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jm433 · 18 December 2008, 05:07 AM

A couple weeks ago I posted a picture of my GMT-II after an unfortunate run-in with a tile floor.

I took it to the independent RSC in San Francisco and three weeks later it was back as good as new. See before and after pictures below. Giovanni and the SF RSC did a fantastic job. I highly recommend them.

Giovanni seems to run the place with his wife. He's a great guy and took the time to walk through my options with me. I paid $180 to fix the crystal, but he also serviced the watch movement to ensure that no crystal fragments had gotten inside the watch. He was able to do this work under the Rolex warranty. He cleaned, oiled and regulated the movement. There apparently were a few small shards of glass that had gotten under the dial through the date window. The dial was not scratched -- thanks to those TRFers who told me to hack the movement after the incident.

I used his loop to check out the crown etching on the new crystal, but I had a hard time making out the "s" that is inside the crown on service crystals.

Two interesting anecdotes from my visit to the RSC:

1. There was a gentleman talking to Giovanni when I first arrived. He was also having work done on a GMT or GMT-II. I didn't get a close look. Turns out he was a pilot of a Mexican airline and was in town on a one-day stop-over. He'd arranged with Giovanni before arriving to have the work done in a day since he was only in town for that long. The RSC was able to accommodate -- pretty good service. And pilots are still wearing the GMT!

2. We were chatting about my Tudor Ranger, which I was wearing that day, and the Rolex Explorer. Giovanni told me he had recently serviced an Explorer II with the engraving "Everest 1997" on the back. The woman who picked it up said she was the wife of one of Tenzig Norgay's sons. He asked her if Tenzig wore an Explorer when he first summited Everest. She said he wore a Rolex, but that it was a gold one and that she had pictures of him with it at home. Who knows if this is really true, but interesting nevertheless.

Dr.B · 18 December 2008, 05:10 AM

Looks, good. Nice to see it repaired.

oneillba · 18 December 2008, 05:13 AM

Looks like new. I am sure you're glad to have it back on your wrist. Now, be careful in the bathroom and tile floors.

JF23 · 18 December 2008, 05:48 AM

Glad you got it back and cool couple of stories.

kcmo · 18 December 2008, 05:54 AM

Looks great!

Dan Pierce · 18 December 2008, 06:52 AM

What a great feeling have that beauty back.

dP

Rolexitis · 18 December 2008, 07:35 AM

Good ending

dkpw · 18 December 2008, 07:51 AM

Nice one James, that's a great looking watch once more, and seems you had 1st class service. I remember your previous post as the cyclops was very much an indicator of "X marks the spot."

Glad to see it back on top form.

TheVTCGuy · 18 December 2008, 08:07 AM

Congrats James! That looks awsome. My Daytona needs servicing and I was planning on taking it to Beverly Hills RSC, but with that kind of service, I might bring it up to SF!

mickeydainish · 18 December 2008, 08:16 AM

Good ending... thanx for the gr8 post. :-)

GerardoG · 18 December 2008, 08:23 AM

It is great to see the 'after' pics; happy to hear everything worked out fine.

allmatch · 18 December 2008, 09:30 AM

Great to hear a happy ending!

JJ Irani · 18 December 2008, 09:35 AM

Looking great.....nice to have it back like new!!

ttannert · 18 December 2008, 09:59 AM

Thank goodness for second chances!

Z-Sub · 18 December 2008, 10:28 AM

Sweet! you got more than you paid for there

Parachrom · 18 December 2008, 11:08 AM

What superlative customer servcie. Quality and service... no one ever regretted buying either.

Hatchet · 18 December 2008, 11:46 AM

Giovanni is a very nice guy. Highly recommended. Those guys at the NY RSC can't even clean his shoes.

Wolfgang427 · 18 December 2008, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatchet

Giovanni is a very nice guy. Highly recommended. Those guys at the NY RSC can't even clean his shoes.

Agree 100%

He fixed my President right up after NY-RSC messed it up.

Latrodectus · 18 December 2008, 12:37 PM

wow, that really looks very good...

exchange83 · 18 December 2008, 12:57 PM

yes. much prefer the after pics

sbakar · 18 December 2008, 01:23 PM

For goodness gracious, PLEASE don't put on or take off your watches over hard surfaces!!!

If you make it a rule that your watch either goes on or off directly over a soft surface, you eliminate this unnecessary risk!

SNB

Tools · 18 December 2008, 02:00 PM

You should always wear soft bunny slippers. If you ever drop your Rolex you can train you reflexes to automatically catch, or at least deflect it, with your slippered foot....

Bisquitlips · 18 December 2008, 02:04 PM

Congrats on the rebirth!!!

jm433 · 19 December 2008, 12:23 PM

Thanks guys. Glad to have her back for the holidays.

oldrolex · 19 December 2008, 12:59 PM

good story

bfh · 19 December 2008, 01:38 PM

Looking good - glad it turned out well.

SF RSC is

- They sure treat us well!!

hflee55 · 19 December 2008, 01:52 PM

Good ending. I'm glad things worked out well for you.

marshallr47 · 19 December 2008, 02:12 PM

Looks awesome. Congrats.

18 December 2008, 05:07 AM	#1
jm433 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: James Location: California Posts: 312	Tile Floor + Sapphire Crystal + SF RSC = Sweet Relief A couple weeks ago I posted a picture of my GMT-II after an unfortunate run-in with a tile floor. I took it to the independent RSC in San Francisco and three weeks later it was back as good as new. See before and after pictures below. Giovanni and the SF RSC did a fantastic job. I highly recommend them. Giovanni seems to run the place with his wife. He's a great guy and took the time to walk through my options with me. I paid $180 to fix the crystal, but he also serviced the watch movement to ensure that no crystal fragments had gotten inside the watch. He was able to do this work under the Rolex warranty. He cleaned, oiled and regulated the movement. There apparently were a few small shards of glass that had gotten under the dial through the date window. The dial was not scratched -- thanks to those TRFers who told me to hack the movement after the incident. I used his loop to check out the crown etching on the new crystal, but I had a hard time making out the "s" that is inside the crown on service crystals. Two interesting anecdotes from my visit to the RSC: 1. There was a gentleman talking to Giovanni when I first arrived. He was also having work done on a GMT or GMT-II. I didn't get a close look. Turns out he was a pilot of a Mexican airline and was in town on a one-day stop-over. He'd arranged with Giovanni before arriving to have the work done in a day since he was only in town for that long. The RSC was able to accommodate -- pretty good service. And pilots are still wearing the GMT! 2. We were chatting about my Tudor Ranger, which I was wearing that day, and the Rolex Explorer. Giovanni told me he had recently serviced an Explorer II with the engraving "Everest 1997" on the back. The woman who picked it up said she was the wife of one of Tenzig Norgay's sons. He asked her if Tenzig wore an Explorer when he first summited Everest. She said he wore a Rolex, but that it was a gold one and that she had pictures of him with it at home. Who knows if this is really true, but interesting nevertheless. Attached Images

18 December 2008, 05:13 AM	#3
oneillba "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Brian Location: Hamilton, MI USA Watch: My beloved TT DJ Posts: 3,831	Looks like new. I am sure you're glad to have it back on your wrist. Now, be careful in the bathroom and tile floors. __________________ My Trusty TT DJ

18 December 2008, 06:52 AM	#6
Dan Pierce 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: D'OH! Location: Kentucky Watch: Rolex-1 Tudor-3 Posts: 36,215	What a great feeling have that beauty back. dP __________________ TRF Member# 1668 Bass Player in TRF "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Band Commander-in-Chief of The Nylon Nation The Crown & Shield Club Honorary Member of P-Club

18 December 2008, 07:35 AM	#7
Rolexitis "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2008 Real Name: Matt Location: Earth Watch: 114060 Posts: 3,203	Good ending __________________ Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

18 December 2008, 07:51 AM	#8
dkpw "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: David Location: Scotland Watch: 16610 & 214270 Posts: 1,294	Nice one James, that's a great looking watch once more, and seems you had 1st class service. I remember your previous post as the cyclops was very much an indicator of "X marks the spot." Glad to see it back on top form. __________________ Sub 16610, Explorer 214270, Ω Speedy Pro & many others. David

18 December 2008, 05:10 AM	#2
Dr.B "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Fernando Location: North Carolina Watch: SS White Daytona Posts: 1,944	Looks, good. Nice to see it repaired.

18 December 2008, 05:48 AM	#4
JF23 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: S Florida Posts: 1,899	Glad you got it back and cool couple of stories.

18 December 2008, 05:54 AM	#5
kcmo "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Real Name: Karis Location: USA Posts: 19,377	Looks great!

18 December 2008, 08:07 AM	#9
TheVTCGuy Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Paul Location: San Diego Watch: 126619LB Posts: 21,540	Congrats James! That looks awsome. My Daytona needs servicing and I was planning on taking it to Beverly Hills RSC, but with that kind of service, I might bring it up to SF!

18 December 2008, 08:16 AM	#10
mickeydainish Banned Join Date: Mar 2008 Real Name: Michael Location: LaLa Land Watch: Sub Date 16610 Posts: 1,757	Good ending... thanx for the gr8 post. :-)

18 December 2008, 08:23 AM	#11
GerardoG Banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Real Name: Gerardo Location: Here Watch: ALL of them Posts: 32,098	It is great to see the 'after' pics; happy to hear everything worked out fine.

18 December 2008, 09:30 AM	#12
allmatch "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: Morten Location: Denmark Posts: 414	Great to hear a happy ending! __________________ Best regards, Morten

18 December 2008, 09:35 AM	#13
JJ Irani Fondly Remembered Join Date: May 2005 Real Name: JJ Location: Auckland, NZ Watch: ALL SOLD!! Posts: 74,319	Looking great.....nice to have it back like new!! __________________ Words fail me in expressing my utmost thanks to ALL of you for this wonderful support during my hour of need!! I firmly believe that my time on planet earth is NOT yet up!! I shall fight this to the very end.......and WIN!!

18 December 2008, 09:59 AM	#14
ttannert "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Real Name: Tim Location: Ohio Watch: SS Black Daytona Posts: 872	Thank goodness for second chances! __________________ The greatest luxury in life is time; treasure every second. __________________ My Collection: SS Rolex M Black Daytona SS Rolex V Black Milgauss GV SS Rolex M Black Milgauss TT Rolex Z White MOP Datejust SS Rolex M Coke GMT II SS Tag Heuer Black Kirium Chronometer

18 December 2008, 10:28 AM	#15
Z-Sub 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So Cal, USA Watch: Not a ONEWatch Man Posts: 7,383	Sweet! you got more than you paid for there __________________ SS Submariner Date "Z" SS SeaDweller "D" SS Submariner "Random" TT Blue Submariner "P" SS GMT-Master ll "M", Pepsi Pam 311, 524, 297

18 December 2008, 11:08 AM	#16
Parachrom "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: canada Posts: 721	What superlative customer servcie. Quality and service... no one ever regretted buying either.

18 December 2008, 11:46 AM	#17
Hatchet "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 444	Giovanni is a very nice guy. Highly recommended. Those guys at the NY RSC can't even clean his shoes. __________________ And I say, "Hey, Lama, hey, how about a little something, you know, for the effort, you know." And he says, "Oh, uh, there won't be any money, but when you die, on your deathbed, you will receive total consciousness." So I got that goin' for me, which is nice. --Carl Spackler in Caddyshack

18 December 2008, 12:37 PM	#19
Latrodectus 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Fred Location: KY, USA Watch: GMT-Master II Posts: 10,043	wow, that really looks very good... __________________ Member # 16057 4-Hands Club Tosser Club Member TRF Skypers Group

18 December 2008, 12:57 PM	#20
exchange83 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Real Name: Eric Location: New York Watch: Patek 5980r Posts: 489	yes. much prefer the after pics

18 December 2008, 01:23 PM	#21
sbakar "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Vancouver Posts: 650	For goodness gracious, PLEASE don't put on or take off your watches over hard surfaces!!! If you make it a rule that your watch either goes on or off directly over a soft surface, you eliminate this unnecessary risk! SNB __________________ "There's something just SOOO tantalizing about bringing JJ's threads down with a few RADO jokes."

18 December 2008, 02:00 PM	#22
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	You should always wear soft bunny slippers. If you ever drop your Rolex you can train you reflexes to automatically catch, or at least deflect it, with your slippered foot.... __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

18 December 2008, 02:04 PM	#23
Bisquitlips 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Richard Location: USA Watch: YM Deep Space Posts: 12,521	Congrats on the rebirth!!! __________________ Rolex Yacht-Master 40mm (SS-YG / Deep Space MOP) 16623 Breitling Aerospace Titanium / 18K with UTC. Omega Speedmaster 3510.50 Oris TT1 Pro Diver Regulator 43MM

19 December 2008, 12:23 PM	#24
jm433 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: James Location: California Posts: 312	Thanks guys. Glad to have her back for the holidays.

19 December 2008, 12:59 PM	#25
oldrolex Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Steve Location: WI, USA Watch: DD Wanted Posts: 580	good story

19 December 2008, 01:38 PM	#26
bfh Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: usofa Watch: SS Subdate Posts: 171	Looking good - glad it turned out well. SF RSC is - They sure treat us well!!

19 December 2008, 01:52 PM	#27
hflee55 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Real Name: Andy Location: Kuala Lumpur, MY Watch: Me Watching You!! Posts: 3,260	Good ending. I'm glad things worked out well for you.

19 December 2008, 02:12 PM	#28
marshallr47 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Real Name: Ron Location: Alabama Watch: Daytona,TT Sub,GMT Posts: 4,673	Looks awesome. Congrats. __________________ Ron

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