My experience of RSC is that the watch is returned to as new (unless specified not to polish etc) and on the 16520 that would mean polished centre links?
Well, after over two months of a wait I got the call from my local Rolex AD to come in and pick up my watch. So, this Saturday off I went with great expectation with the missus to pick it up. In we go to the AD and received the usual niceties (coffee etc.). I have developed a bit of a relationship with one of the sales executives and when he saw me he immediately went off to find my watch.
The watch was was produced to me on a tray with the striped service stickers attached still from the green service pouch with bezel protector and the paper credit cart type warranty (no service booklet as I had expected with the card attached to the back page).
After looking at the watch I was not very impressed, the bracelet was completely brushed with no high polished centre link (which IMO looked better but was no correct) and the fact that the second hand did not reset to zero. As, it should have when working the Chronograph. I returned the watch back to the staff and expressed my dissatisfaction. I was told that the watch wold be return to Rolex London to be rectified. The experience made me ponder if the watch had been serviced at the AD and not Rolex London as it recently attained service centre accreditation. Even thou I was assured that the work had been carried out by Rolex London. Any thoughts?
Full service £900, Zenith movement.
New crown (compulsory requirement).
1x pusher
New crystal (which was insisted on and compulsory).
Total £1315
Cheers,
M
Last edited by milwatch126; 9th February 2020 at 23:49.
My experience of RSC is that the watch is returned to as new (unless specified not to polish etc) and on the 16520 that would mean polished centre links?
What dealer? Never heard of RSC not getting a bracelet finish correct!?
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If the watch was serviced at RSC then you should have an A4 letter with official Rolex letterhead outlining everything that was done to the watch.
Really shocked with the state of the watch you got back though - definitely sounds fishy, and to get the PCL brushed??!
I'd expect the chrono second hand to reset after a £900 service.
Pretty sure A serial should have polished center links, sounds like a major cockup.
A very well established AD.
A4 sheet with details and costing. I returned the pouch and green service credit card with watch. When the watch returns back should it have a new service date and new card.
hampstead nc to wilmington nc
M
Last edited by milwatch126; 9th February 2020 at 22:16.
The website in the photo gives it away. It wasn't done by RSC. I'd be very annoyed by that.
I would be absolutely fuming at this turn of events. Not sending it to RSC and making a complete hash of the bracelet finishing.
Their service accreditation may be at risk one Rolex have chance to inspect their handiwork.
Question out of curiosity, how do they polish the centre links? Is the bracelet completely disassembled so the middle link is detached completely from the 2 outer links for polishing or is there a clever way to doing this?
I would be incredibly pi$$ed, if I was paying that for basically an independent to service it the whole shop would of gone up!
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Would a call to Rolex London be of any worth with the details as the AD have an accredited Rolex work shop even thou the AD have expressed to me that the watch was worked on and sent to Rolex London.
M
Last edited by milwatch126; 9th February 2020 at 22:55.
I'd be pushing for them to send it to RSC for evaluation - that sounds right shoddy!
Also, why are the stock numbers identical for each of the different items specified? You'd think an oscillating weight would have a different stock reference to the crystal, crown etc.
Anyone have the correct number handy?
M
Can’t believe that they would have made such a mistake!
I hope you get this sorted out and please let us know if this was done in-house?
Hi OP,
I had a zenith daytona serviced at RSC last year, the crystal wasn't replaced so unless yours was damaged the AD shouldn't be doing that either.
Hope you get it sorted out without too much hassle.
Cheers
… Closed for refurbishment https://www.rolex.com/rolex-dealers/...lexdealers.com
Rolex West Malling is now the Rolex H.O. https://www.rolex.com/rolex-dealers/...lexdealers.com
dunk
Last edited by sundial; 10th February 2020 at 01:48.
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
You generally only receive such a letter when you deal directly with the RSC. If you go through an AD then you usually just receive the warranty card and no other correspondence. My reading of the OPs message is that the bracelet was brought back to original factory finish (having originally had the centre links polished). I believe an all brushed finish on the bracelet was correct for an A series Daytona. As for the chrono hand then although disappointing I am sure the RSC will address.
PCL’s are factory finish for a 16520 not brushed and no different for A serial....i have the brochure if you want evidence.
The 4030 movement is very robust thing ....but few people like to work on them as they can I believe be tricky ...sub dial hand removal and refit being a pain as tubes fiddly etc ...thats before you get into the movement itself.
I could be wrong but back to Geneva would be 1st choice and in these circumstances thats what i would request....
AD’s in house guys vary in ability and what era they are used to working with.
The dealer has thought yeh lets have a bash and make some £££’s. Sadly it looks like they were not upto it if the chrono hand is not hitting its mark that would then have me questioning what else is possibly off and whats going on under caseback...
In which case letting them have another ‘bash’ is not the way forward.
I'd be asking for a very hefty discount for the inconvenience to yourself.
From memory I think the base 16520 service is £930 from RSC. I am also surprised that they didn't contact you with any form of estimate for the work over and above.
The other thing to consider is that an RSC service carries a worldwide two year warranty, whilst this one you'll have to take back to the shop.
All that along with effectively brushing the bracelet, I'd be fuming.
Established AD does not necessarily mean they use, or have access to, the skills of, an 'established' in-house Rolex watchmaker at their premises.
This my Rolex St James Daytona service invoice from a few years ago … not a Zenith movement.
Furthermore, how can the AD now send / return the watch to Rolex London when there is currently no Rolex service centre in London?
Please read #23 above.
dunk
Last edited by sundial; 10th February 2020 at 11:03.
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
If a Rolex is serviced by Rolex UK through a main agent, two "invoices" are issued: one to the main agent at the discounted figure they pay and a second "RETAIL CUSTOMER COPY" which is for a higher amount. That is intended to be given to the client and shows what the retailer may be expected to charge him / her. This dual paperwork always struck me as slightly questionable.
In any event, this is certainly NOT what the OP's picture shows.
Simple questions should follow. Did he ask only for his watch to be serviced, or for it to go back to Rolex for service? If the latter and it did not, that could be a greater problem.
While writing, I would like to add that the margin on service work is now quite slim for main agents.
TKH : modern Daytonas would not typically return to Geneva, but would be serviced through West Malling or London (when open).
H
Sorry H my bad / miss information from an AD.
I was informed that you could request your watch go to Geneva...and that they were ‘the’ choice for Zenith Daytona as they hold majority of Zenith 4030 parts...
Another lesson learned
Ive never heard of the centre links being polished by mistake, that's one big f--k up, can that process be reversed?
Given that Rolex St James has not been accepting Rolex watches for service since last September, how can the AD imply that it was … and that it would now be returned to Rolex London? Even if it was serviced by Rolex West Malling (if submitted for service after September 2019) that is not Rolex London ... and there should be an official Rolex invoice as proof of service. Why would an AD raise their own invoice rather than pass on the usual official Rolex invoice?
dunk
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"
As an aside, I thought that RSJ was closed for walk-in etc because the building was being refurbished, not necessarily that the techs who work there aren't working. Do we know that?
Closed for refurbishment, apparently.
https://www.rolex.com/rolex-dealers/...lexdealers.com
Last edited by oldoakknives; 10th February 2020 at 19:02.
Started out with nothing. Still have most of it left.
Closed for refurbishment but still open for phone calls. They advised me which AD to go to for the ordering of parts a few weeks back.
I have been informed today By the AD service department that the watch was 100% serviced in and will be returned to Rolex Kings Hill (mistakes happen?). I was also told that all Daytona’s and some sport models can only be serviced through London and never in house through the AD’s accredited Rolex service centre.
As, some have asked my instructions were to have the watch serviced in London only.
I can only wait for the outcome and have asked for a Rolex headed letter breakdown of the service to be returned with the watch. I do not care if extra costs are endured for this privilege and extra watch provenience and peace of mind.
P.S. any ideas on Rolex Kings Hill?
M
Last edited by milwatch126; 10th February 2020 at 22:59.
Recently had my Ref 16710 GMT serviced. I called RSC in Kent who advised me that I can send it to them or drop it in directly or can take it my nearest AD who would send it to them to do the work. I chose the AD route. My GMT was bought off an acquaintance and it was in pretty bad shape. It needed a new crystal, whole new bezel assembly and the GMT function wasn't functioning properly. After the work was completed I collected the watch from the dealer and was given the watch in the green Rolex pouch which was inside a white plastic Rolex service box with the green Rolex service warranty card inside the service brochure. The receipt was just the standard shop thermal till receipt which showed the itemised work done and the final price. I don't doubt that the watch wasn't sent to RSC as it was they who recommended I take the watch to that particular AD.
As for the bracelet of the OPs Daytona, it definitely has polished centre links as I've previously owned one. In saying that though I think I would have preferred to have the centre links brushed.
Rolex SC Kings Hill is Kings Hill West Malling … https://www.rolex.com/rolex-dealers/...lexdealers.com … as advised in #23 … and which is not in London
dunk
Last edited by sundial; 11th February 2020 at 01:13.
"Well they would say that ... wouldn't they!"