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Flintlock
·So instead of a lifetime heirloom a Rolex is meant to be disposable. You might as well just get a smart watch. I'd love to see that letter.
Rolex Closes All Independent Spare Parts Accounts
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JwRosenthal
·So instead of a lifetime heirloom a Rolex is meant to be disposable. You might as well just get a smart watch. I'd love to see that letter.
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.There is a Batman selling for almost 17k at European Watch Co. 
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HiDive
·Larry the watch came with 8 removable links and I have ended up adding 3 to make it comfortable on my 8.25 inch wrist. It looks like your picture shows your watch with 8 removable links which would be the same amount that I originally had with my watch. I bought four links from my AD and they cost $65 USD each, which was less that I expected. I used to have the two tone ceramic GMT and had to buy one 18K and SS link which I think was about $400. Again if this does not answer your question let me know and I will reply.
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Walrus
·Well this is a bit of a quandary. After filling up on a couple omegas recently I have set out for a vintage Rolex. Now I’m seconding guessing my plans. I’ll probably go ahead but I never would have thought it may end up becoming just another piece of metal. I’ll still give it a shot but it seems like a bad move for Swiss watches which have long advertised “you don’t really own the watch you hold it for the next generation” I still go ahead in the end, my watch guy is very good, he worked in Switzerland for a time so he usually seems to find things I’ve needed thus far but he can’t make magic. Plus I think he wants to retire soon, he’s been doing it for over forty years.
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Dogmann
·@Walrus
I think you will find that your quote of "you don’t really own the watch you hold it for the next generation” is attributed to Patek Philippe and not Rolex or all Swiss watches and unlike Rolex Patek do have a heritage and vintage service for their watches so is actually true to a greater extent.
@jpjsavage
This is Rolex's new implementation and will be the same the world over so to misquote from a Seinfeld episode " No parts for you"
@all
Whilst it may still be possible for a while to get work done on these older Rolex's as there are still parts around when it is no longer possible these older watches will the start to become franken watches. This will mean by having no other option then to use non original or fabricated parts they will be franken and what will this do to their desirability and worse value? It may make no difference as every one will be in the same position and become accepted practice or it could mean a sudden lack of interest and value who knows how this will play out as only time will tell but it could prove very expensive for some that thought they had a great value investment piece.
Marc
I think you will find that your quote of "you don’t really own the watch you hold it for the next generation” is attributed to Patek Philippe and not Rolex or all Swiss watches and unlike Rolex Patek do have a heritage and vintage service for their watches so is actually true to a greater extent.
@jpjsavage
This is Rolex's new implementation and will be the same the world over so to misquote from a Seinfeld episode " No parts for you"
@all
Whilst it may still be possible for a while to get work done on these older Rolex's as there are still parts around when it is no longer possible these older watches will the start to become franken watches. This will mean by having no other option then to use non original or fabricated parts they will be franken and what will this do to their desirability and worse value? It may make no difference as every one will be in the same position and become accepted practice or it could mean a sudden lack of interest and value who knows how this will play out as only time will tell but it could prove very expensive for some that thought they had a great value investment piece.
Marc
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watchknut
·Easy solution...have duplicates.
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JwRosenthal
·This may all be part of the Rolex “conspiracy” that is going on with their distribution and shortage issues happened for now. I really would like to see where this is going. Owning 3 older Rolex’s myself (and planning on adding 1-3 more that are on my list), I have a vested interest.
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JwRosenthal
·Maybe owning Tudor is the way to go, there are enough spare ETA parts out there to last all of us for 3 lifetimes
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Walrus
·@Walrus
I think you will find that your quote of "you don’t really own the watch you hold it for the next generation” is attributed to Patek Philippe and not Rolex or all Swiss watches and unlike Rolex Patek do have a heritage and vintage service for their watches so is actually true to a greater extent.
@jpjsavage
This is Rolex's new implementation and will be the same the world over so to misquote from a Seinfeld episode " No parts for you"
@all
Whilst it may still be possible for a while to get work done on these older Rolex's as there are still parts around when it is no longer possible these older watches will the start to become franken watches. This will mean by having no other option then to use non original or fabricated parts they will be franken and what will this do to their desirability and worse value? It may make no difference as every one will be in the same position and become accepted practice or it could mean a sudden lack of interest and value who knows how this will play out as only time will tell but it could prove very expensive for some that thought they had a great value investment piece.
Marc
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.I would not call a correct vintage Rolex with a well fabricated movement part “Franken” ... that is a pejorative used to describe a watch that is an amalgam of mixed parts sometimes that never left the factory in that configuration. Yes the parts supply will dry up but that’s where a skilled watchmaker comes in. Plus Rolex movements are not beauty queens anyway. Will it affect value? .... probably.
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JwRosenthal
·I’m actually willing to bet that a good number of the “original” big money watches out there already have “Franken” parts in them and the owners of these luxury car valued watches don’t even know it. I doubt that every Submarinier, GMT, or Daytona went back to Rolex, or to a Rolex authorized service center, every time they we’re repaired during their lifetime. I know that independent watchmakers back in the day would use parts they had on hand (if it fit and worked-why not), and would modify as necessary. As was the case with my own GMT and the aforementied spacer he needed that he couldn’t get from Rolex...had a part, he machined it to fit, problem solved.
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gatorcpa
··ΩF InvestiGatorIt may make no difference as every one will be in the same position and become accepted practice or it could mean a sudden lack of interest and value who knows how this will play out as only time will tell but it could prove very expensive for some that thought they had a great value investment piece.
Try that with a Speedmaster and see what happens to value.
gatorcpa
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerHi all,
I believe that Rolex's of a certain age around 30yrs old Rolex will no longer service and that these watches were only possible to service via the services that had accounts and access to genuine Rolex parts. So what happens to all these Vintage Rolex's now? How are they going to get serviced and just what will this mean for the values of these watches and older watches as they start to near the cut off point of no longer being serviced by Rolex? and as it is no longer possible for these independent watch makers to access genuine Rolex parts what are people going to do to get their watch serviced.
Marc
Can I ask where you get this information from? Keep in mind that the 3135 family of movements have been in use since about 1988 (31 years), so that would mean early 3135 series movements would no longer be serviced, along with 3035 series, and the massive number of 1570 series out there.
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Dogmann
·Hi Archer
It is just what I have read around the forums over time and in this thread to as although from what most have said its not so much because of the movements its the fact that Rolex will insist on replacing old tritium dials and hands with Luminova ones. Apparently due to the risks of Tritium flaking into the movement this problem was avoided previously by independents that had access to genuine Rolex parts and would carry out the work. But as is being reported as these accounts are no longer going to be able to access these parts it begs the question what options Rolex owners will have.
Marc
It is just what I have read around the forums over time and in this thread to as although from what most have said its not so much because of the movements its the fact that Rolex will insist on replacing old tritium dials and hands with Luminova ones. Apparently due to the risks of Tritium flaking into the movement this problem was avoided previously by independents that had access to genuine Rolex parts and would carry out the work. But as is being reported as these accounts are no longer going to be able to access these parts it begs the question what options Rolex owners will have.
Marc
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Archer
··Omega Qualified WatchmakerHi Archer
It is just what I have read around the forums over time and in this thread to as although from what most have said its not so much because of the movements its the fact that Rolex will insist on replacing old tritium dials and hands with Luminova ones. Apparently due to the risks of Tritium flaking into the movement this problem was avoided previously by independents that had access to genuine Rolex parts and would carry out the work. But as is being reported as these accounts are no longer going to be able to access these parts it begs the question what options Rolex owners will have.
Marc
Seems like maybe there are a couple of things in your post that are not necessarily related that are being conflated...
Rolex approaches service just like Omega does, so the factory is the last place any collector who values originality would want to send their watches. In fact Rolex is much worse than Omega in this regard, since parts are sold on an exchange basis only (they steal your parts and don't give them back) so unlike with Omega, there's no chance to put the old parts back on the watch if you do get them to service it. Rolex isn't refusing people because of this - the people are refusing to use Rolex because of this.
What I am hearing through the watchmaker grapevine is that Rolex is going to change how older watches get serviced, and by older I mean the 1570 series watches. These will no longer be serviced at the local service centers, and will end up being sent back to Switzerland - this is much the same again as Omega does with the Bienne only calibers like the old bumpers, the 470/501, 321, and some others. The pricing on that service will again like Omega, be significantly higher than for the newer calibers.
AFAIK there is no talk of refusing to service these watches completely, just refusing to do them locally.
Cheers, Al
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mz_cle
·I'm genuinely interested in speaking to the owners of a local watchmaker's [non-AD] shop, who also has a great selection of preowned pieces. They do quite a bit of Rolex repairs and service, and it would be disappointing to me if their business is affected negatively.
Edited:
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Canuck
·I just asked to a friend who is the staff watchmaker for a Rolex dealer where I live. He worked as a watchmaker for Rolex (Canada) for five years. I have a job I want him to do for me. Mrs. C’s 30 year old Lady Date-Just is her main go to watch, and I have maintained for these 30 years. But it is now to the point where it needs a crown and case tube. I asked him about this question of parts supply from Rolex. He indicates that Rolex hasn’t cut him off. But years ago, if he wanted half a dozen of a particular part, they’d ship. Now, when he orders parts, he has to quote model number and movement serial number of the watch he is repairing, and they will only ship him one of everything he needs to do the repair. I should have asked him if he is obliged to return the parts he replaces.
There are two other Rolex dealers here, neither with a Rolex approved watchmaker. So i’m certain they are SOL for parts.
Thirty years ago, when Rolex tightened up parts supplies, I was friends with the (then) managing director for Rolex Canada. I wrote him when Rolex shut the door on parts, and expressed my disappointment. He told me that, when I needed parts my material supplier couldn’t supply, I was to send the order direct to him, and he would see I got what I needed. Then he retired, and Rolex sent some dude from Switzerland to take over. Rolex is about 3,300 kms from me, but my ears are still ringing from the slamming of the door to their parts department.
There are two other Rolex dealers here, neither with a Rolex approved watchmaker. So i’m certain they are SOL for parts.
Thirty years ago, when Rolex tightened up parts supplies, I was friends with the (then) managing director for Rolex Canada. I wrote him when Rolex shut the door on parts, and expressed my disappointment. He told me that, when I needed parts my material supplier couldn’t supply, I was to send the order direct to him, and he would see I got what I needed. Then he retired, and Rolex sent some dude from Switzerland to take over. Rolex is about 3,300 kms from me, but my ears are still ringing from the slamming of the door to their parts department.
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Dan S
·My independent Rolex-qualified watchmaker is still receiving parts. However, if it is truly a wave sweeping the USA from East to West, then he may eventually be affected. I'll update the thread if that happens. This could affect his ability to service my lone "modern" (1999) Rolex.
In all the years he has worked on my vintage watches, I don't recall him ever using a part that he obtained from Rolex, so I'm not sure it would affect that aspect of things very much. For older watches, I think that he generally relies on his own inventory and a network of suppliers.
In all the years he has worked on my vintage watches, I don't recall him ever using a part that he obtained from Rolex, so I'm not sure it would affect that aspect of things very much. For older watches, I think that he generally relies on his own inventory and a network of suppliers.
