quote:

Originally posted by T-Boy:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
David Truong.

Does anyone have contact information?

http://www.mimisjewelryinc.com/home/

714 964-1989

His email is in his profile here. I don't want to post an email on a public board.

Had my Rolex Datejust recently serviced at this place:

https://www.watchdoctor.biz/

He did an excellent job.

I have used this one several times for Rolexes and TAG. Great work.

http://usawatchservice.com/index.html

I would NOT polish it. You can always polish it. But you can never UN-polish it.

I didn't know David serviced Omega......very nice to know!

Send it to Rolex and specify what you do not want done:

Short list:
1. Do not replace original dial, hands and crystal (if crystal still holds seal.).
2. Do not polish the case.
3. Return all internal parts that need replacing.

I collected primarily subs for quite a few years and restored my own cases when needed. After my watchmaker (three cycles of Rolex training) balanced and brought my 5513's to spec., I would time them the old fashion way until I had them within 1-1/2 second deviation / 24 hours. Used to blow his and the owner's minds.

I started using him after a highly respected Rolex specialist restored my wife's watch: full service and a new stainless/gold bracelet and at his recommendation, replacing the plastic crystal with a new aftermarket glass crystal kit.

Timing did not seem right and I had the local Rolex trained guy mentioned above, take a look. He opened the case in my presence and showed me dirt specks which were visible to the naked eye in the "completely serviced" watch. He was embarrassed by the work of a Rolex authorized watchmaker and serviced the watch at no charge. He has since serviced ten to fifteen of my Rolexes.

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I agree with r0gue on this one.
I had sent my Superocean Steelfish up to Breitling USA in Connecticut for a service a few years ago. The service included a polishing of the case. They almost buffed the serial number off. You can still see it however not as easily before the service.
I prefer to clean my case and bracelet up my self every few years.

Thanks for all the members who responded. I have already sent out some inquiries to the references you shared with me. I think the information I got will assist me in my final decision.

Being in San Francisco, I have been using RSCSF since 1982.

Just had my wife's Datejust and my Yacht-Master serviced. Not cheap, that's for sure, but done right the first time every time.

Ask for a light polish or specify what you want retained in the watch if that's important to you.

Rolex USA does NOT sell parts to non authorized repair stations. Only authorized repair companies get them.

I have an 1986 model 18038. Over time the plots of lumen came off the face and the watch stopped. I wanted to have it serviced. So I looked up services in my area. Locally there is a Reed’s, Finks and a local jeweler.

I went to all of them for their opinion. Finks offered RDC only. That facility was in Lititz, Pa. Reeds offered to send to an authorized facility in North Carolina. After some questioning I realized it wasn’t an RDC. The salesperson hadn’t explained it well and so I didn’t feel comfortable with their service. Next I went to the local place. The jeweler had a watchmaker with some experience and made me feel comfortable. I went home and did some more research. The watchmaker showed up in a couple of threads on the Rolex Forum. There was nothing negative. To save some money I took it to the local place. Long story short, over short period of time the work was not done well.

I called the Dallas RDC for information about sending it to them. They were friendly. They offered specific instructions on how to ship it. After reading about thefts by shippers and some hand wringing I took it to Finks. They sent to the RDC for me. I was charged for shipping and handling but I felt better about it. A couple weeks passed and I got an estimate back. It outlined the condition of the watch, the necessary services and the optional services.

I opted to get everything done. This included the face. The lumen plots had came off in two places. I wear the watch and was afraid if another came off it was cause issues again. The service done by them was excellent.
I would let Rolex take care of your watch. That being said I had bought 2 gold bracelet links for my watch from David Troung. There were perfect. I didn’t realize he serviced Rolex. I would ask his advice.

Rolex USA does not return parts. They "exchange" parts.

Back in that time RSC only accepted from USPS Registered Mail, and returned it the same way.

There may have been a "shipping kit" RSC provided for free, box/packing/tape, but I used my own box wrapped with brown paper and brown nylon-embedded paper tape.

Good luck with your project. It is definitely exciting to get your watch back after a full service. Me, I'd let them lightly go over it but not to try to remove any deep nicks in the case. And probably leave the dial / hands original.

quote:

Rolex USA does not return parts. They "exchange" parts.

Good point. In the time frame that I was referring to, Rolex would certify their trained watchmakers and each had a personal account at Rolex. This practice has gone by the boards.

However, some of these watch makers still have a large stock of Rolex parts.
I have a close friend who sends his Rolex's to an elder German watchmaker in Texas who does excellent work.
My guy still has quite a few parts.

I believe that Rolex Dallas is your best bet, but for any old Rolex, I would not replace the dials and hands, or polish the case in any way shape of form.

On the Rolex forum, we used to use a Japanese work that referred to honest wear. My senior moment / brain fart has hindered my recalling the word. Any Rolex forum members here to help out? rOgue, Tsch.?

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quote:

Originally posted by redleg2/9:
Japanese word that referred to honest wear.

Wabi. Also commonly used on the MWR (Military Watch Resource) forum for wear and tear from honest usage over the years.

quote:

Originally posted by redleg2/9:

quote:

Rolex USA does not return parts. They "exchange" parts.

Good point. In the time frame that I was referring to, Rolex would certify their trained watchmakers and each had a personal account at Rolex. This practice has gone by the boards.

However, some of these watch makers still have a large stock of Rolex parts.
I have a close friend who sends his Rolex's to an elder German watchmaker in Texas who does excellent work.
My guy still has quite a few parts.

I believe that Rolex Dallas is your best bet, but for any old Rolex, I would not replace the dials and hands, or polish the case in any way shape of form.

On the Rolex forum, we used to use a Japanese work that referred to honest wear. My senior moment / brain fart has hindered my recalling the word. Any Rolex forum members here to help out? rOgue, Tsch.?

.

The Dallas RSC swapped in a Coke bezel on my black GMT II, and gave me the black one back as well. A lot of people call honest wear Patina.

Patina is the fading of parts of the watch such as the dial, the loss of lume intensity, discoloration of the case, etc.

Wabi on the other hand reflects the scars from use which add an element of history or even pedigree of employment of a watch.

quote:

Originally posted by r0gue:
I would NOT polish it. You can always polish it. But you can never UN-polish it.

Sure you can, it's called wearing it.

"Wabi" it is. Thank you bald1.

I used quite often but somehow misplaced it.

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Dumb question. I have a mid-90s Sub (I bought it new), and have never had it serviced. I don't wear it much (sits in the safe for the most part). Should I get it serviced to prevent any damage? Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by FishOn:
Dumb question. I have a mid-90s Sub (I bought it new), and have never had it serviced. I don't wear it much (sits in the safe for the most part). Should I get it serviced to prevent any damage? Thanks.

Get it serviced. Movement needs to be cleaned & lubed.

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:

quote:

Originally posted by FishOn:
Dumb question. I have a mid-90s Sub (I bought it new), and have never had it serviced. I don't wear it much (sits in the safe for the most part). Should I get it serviced to prevent any damage? Thanks.

Get it serviced. Movement needs to be cleaned & lubed.

Thank you.