster

Serviced my dad's 44 yr old DJ recently.



Dropped off at AD.

Look at the Additional notes section:

DO NOT change dial + hands

DO NOT polish



The hands are flaking.

And the dots on the dial is starting to flake,

You can see from pic.



RSC did full service without changing hands or dial.

.

.

.

Your watch is a perfect example of refurbish a watch you probably won't sell. I'll tell you what. I guarantee you your father would always want his basic everyday Rolex to look nice and clean if he could afford it. Enjoy new lume on it just like your father enjoyed it new IMHO.

[ROLEXster]

Originally Posted by SubGMTExplorer2Fan

Your watch is a perfect example of refurbish a watch you probably won't sell. I'll tell you what. I guarantee you your father would always want his basic everyday Rolex to look nice and clean if he could afford it. Enjoy new lume on it just like your father enjoyed it new IMHO.

Thanks, you are right.
I will never sell my dad's watch.
His watch means alot to me and started my love for Rolex as a young kid.
I will pass it on to my son.
Still have papers and receipt from 1976.

Sorry OP ... don't mean to hyjack your thread.
.
.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by ROLEXster

Thanks, you are right.
I will never sell my dad's watch.
His watch means alot to me and started my love for Rolex as a young kid.
I will pass it on to my son.
Still have papers and receipt from 1976.

Sorry OP ... don't mean to hyjack your thread.
.
.

Enjoy this treasured memory of your dad

[SubGMTExplorer2Fan]

Get it serviced by an independent watchmaker. Tell them what the RSC said and ask for a second opinion. Ask if they can service it without changing the hands. If no, It is safe queen time! The more collectible Rolex watches have about 10 year use before you might as well put it in the vault anyway. Sell it as original as possible and let the next person decide what to do.

[Atone]

send it to rolliworks or LAWW

DO NOT SEND IT IT RSC

[DLRIDES]

Originally Posted by Atone

send it to rolliworks or LAWW

DO NOT SEND IT IT RSC

/\ THIS /\


Get the watch back and send it to one of the above !

[Jonah10]

Keep it original, if they can’t honor your request go somewhere else. There are plenty of places that are certified to service your watch.


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[henrylee]

I would not change it

[jerryguo]

as long as the dial is original, why not? i would be ok with it


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[DGB]

By changing the hands you will have nice and shiny lume while the indices will have a patina.
You have a beautiful Zenith turning to a Patrizzi, if the lume aren’t matching you’ll loose much value.

Go to an independent, RSC is known for bringing vintage watches to modern standards and doesn’t care about vintage values.


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[afmars]

Originally Posted by DGB

By changing the hands you will have nice and shiny lume while the indices will have a patina.
You have a beautiful Zenith turning to a Patrizzi, if the lume aren’t matching you’ll loose much value.

This is exactly right. The non matching lume patina would bother meZ

[Verdi]

Im all for functionality but in this case I’d keep the old hands.

[Rado63]

Since you have a tritium dial, They didn't require a dial change?

[golfsc]

Originally Posted by Rado63

Since you have a tritium dial, They didn't require a dial change?

They offered to replace the dial as an option.
The hand replacement is mandatory as part of the servicing.

I appreciate all who have responded.

It seem that to keep the vintage nature of the watch I might be risking functionality which makes no sense. Yet is it really vintage if the hands are brand new.

I'll give it some more thought and let you guys know what I decide to do.

Love this forum!

J

[VonSomething]

For the sake of functionality I'd let them replace them. I'm not a big vintage guy, but I know that I surely have committed a punishable offence by allowing them to be replaced :-)

And don't call me Shirley.

[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by VonSomething

For the sake of functionality I'd let them replace them. I'm not a big vintage guy, but I know that I surely have committed a punishable offence by allowing them to be replaced :-)

And don't call me Shirley.

Shirley you wouldn’t really want bright white lume hands with that tanned dial lume?

Get them to send it back and get it off to a specialist. IF they are flaking they can stabilise the lume with a binder.

[VonSomething]

Originally Posted by uncleluck

Shirley you wouldn’t really want bright white lume hands with that tanned dial lume?

Get them to send it back and get it off to a specialist. IF they are flaking they can stabilise the lume with a binder.

Honestly, it wouldn't bother me.

I'm sure it would bother 90% on this forum. In the general public that number is probably reversed again.

[fmc000]

I would definitely refuse the service then bring the watch to a different AD or to an independent, as other members suggested.

Your watch is original only once.

[Daveclock]

Such a shame to mess up a lovely Patrizzi dial watch.
Yes Lume that is loose could potentially get into the movement etc.,
I would hate mis-matched hands and dial colour (but I own a Tritium Speedy from 90's that naturally did that!)
Not sure Rolex would return the old hands - I thought they kept them to stop fakers?

[jimcameron]

I would and did have hands and date wheel changed because of "flaking". I wear the watch, want it 100% functional. I understand that proper care of a mechanical item sometimes requires a new part to replace a worn out part.

Do you have the Cam-Belts replaced on your Ferrari or just "reconditioned"?

[blada4life]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

I would and did have hands and date wheel changed because of "flaking". I wear the watch, want it 100% functional. I understand that proper care of a mechanical item sometimes requires a new part to replace a worn out part.

Do you have the Cam-Belts replaced on your Ferrari or just "reconditioned"?

Not a very good example. Your example is more akin to replacing a movement piece like the mainspring. A better illustration of this situation is like replacing vintage rims on a vintage Ferrari with current production ones.

I get the practicality aspect but to me, it destroys the sanctity of the vintage piece. Can’t they seal the existing tritium somehow? They just don’t want to. Rolex doesn’t care about collectibility. They want their watches to look new and modern. Unless the hands are 1 for 1, which they’re not, don’t touch them. If you are lucky enough to keep the old hands then consider it but otherwise take it to an independent and you may have to change how you wear the watch now if it’s really that risky.


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