Visited RFC Beverly Hills (Pictures) and questions

[Frosty]

I decided to take my two watches in to Rolex Beverly Hills and thought I would share some pictures. I also want to throw out a two questions to see if I am going in the right direction. Sorry, about the quality of the pictures, but, they discourage picture taking and I had to do it quick

I have a Submariner 16803 two tone with a 926082 Movement. The dial has crackling/spydering and Rolex will not service it because they are worried that part of the face might flake off and cause a problem with the movement. I pointed out to the lady that this was a well known factory defect for this watch. She told me she had never heard of that, which seemed a little strange to me. I had read on the Forum about it and some members had Rolex offer a replacement. I asked again today about it with another person and she also said she is not aware of it and if there was a defect they are sure Rolex would have informed them

I have been toying with the idea of buying a blue dial Submariner, but was not sure if I would like it. I saw an Invicta in the two tone gold with the blue face on sale and decided to try it to find out if I liked it. I will have to say, while not liking the movement, the watch looked good.

Rolex told me I could replace the blue dial for the same price as the black one. The new insert would be $51. They would also replace the hands
Since I have to replace the dial anyway and will no longer have the T-25, will it matter value wise if I go with the blue

As a cautionary tale, the GMT I took in turned out to have a non-Rolex insert. An acquaintance that I bought it from assured me the watch had been serviced by Rolex. There was spots of rust on the hands so they need to be replaced. Rolex marks the case so they know if the work was done by them. Also, part of the bracelet and the clasp (even though it has the usual crown) is not Rolex

So, if I go with the blue face, will it hurt the value of the Submariner?

Instead of investing approximately $2,000 in both watches, should I just chuck it and put that money towards another watch?

Parking Lot

[azguy]

Sorry, I can't help, but I am surprised that they would put a blue dial on what was originally a black dial watch................

[Dr. Robert]

They're your classics, spend the bread, renovate the watches, you won't be sorry.

[HERITAGE82]

No pics of the watches....?

[gargamel647]

Originally Posted by QCASANOVA

No pics of the watches....?

[mjclark32]

Nice lobby!

[Wolfgang427]

Are they actually working on the watches there or are they still sending them out to Dallas from there??

[sea-dweller]

Can't help with the watches, but the Beverly Hills Rolex office looks the same as the last time I was there (September, 2004).

[mrbill2mrbill2]

I believe the BH facility is not a true RSC.

[SeaDweller50]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Nice lobby!

[TimeToGo]

As others mentioned, it is interesting they will replace a black dial for a blue. This option, of course, will be much cheaper than buying a new and you keep your own watch. However, how is the bracelet? If you need a new bracelet, that will be big bucks.

For a peace of mind to have the RSC replace the dial and insert, service, you are fine.

[springbar]

Originally Posted by mrbill2mrbill2

I believe the BH facility is not a true RSC.

I'm not sure what constitutes "true." They have repair staff on the premises, and will do stuff like regulations while you wait.

They _won't_ take shipments because, according to the lady at the desk, they don't have their shipping & receiving operation up and running yet.

[Boopie]

Glad to see BH is open again. I had my watch serviced there in 2007.

Are there watchmakers on site, or do they ship it to Dallas (or elsewhere) for service?

[DG123]

As far as I know only Dallas, Texas and NY, NY are true USA RSC's. "True" meaning owned and operated by Rolex Corporation.

Originally Posted by springbar

I'm not sure what constitutes "true." They have repair staff on the premises, and will do stuff like regulations while you wait.

They _won't_ take shipments because, according to the lady at the desk, they don't have their shipping & receiving operation up and running yet.

[Hairdude1]

Thanks for posting!

[Glidelock]

I'm gonna' have to call BS on this one. Not specifically on the OP, but on the Beverly Hill's RSC. The chick isn't familiar with the spider crack, so it can't be? Oh, and Rolex will replace that dial with a Blue one? WTF is that about. Seriously, this sounds like the same type of cluelessness (if that is even a word) that you get from the local Ben Bridge AD whom at one point told me I shouldn't be wearing my Sub in a hot tub, nor do any actual sport type activities while wearing, because they are actually very delicate time pieces! I think if she were to take the watch and actually process it in and submit for a blue dial, the tech (where ever they were located) would have fell down rolling in hysterics at the fact that she actually told him they would do this?

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

As others mentioned, it is interesting they will replace a black dial for a blue. This option, of course, will be much cheaper than buying a new and you keep your own watch. However, how is the bracelet? If you need a new bracelet, that will be big bucks.

For a peace of mind to have the RSC replace the dial and insert, service, you are fine.

I did not think they did that type of thing either, but I just got the invoice. On the description of the watch they clearly have: Dial Black y/g plots L.

Notes

Customer request to change dial and bezel insert to blue

In the Nessessary Service Section / Parts they have:

1 x Dial-Blue with L plots.
1 x Bezel Insert-Blue, yellow numbers

At the bottom of the invoice it says:

The addition of non-genuine parts to any Rolox watch renders it a counterfeit as defined by Federal Law. It is therefore unlawful to sell or offer such modified watch for sale. Rolex will not service watches altered with non-genuine parts or accessories. All parts and accessories are replaced on a trade-in basis

I guess there is an exception if you authorize them to replace non-genuine parts with genuine parts. My GMT has that problem and they are going to replace and service.

As to the question of service centers, I do not know. I took both to get an estimate and sat and waited a little over 20 minutes. The lady came back with both watches on separate trays and the watches were no longer in one piece.

They told me they would send me the estimate later that day. When I had called before I went, they said it they would have an estimate in 20-25 minutes after I brought them in.

I called them later that day and asked about the Service Estimate. They said they did not have a secure E-Mail Service and the estimate would have to be faxed from Huston. I got them yesterday.