Sending Watch in for Service - Vancouver, BC

[Eric Chan]

Has any Vancouver, BC forum members sent their watches in for service from an AD that the watch was not purchased from?

Will be sending my Datejust 16234 this July which I bought from Montecristo back in 2004. Is it recommended to go back to them, or can I bring it to another AD such as Brinkhaus? When I picked up my BLNR last week, the fellow at Brinkhaus was saying it is cheaper to use them for service as they are the service centre for BC (at least that is what I thought he said, was too happy with the BLNR and did not pay complete attention). I thought there was only one Rolex service centre in Canada and it is located in Toronto.

He also said the cost is around $600 for regular service. As this will be my first time sending in the watch for service, I do not know if this is a fair price or not.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Dalmation]

I've heard many conflicting things, here's my take: It's not required to do the service every 5 years, apparently this is significant 'overkill'. What would be the appropriate frequency is up for discussion. $600 seems to be the going rate though. You can find competent 'watch repairmen' that will do it for as little as $200-$300, try to find reviews on them first. If money is no object, send back to Rolex, I'm guessing if anything goes wrong they will stand behind it. Maybe stretch out the service interval to something longer, but I'm sure as soon as you do that you may forfeit your rights should any issue arise? Just my thoughts....

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Eric Chan

Has any Vancouver, BC forum members sent their watches in for service from an AD that the watch was not purchased from?

. . . .

You do not have to go to any AD to have your watch sent to the RSC, you can send it yourself.

If you use an AD they become the primary contact for work done. If you send it yourself then you are who the RSC deals with and you will get the invoice, recommendations, and make the decisions.

As to another shop saying that they are an RSC, it is possible - check their credentials. There are many independent Service Centers that work in-house to Rolex standards. It's up to you if you want to go that way.

[Turbo Singh]

If you decide to go with an independent service, Otto Friedl on Gerogia St. (inside the Fairmount Hotel) is great. They do alot of work in house and I believe they once were Rolex Certified. I've used them many times with great results.

[ExplorerChris]

Originally Posted by Eric Chan

Has any Vancouver, BC forum members sent their watches in for service from an AD that the watch was not purchased from?

Will be sending my Datejust 16234 this July which I bought from Montecristo back in 2004. Is it recommended to go back to them, or can I bring it to another AD such as Brinkhaus? When I picked up my BLNR last week, the fellow at Brinkhaus was saying it is cheaper to use them for service as they are the service centre for BC (at least that is what I thought he said, was too happy with the BLNR and did not pay complete attention). I thought there was only one Rolex service centre in Canada and it is located in Toronto.

He also said the cost is around $600 for regular service. As this will be my first time sending in the watch for service, I do not know if this is a fair price or not.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Rolex Canada is at 50 St Clair Ave West in Toronto
I had my Explorer II serviced there as well as a crystal and hand replacement
I was very happy with the way I was treated.

[MrJ320]

Originally Posted by ExplorerChris

Rolex Canada is at 50 St Clair Ave West in Toronto
I had my Explorer II serviced there as well as a crystal and hand replacement
I was very happy with the way I was treated.

I had my old Sub-C regulated at the RSC in Toronto and also very happy with the service. So ADs won't ship it to RSC to have the watch serviced? Can you request them to ship it to RSC for servicing rather than in-house?

For APs, the AD in Toronto just ships it to the APSC in Clearwater, and does not perform the servicing themselves.

[ExplorerChris]

Originally Posted by MrJ320

I had my old Sub-C regulated at the RSC in Toronto and also very happy with the service. So ADs won't ship it to RSC to have the watch serviced? Can you request them to ship it to RSC for servicing rather than in-house?

For APs, the AD in Toronto just ships it to the APSC in Clearwater, and does not perform the servicing themselves.

My understanding is the AD will ship to Rolex Canada if they don't have a Rolex trained watchmaker in house.
I like going directly to Rolex Canada myself
I live in Oakville so any excuse to go to Toronto

[Chewbacca]

hi eric, i've bought and sent a few via brinkhaus with no issues. imop, always us an AD to facilitate a complete movement service. it costs about the same as sending it yourself to rolex canada and you build a rapport with the ad. i have no issues with indy repair shops for vintage or small adjustments but for the extra 10 - 15% charge, i'd always go the AD route and take the factory intl 2yr maint and the provenance to go with it. just my ¢2.

[versatile1]

Steve Cotton,
Qualicum Beach
Rolex Certified

[Fox red lab]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

hi eric, i've bought and sent a few via brinkhaus with no issues. imop, always us an AD to facilitate a complete movement service. it costs about the same as sending it yourself to rolex canada and you build a rapport with the ad. i have no issues with indy repair shops for vintage or small adjustments but for the extra 10 - 15% charge, i'd always go the AD route and take the factory intl 2yr maint and the provenance to go with it. just my ¢2.

I bought my Rolex at Brinkhaus in Calgary and also had a vintage Tudor restored through them. I know for a fact there was a fairly hefty mark-up on the Tudor and I am wondering the if the same goes for using them to send it to RSC. I understand they have to charge something, but the Tudor experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

They also charged me $100 for a battery for my wife's Omega Constellation. Think they had to send it away as well for some reason I don't recall as my wife was looking after it.

I will be sending mine in in a few years so I'm interested to hear what other Canadians are saying. I have also heard good things about Otto Friedel and have been in his shop once as well.

[Eric Chan]

Originally Posted by Fox red lab

I bought my Rolex at Brinkhaus in Calgary and also had a vintage Tudor restored through them. I know for a fact there was a fairly hefty mark-up on the Tudor and I am wondering the if the same goes for using them to send it to RSC. I understand they have to charge something, but the Tudor experience left a bad taste in my mouth.

They also charged me $100 for a battery for my wife's Omega Constellation. Think they had to send it away as well for some reason I don't recall as my wife was looking after it.

I will be sending mine in in a few years so I'm interested to hear what other Canadians are saying. I have also heard good things about Otto Friedel and have been in his shop once as well.

Thanks for the response on this. I did a little bit of research on this matter and Brinkhaus will charge a minimum of $580 to service my SS Datejust. This cost is based on service that does not require any cosmetic repairs or anything above and beyond the service scope of work. They have a Rolex trained technician on site which means there will be no cost for shipping. Montecristo charges approxmately $700 for basic servicing and that includes shipping to Toronto.

[Eric Chan]

Originally Posted by Chewbacca

hi eric, i've bought and sent a few via brinkhaus with no issues. imop, always us an AD to facilitate a complete movement service. it costs about the same as sending it yourself to rolex canada and you build a rapport with the ad. i have no issues with indy repair shops for vintage or small adjustments but for the extra 10 - 15% charge, i'd always go the AD route and take the factory intl 2yr maint and the provenance to go with it. just my ¢2.

Thanks for the your opinion on this matter, CJ. My plan and intent is always to use an AD to send in for servicing, then I don't have to go through the hassle of doing it myself.

My only concern (if you even want to call it that) is that Brinkhaus does the servicing on site as opposed to the other AD's such as Montecristo who sends the watch to Rolex in Toronto. Brinkhaus claims (no reason to doubt their claim) their technician is trained by Rolex and also services Patek watches as well. Perhaps I am being overly paranoid about the matter, but I get the impression it is better to have the actual Rolex Service Centre of Canada deal with the watch as opposed to a Rolex trained technician who operates from an AD store.

I have bought two Rolex watches from Brinkhaus in recent years, but have not serviced any of my watches and it is time to do one of them. Since you have used Brinkhaus for yours, I may very well do the same. Thanks again.

[hawg]

Check out Archer Watches. I believe out of London Ont. I have heard good things about them. Prices reasonable and they send photos of the step by step work I am told. I have been researching them a bit.