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Vintage-ish Rolex Repair?

dougc33

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Had my 1973 Oyster Precision stop after I dropped it at TSA on my last business trip before I retire - made it through 45+ years of travel....grrrrrr.

I'm in New England - any recos on best places to send for repair? Happy to mail it away - just would like to know of any good personal experiences you all might have had?
 

Andy57

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Consider also Rolliworks, formerly local to me here in the Bay Area, but now in Miami.
 

LeeR

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Take it to an authorized Rolex dealer and they'll send it to a certified repair service. This is the only way I would do it. Also, they will inspect the watch tell you what they want to do and quote a price. If you do not like the price, you can decline and look elsewhere. I've had both of my Rolex's done this way. They come back with a warranty and look brand new. However, be prepared for a price.
 

dougc33

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Take it to an authorized Rolex dealer and they'll send it to a certified repair service. This is the only way I would do it. Also, they will inspect the watch tell you what they want to do and quote a price. If you do not like the price, you can decline and look elsewhere. I've had both of my Rolex's done this way. They come back with a warranty and look brand new. However, be prepared for a price.
Thank you all for your help!!
 

Andy57

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Take it to an authorized Rolex dealer and they'll send it to a certified repair service. This is the only way I would do it. Also, they will inspect the watch tell you what they want to do and quote a price. If you do not like the price, you can decline and look elsewhere. I've had both of my Rolex's done this way. They come back with a warranty and look brand new. However, be prepared for a price.
@dougc33 While this is certainly good advice, you should be aware that a Rolex service will not respect the vintage character of your watch. Rolex doesn't care. Your watch has vintage value (assuming it's not completely trashed) which is worth preserving. For example, if Rolex (okay, the Rolex certified repair service) deems the dial to need replacing, it will get replaced. And there goes a significant chunk of the value of the watch. Same for the hands, same for the lume, and so on. The third-party suggestions will respect the vintage nature of the watch—in many ways, that is the business they are in.

I would never send any of my vintage Rolexes to a Rolex service facility.

Having said that, it is your watch and you should do with it whatever you think is best. Good luck!
 

LeeR

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Well, from my experience, they asked if I wanted a sapphire crystal put in my GMT-Master and I said no. It was replaced with the original acrylic. You can say no to their recommendations and they will comply.
 

dougc33

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I am assuming a 3rd party like Rolliworks tends to use the original parts no questions asked?
 

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