Day Date President

[hellodonny14]

I would like to ask any one for some advice. I had sent my Rolex President for service to the NY Rolex Main Office in Jan 2007. It was sent in for a scratch on the crown and the bracelet was damaged as it was dropped and the bracelet got bent a bit. I was quoted about $10K for the replacement of the bracelet as well as the repairs to the crown and also a servicing for the watch. As time passed it was finished, but Rolex had basically sent my old bracelet back to Swiss for whatever they got for reimbursement for the weight in white gold for the old damaged bracelet.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I didn't have the money to pay for the repairs, so I had asked the manager there what i could do in this regard? I was told that the value of the damaged bracelet is basically nothing, but they are willing to get my watch back to me, serviced and the crown repaired, but with a leather strap so as to send it with some type of bracelet (110230221) and no charges for the services and so on. My simple question is what would you say the value is for my old bracelet? And should i agree with this as a solution for the damaged bracelet which they cannot return to me??? I originally paid $28K dollars for the watch brand new in 2005. I would say that if in the future I do have the money to buy a new bracelet they say that without a trade in the bracelet now is $16K... Thx Don

[OysterDavid]

Just so I, and perhaps others, understand...you bought a brand new white gold Day-Date in '05 for $28K...two years later you accidently dropped the watch, damaging the bracelet and crown. At that point, in '07 you sent the watch to Rolex USA in NY for remedy.

They told you the watch needed service (after two years of ownership??!!) and to replace the crown and bracelet their offer was $10K.

Now I'm confused. Did you tell them to go ahead and then after a presumed month or so, figured out you didn't have the money to pay them? Did you tell them you wanted to think about it and now five years later they still have the watch, but not the bracelet and are willing to trade the repair and bracelet for the watch head with a leather strap? Did you tell them to go ahead with the repairs and they're still waiting for you to pay? Something's missing here. Nobody has ever posted an experience with an RSC here that even comes close to what you're describing.

My impression and experience is that after offering a repair estimate, the watch owner has 60 days to respond, and presumably, if there's no response, the item is returned to the sender as received. Rolex just doesn't 'keep' the watch, especially for five years. My experience is that in order to begin the repair, a credit card number has to be offered, along with a signature authorizing the repairs. Did you do this?

As you're probably aware, the price of gold has kind of skyrocketed in the past three years, so of course, Rolex will now charge more than they would have five years ago for replacement. So, the value then (for what...melt value or bracelet value for a broken bracelet?) is not really connected to today's value for a new or damaged solid white gold bracelet.

Perhaps some extra details or corrections to my conclusions would bring clarity to an answer for you.

[hellodonny14]

Yes, I did ask them to repair the watch. I am originally from New England and was in the Middle East at the time I purchased the watch from a Rolex Dealer there in Qatar. After getting some needed vacation from my commitments in the Middle East, I came home for 1 month and in that time it got damaged and I promptly brought it to the New York Office for a repair estimate. It was New Year 2007 in Jan.I did ask them to go ahead with the repairs as in that time, I felt I could handle the amount. Upon returning to the Middle East,I got sidetracked and was in and out of various countries there doing my job. Once free and back in Qatar I made contact again mentioning that I may not be able to pay for the repairs meaning the bracelet replacement (Which was the basically about $9K). So I had asked Rolex NY to let me know what the repairs and service charges would be and return the damaged bracelet with my watch and we would be square, but I was told that the bracelet has been sent to Swiss for scrap. So simply put I was asking your advice, what would you say the value of the damaged bracelet would be??? I was asking them to charge me for the repair on the watch which was as follows: Crown repair $90, New Tube $45, AND SERVICE $495 TOTALING ($625)Next I was asking what the value of my White Gold Bracelet was and I asked them to deduct the repair and service charges and send me the difference. I wanted to know the value of my bracelet??? Pls let me know what else I can provide to make it more clear if I didn't get you all you need to give me your advice, Thank you very Much. Don

[Genway]

If the deal was agreed by you on January 2007, the value of the bracelet would be the amount of gold in the bracelet at gold market $700 (value at 2007 January), The amount of gold also can be calculated from weight of the bracelet, say its about 70 grams of 18K white gold on bracelet, the pure gold will be .75 X 70 = 52.5 (grams), so the gold bracelet would worth $1250 at New York Gold Market on January 2007.
But I believe there would be comsumer law on your side and if you have not signed any contract or agreement, they can not scraped the gold and the old bracelet sould be return to you, if they accidently destroyed the bracelet already, you can definitely ask them to replace one for free, since the "misunderstood" was based on poor communication.
Based on your description, sounds like this already done deal and was happened back in 2007, the price was quoted was old price and if you want to claim the watch now, they would charge you the new price! but now the gold price is $1673, so the bracelet today worth about $3000.

[dddrees]

Welcome to TRF.

I agree, something is missing here.

[xhype]

ask them for the bracelet back there's no way servicing cost that much

[dddrees]

I think given everything what they are offering is pretty fair. Frankly they followed your instructions and now after all this time you've had a change of heart. I know other things came up but they did do what you asked them to do. In fact I think it's pretty amazing they still remember you and are willing to try to work with you after all this time.

I personally would take the deal.

[HORNBLOWER]

Wow !!! 10k for a repair ! if you look around you could pick up two 1803s on gold bracelets for that money.

[OysterDavid]

Originally Posted by HORNBLOWER

Wow !!! 10k for a repair ! if you look around you could pick up two 1803s on gold bracelets for that money.

Well, not quite...I have yet to see even an old 1803 with bracelet selling for $5K...maybe one and three quarters 1803 for $10K...but I digress...

When I last sent off a watch to the RSC a few years back, I received an estimate by fax (my request) with mandatory and optional service offerings. In order to proceed, I had to affirmatively check off some boxes as to what I wanted, offer up a credit card number and then sign an authorization in order for Rolex to begin work. The credit card was not charged until the job was complete, I received a phone call to that effect and the watch was posted back to me.

I just checked my repair paperwork and indeed, it states the estimate is good for 60 days and without action, the watch would be returned in the same condition received.

So, we now have an original posting narrative that tells a story that is now over 5 years old, with sketchy time lines, begging the question as to why now, five years after the fact, the case is being reopened for opinions and suggestions.

First, I fail to see how Rolex USA would begin work on a watch without payment authorization. Secondly, I'm having trouble figuring out how a Rolex owner could just let things slide with a bracelet that is worth thousands of dollars...and I'd love to know how a simple 'drop' (at least that's what's being hinted at) could damage a bracelet beyond simple repair or at least serviceable remedy. And finally, I'm at a loss to reconstruct how wires have been so crossed for so long that this hasn't been resolved by this time.

Jeepers, is life so scattered & confusing for the original poster that they just lost track of time while their $26K watch sat in New York for five years? Just what kind of communication took place five years ago that would lead Rolex to start work, move the bracelet to the recycle bin and then have the process grind to a halt over payment issues? Where's the paper trail...was this transacted over the phone only with no supporting documentation? That doesn't sound like any RSC that I'm familiar with.

There have been postings here about Rolex RSC mistakes...sloppy work, scratched watches returned to the owner, hands falling off, problems left unsolved, etc. I've witnessed some pretty pissed off Rolex owners telling their stories, but generally, things get straightened out and life goes on. Maybe it's just me, but this story still feels untold in its entirety.

Perhaps in another universe, people can be cavalier about their solid gold, $26K watches and $10K replacement bracelets, not staying on top of things, communicating with repair vendors, staying on top of things and following through, but in my world, with watches worth less than $5K, I'm much more engaged and involved when the watch is out of my hands and somewhere else.

[Rjwareagle]

This story sounds odd... Ive seem magic performed on DD bracelets for LESS!! They even use the same pins and links.. Gold is easy to work with if you know what your doing.. I would try to get it back and have it repaired.. I would always know where my 28K watch is!!

[Assquatch]

I recently sent a 18239 to Rolex pa, after the owner punched someone and the bracelet basically tore in half and became so warped I thought it would be time for a new bracelet. They replaced the clasp and repaired the remaining pieces for roughly 3k and it was like brand new. I think rsc either gave it as an optional item, or this guys bracelet was beyond repair, which usually means it is like 30 years old and is so stretched you can see all the pins and turn the bracelet inside out. Something is
Missing.