Rolex 16710 service: pics and info

Yesterday I sent my 16710 off to Sean Yates at About Time for a full service and some repair work, I had chatted to him via WhatsApp a number of times about various questions I had and this morning he received the watch.

As soon it was received all the details were added to part of his website that you can log onto and see the progress, any info about repairs and all the current photos that have been taken. Being that I love engineering and have a love of all things mechanical it’s going to be great to see the progress and photo updates. It’s also a pet hate of mine that sometimes when items such as watches/cars etc go away to be serviced that you hardly ever get updated as to how it’s going.

We had already agreed to replace the crystal with a genuine Rolex part as my one has a number of chips on the edges, the rotor was also very noisy and Sean suggested that the rotor axle was goosed. On inspection it is indeed knackered and again a new genuine a Rolex part will be fitted.

Just to be clear, I have absolutely no affiliation etc with the service I am using, just thought it would be interesting to share the process.

This is the areas you can log onto and all the details that are available:
https://i.imgur.com/E5KKo3b.jpg

These are the photos so far:
https://i.imgur.com/B8qv4tg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QfSjkNS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JyZZlkO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4dSqu6w.jpg

The dried out and worn out rotor, essentially highlighting the importance of servicing!
https://i.imgur.com/qxqHZfJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2bj3Ra3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0Qv1rhE.jpg

Great service. You can't fault that. Especially with the rumours the RSC have increased their service by 20%. Very reasonable.

It looks like they offer an excellent service, reassuring to see in detail how the repairs are progressing. Thanks for posting ditchvisitor, such an important spect of any service to keep the customer updated, great to see it here. Makes me consider a service for my expl II, may I ask how long it has been since your GMT had a service? Just for reference as I consider the insides of my own!

Jon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FellBasher

It looks like they offer an excellent service, reassuring to see in detail how the repairs are progressing. Thanks for posting ditchvisitor, such an important spect of any service to keep the customer updated, great to see it here. Makes me consider a service for my expl II, may I ask how long it has been since your GMT had a service? Just for reference as I consider the insides of my own!

Jon

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Exactly my thought process, once Sean had explained how he works and how everything was documented I was sold. Last documented paperwork I have is for a RSC service in 2010, judging by the state of the axle I would assume that was the last time!!

What's the brown stuff in the last photo? Is that rust or dried lube?

Informative post, thanks for this. I have a couple of Rolexes which need a service so will definitely check out Sean's services.

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Originally Posted by Happyal

What's the brown stuff in the last photo? Is that rust or dried lube?

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This is info Sean sent me:

In short, exactly as expected, running well, in good physical condition but lots of dirt and debris in jewels etc, so ready for a service. The axle as suspected is ready to be replaced. The strange noise it was making is due to the axle/bearing being bone dry and grinding (it builds up into a red rusty dust, which you’ll see in the microscope pictures, and is material that has ground off the axle.)

Very comprehensive and detailed work. Highly professional approach. :eagerness:

£200 for a service? Bloody good value that.

My current 114270 was serviced by Sean just before I bought it. It came with an A4 sheet detailing the work undertaken and an embedded photo of the stripped movement. My crystal was also swapped for a genuine, etched item.

He’s local to me but only takes watches in by post (understandable), would love to see his workshop operation.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Very professional


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Very interesting.
I would be interested in getting a watch of mine serviced there.
I see that you can only post watches to him.
Does anyone know you would do this with a watch valued over the £2.5k insured limit imposed by Royal Mail?

Really interesting post, service and value look fantastic.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by klunk

Very interesting.
I would be interested in getting a watch of mine serviced there.
I see that you can only post watches to him.
Does anyone know you would do this with a watch valued over the £2.5k insured limit imposed by Royal Mail?

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You would take out additional insurance with a 3rd party insurer, there's lot of recommendations on here for various companies providing this service.

I use ParcelPro but there are others.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by klunk

Very interesting.
I would be interested in getting a watch of mine serviced there.
I see that you can only post watches to him.
Does anyone know you would do this with a watch valued over the £2.5k insured limit imposed by Royal Mail?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by demonloop

You would take out additional insurance with a 3rd party insurer, there's lot of recommendations on here for various companies providing this service.

I use ParcelPro but there are others.

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Just for complete clarity: Technically, items over £2500 are actually prohibited under special delivery so it shouldn't be used at all, though many do (including me in the past)

Therefore if you choose to use it, insurance coverage should be for the full amount, rather than the difference between £2.5k and full value.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WTRacer

Just for complete clarity: Technically, items over £2500 are actually prohibited under special delivery so it shouldn't be used at all, though many do (including me in the past)

Therefore if you choose to use it, insurance coverage should be for the full amount, rather than the difference between £2.5k and full value.

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I don’t think they’re actually prohibited are they?

Isn’t it the case that you can absolutely use the RMSD service for items exceeding £2500 in value, but they will be completely uninsured unless covered by a third party?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by colin t

I don’t think they’re actually prohibited are they?

Isn’t it the case that you can absolutely use the RMSD service for items exceeding £2500 in value, but they will be completely uninsured unless covered by a third party?

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I recently sent a watch for service and stumbled on their T&C's whilst pondering how to get my watch there, yep it's prohibited.

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/roya...ions_dec18.pdf See close to the bottom of page 1 under "prohibitions, restrictions and undeliverable items"

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WTRacer

I recently sent a watch for service and stumbled on their T&C's whilst pondering how to get my watch there, yep it's prohibited.

https://www.royalmail.com/sites/roya...ions_dec18.pdf See close to the bottom of page 1 under "prohibitions, restrictions and undeliverable items"

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So, is Parcel Pro the answer and do I take out separate insurance?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by klunk

So, is Parcel Pro the answer and do I take out separate insurance?

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I just found a thread reccomending Sercus, so I assume shippng with Parcel Pro et al and insure with somebody like Sercus

https://www.secursus.com/secursus.php

Quote:

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Originally Posted by klunk

So, is Parcel Pro the answer and do I take out separate insurance?

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Despite the T&C's I ended up using Special Delivery and took the risk, since then I'm sure I've read of other options on various threads here but I'm unable to point you in the correct direction, sorry. Perhaps some searching will yield results.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ditchvisitor

Yesterday I sent my 16710 off to Sean Yates at About Time for a full service and some repair work, I had chatted to him via WhatsApp a number of times about various questions I had and this morning he received the watch.

As soon it was received all the details were added to part of his website that you can log onto and see the progress, any info about repairs and all the current photos that have been taken. Being that I love engineering and have a love of all things mechanical it’s going to be great to see the progress and photo updates. It’s also a pet hate of mine that sometimes when items such as watches/cars etc go away to be serviced that you hardly ever get updated as to how it’s going.

We had already agreed to replace the crystal with a genuine Rolex part as my one has a number of chips on the edges, the rotor was also very noisy and Sean suggested that the rotor axle was goosed. On inspection it is indeed knackered and again a new genuine a Rolex part will be fitted.

Just to be clear, I have absolutely no affiliation etc with the service I am using, just thought it would be interesting to share the process.

This is the areas you can log onto and all the details that are available:
https://i.imgur.com/E5KKo3b.jpg

These are the photos so far:
https://i.imgur.com/B8qv4tg.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/QfSjkNS.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/JyZZlkO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/4dSqu6w.jpg

The dried out and worn out rotor, essentially highlighting the importance of servicing!
https://i.imgur.com/qxqHZfJ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/2bj3Ra3.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/0Qv1rhE.jpg

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Great post!
Thank you for sharing,kind Sir!

Trimis de pe al meu SM-N975F folosind Tapatalk

Another good independent for future reference

Thank for sharing...... looks like some great good value work

I’ve just had an update on the watch service, absolutely love the workmanship and engineering that has gone into the movement, it’s a shame it’s never seen!!

https://i.imgur.com/PytSy28.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/InMd6bo.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5FwjSBi.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/tIAJqwG.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/SbTZkpR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/iW3DbEL.jpg

All that effort and he didn't replace the mainspring?

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Originally Posted by me32dc

All that effort and he didn't replace the mainspring?

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Sorry to drop in like this, its Sean here from About Time Watch Repair. I can assure you the mainspring is always replaced during a service, apart from in some very rare circumstances. The old spring is simply shown in the photos as proof that it has been removed from the barrel, hope that clarify the service process!

That looks very comprehensive - fascinating to be able to see all the detailing as it progresses.

Thanks for sharing!

Please share pics when all completed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ATWR

Sorry to drop in like this, its Sean here from About Time Watch Repair. I can assure you the mainspring is always replaced during a service, apart from in some very rare circumstances. The old spring is simply shown in the photos as proof that it has been removed from the barrel, hope that clarify the service process!

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You've gained yourself a new customer here for sure, very impressive work.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ATWR

Sorry to drop in like this, its Sean here from About Time Watch Repair. I can assure you the mainspring is always replaced during a service, apart from in some very rare circumstances. The old spring is simply shown in the photos as proof that it has been removed from the barrel, hope that clarify the service process!

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FYI Rolex recommends complete barrel replacement these days. In fact, for newer calibers the barrel is soldered shut so no choice really... :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 744ER

FYI Rolex recommends complete barrel replacement these days. In fact, for newer calibers the barrel is soldered shut so no choice really... :)

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Another way the brands make the independent watchmakers life harder. 😒

Barrels usually outlast a spring.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bernard

Another way the brands make the independent watchmakers life harder. 

Barrels usually outlast a spring.

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Yea but Rolex barrels are not expensive and a known issue is barrels opening in the movement, once reused too many times the friction worsens between barrel and lid. Also the time it takes to clean and lube/reassemble is worth about as much as a barrel complete.

If it needed replacing it would have been, I said replace whatever needed doing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ditchvisitor

If it needed replacing it would have been, I said replace whatever needed doing.

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"needed" is subjective, though. Im sure it will run perfectly well, I wish I could go independent but Rolex wont allow it. It's an oligopoly between ADs and RSCs and no matter how good or experienced you are, Rolex dont allow any new parts accounts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 744ER

"needed" is subjective, though. Im sure it will run perfectly well, I wish I could go independent but Rolex wont allow it. It's an oligopoly between ADs and RSCs and no matter how good or experienced you are, Rolex dont allow any new parts accounts.

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I’m confused by what you mean by “I wish I could go independent” ??? There are plenty of Rolex independents and this has had genuine new Rolex parts fitted.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ditchvisitor

I’m confused by what you mean by “I wish I could go independent” ??? There are plenty of Rolex independents and this has had genuine new Rolex parts fitted.

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I think 744ER is saying that he is a Rolex accredited watchmaker, and wants/needs to remain accredited.

Really interesting post, thank you!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bluebird84

Really interesting post, thank you!

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Agreed!

Interesting post! :) Cool ! :) pictures looks exciting, gives the good energy when done ! :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 744ER

Yea but Rolex barrels are not expensive and a known issue is barrels opening in the movement, once reused too many times the friction worsens between barrel and lid. Also the time it takes to clean and lube/reassemble is worth about as much as a barrel complete.

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Thanks 744ER, useful to know that that is standard practise now, but not really doable when you’re independent, as price for a barrel on the open market is around £100+. It’s more of an option with other makers such as ETA or Sellita, where the cost of a complete barrel is only around £20, compared to the spring alone cost of £10 or so. As you say, then the time involved in fitting a new spring makes it uneconomical to do.
To be fair, I’ve only seen barrels opening in movements a few times, perhaps one in every few hundred, and usually on older calibres which have been serviced many many times.
Of course if a barrel HAS popped open, then clearly it’s worn and would need replacing!