Service without Factory Bracelet - Recommendations, Please

[wddunlap]

Hello Everyone,

I want to thank you all for making these boards an fascinating, informative, and respectful place! I lurked for years before getting my first Rolex (and then another shortly after...I'm sure you know how it goes) and then making an account. Although I usually prefer just listening (or reading, as it were), I wanted to ask you all for some guidance in getting a five-digit steel Datejust serviced. It has been a great watch for me, as it allowed me to try out a Rolex as my first mechanical watch, and for less than 4 grand. However, it is now over a decade old, and assuming that neither Crown & Caliber nor the previous owner had it serviced, it's probably overdue...

Actually, because it has recently stopped ticking, it's definitely overdue. To make matters worse, I just learned that my RSC won't take it without the original bracelet, which I do not have. (Hey, I got a near-flawless blue-dialed 16200 for <4k, what'd you expect?)

That being said, does anyone have any good suggestions of other watchmakers who would still work on it? I tried to search prior threads for an answer, but couldn't find much, so I'm really sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here...

I'd really appreciate your thoughts!

Thanks!!

[Tools]

Bracelets are expendables; Rolex has never required the original bracelet be on a watch to service it.

They will not work on it if it has a counterfeit bracelet on it. They have serviced a DJ with a leather strap of mine. They just took the strap off and returned it, unattached.

As far as independents, Rik Dietel at Time Care Inc., is located in FLA and has good reviews.

[sillo]

Which RSC did you contact? I've personally sent a watch to RSC Dallas within the last year without a bracelet and the only thing they did was mark on the service invoice "no bracelet."

[mosanman]

Couple of years ago, I took my GMT LN to London RSC on a Perlon strap for some warranty work.
They took the watch in with no questions asked, the lady even commented that she liked it on perlon.
So may be worth trying another RSC?

[Michael T]

I have in a watch to RWSC in Dallas with no bracelet, not an issue.

[10klakes]

I sent in my 14060m for service to RSC with no bracelet (intentionally), and requested a new bracelet. Watch came back fully serviced with a new bracelet.

I don’t see why they are refusing your watch.

[joli160]

Which RSC told you that ?

[Dirt]

Simply take it to a reasonable watchmaker and have the strap removed.
Then send the watch head off by itself to the RSC.