Where to buy dials for the Day Date?

[Patekfinder]

I am about to close a deal on a Day Date II that is in perfect condition with box and papers and recently serviced. My criteria is to get a great watch in perfect condition, and this is it. The only issue is that I want a champagne dial with Roman numerals and the one I am buying has a white dial. I did find some DD II’s with champagne dials, but the condition of the watches themselves are not great. So buying the best condition DD II I can find, regardless of dial color, and then sourcing the is the way to go.

Dial swaps are easy and spoke to Rolliworks (I am local to them) and they will do it for me for just $280! But I need to supply the dial for the swap.

Where can I purchase a champagne dial with Roman numerals for the DD II? I did a google search but everything I found on random websites were 36mm dials. Also checked chrono24 but the available dials all have issues like a scratch etc. Nothing in the classifieds here on TRF.

Where else can I look?

Thank you

[inadeje]

It could be tough finding that dial. Have you tried the chrono24 “parts and accessories” search?

I did and these were the first results. Good luck!

[Patekfinder]

I did. Saw that $2,000 champagne dial. Hoping to find one for $1,000 or less since every single other damn dial is selling for $600-700… but if I gotta pay up the $2k then so be it as a last resort!


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[Milkshake]

Just have Rolex change the dial.

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

I did. Saw that $2,000 champagne dial. Hoping to find one for $1,000 or less since every single other damn dial is selling for $600-700… but if I gotta pay up the $2k then so be it as a last resort!


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Just a suggestion, but why not ask RSC? It may be less than you think?

[Patekfinder]

I didn’t realize you could buy dials from RSC! Good idea I’ll ask!


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[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

I didn’t realize you could buy dials from RSC! Good idea I’ll ask!

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Yes, no issues

[Pepperjack]

RSC or an AD should be able to do that. I think my service book at the shop says just a dial swap service is somewhere between $100 to $250 USD, and a Day-Date dial is $470 if I remember correctly. Not really a service I do a lot of, so I can double check the costs tomorrow.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Pepperjack

RSC or an AD should be able to do that. I think my service book at the shop says just a dial swap service is somewhere between $100 to $250 USD, and a Day-Date dial is $470 if I remember correctly. Not really a service I do a lot of, so I can double check the costs tomorrow.

Oh wow, do you work at an AD or run an indeodent repair shop? I really appreciate it!


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[996marty]

Check the hnco website in Australia they have one in but not 100% if it’s for the correct model plus it’s really good value. They sell lots of parts and are an established company

[1William]

I have bought several authentic DD II dials off eBay and had my AD's Rolex Technician install them. Rolex can do the dial change for you and will give you a quote over the phone, at lest the Dallas RSC will. Get the information from Rolex and I would think it would be cheaper to go this route if the only dial you can find is 2k. I think I have the watch you like and I do enjoy it.

[Patekfinder]

Just called RSC Dallas. They will do a dial swap no issues for the champagne dial with Roman numerals for $470 for the dial plus $100 labor. They did however say I can’t keep the old black dial unfortunately.


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[Giovannibravo]

What year is it? If it’s greater than 5 years old you should be able to go through the RSC.

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

Oh wow, do you work at an AD or run an indeodent repair shop? I really appreciate it

I am the senior watchmaker at an AD. I will quote the recommended price section under Dial Replacement in my service book. It seems like someone else here found different pricing from an RSC.

"$250.00 excluding taxes, for standard watches
$350.00 excluding taxes, for professional watches
Dials, hands and indicators (if applicable) are invoiced separately, except in the following case: Hands replaced in the sale of a dial at extra cost are not to be charged to the end customer."

Day-Date dials are $470, Date dials are $420, and No-Date dials are $370. Those are are in an exchange basis. Specialty dials (like gem-set) are obviously more. You can both upgrade and downgrade dials. If a dial is downgraded, you keep your dial and the new dial is sold to you at an increased price.

[KatGirl]

Congrats on the DD! Please post a pic, when this is all sorted out.

Kat


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[dangson]

Originally Posted by Giovannibravo

What year is it? If it’s greater than 5 years old you should be able to go through the RSC.

Does it have to be older than 5 years for RSC to swap the dial? I’m interested in an olive dial DD but they usually go for $5k more than other colors on the gray market. Wondering if I can just get another color and spend a little more to swap the dials.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by dangson

Does it have to be older than 5 years for RSC to swap the dial? I’m interested in an olive dial DD but they usually go for $5k more than other colors on the gray market. Wondering if I can just get another color and spend a little more to swap the dials.

Yes this is a firm rule to prevent manipulation of markets and grey dealers. If you could do this on a new watch, then everyone would do it to resell at higher cost.


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[Giovannibravo]

Originally Posted by dangson

Does it have to be older than 5 years for RSC to swap the dial? I’m interested in an olive dial DD but they usually go for $5k more than other colors on the gray market. Wondering if I can just get another color and spend a little more to swap the dials.

From my last call with the Toronto Service Center, yes. It has to be out of warranty. However, not all dials are available.

[Mick006]

I have purchased genuine dials on eBay without trouble and swapped them out myself. It is not difficult to do.

[JSolution]

Originally Posted by Mick006

I have purchased genuine dials on eBay without trouble and swapped them out myself. It is not difficult to do.

Highly unrecommended

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Mick006

I have purchased genuine dials on eBay without trouble and swapped them out myself. It is not difficult to do.

I have a full set of Bergeon tools, Do you have a guide, video, article, etc. that explains step by step how to do it?

I’d be more than willing to do it myself. Would actually be quite fun learning to do it.

[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

I have a full set of Bergeon tools, Do you have a guide, video, article, etc. that explains step by step how to do it?

I’d be more than willing to do it myself. Would actually be quite fun learning to do it.

Actually I just realized, the only way I can get the champagne dial is to buy it from Rolex for $470, and they have to do it and keep my old dial… so no way I could obtain a dial to do the swap myself unfortunately as the only dial available is $2k if I don’t buy it from Rolex. Damn. Was looking forward to doing it myself.


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[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by inadeje

Just a suggestion, but why not ask RSC? It may be less than you think?

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

I didn’t realize you could buy dials from RSC! Good idea I’ll ask!


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You can indeed get a new dial RSC (they will keep the old one, most non precious stone dials are around $500-600) but likely they will ask you to service it (about $800 and would get 2 yr warranty including new plastic card) so about $1400 total (better than spending $2k for dial and then $250 to install it)


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[Patekfinder]

The day date ii I’m buying needs a service, so probably best to just go through Rolex.


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[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

The day date ii I’m buying needs a service, so probably best to just go through Rolex.


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Didn’t you said recently serviced? Anyway RSC route as stated above would be my recommendation


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[Patekfinder]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Didn’t you said recently serviced? Anyway RSC route as stated above would be my recommendation


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Found a different DDII that I’m going with. Not recently serviced, but overall better condition and more recent year.


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[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

Found a different DDII that I’m going with. Not recently serviced, but overall better condition and more recent year.


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Awesome!


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[Patekfinder]

Guys, I’m also considering having the day/date wheel changed to one of the foreign language wheels. I am Persian and speak Persian so wondering if Rolex offers a Persian language dial? The numbers are the same as Arabic, but the days of the week are different than Arabic.


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[Milkshake]

Originally Posted by Patekfinder

Guys, I’m also considering having the day/date wheel changed to one of the foreign language wheels. I am Persian and speak Persian so wondering if Rolex offers a Persian language dial? The numbers are the same as Arabic, but the days of the week are different than Arabic.


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Contact Rolex

[miamiclay]

They have offered Farsi day wheels, see this thread for a pic

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=651110