Can Rolex Custom Design Your Watch

[deepsea72]

Do anyone know if ROLEX will custom design a watch? Not a brand new design, just a modification to a watch.

For Example, if one orders a Steel Daytona or a steel GMT from your local AD with the request being that the bracelet is all brushed steel with no PCL? Can this be done?

[Fiery]

That's an interesting topic, but I don't think they would do that (ie. putting an all-brushed bracelet on a Daytona or GMTIIC). However, getting rid of the PCL is an easy task for an experienced watch mechanic.

[deepsea72]

However, getting rid of the PCL is an easy task for an experienced watch mechanic.

I know, but would shouldn't have to go to that route when these very watches did have all brushed bracelets not that long ago.

ROLEX a la carte.

[submariner16610]

not rolex. you can have it done from a jewelers or watch maker. rolex wont personalize the watch for you..

[Speed]

Rolex is NOT Burger King. You can't have it your way...

Unless you are Tiffany or the Italian Scuba Police apparently. But the foregoing are just Dial mods / logos.

[nektar]

if you have the $$, you can have whatever you want. call them to confirm.

[deepsea72]

if you have the $$, you can have whatever you want. call them to confirm.

I was guessing this. Porsche can do it and the camera company Leica did it and they hold very similar positions to Rolex within their industry so I think the Burger King analogy is somewhat askew.

Requesting an all brushed bracelet is not a HUGE ask especially as they did all have brushed bracelets.

[spuds]

Originally Posted by nektarios

if you have the $$, you can have whatever you want......

agreed.

[gregdolley]

Under normal circumstances, no, they will definitely not custom make a watch for just one person. If you're some huge company, then they will.

[Atl]

Originally Posted by gregdolley

Under normal circumstances, no, they will definitely not custom make a watch for just one person. If you're some huge company, then they will.

Like Domino's Pizza!

[nektar]

Originally Posted by Atl

Like Domino's Pizza!

[Speed]

Originally Posted by gregdolley

Under normal circumstances, no, they will definitely not custom make a watch for just one person. If you're some huge company, then they will.

+1 or if it may be good PR for Rolex. I don't think my Burger King comment was "askew" at all DeepSea72.

If you called asking Rolex...not an AD, etc. to brush a bracelet on a *Stainless Steel* watch for you, well...I think you know what they might say.

Besides...what on earth you want to pay Rolex a ton of money to do that for anyway when a competent jeweler / watchmaker could do it for you??? Money to burn???

[Jackxv]

I think when you're the Sultan from Brunei or some other Oil state you can get whatever you want.

For example : Ferrari built him a 456GT Caravan (with Pininfarina).

I think when you smack down the right amount, know the right people and it still meets company values, they'll build it.
I mean not a completely new designed watch but a customised existing model.



Jack

[padi56]

Well as long as you use Rolex parts to customise any Rolex watch,and it does not interfere with say normal servicing of said watch.Then IMHO you should be able to have what you want done to your own bought and paid for watch.Who are Rolex to dictate what you can do with your paid for watch.

[Atl]

I've seen: Domino's Pizza Air Kings, along with Coke, Fed Ex, IBM, and the crests of Arab Country's armies and arab royal family crests on Rolexes, but just logos on the dial, apart from that, I have not heard of a truly "custom" Rolex, Ferrari has a division where if you have enough cash, they will truly build you a one of a kind. I don't think Rolex does, but a smaller firm like Patek can and does, in fact I absolutely know they do, and I think Jeager does as well.

[1000ftSub]

Originally Posted by masugu

Rolex is NOT Burger King. You can't have it your way...

Unless you are Tiffany or the Italian Scuba Police apparently. But the foregoing are just Dial mods / logos.

[Playdrv4me]

Originally Posted by Atl

I've seen: Domino's Pizza Air Kings, along with Coke, Fed Ex, IBM, and the crests of Arab Country's armies and arab royal family crests on Rolexes, but just logos on the dial, apart from that, I have not heard of a truly "custom" Rolex, Ferrari has a division where if you have enough cash, they will truly build you a one of a kind. I don't think Rolex does, but a smaller firm like Patek can and does, in fact I absolutely know they do, and I think Jeager does as well.

The newer Domino's Airkings actually have an oddly out of proportion stainless Domino's logo affixed to the bracelet itSELF, and now forgo the dial logo. Only time I've ever seen this odd arrangement.

[Playdrv4me]

Here we go...


It looks either horridly uncomfortable to wear, or like it would scratch the end-link pretty badly.

[zlin08033]

Originally Posted by deepsea72

Do anyone know if ROLEX will custom design a watch? Not a brand new design, just a modification to a watch.

For Example, if one orders a Steel Daytona or a steel GMT from your local AD with the request being that the bracelet is all brushed steel with no PCL? Can this be done?

I knew for sure they did, but very rarely, I guess depending on who ask. My sister is working for baselworld, her boss's Daytona dial was custom designed/made by Rolex, and only one made.

[Speed]

Not a fan of mucking with a dial - or pasting some boat anchor on a bracelet...Blech!!!

Just my opinion.

[deepsea72]

I must say that I don't understand why ROLEX does not give clients the option of either brushed or PCL on pieces such as the Daytona or the GMT. It seems split 50/50 for those that loathe or like the PCL. Being such a contentious issue it would be great if they gave the option.

Personally, the Daytona looks a stronger with the all brushed links: more of a classic, timeless, masculine look.

[adelgado]

I had a very cool experience on the customization front

I went to a Rolex Service Center with my (new to me) stainless steel daytona (white face) to have it serviced (bought it used, it needed it!) and mentioned I wanted a red chronograph second hand. The main tech smiled and said, sure not a problem. I got the watch back last week - with a red second hand. it looks cool, its a unique touch and its fully authorized! To me, that's a "poor man's" custom rolex but makes my daytona all the more special

[petespendthrift]

The thing that annoys me about Rolex's attitude is that if the modifications involve gold or diamonds, you can have just about anything you like. But, if it's stainless steel then you get the "won't deviate from the official model specification". In GMTs and Subs they do literally 40-50 variations but only one is stainless steel. It's not as if the gold and diamond models have some amazing purity of design or art to them either, most people think that they are revoltingly tacky - so it's a mystery what they think they are protecting.

I'm not very keen on the way the designs are going these days and to me, no choice to correct the bling means no sale.

[jdc]

Originally Posted by adelgado

I had a very cool experience on the customization front

I went to a Rolex Service Center with my (new to me) stainless steel daytona (white face) to have it serviced (bought it used, it needed it!) and mentioned I wanted a red chronograph second hand. The main tech smiled and said, sure not a problem. I got the watch back last week - with a red second hand. it looks cool, its a unique touch and its fully authorized! To me, that's a "poor man's" custom rolex but makes my daytona all the more special

good to hear, and challenges some myths about Rolex not making alterations

[pyxis]

From what I know, if you're after more blinks (diamonds, rubies etc) and willing to pay hugely for them, no problem. Run of the mill simple customisation, you're out of luck.

[sambb]

i know for a fact that alterations/customization are possible but require significant personal or goverment credentials and contacts high up in the company. Money is actually not as important as the credentials and contacts, although of course it is expensive.

[Charlotte Luke]

Maybe I am missing something but this seems like a pretty easy fix. Instead of buying a custom Rolex, why would you not just buy a single brushed braclet. They do not cost that much, you would have the origional bracelet (if sold/traded) and it would probably cost you less then if you tried to have Rolex 'custom make' it for you.

I agree that Rolex should be a little more negotiable but that is there decision. I believe JJ did this with his Explorer II and a jubilee bracelet. If I have missed something I am sorry but this seems like a pretty easy/simple fix to me.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by adelgado

I had a very cool experience on the customization front

I went to a Rolex Service Center with my (new to me) stainless steel daytona (white face) to have it serviced (bought it used, it needed it!) and mentioned I wanted a red chronograph second hand. The main tech smiled and said, sure not a problem. I got the watch back last week - with a red second hand. it looks cool, its a unique touch and its fully authorized! To me, that's a "poor man's" custom rolex but makes my daytona all the more special

Pictures! I want Pictures!!!!

P.S. Was it an 116520? Or a Zenith? Just guessing that if it was a Zenith, no longer in production, that might be the reason they customized it for you. Just a guess...

[adelgado]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/esquirewatches/

[kkwn98]

Originally Posted by petespendthrift

The thing that annoys me about Rolex's attitude is that if the modifications involve gold or diamonds, you can have just about anything you like. But, if it's stainless steel then you get the "won't deviate from the official model specification". In GMTs and Subs they do literally 40-50 variations but only one is stainless steel. It's not as if the gold and diamond models have some amazing purity of design or art to them either, most people think that they are revoltingly tacky - so it's a mystery what they think they are protecting.

I'm not very keen on the way the designs are going these days and to me, no choice to correct the bling means no sale.

You state this as if it's a fact, but this is your opinion only. Even if 99% of the members here agree, you do know that this is but a tiny part of the Rolex buying universe, and not a representative one, at that?