Rolex Datejust damaged Case

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stahlmotte

·Sep 2, 2023

Hi members,

i got this Rolex Datejust with a damaged Case form a good friend of mine. He would like to wear the watch.

I told him that I could completely overhaul the movement and the bezel, the dial... But unfortunately I can't correct the case. Do any of you know someone who can correct the case for my friend?

Thanks in advance for your efforts!

 

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rootbeer7

·Sep 2, 2023

What on earth happened (or fell on it!)

 

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Fish70

·Sep 2, 2023

Got too close to a gravity well looks like!

 

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X350 XJR

·Sep 2, 2023·Vintage Omega Aficionado

Maybe?

https://www.watchcaserepair.com/

 

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MtnMarine

·Sep 2, 2023

Did the original owner survive this accident? Can’t wait to hear the story….

 

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vibe

·Sep 3, 2023

Based on the last photo, the case and bezel are bent and there is nothing you can do to fix that. You can try to find a good case and bezel on eBay. Bezels are easy to find. The dial is f#$&ed as well and there is one hand. The movement is probability in bad shape (literally) as well.

 

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TIMElyBehaviour

·Sep 3, 2023

Just wow. The worst condition Rolex I have ever seen

 

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stahlmotte

·Sep 3, 2023

Thanks for all your messages. I really dont know, what happend with the datejust. I will ask the watch case repair guy from Florida, if there is any chance to repair this case?
If not, then not.
I will keep you updated.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Sep 3, 2023

I wouldn’t bother trying to repair that one. Cases, dials and bezels pop up regularly on eBay from watches being parted out (cannibalized for mechanical parts to revive more valuable watches). You could probably even find a complete watch sans movement for less than the cost of trying to repair that one.
The next question- if the case took that kind of impact, did the movement even survive?

 

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STANDY

·Sep 3, 2023

 

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JwRosenthal

·Sep 3, 2023

STANDY

My first thought was someone got their arm caught in a press- but that would be lug sides if the arm was horizontal to the press. This damage would imply it was compression in the direction of wrist to elbow 😲

 

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BLOW UP

·Sep 3, 2023

stahlmotte

Hi members,

i got this Rolex Datejust with a damaged Case form a good friend of mine. He would like to wear the watch.

I told him that I could completely overhaul the movement and the bezel, the dial... But unfortunately I can't correct the case. Do any of you know someone who can correct the case for my friend?

Thanks in advance for your efforts!

WTF!! How the?

 

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Foo2rama

·Sep 3, 2023·Nowhere near as grumpy as he used to be...

Whatever happaned had to involve someone saying "Rolex are the strongest things in the world", and "Hold my beer"

 

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constellationM

·Sep 3, 2023

Rolex version of Cartier Crash…..

 

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BLOW UP

·Sep 3, 2023

constellationM

Rolex version of Cartier Crash…..

Yeah.. Rolex Datecrush

Edited: Sep 3, 2023

 

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JimInOz

·Sep 3, 2023·Melbourne Australia

Buddy and his mate in the garage talking watches.

Buddy: "Hey I just found that fake Rolex you picked up on the road, I hate fakes!"
Mate: "Yeah, so do I, let's crush it in a vice."
Buddy: "Here we go. WOW! Look at that grey dial explode!"
Mate: "Grey dial? GREY DIAL???? It's got a black dial, my gen Datejust has a grey dial! WTF!!!!!"
Buddy: "Look, I gotta go, I just remembered an urgent appointment."

 

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southtexas

·Sep 3, 2023

Did it bend enough to damage the movement?

In any case, I don’t think that’s worth fixing (unless you want to). It would be interesting to hear a pro’s opinion on the possibility of putting that back to round.

You can source a new case, bezel, and dial with ease. But surely that would cost more than just buying a new working head (especially after you sell the movement).

 

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ErichKeane

·Sep 3, 2023

I wonder if you could use an exhaust expander to get it back to round. They are typically pretty effective with thinner metals for things like this. If it was a cheap watch instead of a rolex, I'd suggest it.

 

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JwRosenthal

·Sep 4, 2023

ErichKeane

I wonder if you could use an exhaust expander to get it back to round. They are typically pretty effective with thinner metals for things like this. If it was a cheap watch instead of a rolex, I'd suggest it.

I don’t think there is much to lose at this point

 

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JimInOz

·Sep 4, 2023·Melbourne Australia

ErichKeane

I wonder if you could use an exhaust expander to get it back to round. They are typically pretty effective with thinner metals for things like this. If it was a cheap watch instead of a rolex, I'd suggest it.

An exhaust expander will also expand the whole diameter while removing the flat side.

That case is history (financially speaking).