Presidential Date Wheel

[shockenberry]

Here is the story. My hubby has a 1972 Gents 18K President yellow gold day date watch with champagne diamond dial. He has it serviced every year buy this watch guy. We went on vacation and the watch filled up with salt water. He freaks out - gives it to the watch guy who says he has to send it back to Rolex to re-finish. After 2 months the watch comes back and looks great but with one change. The date wheel used to be like a goldish color and now it is white. The watch guy told him Rolex only makes them in white now. Hubby is NOT happy and wants his watch back exactly how it was. Anyone know if this is true or not? Thanks.

[mikey]

Yes, Rolex will change out parts and dischard without your permission unless you specifically included a letter along with the watch for service. Unfortunately, you may have to find a similar one and have it installed by your jeweler and not RSC.

[HYDROMAROC]

Sounds like "his" watch guy might not have done a good job if he services it every year and then it fills up with salt water... But thats just my opinion.....

[pol]

Was the champagne diamond dial original...or swapped out after purchase? I believe if there are any modifications made to the watch after purchase, at the time you send the watch in for service it will be restored to its original condition.

[mike]

First of all Welcome!

It's a bit hard to tell what has happened without a bit more information.

A couple of observations though...

Watches like Rolex really don't need to be serviced every year. Rolex recommends service 5 to 7 years depending...
For watches that see a lot of use in the water it's generally a good idea to have the pressure checked annually, though many don't even do this.
A service should include (among other things) changing the seals and checking the crown and tube. As your watch is a 72 vintage the acryllic crystal needs to be changed at service due to acryllic developing stress cracks over time. Was this done, and if so with a genuine Rolex part?

Secondly, Rolex will not service without providing a detailed list of work to be done for your approval. Were you notified?

That the date wheel was changed could happen if there was something discovered by Rolex that was worn or in some fashion impact on the functioning of the watch.
In any event if the work was performed by an RSC you should have received a one year International warranty and service paperwork. Did this happen?

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Welcome to TRF!

Rolex still makes the date wheels with a gold coloured (or off-white) background colour to match the gold and Champagne dials.

I would have it corrected, if I were him.

[abigsecret]

If the watch had water inside, the original date wheel would have been damaged (the letters probably washed off) so that's a reason for them to replace it. At the other hand, they will only replace parts with parts that are originally intended for the particular configuration, so if the date wheel was supposed to be champagne color, they'll replace it with that, if it was originally supposed to be white, that's what they'll put on it. So, the question here is; was it serviced by Rolex, or somebody who claims to be Rolex?
After we figure that out, you'll know the answer.

p.s. having the watch cleaned from the outside on a yearly basis, is NOT the same as having the watch serviced.... if your watchmaker claims to service it yearly, he/she should warranty that water damage, because that's warranted for at least one year!

[shockenberry]

I can attach a picture of it that the watch man sent back with it. We had the crystal replaced and all of the seals replaced less than 12 months before it filled up with water. The watch man said that there was a crack in the crystal from hitting it on something and not from him replacing it. (Hubby babies his watch so there is no way he cracked it) He was not told by the watch man a white date wheel was going to be put in. When he went to pick up the watch the watch guy told him Rolex only puts in white ones now because people complained that the gold ones were hard to see. Did Rolex ever put a white date wheel in a watch like the one my husband has? If not we are going to demand it be changed. Thanks for all of your help.

[mike]

Originally Posted by shockenberry

I can attach a picture of it that the watch man sent back with it. We had the crystal replaced and all of the seals replaced less than 12 months before it filled up with water. The watch man said that there was a crack in the crystal from hitting it on something and not from him replacing it. (Hubby babies his watch so there is no way he cracked it) He was not told by the watch man a white date wheel was going to be put in. When he went to pick up the watch the watch guy told him Rolex only puts in white ones now because people complained that the gold ones were hard to see. Did Rolex ever put a white date wheel in a watch like the one my husband has? If not we are going to demand it be changed. Thanks for all of your help.

I can't speak to DDs, I have to defer to those that have had experience there. Rolex has replaced silver date wheels in vintage sport models with white.

You still should have received paperwork and a warranty though.

[daunwaun]

very interesting!!! it should be replaced with a coloured date wheel similar to what was original