GMT matte black face switched by Rolex?

[rustym38a1]

The Stem pulled out of my 80's GMT "pepsi" with an original matte black face. I took it to my certified Rolex jeweler and they sent it off to Rolex in New York. About two weeks ago I got a call from my jeweler saying the watch was repaired and the good news was, it was at No Cost! That was a surprise. Last week they called again and said they just got it back and I could pick it up. I went to get it today only to find it was at No Cost but my matte black face was now replaced with the new style Gloss black face with the outlined indexes. I told them this was not my watch face and they said they would contact Rolex on Monday and find out what happened. I know my watch was the 16750 with the matte black face and no outlined indexes. The repair papers didn't mention anything other than the stem was repaired. Has anyone else had this kind of experience with Rolex? I thought if they were going to change or replace something it would first have to be authorized.

[Tools]

You're right..

It's not normal for Rolex to replace a dial at no cost or for no reason...

[Old Expat Beast]

The only outwardly visible part they will replace without asking first or charging extra is the date wheel (and springbars, which are kind of visible, I guess).

[ww12345]

Sounds like you got a replacement service dial. Hopefully they can replace it with your original and haven't destroyed the original dial. I don't know why they needed to get that far inside the watch to fix a pulled stem anyway... And why it was free is a better question.

[Old Expat Beast]

It's also odd that RSC would fix a vintage watch like that for no charge. Are you sure it went to the RSC?

[Txkill]

This sounds odd and I would be upset if this happened to me.

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It's also odd that RSC would fix a vintage watch like that for no charge. Are you sure it went to the RSC?

That's what I was thinking. None of this makes any sense for the RSC.

[datejust24]

Vintage or not the fact that they did anything for free let alone a new dial and crown seems highly unlikely

[997.2]

Hmm.... I'd be confused and angry

[mike]

The only thing I can think of is they felt the tritium was degraded in some manner, but they should have notified you. I'd guess a service would have been in order as well.

Paperwork would have reflected all that was done. Something weird.

[rustyduck]

I agree with Mike. get the paperwork from the vendor used by your Rolex jeweler and find out what happened.

[GeorgeK]

They did something similar to me, in Geneva a few years ago, and I prevailed, but only with threats of lawyers and legal action.
Soured me for a looooong while.

[TheTimeAndTraveller]

Wow that's really odd. Hope it all gets sorted out.

[Matt748]

Oh no.
Seems strange that they would do that all for free.
I really hope you get this resolved.

[SeminarianMike]

Very odd, the bigger issue that has me perplexed is why was it free?? RSC loves their inflated bills... I can't see them giving someone a cup of water without first charging labor. I would def make sure you dealer is really sending it to a RSC. There was a guy here in Pittsburgh claimed to be a authorized Rolex watch maker... Eventually got in allot of trouble... But he'd pull these stunts say if he couldn't handle the issue it would Goto New York. He'd strip watches of valuable parts . I think he'd even strip off real parts and replace them with aftermarket. I would seriously look into this. Not saying this is what happened though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CharlieMae]

You think this is the first story like this that I have heard? This is probably the 100th. RSC does this all the time and for a variety of reasons, which is why I personally would never bring a watch to RSC, even for a stem change look at what happened!

They might have damaged the matte dial by accident and replaced it with a service gloss. They may have determined the tritium was crumbling and getting in the movement so they justified changing it...

They can give you a thousand reasons why they did it but, now that the dial is gone its gone for good. They dont return parts or keep them, from what I hear. You have no recourse, they have the right to change whatever they want at RSC for any reason.

Sorry for your loss and let this thread be a lesson to any vintage Rolex owner.

NEVER HAVE YOUR VINTAGE ROLEX SERVICED AT RSC OR AUTHENTICATED OR APPRAISED. They create fictitious issues so that they can replace parts and generate service repairs.

[Vincent65]

They probably knackered your original dial and then thought they'd soften the blow by not charging you for the privilege. Sorry to see this.

[GeorgeK]

Originally Posted by CharlieMae

They can give you a thousand reasons why they did it but, now that the dial is gone its gone for good. They dont return parts or keep them, from what I hear. You have no recourse, they have the right to change whatever they want at RSC for any reason.

Not true.
I got my open 6 silver date wheel back. After being told it was no longer with them. My answer was simple: "either my date wheel, or my lawyer".

Got it back, from Geneva no less.

And they have no "right" to change whatever they want. They can tell you what they want to do, and you can refuse or accept, but in essence the watch is yours, and they can not take anything without asking you first.

Once you refuse, they can (and will) refuse to touch the watch, but taking anything from it without your prior consent is... wait... oh yes - Theft.

[brandrea]

There's gotta be more to this

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by brandrea

There's gotta be more to this

Agree. Hopefully there will be an update Monday.

[Tyl3r]

That sounds extremely sketchy.

[powerfunk]

Originally Posted by CharlieMae

You think this is the first story like this that I have heard? This is probably the 100th. RSC does this all the time and for a variety of reasons

Does this all the time? I haven't seen another anecdote about RSC unexpectedly replacing a dial in YEARS. They charge $600 for a new dial alone; the days of standard free service dials are in the past -- there must be something more going on here. Acting like this is typical from RSC is simply incorrect.

Originally Posted by CharlieMae

NEVER HAVE YOUR VINTAGE ROLEX SERVICED AT RSC OR AUTHENTICATED OR APPRAISED. They create fictitious issues so that they can replace parts and generate service repairs.

I've had many watches serviced by RSC NY, including 3 vintage. They've never done a single thing without my specific approval, and they've done a great job. They never required anything beyond a movement service and new crystal. The old "don't send vintage to RSC" mantra gets repeated a lot, but it's outdated imho.

[rustym38a1]

Originally Posted by SeminarianMike

Very odd, the bigger issue that has me perplexed is why was it free?? RSC loves their inflated bills... I can't see them giving someone a cup of water without first charging labor. I would def make sure you dealer is really sending it to a RSC. There was a guy here in Pittsburgh claimed to be a authorized Rolex watch maker... Eventually got in allot of trouble... But he'd pull these stunts say if he couldn't handle the issue it would Goto New York. He'd strip watches of valuable parts . I think he'd even strip off real parts and replace them with aftermarket. I would seriously look into this. Not saying this is what happened though


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's funny but a Certified Pittsburgh Jeweler is were I took the watch to be sent to Rolex. I have two Rolex's. The GMT has been sent away before for repairs and servicing. They have always contacted me about what needed to be done and HOW Much it would cost. Thats why even when they called from the jewelers and said there would be no charge for the repair, the girls at the Jewelers said that was very strange for Rolex not to charge for a service. My watch is a 16750 with the matte black dial and it had the skinny Coronet on the face that touched the 12:00 index point. The Tritium was dead and was starting to show a little yellowing. I've read where the matte face is more rare and desirable. I hope they have a good explaination for what happened. I'm very upset about the switch without any notification, but I'm more suspicious of the No Charge issue. The watch isn't totally original because the case had to be replaced. it now has a different serial number. So it being all original isn't that important. The red flag was the NO CHARGE and it having a new face was even more confusing. Don't get me wrong the watch looks great with the new face but it doesn't look like my old vintage watch.

[rustym38a1]

I'll let you know what I find out on Monday. Thanks everyone for the input!

[watchdawg]

Something is wrong here that is for sure.

[azguy]

Free, on an 80's GMT

[subtona]

i suspect the AD, No charge because no proof of RSC doing the work?

crown stem pulling out is no big deal, hardly worth sending a watch to RSC.

SOMEONE IS MESSING AROUND HERE!


at the very least i would ASAP PERSONALLY contact RSC NY (terrible people) and confirm that they serviced your watch by serial number, if they have i would have them track down that dial and return to you, and you can substitute their dial for a cardboard cutout and return that to them and see if they like it…. but i still suspect the AD.

[Boxcars]

Originally Posted by CharlieMae

You think this is the first story like this that I have heard? This is probably the 100th. RSC does this all the time and for a variety of reasons, which is why I personally would never bring a watch to RSC, even for a stem change look at what happened!

They might have damaged the matte dial by accident and replaced it with a service gloss. They may have determined the tritium was crumbling and getting in the movement so they justified changing it...

They can give you a thousand reasons why they did it but, now that the dial is gone its gone for good. They dont return parts or keep them, from what I hear. You have no recourse, they have the right to change whatever they want at RSC for any reason.

Sorry for your loss and let this thread be a lesson to any vintage Rolex owner.

NEVER HAVE YOUR VINTAGE ROLEX SERVICED AT RSC OR AUTHENTICATED OR APPRAISED. They create fictitious issues so that they can replace parts and generate service repairs.

How do you manage to live day to day with such paranoia issues? Incredible post, full of utter garbage.

[CharlieMae]

I live in NYC. I deal in Vintage watches. I have been in RSC on 5th in one week probably more times than most people will in their lifetimes.

I've had it happen to me. I have it happen to others. I have spoken with MANY vintage dealers and collectors here in NYC that feel the exact same way.

There's an old saying "its all good until it happens to you, then its all bad"

I have no paranoia issues, I have common sense issues. If 10 people put their hand in a fire and get burned, am I paranoid or stupid to put my hand in the fire?

I'm neither, I have common sense and been around this game for 20 years. I know what they do and I have seen them do it me and many others.

Go there and get your own watch serviced. More than likely nothing bad will happen. But, when they switch out your gilt hands for service tritium good luck getting them back. And, here in NY everyone cries lawyer so that BS doesnt work on anyone, even taxi drivers.

[Sublover2166]

Sounds like somebody pulled a fast one somewhere. Maybe the watch never went to RSC and the OPs jeweler decided they would like the vintage dial and pulled the old switcheroo? Something definitely smells afoul!