I need advice to chooce between these 2 Rolex Service Options

[Dilinger]

Hi guys,

I need your input and knowledge.
I am about to service my 20 years old President 18238.

I have not decided where to service it yet, but i am between these 2 options.

I ve visited the official Rolex store in Paris (Place Vendome) and the official rolex store in Milan (Montenapoleone).

In Paris they told me that they need to hold the watch for a couple of days to determine the exact cost of the service because this is an old model and they cant just give me a quote from the catalog.
From what i saw the catalog had a listed price somewhere around 680-780 euro, but they told me that the service could be quoted even at 1.500 euro.

They told me that they will send it to Rolex France to give me a quote and then the service will be done through Rolex France and will need around 3 1/2 months.

In Paris they told me that around 80% of the watch parts will be new.

In Milan they told me a different story.
They gave me a quote directly in the service department (1st floor) around 780 euro + something else i dont remember , plus if i wanted to replace the saphire crystal -160 euro- (its not punched or damaged or scratched, but the round edge has become a little rough (through usage all these years). This would end up at a total cost of around 1050 euro. They would need 4 weeks for this procedure and the service would be held NOT in Rolex Italy, but in their store in Milan. I noticed though that even this is an official rolex store the company is named (Pisa orologeria, or something). So they have probably an authorized service center.

In Milan they told me that about 20% of the watch will be replaced with new parts.


Can you please advise me on which one should i prefer?

I know that in Paris, the cost is undetermined and it takes 3-4 months, and that Milan is cheaper and the cost is pre-determined.

What is interesting though is that, in Paris they told me that whatever should be changed it will be changed, in comparison to Milan where they said that it was my decision to change the saphire crystal or to have other replacements.

Am i wrong that i consider Rolex France most reliable, experts and sophisticated than the service in the Rolex Milan store?

Thank you for your input.

Best,
Dili.

[Easy Rhino]

I'll take a swing:

I doubt either of those locations are staffed with morons, so in either case, you can get your watch serviced; however, each is operating to a different service model, which sounds as if it is non-negotiable.

In this case, I would go with which service model fits my desires.

I would also check for any feedback on customer's satisfaction with these two shops, although I cannot well imagine Paris and Milan being second-rate shops.

[waQstar]

If the warranty is from Rolex and not one of their own, then choose Milan.

[Dilinger]

But has anyone serviced their watches in either location?

[Rogdogg]

While I have not ever had a watch serviced yet as I am relatively new to the world of fine mechanical watches my understanding was that Rolex evaluate the watch and tell you what needs to be done in advance and then calls you before starting to do any work, at which point you either give them the go ahead to service it, or you take the watch back without service. Is this not the case if brought to a RSC?

[joli160]

Ask for the quote from the official RSC in Paris and decide afterwards.
Your 18238 is not that old, all parts available.
If the crystal is damaged, even slightly they will change it.
In house watchmakers, like in Milan, can be a hit or miss. Perhaps some Italian members can chime in about this particular store.

[Dilinger]

Yes if we had some feedback from Italian friends would be nice.

The service i visited was in Montenapoleone Rolex store. So i dont know if this is an independent business.

[fskywalker]

If on both you get 2 years of warranty after the service, would use the cheaper one (Milan)


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