The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[Keyser_Söze]

Who gives a fukc haha !!
You can sum up DG posts on SF, whatever the thread to : I like, i don’t like; or to pictures he finds on the Net.
If some find they are interesting contributions to SF, great, but not my case !
Cheers!
C.

Your own post follows the same thing you're complaining about. Shut up.

 

[Clouseau]

Your own post follows the same thing you're complaining about. Shut up.

Didn’t clock you buddy, next time i will give you a nod. Funny coming from you though, i don’t remember a single interesting post, mostly trolling.

@pmeis interesting question, in my case I practice sports where you are not supposed to wear watches or jewels.

 

[New Shoes1]

Who gives a fukc haha !!
You can sum up DG posts on SF, whatever the thread to : I like, i don’t like; or to pictures he finds on the Net.
If some find they are interesting contributions to SF, great, but not my case !
Cheers!
C.

I do not think anyone is criticizing you for not liking DG's posts. The criticism is that you sh*t post in response to everything he posts. The end result is the two of you being the most prolific posters in this thread and all the content being DG saying what he likes and you sh*tting on him for it.

 

[Clouseau]

I do not think anyone is criticizing you for not liking DG's posts. The criticism is that you sh*t post in response to everything he posts. The end result is the two of you being the most prolific posters in this thread and all the content being DG saying what he likes and you sh*tting on him for it.

I agree.
I reckon I probably shouldnt reply. But I really think he discouraged many posters on SF with his idiotic posts, and that someone has to tell him to fukc off.
This guy is also very good at licking arses btw.
Back to watches.

 

[pmeis]

@pmeis interesting question, in my case I practice sports where you are not supposed to wear watches or jewels.

Okay, maybe reframe as what would you wear on a beach holiday? Just go watchless until dinner time?

 

[Keith T]

I was literally where you were at a year ago and went with the 5196. Having it for almost a year now I don’t regret for a second. My next watch will be the 5296 sector dial for the daily wear.

I don’t have any regrets either, understanding the most common criticisms of the 5196. It gets plenty of wear in the rotation and a fair share of compliments from non-watch people and even some of the RedBar nerds 😊

 

[Clouseau]

Okay, maybe reframe as what would you wear on a beach holiday? Just go watchless until dinner time?

Ideally a Submariner?
In practice last Summer in vacation I wore a MoonSwatch. Not a problem if it’ s damaged or robbed, and it’s a fun watch to wear in holidays.

 

[Texasmade]

I'm not going down to just three watches anytime soon, but I don't think I have the mental capacity for more than three nicer/"higher-end" watches for similar and other reasons. Everything else I have is either standard off the shelf movements or in the case of Nomos, very reasonable service costs.

Maybe a silly question, but what do you wear during more sporty occasions?

Just be like RJ from Fratello or the Speedmaster 101 guy and own a sh1t ton of Speedmasters.

 

[Texasmade]

View attachment 2309811
I don’t have any regrets either, understanding the most common criticisms of the 5196. It gets plenty of wear in the rotation and a fair share of compliments from non-watch people and even some of the RedBar nerds 😊

TWAT Master returns!

 

[Satmoche]

It depends. For example i heard that Rolex change parts of old models without asking while servicing (possible loss of value). I dont know if it’s true though. I have to service sooner or later a Lady datejust (from Grandmother) that will go to my daughter, so I wonder too. Not the same problem with the one for my son (DJ, well we had to give him one too) as we bought it new.

I heard about that too.
The friend I mentioned in my previous post had bought a 1675, last year, and he had it serviced shortly after. He told me that they changed the bezel as the numbers had faded away. They must have changed parts of the movement too as this was an 'old' watch.

 

[Newcomer]

@chocomallo - what is remaining in your collection at this point?

 

[Dino944]

is it possible to drop in an alt movement and store the original for posterity ? I could easily see doing this to wear a collectible if it's totally reversible . i'd be all-in the vintage market if that were an option .

That doesn't seem very practical. What would be the value of the watch and cost of service that one is doing this to avoid the cost of service on their watch's original movement? What would be the cost of the new "Generic movement" you would be putting inside. Also, are you just sticking in a time only movement even if the watch is actually a chronograph, and not having use of the chrono or other subdials? You have to find someone you trust to open your vintage Patek, AP, VC, Breguet, Lange, Rolex Cartier, etc and do the job correctly. Then in a world where people lose the original box and papers with some degree of frequency, you have to store and hold onto the original movement, hoping not to lose it, but also storing it an a manner that doesn't result in moisture affecting it and causing some parts to rust. Then eventually, you have to hire someone to re-install the original movement, if you decide to sell it. I could be wrong, but it just seems like a lot of work to avoid servicing the original movement.

It is interesting that you would raise that we can forget the real cost of buying a watch, especially when the cost of servicing is not as straightforward as we may think. For instance, A. Lange would not charge their customers the same price for a Saxonia, Lange 1 or their Zeitwerk, plus it will also take time to do so, even worse if there is something wrong the movement.

More to the point, is it worth going to reputable watch repair shops instead of the actual watch brand? One of my dear friends advised me to do so as they will be as competent as the service team, and it would apparently take less time.

Well as for cost of service, perhaps it's part of a buyers due diligence to see what it would cost to service a chronograph vs a time only piece from a brand. I also don't think there is anything wrong with having different prices for watches of different complication levels. For example, last I had heard, it was about $600-650 to service a Rolex Explorer 2, while a Daytons would be about $1,500 from Rolex in NYC. That makes sense as a Daytona is one of the most complicated Rolex watches you can buy, while an Explorer II, is not. So as an Explorer II owner/buyer, I would want to pay an Ex2 priced service for that watch rather than a Daytona priced service.

I think you really have to shop and research to see if there is truly an advantage to using a "Reputable" watch repair shop. For example, most time only Cartier watches are about $500-600 to service through Cartier. Average turn around time from Cartier in my own experience is 4-5 weeks. Can the local guy do better in terms of cost, time, and one also has to keep in mind Cartier will not sell the independent watch guys watch parts, so whatever they are using would be generic (probably not an issue if its an older ETA movement, but could be an issue if its something more unique). Also some brand service centers include polishing the case and bracelet, other's do not, it is extra.

For Rolex here is a list of prices time estimates from Rolliworks

Services | RolliWorks | United States | Rolex Bracelet Stretch Repair

Rolex Service, Rolex Case Repair, Rolex Band Repair USA, Rolex Bracelet Repair, Rolex Restoration, Rolex Bezel Repair, Rolex Gold Repair, USA Rolliworks, Rolex Laser Welding, Rolex 904L, Rolex Stretch Repair, Rolex polish, Rolex Daytona, Repair Rolex Submariner, Repair Rolex Datejust, Repair...

www.rolliworks.com

Movements serviced starting at $550, and time 4-7 weeks. I don't think there is any real savings of time or money, but one might choose them for their expertise with vintage models, and not having to worry about dials and hands being replaced, which will reduce value. I'd probably consider using Rolliworks on vintage Rolex watches. I've used an independent car shop for service on a classic car, because it's older than most of the people working at the local authorized shop, and they know the nuances of the older models. So its not about saving money, it's about someone who knows what a vintage models needs.

The other thing to consider is most factory authorized service comes with a warranty of 2 years on work and parts. In addition, it may add value and piece of mind to a future buyer to see a Rolex, AP, Patek service invoice. Having a service invoice from the local guy in town, probably won't mean much to a potential future buyer.

Lange is absurd now for example. Breguet and Patek both quite reasonable. I don’t really get why Lange is so pricey to service…

Just curious what do you consider reasonable for service from Breguet/Patek? Is it for a time only piece or something more complicated?

It depends. For example i heard that Rolex change parts of old models without asking while servicing (possible loss of value). I dont know if it’s true though. I have to service sooner or later a Lady datejust (from Grandmother) that will go to my daughter, so I wonder too. Not the same problem with the one for my son (DJ, well we had to give him one too) as we bought it new.

During a service, Rolex will upgrade and replace movement parts, if there were upgrades or changes during the production run of a model. This has no effect on the value of the watch. Unless someone is a watchmaker who saw the movement before and after the service, chances are the changes will be unnoticeable anyway.

The bigger concern is Rolex pushing for replacement of dial and hands, especially if the lume no longer functions. Replacing the dial and hands does reduce the value of a watch. This it typically more of an issue on vintage pieces if someone had a Red Sub, and the dial gets replaced with a service dial, that says Sub in white and now all the lume is modern lume.

Depending on the age of your grandmother's DJ, Rolex might not be able to service it. I once asked what is the oldest watch they will service, and at Rolex NYC they told me very late 50's or early 60's. They told me they had to turn someone away with an older Rolex, because they do not have the parts necessary for a service if it goes beyond a certain date.

 

[Clouseau]

That doesn't seem very practical. What would be the value of the watch and cost of service that one is doing this to avoid the cost of service on their watch's original movement? What would be the cost of the new "Generic movement" you would be putting inside. Also, are you just sticking in a time only movement even if the watch is actually a chronograph, and not having use of the chrono or other subdials? You have to find someone you trust to open your vintage Patek, AP, VC, Breguet, Lange, Rolex Cartier, etc and do the job correctly. Then in a world where people lose the original box and papers with some degree of frequency, you have to store and hold onto the original movement, hoping not to lose it, but also storing it an a manner that doesn't result in moisture affecting it and causing some parts to rust. Then eventually, you have to hire someone to re-install the original movement, if you decide to sell it. I could be wrong, but it just seems like a lot of work to avoid servicing the original movement.

Well as for cost of service, perhaps it's part of a buyers due diligence to see what it would cost to service a chronograph vs a time only piece from a brand. I also don't think there is anything wrong with having different prices for watches of different complication levels. For example, last I had heard, it was about $600-650 to service a Rolex Explorer 2, while a Daytons would be about $1,500 from Rolex in NYC. That makes sense as a Daytona is one of the most complicated Rolex watches you can buy, while an Explorer II, is not. So as an Explorer II owner/buyer, I would want to pay an Ex2 priced service for that watch rather than a Daytona priced service.

I think you really have to shop and research to see if there is truly an advantage to using a "Reputable" watch repair shop. For example, most time only Cartier watches are about $500-600 to service through Cartier. Average turn around time from Cartier in my own experience is 4-5 weeks. Can the local guy do better in terms of cost, time, and one also has to keep in mind Cartier will not sell the independent watch guys watch parts, so whatever they are using would be generic (probably not an issue if its an older ETA movement, but could be an issue if its something more unique). Also some brand service centers include polishing the case and bracelet, other's do not, it is extra.

For Rolex here is a list of prices time estimates from Rolliworks

Services | RolliWorks | United States | Rolex Bracelet Stretch Repair

Rolex Service, Rolex Case Repair, Rolex Band Repair USA, Rolex Bracelet Repair, Rolex Restoration, Rolex Bezel Repair, Rolex Gold Repair, USA Rolliworks, Rolex Laser Welding, Rolex 904L, Rolex Stretch Repair, Rolex polish, Rolex Daytona, Repair Rolex Submariner, Repair Rolex Datejust, Repair...

www.rolliworks.com

Movements serviced starting at $550, and time 4-7 weeks. I don't think there is any real savings of time or money, but one might choose them for their expertise with vintage models, and not having to worry about dials and hands being replaced, which will reduce value. I'd probably consider using Rolliworks on vintage Rolex watches. I've used an independent car shop for service on a classic car, because it's older than most of the people working at the local authorized shop, and they know the nuances of the older models. So its not about saving money, it's about someone who knows what a vintage models needs.

The other thing to consider is most factory authorized service comes with a warranty of 2 years on work and parts. In addition, it may add value and piece of mind to a future buyer to see a Rolex, AP, Patek service invoice. Having a service invoice from the local guy in town, probably won't mean much to a potential future buyer.


Just curious what do you consider reasonable for service from Breguet/Patek? Is it for a time only piece or something more complicated?

During a service, Rolex will upgrade and replace movement parts, if there were upgrades or changes during the production run of a model. This has no effect on the value of the watch. Unless someone is a watchmaker who saw the movement before and after the service, chances are the changes will be unnoticeable anyway.

The bigger concern is Rolex pushing for replacement of dial and hands, especially if the lume no longer functions. Replacing the dial and hands does reduce the value of a watch. This it typically more of an issue on vintage pieces if someone had a Red Sub, and the dial gets replaced with a service dial, that says Sub in white and now all the lume is modern lume.

Depending on the age of your grandmother's DJ, Rolex might not be able to service it. I once asked what is the oldest watch they will service, and at Rolex NYC they told me very late 50's or early 60's. They told me they had to turn someone away with an older Rolex, because they do not have the parts necessary for a service if it goes beyond a certain date.

Sorry it wasn’t clear, not my Grandmother, my daughter’s one.
The watch is from the 1980s iirc, and has never been to service.

 

[Dino944]

Sorry it wasn’t clear, not my Grandmother, my daughter’s one.
The watch is from the 1980s iirc, and has never been to service.
View attachment 2309835

I wouldn't worry about servicing that one with Rolex. It's a fairly standard watch. Its not a dial that was only made for a few years like a double red Sea-Dweller or red Sub. There is no lume, so they can't push the idea of replacing a dial or hands due to worn out lume. Something like this is probably just disassemble the movement, clean it, reassemble and re-lubricate, and install new gaskets.

 

[flipstah]

Always get a kick out of this one.
View attachment 2309315

Any regrets going down the GS route? They've always been top of mind for me and might be my next grail