Rolex wants to replace the hands on my Zenith Daytona

[golfsc]

Originally Posted by Rado63

Since you have a tritium dial, They didn't require a dial change?

They offered to replace the dial as an option.
The hand replacement is mandatory as part of the servicing.

I appreciate all who have responded.

It seem that to keep the vintage nature of the watch I might be risking functionality which makes no sense. Yet is it really vintage if the hands are brand new.

I'll give it some more thought and let you guys know what I decide to do.

Love this forum!

J

[Benzsiam]

I don't understand why most people go against their recommendation by not changing some parts. If you want to keep your dad watch forever and enjoy wearing it for a long long time, you should follow their recommendation and worry free.

[BigAppleBill]

I understand your wanting an official Rolex service to be part of the watch’s service history. And I also understand that even if Rolex said they would do the service without replacing the original hands, there’s a chance someone wouldn’t follow your specific wishes and replace the hands anyway.

A more burdensome and expensive route, but to insure that the hands remained in your possession, would be to first take the watch to a reputable independent Rolex technician and have them replace the hands with another set of old Rolex hands and give you the original hands for safekeeping. Then submit the watch to Rolex to have them do the full service including the hand replacement. Just be sure they don’t replace the dial too.

It’s a shame that Rolex doesn’t prioritize the preservation of the cosmetic aspects of a watch. I can understand replacing worn parts of the movement, but Rolex should be more sensitive to the fact that every serious collector wants the original cosmetic pieces to remain with the watch.

[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

I don't understand why most people go against their recommendation by not changing some parts. If you want to keep your dad watch forever and enjoy wearing it for a long long time, you should follow their recommendation and worry free.

Comes down to aesthetics.

Bright white lume in the hands against the tanned lume of the dial markers and the aged sub dials will look horrible to me (and many others) seemingly some don’t care but it begs the question at what level you do care and why wear an aged dial Daytona if you want a new looking watch.

If it all looked new that’s one thing but it’s the mismatch of patina and new lume that looks wrong. Even if Rolex would relume the hands with the same colour as the dial that would be fine but they never consider the look, just the function. Let’s face it if it was just about telling the time who’d bother with an automatic wrist watch like this. Isn’t it about the look/feel/charm/history?

The sentiment of saying it’s Dad’s watch and having parts replaced in the same sentence is a bit contradictory to me.

[slillestrand]

Originally Posted by peterpl

just get an independent to service it. Rolliworks or one of those guys

I would do this as well.

[Benzsiam]

Originally Posted by uncleluck

Comes down to aesthetics.

Bright white lume in the hands against the tanned lume of the dial markers and the aged sub dials will look horrible to me (and many others) seemingly some don’t care but it begs the question at what level you do care and why wear an aged dial Daytona if you want a new looking watch.

If it all looked new that’s one thing but it’s the mismatch of patina and new lume that looks wrong. Even if Rolex would relume the hands with the same colour as the dial that would be fine but they never consider the look, just the function. Let’s face it if it was just about telling the time who’d bother with an automatic wrist watch like this. Isn’t it about the look/feel/charm/history?

The sentiment of saying it’s Dad’s watch and having parts replaced in the same sentence is a bit contradictory to me.

I understand your comments but this is service by Rolex, I would think that when they replace some new parts, they still concern about the look of the original watch and will try to make it look as good as it could be not a mismatch.

[EEpro]

Originally Posted by Benzsiam

I understand your comments but this is service by Rolex, I would think that when they replace some new parts, they still concern about the look of the original watch and will try to make it look as good as it could be not a mismatch.

They don't though. They put crazy white hands over patina dials all the time. The value to his watch is probably higher not running with patina than sending to RSC for new hands.

[klenboy]

For me it depends on whether if I inherited the watch or if it was mine from day one. If inherited I want everything original as it was handed down. If it was mine I don't mind replacing both hands and dial as I never intend to sell any of my watches. There's also the option of restoration depending on sentimental value.

[GONZO2LR]

If your going to wear it, why not get it fixed like brand new with no issues because if you run into an issue down the line it's covered. I would spend the extra money to have an official Rolex repair place do what needs to be done...because it's a Rolex!

[Lamontsanders]

Call Rolliworks. I trust them with this kind of stuff even over RSC.

[1665fan]

Call bob Ridley or rolliworks....never send vintage to RSC

[csaltphoto]

Opinions seem about evenly split. Rolex has a "recondition to as functional as possible" approach, replacing old parts with new. There are independents who specialize in a "retain/preserve vintage aspects while servicing as much as practical" approach. Just depends what you want.

Honestly I would contact someone like Tropical Watch and ask what stabilizing the paint on the hands would do to the value of the watch, replacing the hands and so on. The hands themselves might even have substantial value. That way you can at least make an informed decision.

[Maiden]

I would change the hands and dial and get it polished and looking like new! To me that's one of the great things about Rolex. A new watch after service time.

[Wigwag]

Originally Posted by blada4life

Not a very good example. Your example is more akin to replacing a movement piece like the mainspring. A better illustration of this situation is like replacing vintage rims on a vintage Ferrari with current production ones.

I get the practicality aspect but to me, it destroys the sanctity of the vintage piece. Can’t they seal the existing tritium somehow? They just don’t want to. Rolex doesn’t care about collectibility. They want their watches to look new and modern. Unless the hands are 1 for 1, which they’re not, don’t touch them. If you are lucky enough to keep the old hands then consider it but otherwise take it to an independent and you may have to change how you wear the watch now if it’s really that risky.


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I think this summarizes the general lack of understanding from most on the thread, calling for the OP take take the watch to an independent, RSC don't care about vintage etc.

It isn't possible to make a firm judgement on this without seeing better imagery of the hands.

The lum could quite easily fall all out whether in the care of RSC or any independent watchmaker.

[Mystro]

This is a job for Rikki. Seriously, when you demand the best and certainly better than RSC you go to Rikki. He has done some mega projects I am not at liberty to discuss online.


http://www.timecareinc.com/

[Ssunnylee24]

Send it to Rolliworks.
Watch would come back with complete overhaul and all original parts.
You can also request to refinish the "flaking hands".

[Nikrnic]

Its your call. If you don't want the hands replaced just get it back and have an independent service done. I wouldn't be threatened from RSCs ultimatum telling me now or never. Your call..

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[fmc000]

Originally Posted by Maiden

I would change the hands and dial and get it polished and looking like new! To me that's one of the great things about Rolex. A new watch after service time.

You will likely waste 30K USD with this move, plus the cost of the dial, hands and polish.

[Anton911]

Absolutely not but ONLY if they send the original hands back to you in case of resale and thus you still have an original watch.

[DLRIDES]

Originally Posted by Atone

send it to rolliworks or LAWW

DO NOT SEND IT IT RSC

/\ THIS /\


Get the watch back and send it to one of the above !

[Maiden]

Originally Posted by fmc000

You will likely waste 30K USD with this move, plus the cost of the dial, hands and polish.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Mystro

This is a job for Rikki. Seriously, when you demand the best and certainly better than RSC you go to Rikki. He has done some mega projects I am not at liberty to discuss online.


http://www.timecareinc.com/

Agreed.

Also, he might be able to preserve and stabilize the original hands

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by Maiden

"ROFL" what? I don't understand if you're serious or just trolling.

[TOKANT]

...

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Maiden

I would change the hands and dial and get it polished and looking like new! To me that's one of the great things about Rolex. A new watch after service time.

I hope this is a joke....

[whattimeyougot]

If you intend to pass it down I’d definitely swap the hands out. That tells me you hope to get many more years of wear out of it. Just try to get the original hands returned.


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[gary3535]

You swap the hands then the mis match patina will look really obvious and a great watch becomes an average watch , all in my opinion of course !
less is more !