If RSC was a hospital I'd probably be dead...

[Chadridv]

Ok so obviously I'm being melodramatic. Despite how it reads, my thread title is actually my attempt to make light of the situation.

So a couple weeks ago I dropped off two 1803 Pink Gold Day-dates at RSC NYC. They quickly contact me with the service estimate of the first watch, let's call that 1803 the "oyster bracelet". As for the second watch, let's call this 1803 the "diamond dial", I'm told they will need a couple weeks to confirm all the parts are original, and the process involves having specialists in Geneve review the watch carefully.


So fast forward 2 weeks, I get notification from RSC that the "diamond dial" is good to go for service with no issues regarding originality. However, after reading through the notes regarding the watch condition, I read that the 8385/8 Super President bracelet on the "diamond dial" 1803 is "not intended for this watch". So I call them and ask them about this.

I asked them if it's not the correct bracelet can they give me the reference number for the correct bracelet and if available to purchase can they give me the price. They say it's unavailable to purchase, but they'll find out the ref.#. After being on hold, the rep comes back and tells me the bracelet ref.# is actually correct, but the material is yellow gold, while the case is pink gold. I tell her that's extremely unlikely and I ask her to double check with her techs.

So, after a few minutes she comes back and says the bracelet is actually pink gold but looked yellowish due to the age of the watch. I'm a bit surprised by this but pretty much think, no big deal. I re-read the estimate and realize it says YG next to the info on the bracelet, so I ask her to revise the estimate to accurately reflect the watch and the parts.

Meanwhile, I decide to have another look over the first "oyster bracelet" 1803 estimate, and low and behold, the bracelet, case, entire watch is listed as Yellow Gold. Additionally the dial (which is also Pink) is listed as "champagne". So now I call up RSC again, and tell her the info on the estimate is incorrect. Again, she has her techs look over the watch and this time emails me after an hour to tell me they made another mistake and the watch is in fact pink gold. I also asked her to check out the dial color which I'm almost positive is pink. She comes back and says the techs made a mistake. It's not "champagne" the dial is "bronze". I'm quite certain the dial is pink and have asked her to double check that and please confirm. I'm still waiting to hear back about that.

OK so mostly I'm just sharing my story and venting a little bit. I'm not mad at them and still have confidence they will do a good job with the service, but I am a little shocked at so many mistakes in 2 estimates.

You may not think its a big deal, in fact I didn't at first, but let me put it to you this way. Let's say i decided to sell one of these watches down the road. I would of course enthusiastically advertise that the watch received a warranty and authenticity guarantee from Rolex. Upon a minor investigation/inquiry the buyer would certainly discover that the service history doesn't match the description of the watch I'm trying to sell. Also, each service estimate is priced upwards of $1400. That's more expensive than service for most cars. It's a lot of money to lack the attention to detail.

In a potential sale situation, can a blunder like that be explained? Maybe. Is it a deal breaker? I don't know, but I don't really feel like finding out. The reason why I mentioned the hospital is that in the medical field, this many mistakes could mean life or death. Obviously that's overly dramatic In comparison to this, but if I didn't read the estimates carefully and take the time to ask questions these watches would confusingly, and suspiciously, go down in the history of RSC as being made of the wrong materials, which frankly looks shady, especially if you're trying to sell them.

Just to be clear also, the rep at RSC I've been dealing with has been incredible. I don't blame her at all for the carelessness of the watch techs. I commend her for her patience with me and her colleagues.

Whewww!!! Sorry for the long post

[herts9]

ay dios mio

What a runaround!

[antbkny]

Lol oy vey. Gotta love RSC NY. Beautiful watches by the way.

[crowncollection]

Nice watches either way, rsc should know better is the gold patina or fade particularly bad on your examples ?


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[Thailawson]

Should have sent it to Dallas?

[Abdullah71601]

Good thing you didn't give them platinum. You'd be getting WG back

[HorologyK]

Great title.

[BNA/LION]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your patients and that they are home soon!

[brettpaul]

The best RSC in NYC is located in Dallas!

[Michael M.]

Any pictures of the endlinks on the 1803 on oyster?

[Rolex addict]

I've heard more bad than good about the NY RSC. Mine have always went to Dallas.

[fskywalker]

I see that more and more people prefer Dallas over NY on servicing. Guess mines are heading there when the need comes!

[HL65]

I'd never let RSC touch one of my vintage watches not now or in this lifetime and for good reason.

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by HL65

I'd never let RSC touch one of my vintage watches not now or in this lifetime and for good reason.

Warranty work or to have a part replaced that can't be sourced by an independent. Those are the ONLY reasons my watches would go to RSC over an independent.

[RichM]

It's funny and at the same time sad.

[RC2]

Go to another hospital.

[Boxcars]

Originally Posted by Jason71

Warranty work or to have a part replaced that can't be sourced by an independent. Those are the ONLY reasons my watches would go to RSC over an independent.

The only time I would go to an independent were if I couldn't afford RSC.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Boxcars

The only time I would go to an independent were if I couldn't afford RSC.

I am guessing you don't own or know much about vintage Rolex as it has nothing to do with affordability. The fact is there are far superior watchmakers to RSC who specialize in vintage watches. RSC is great for modern Rolex but would never in this lifetime trust them with my vintage watches.

[Boxcars]

Originally Posted by HL65

I am guessing you don't own or know much about vintage Rolex as it has nothing to do with affordability. The fact is there are far superior watchmakers to RSC who specialize in vintage watches. RSC is great for modern Rolex but would never in this lifetime trust them with my vintage watches.

In what way are the watchmakers far superior?

[HL65]

Originally Posted by Boxcars

In what way are the watchmakers far superior?

The fact that they are also Rolex trained but have been specializing for decades in purely vintage watches. They know how to take off hands and dial without destroying lume or damaging dial. There are tricks with vintage watches that if not done right could ruin your vintage watch. Again I am referring to vintage watches which are far different than modern when it comes to watchmaking. I won't even get into RSC replacing original parts and also affecting value. When you send watch to RSC you have no idea if you have someone with 6 months experience working on your watch or a few years. You have no idea if they have seen a vintage watch let alone worked on one. So for me I will send my valuable vintage pieces to people I know personally, trust and who have a lot of vintage experience vs the unknown.

[Boxcars]

Originally Posted by HL65

The fact that they are also Rolex trained but have been specializing for decades in purely vintage watches. They know how to take off hands and dial without destroying lume or damaging dial. There are tricks with vintage watches that if not done right could ruin your vintage watch. Again I am referring to vintage watches which are far different than modern when it comes to watchmaking. I won't even get into RSC replacing original parts and also affecting value. When you send watch to RSC you have no idea if you have someone with 6 months experience working on your watch or a few years. You have no idea if they have seen a vintage watch let alone worked on one. So for me I will send my valuable vintage pieces to people I know personally, trust and who have a lot of vintage experience vs the unknown.

Your initial point was that an independent watchmaker was far superior to a watchmaker who works at RSC. You have failed to quantify that.

But let's just humour you. Even if someone with 6 months experience was taking part in the process of a service, they would be more than qualified to do so. You will have technicians at RSC removing dials and hands all day, every day, and doing nothing else. The service of the movement itself is left to their most experienced watchmakers who will have serviced more vintage Rolex watches than any independent ever will.

But each to their own :)

[cdmorenot]

What a disaster. I hope everything ends up as it should.

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[Boxcars]

RSC or any competent watchmaker will be able to restore the finish of those beauties, no sweat.

[Aceldama]

Originally Posted by HL65

The fact that they are also Rolex trained but have been specializing for decades in purely vintage watches. They know how to take off hands and dial without destroying lume or damaging dial. There are tricks with vintage watches that if not done right could ruin your vintage watch. Again I am referring to vintage watches which are far different than modern when it comes to watchmaking. I won't even get into RSC replacing original parts and also affecting value. When you send watch to RSC you have no idea if you have someone with 6 months experience working on your watch or a few years. You have no idea if they have seen a vintage watch let alone worked on one. So for me I will send my valuable vintage pieces to people I know personally, trust and who have a lot of vintage experience vs the unknown.

With RSC, there is an almost cavalier attitude about original parts. "We swapped them out because the new ones are far superior" is a direct quote. Only when I insisted did they admit that my original seconds hand was bent during removal. And, using RSC logic: you bend one, swap them all out...

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Boxcars

The only time I would go to an independent were if I couldn't afford RSC.

That's your choice, but Ken is right about the fact that there are Rolex-trained watchmakers who have been specializing in vintage watches for decades and to just dismiss independent watchmakers summarily doesn't say much for your knowledge of the subject.

This is where Rolex trains watchmakers in the US, tuition-free, I would add.

http://lititzwatchtechnicum.org/

[Boxcars]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

That's your choice, but Ken is right about the fact that there are Rolex-trained watchmakers who have been specializing in vintage watches for decades and to just dismiss independent watchmakers summarily doesn't say much for your knowledge of the subject.

Where did I dismiss them? The only dismissing going on in this thread is of RSC

[Boxcars]

Just out of interest, what is the relevance of your edit? Tuition free, so what?

[sickened1]

Originally Posted by Aceldama

With RSC, there is an almost cavalier attitude about original parts. "We swapped them out because the new ones are far superior" is a direct quote. Only when I insisted did they admit that my original seconds hand was bent during removal. And, using RSC logic: you bend one, swap them all out...

Yup, totally agree with this from my own experience. RSC in Beverly Hills told me that if any part is worn out, too old, not in stock, etc they will just replace it with newer one (they don't fix it and that includes bracelet).

If you have a vintage watch and you want to stay original (all genuine parts) then better not take it to RSC because they'll just throw out anything they deem "unfixable". I mean you can't even request them to keep and use any old part because with their service, either you take the whole package or you don't.

[Old Geezer]

I don't have a true vintage piece even though I'm becoming increasingly interested in preserving the originality of my nearly 25 year old sub. For a vintage piece, it may be desirable to work with a qualified watchmaker who may be more understanding of the watch's worth from a collector's perspective versus the RSC mostly focused on protecting their brand and returning watches to new condition when serviced.
Back on topic of RSCs- I have dealt with Dallas and NY. Both services were fine but Dallas' customer service was exceptional. Communicating with the NY RSC was a pain in the a$$. Dallas for me for the next service.

[Micha]

Originally Posted by Boxcars

Just out of interest, what is the relevance of your edit? Tuition free, so what?

ignorance won't get you very far on this forum