Why won't Rolex service older models?

[Mystro]

15years ago many Rolex AD were pushing the fact that their watches were heirlooms. My Seri Sub is now over 12yrs old,keeps great time and has never been serviced yet. Looks like I am 1/3 the way though Rolex's commitment to service and have parts. Oh well, looks like I'll have to pick up a new Sub next time at Costco buying 5 gallons of mayonnaise.




http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....ang=en-CA&Sp=C

[brkanand]

After reading all this info, I am having two thoughts about buying my next Rolex!

[lukestevenson]

Originally Posted by spuds

Don't Omega guarantee that they'll always be able to service their watches 'for the life of the watch' or something.....??

omega have a seperate comany department called swiss time that service older models.

[STEELINOX]

Actually, I din't RTFT, but this may be just a ROLEX USA RSC thing. You may be able to get help with vintage ROLEX from GENEVA. I like GENEVAs service and have had excellent results, and in some cases are CHEAPER overall than RSC !

Thanks,
Randy

[ersnyder]

50 years from now, I'll let my grandsons worry about where they find service!

[stat]

I love my watch but it is dissappointing. Knowing that a company will stand by its product even at a loss in some cases is reassuring. I remember reading an article and one of the Patek heads said that this was something that they had to do. Not a matter of profit, to which he said they pretty much break even. Wish Rolex took the same approach. I don't think I'll have nearly as much "problem" with my IWC.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by Mystro

15years ago many Rolex AD were pushing the fact that their watches were heirlooms. My Seri Sub is now over 12yrs old,keeps great time and has never been serviced yet. Looks like I am 1/3 the way though Rolex's commitment to service and have parts. Oh well, looks like I'll have to pick up a new Sub next time at Costco buying 5 gallons of mayonnaise.




http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product....ang=en-CA&Sp=C

Looks like they are out of stock!

Can you imagine throwing a Rolex in your card along with toilet paper, a gallon carton of goldfish crackers and frozen chicken thighs???

Too funny.

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by Speed

Looks like they are out of stock!

Can you imagine throwing a Rolex in your card along with toilet paper, a gallon carton of goldfish crackers and frozen chicken thighs???

Too funny.

[republik-of-mancunia]

Originally Posted by Rscmaine

My wife put 190,000 miles on her old 1989 Cadillac Deville - loved it to death, literally...

We replaced it with a 1990 Identical Deville with 34,000 miles and parked the old one behind out mechanic's garage as a parts car.

We have used one window motor, the headliner, swapped both front seats, and the power steering pump.

The answer to your fear of parts availability? Buy a "donor" watch and a couple of mainsprings and toss 'em in the safe.

A donor watch!! Brutal. Cynical. I love it!

[stat]

Maybe missing something here but how can the independent guys get Rolex parts that Rolex doesn't have? WHat about things outside of the movement like bezels, crowns, and bracelets? Thanks guys!

[stat]

Originally Posted by stat

Maybe missing something here but how can the independent guys get Rolex parts that Rolex doesn't have? WHat about things outside of the movement like bezels, crowns, and bracelets? Thanks guys!

Any idea how this happens?

[Wildwing]

You start with a watchmaker who can actually fabricate parts. There are some around.

[stat]

Originally Posted by Wildwing

You start with a watchmaker who can actually fabricate parts. There are some around.

So if the watch is serviced with non-Rolex parts doesn't that take away from the watch to a certain degree? Obviously, if there are no parts available I guess this would be the only option. This is not to say that these fabricated parts are of an inferior quality....just not genuine Rolex. Like doing after market parts for cars. Is this what most people have to do to keep their older or vintage watches in working order?

[Wildwing]

I believe that's the only way to go for the really old ones. I think in some cases you find a watchmaker who can fabricate parts to keep the watch in top shape as the only alternative. If you do searches on vintage watch restoration, you won't find any ADs clammoring for the business. Only the independents.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by Speed

Perhaps Rolex feels it their brand is so addictive that they folks will keep buying no matter what.

This has been successful for Rolex for over 50 years, therefore there is little incentive to change business strategies for the few of us who care this much.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by stat

Maybe missing something here but how can the independent guys get Rolex parts that Rolex doesn't have? WHat about things outside of the movement like bezels, crowns, and bracelets? Thanks guys!

There are plenty of watch parts manufacturers who provide parts to the "non Rolex Corporate" watchmakers...

When an actual market appears for early Rolex watches, a vendor and manufacturer will fill the void..

Practically every Rolex on the planet can still be repaired and restored through the efforts of such businessmen.... Well known Bob Ridley is a great example, and there are others..

[stat]

Originally Posted by Tools

There are plenty of watch parts manufacturers who provide parts to the "non Rolex Corporate" watchmakers...

When an actual market appears for early Rolex watches, a vendor and manufacturer will fill the void..

Practically every Rolex on the planet can still be repaired and restored through the efforts of such businessmen.... Well known Bob Ridley is a great example, and there are others..

Thanks Larry. Am I correct in saying that these parts are not genuine Rolex parts? Is it similar to using after market replacement parts for a car?

[Skyblazer]

My circa 1957 GMT Master was serviced a couple of years ago at Beverly Hills Service Center, which I hear is now closed. So that was roughly a 50 year old watch.

The had to get some parts from Geneva.

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by Skyblazer

My circa 1957 GMT Master was serviced a couple of years ago at Beverly Hills Service Center, which I hear is now closed. So that was roughly a 50 year old watch.

The had to get some parts from Geneva.

Blackman Jeweler's on Lido Isle is one of the local guys I send ROLEX to.
Bruce has great service and turnaround times, and of course, he is AUTHORIZED !

http://www.merchantcircle.com/busine...s.949-673-9334

[Canman_68]

I have a 1946 Rolex Oyster Perpetual that I need serviceing. I live in Ontario Canada.

I contacted the Rolex Service Centre (RSC) in Toronto, Canada and was told that they do not service watches of this age, as no parts are available. Yet, they did suggest that I contact Humbertown jewellers in Etobicoke. http://www.humbertownjewellers.com/index.html

I have though the internet found other Watchmakes who can service watches of this age.

I fail to understand why RSC cannot service their own watches.

I have also read that any Rolex watch that does not have all original Rolex parts is considered as a counterfeit.

[vtsnowplow]

Originally Posted by ersnyder

50 years from now, I'll let my grandsons worry about where they find service!

Perfectly stated

[mborner]

I think it's a non issue, really. How many 3135 movements are in circulation? It has to be in the tens of millions. I would think that parts would be available, even used, for well over 50 years. I shudder to think of all the parts a RCS has stacked up from old used watches.

[jrssv]

There's an easy way to solve this problem. I couldn't afford my first Rolex until I was 64 so if they week parts for 30 years .... that will be long enough for me.

[ed54]

jrssv-
X2! Keeping the watch running will be only one of the problems I leave to my kids.

[Rawhyde]

Rolex is a modern company with advanced CNC manufacturing capability. I'm sure somewhere in their dusty archives they also have all the plans and drawings for every watch they have ever made. Therefore, there is no excuse for them not being able to service any of their watches except that they just don't want to. As you can well guess, I feel like it's a load of BS that they refuse to support their products. (After all, a quart jar could easily hold enough parts to make dozens of watches)

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Zirotti

It's like any manufacturer. If you take a 55 Chevy into a Chevy dealer, they may or may not service it as they will have to source parts from aftermarket companies as GM no longer produces or stocks parts. They can't stock and keep making parts forever.

Cannot understand why I am sure Rolex have all the schematics for all past movements.And Rolex are supposed to be watchmakers and how hard can it be to make a part if necessary for a older movement.IMHO Rolex has let down its past Heritage watches by putting a cut of time for service.Even Brands like Seiko with there high end watches guarantee service for 50 plus years.

[Howie]

I sent my vintage 666 Ingenieur to IWC - they had to send it out to Switzerland, and it took 6 months, but they had all the parts to service the movement and they sent me serial archival papers showing when and where the watch was originally purchased back in 1970.

Now that's service!

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by patrick09

I think I read some where recently Rolex not supporting watches over 30 years old?

Originally Posted by tinstar

30 years max

That is straight from Dallas RSC

My 1601 is 44 years old and the Fukuoka RSC didn't even blink when I brought in for a service. The lady at the reception just smiled and gave me some documents to fill out. When I came back one week later to talk about the quote, the technician didn't even mention the age of the watch. When I asked him if it could be serviced he just laughed and said of course it can.

So, I wonder is this 30+ year stuff only to do with sports models?

Originally Posted by Alcan

The Toronto RSC told me they'll service any older Rolex providing they still have access to parts and it doesn't have what they term an "exotic" dial.

They recently overhauled Nancy's circa 1960 cocktail watch, had all parts for the cal. 1400 in stock. That's not bad for an almost 50 year old watch.

Exactly!

Originally Posted by padi56

Cannot understand why I am sure Rolex have all the schematics for all past movements.And Rolex are supposed to be watchmakers and how hard can it be to make a part if necessary for a older movement.IMHO Rolex has let down its past Heritage watches by putting a cut of time for service.Even Brands like Seiko with there high end watches guarantee service for 50 plus years.

I have to agree. It just doesn't make sense. I would have thought that Rolex would have worked out that people were going to need to service their older models in the future and therefore would have created a vintage division of some sort specifically for servicing these 30+ year models. It seems like a no brainer to me. Definitely sad.

[Jackxv]

When you've got a family hairloom and want it serviced, get in contact with Geneva.

If the watch was regularly serviced and contains no aftermarket pieces or repainted dial they will try to service it.

Remember the 15XX caliber was produced from end 50's untill end 70's and there still are a lot of parts around. Same for the manual precision movements.
The 30XX movements were produced from end 70's till end 80's and the 31XX were produced from then untill now.

The buggers are the BB and 10XX movements.

I wouldn't worry about the movement, the cases, crystals and dials will be the problem.

Jack