Laserweld or Normal RSC Service?

[MikePRT]

If you want the case/bracelet refurbed try sending it into “the watch polisher”…search for him on instagram.

I sent him both my sub 97200 bracelet to have PCL put on it (https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_...dium=copy_link) and my mums daytona bracelet for a full rebuild (https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_...dium=copy_link)

The Daytona bracelet is due back tomorrow so can’t comment just yet although the insta pics look amazing. Every link had some lasering to it. The 97200 sub bracelet I’ve had back a few weeks now and really happy with the work.

The watch polisher is London based and has a bricks and mortar workshop that can be visited.


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[Steve36Efc]

I follow the watch polisher on IG he’s based in London and looks to do some incredible work including laser welding. Check him out and see what you think.

Good luck

[Driver8]

If it was mine and I wanted it back to as pristine condition as possible, I'd get it laser welded by a trusted 3rd party (but only since RSCUK won't do it), and then it'd be off to Rolex for a service. I certainly wouldn't look to get it just polished out as they're going to have to remove a lot of metal to get rid of it, and if they aren't going to get rid of it completely then there's no point IMO.

I would always use RSC for anything and everything wherever possible..... but then preserving patina isn't something I go in for, so I'm always more than happy for them to replace parts with new.

[Uggi]

Originally Posted by MikePRT

If you want the case/bracelet refurbed try sending it into “the watch polisher”…search for him on instagram.

I sent him both my sub 97200 bracelet to have PCL put on it (https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_...dium=copy_link) and my mums daytona bracelet for a full rebuild (https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_...dium=copy_link)

The Daytona bracelet is due back tomorrow so can’t comment just yet although the insta pics look amazing. Every link had some lasering to it. The 97200 sub bracelet I’ve had back a few weeks now and really happy with the work.

The watch polisher is London based and has a bricks and mortar workshop that can be visited.


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Thanks very much for the info. Really useful.

[sunnygps]

OP - like others have recommended here; do not have RSC try to polish out the dings. You will most certainly lose a lot of metal. You will get some symmetry, however it will at the cost of too much metal take off on both sides to retain the case shape. Don’t ask me how I know and how shocked I was when I received one of my 5 digits back.

Send it to an independent repair shop as mentioned in the thread above.

[Swearengen]

Swiss Time Services (Essex) also does laser welding, although mainly for Omega I would be pretty confident that they could fix your case. I have first hand experience of their work and it is to a very high standard.

Originally Posted by S.Explorer

There's Watchworks (Bristol) and Steven Hale (London), both are Rolex accredited and do laser welding (latter without requiring a service at the same time).

Disclaimer - not used either.

[drrd]

Originally Posted by Uggi

Hi. I just heard back from RSC (St James):


Dear Sir,

Thank you for your e-mail. Regrettably, we do not currently offer laserwelding at Rolex UK.

The condition of the case would be improved during refurbishment, however it could only ever be ‘best possible’. As you suggest, our aim is to maintain the shape of the case, rather than remove all signs of damage, and the location of this impact would render this challenging.

One could have the case middle replacement replaced (£1,792.00 + VAT), however this is of course less than ideal for a variety of reasons.


Kind regards,

LONDON SERVICE

I think based on this I will just send it in for a normal service, see what they do with it and live with the outcome. Too risky to send it to a random laserwelder I think.

Many thanks for the update.

[eugenetsang]

As you were already told, RSC does not do laser welding. When I dinged up my corner lug for my sub, I too asked the NYC location about that. The associate that I was talking to said they don't offer that service. But she would gladly take my watch to the back and ask one of th techs what can be done.

After the tech had examined my watch, she said the tech recommends just slimming down all 4 lugs to make it as symmetrical as possible. But it'll be at the cost of losing a big chunk of steel....

Knowing that I will be in Hong Kong in a few weeks, I opted not to do the recommended service with RSC. Instead I took my watch to Classic Watch Repair when I was in HK.

CWR is known ok the Rolex world for their laser welding and bracelet repairs, Similar to Rolliworks... They did an excellent job with my watch. For dings like yours, I highly recommend laser welding vs RSC/polishing. You won't regret it. Of course that's only if you have a reputable shop that offers that kind of service

[georgekart]

I say either do the laser welding or don't refinish the case at all. It looks perfect bar that ding. Wouldn't wanna ruin it with a polish.

[4rnold]

To the Op

If it's your personal watch, and daily one, dont do anything at all

Just wear it, and you will get used to it, as it is really nothing problematic.

You can have it laserwelded at any time in the future anyway

But within a few weeks you wont even notice it anymore

If it is a safequeen tough, take the appropiate measures

good luck

[karleone]

Originally Posted by MikePRT

If you want the case/bracelet refurbed try sending it into “the watch polisher”…search for him on instagram.

I sent him both my sub 97200 bracelet to have PCL put on it (https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_...dium=copy_link) and my mums daytona bracelet for a full rebuild (https://www.instagram.com/the_watch_...dium=copy_link)

The Daytona bracelet is due back tomorrow so can’t comment just yet although the insta pics look amazing. Every link had some lasering to it. The 97200 sub bracelet I’ve had back a few weeks now and really happy with the work.

The watch polisher is London based and has a bricks and mortar workshop that can be visited.


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I have looked at their work and to be honest I am not impressed at all. On most of 5 digits pieces chamfers/ bevels are gone. A expert in laser welding / polishing would recreate chamfers / bevels like LAWW. We can clearly see as well here that the edges after polish are not sharp and flat but rounded. I would not send any watch for a polish to the watch polisher.

[spoilsofwar01]

Originally Posted by Swearengen

Swiss Time Services (Essex) also does laser welding, although mainly for Omega I would be pretty confident that they could fix your case. I have first hand experience of their work and it is to a very high standard.

x 2, Gabriel's recommendation is sound, I sent my Smiths W10 to them with a lot of damage to the case mainly the lugs, the laser welding was incredible they even did additional work to tidy the case back without charge, well worth approaching then to see if they can help out.

[Gab27]

I'd personally laser weld it. Grinding it down will change the case shape. There is a member here who works for Rolex and has shown some of his laser welding work and some of his restorations and watches come out looking absolutely exceptional. If I could send my watch directly to him, I would in a heartbeat.

[RolexSimon]

Originally Posted by joli160

I would not let any jeweller work on my watch ever.
Polishing is an art and only RSC for me.
They do laser weld

My SS Patek Nautilus was laser welded by a well known and trusted watchmaker. In distinguishable from new at the end. Do your homework and you'll be fine. The watch community know who to trust. I've heard / seen so many cases of RSC errors as you're never dealing with a single individual. You get who your watch is allocated too.

[AlTinkster92]

If they over polish and remove metal from a lug, can Laser Weld replace that metal?

[GMT Aviator]

I’ve sent four 16710’s through RSC Kings Hill. In fact, I only just picked up my Pepsi a few days before christmas. I still haven’t got it out the pouch!
I’ll say this….that edge where you’ve dinged the case will be machine chamfered as part of the case re-furb.
I know they don’t do laser welding but I have it on good authority they use some form of jig to maintain the case shape when refinishing the case.
I’ve only had one occasion where I had reason to question they way they finished a case on one of the watches I owned and I took it back next day and rejected it. They actually refinished the case again and in fact made a big improvement.
What I’m trying to say is, send it to RSC and let them work it. It will come back mostly blemish free and essentially look like a new watch ready for at least another 10 years of service.
I’ve worn all my 16710’s extensively but they are now all retired in the safe post RSC service. I wouldn’t over think it.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by georgekart

I say either do the laser welding or don't refinish the case at all. It looks perfect bar that ding. Wouldn't wanna ruin it with a polish.

Totally agreed
The watch can be polished later on in life when it genuinely could benefit from an honest freshen up.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by S.Explorer

There's Watchworks (Bristol) and Steven Hale (London), both are Rolex accredited and do laser welding (latter without requiring a service at the same time).

Disclaimer - not used either.

Watchworks are local to me and have an excellent reputation. I would enquire there for case damage - same disclaimer, I haven't used them yet.

Personally I could live with that lug but if I couldn't, I wouldn't send it to RSC for that kind of repair unless I wanted a service case replacement.

[Chester01]

Laserweld what? That normal wear and tear and i have had my 16610 since 1998 and it’s never been polished. What for?

[kegan]

I’ve used and abused my 16710 almost every day for 22 years and the worst thing I ever did to it was allow case refinishing as part of a service.

[eugenetsang]

Originally Posted by Chester01

Laserweld what? That normal wear and tear and i have had my 16610 since 1998 and it’s never been polished. What for?

Laser welding for the owners that gets frustrated when they keep seeing the damage that was self inflicted. I am guilty for that.

[Tools]

Patching and grinding every perceived blemish is a slippery slope.

[eugenetsang]

Originally Posted by Tools

Patching and grinding every perceived blemish is a slippery slope.

Depends only on who's doing the work. I wouldn't simply drop off my watch to any "watch polisher". But rather the company better have a portfolio to prove their work before hand them my watch.

As of right now my list is short as to who I am willing to have service my watch:

- RSC

- Rolliworks (Florida)

- Classic Watch Repair (Hong Kong)

- LAWW (LA)

[Uggi]

Just thought I’d update this for those interested.

In the end, having spoken to a lot of specialists, obtaining quotes, getting opinions etc….. I decided to just send the watch into RSC at St James’ and not worry about it. I like the sense that only Rolex has ever handled the watch, that some other metal hasn’t been grafted onto it and that I can be 100% sure that all parts added are genuine Rolex parts.

I’m really pleased with the outcome.

The nasty gouges and the ding on the shoulder are gone and (more importantly) the watch is now keeping perfect time. I also asked them to swap the crystal for an upgraded one with AR because the original 2004 crystal did not have AR and I found it annoying that I could never see the date clearly. I also got a new insert.

A few photos if anyone is interested.

I was quoted 13 weeks by RSC but got the watch back in 9 weeks.







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[OrangeSport]

Looks good

Did they weld or polish it?

[johnjm]

Looks great. That’s why I always go to a RSC for work done on my watches when needed. Amazing work.

Did OP get a two year warranty with it?


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[Uggi]

Originally Posted by OrangeSport

Looks good

Did they weld or polish it?

RSC UK do not offer welding so it was a polish job.

Originally Posted by johnjm

Looks great. That’s why I always go to a RSC for work done on my watches when needed. Amazing work.

Did OP get a two year warranty with it?

Yep got the 2 year warranty and nice green leather pouch etc.

[johnjm]

Originally Posted by Uggi

RSC UK do not offer welding so it was a polish job.



Yep got the 2 year warranty and nice green leather pouch etc.

Good decision to go to RSC, it looks amazing. I’m waiting for a 1969 air king back from them. Taking longer than expected because the factory has to decide on the serial remaining or changing.


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