Vintage Rolex serviced in Dublin

Forest Master

hi all,

Does anyone know where I can get a 1962 Submariner serviced in Dublin? Any good watchmakers that you'd recommend? Not sure I want to go to Weirs, as I've heard they're mediocre.

I want to get the Movement serviced, and the Crystal & Bezel Insert replaced (they're not original anyway, but I'll still keep them for future reinstallation, for value purposes).

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

MiCr0

check the sticky @ the top of the forum :-)

marcus1971

Thats already a collectable watch you have there and will go nowhere but up and up in value over the next few years, one of the best low entry investments in watches out there imho.

I would think very long and hard as to how I would go about servicing that watch....thats a real future collectable, I would make 100% sure there was nothing but genuine Rolex parts going into that, including the crystal and bezel...no replacing hands, dial or crown...def NO reluming or repolishing the case....even with something as trivial as the spring bars are to be replaced that real Rolex springbars are used.....cheapo ones will not have the same tolerances and will wiggle inside the lugholes and open them up causing the bracelet rattle, badly fitting endlinks and oval shaped lugholes.

What exact model Sub you have would dictate wher I would send this watch for service..... if it was something like an explorer dial 5513, anything with pointed crown guards....there are all sorts of things to look out for:
gilt/gloss/matte dial, feet first/metres first, underlined dial, lacquer crazing, "tropical" colour shifting on the dial
- that would directly influence where it should be sent. If it was for example the explorer dial 5513 there is nowhere other than Rolex Vintage Service Dept that I would send it for an estimate, with strict instructions to leave it 100% original because something like that in todays market could be worth over $40,000 and rising.

...there are other places to send it but first I would determine the level of collectability, run of the mill they are worth about $7500 BUT they will rise and rise, don't make yourself one of those people who is kicking themselves now because their watch is worth 1/4 of its value because its not 100% original, some of these watches have made enough money to pay off whole mortgages....even in Ireland.

Forest Master

Thanks for the replies, guys.

The case is a 6536, and the bracelet is a 95150.

I got it off my Dad. He bought it in Hopkins & Hopkins Jewellers, O' Connell Street & Eden Quay, Dublin, on Dec 18th 1962. Have original paperwork. And he says the bezel insert was never replaced. I assumed it had.

All original parts except for the crystal (and bracelet), and there is a pip missing from the bezel. The crystal is scratched, so may as well get that replaced, and also get a new pip. Also needs the movement serviced and make sure the Oyster seal is resealed/sealed properly.

So any recommendations of where to get this work done in Dublin?

marcus1971

I would contact the Rolex Vintage Service Dept and get a ball park on what they can do and what it would cost, much like Omega set up their vintage restoration department Rolex followed suit in the last few years to accomodate the growing vintage colectors market.

There used to be a situation where Rolex would not service vintage watches to the owners satisfaction because they would insist on replacing things like crystals/crowns/casebacks/hands...etc etc simply because they couldn't guarantee it to be watertight or perform 100% because parts were possibly worn e.g. lume might fall off the hands and bits of dust etc might make its way into the works...You have to consider that the crystal you want to replace in your watch (if original) is no longer made and probably has not been made since the 70ies, there is a substitute Rolex made replacement that Rolex will fit to it, but it is not EXACTLY the same..Rolex folks know about things like this and one of those original crystals can go for as much as $500-$600 USED!! and in much worse shape than yours.

the Vintage Resto Dept keeps the watches as original as possible while leaving them ready for another lifetime of accurate dependable timekeeping while not affecting the vintage desirability and value.

I know of a watchmaker called Bob Ridley, who the members of the Rolex forum on WUS reckon to be THE BEST in the vintage restoration field, probably expensive, but worth it in your case.

I would post a pic on the WUS Rolex forum or the Rolex Forums themselves and ask the question there, that watch you have is probably worth a small fortune now, probably a decent fortune in a few years.

DO NOT replace the crystal, DO NOT replace the bezel, DO NOT POLISH the watch, if you don't feel like spending the $$$ it will require getting it as good as it can be - just put it in a box, leave it there until you are ready... what you have to do now tackle the learning curve that is the Rolex Submariner in order to protect your investment, knowing what to ask is worth as much as the answer you will get..... it could even buy your kid a house someday....seriously.


Quick Research:

http://bjsonline.com/watches/articles/0018_1.shtml

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f325/1-12-rolex-6536-1-red-lettering-504865.html

http://www.artoftime.com/web/en/watches/index.htm?showid=10439

http://www.chrononet.com/product/611/Rare_Vintage_Rolex_Submariner_james_bond_ref_6536

http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=5209537 (2009)

Wibbs

marcus1971 wrote: »

DO NOT replace the crystal, DO NOT replace the bezel, DO NOT POLISH the watch, if you don't feel like spending the $$$ it will require getting it as good as it can be - just put it in a box, leave it there until you are ready... what you have to do now tackle the learning curve that is the Rolex Submariner in order to protect your investment, knowing what to ask is worth as much as the answer you will get..... it could even buy your kid a house someday....seriously.

This plus a thousand FM. Please do NOT replace the pip etc. If you do(and you'll regret it I'm afraid) DO insist on getting the original parts back as part of the deal. If this is refused walk, nay run away. With vintage originality is everything. Double, if not triple this for Rolex, sometimes to a silly degree. I've seen barely legible, even non working wrecks of important models go for mad money. The only exception seems to be German vintage collectors who like an "as new" look. That said even they prefer a "wreck" they can then make new again and will pay handsomely for the privilege.

quarryman

Only on the watch forum would someone take a picture of their Rolex over a girl in a bikini and no one complains...

MiCr0

quarryman wrote: »

Only on the watch forum would someone take a picture of their Rolex over a girl in a bikini and no one complains...

i'll i noticed was the watch and the android logo ;-)

Jen000

id also like to know who services them

Forest Master

So is this Sam Elliott guy any good? I need recommendations before I'd give him my watch. I heard he doesn't do the work himself - he "knows" someone.

marcus1971

Forest Master wrote: »

So is this Sam Elliott guy any good? I need recommendations before I'd give him my watch. I heard he doesn't do the work himself - he "knows" someone.

No, he does the work himself but is fairly busy at the moment, afaik he is doing all of Cartiers repairs at the moment.

He wouldn't be my choice to service your watch though.....(PM Sent)

If I were you I would sign up with "Rolex Forums", post your pcture and ask the regulars from the UK where you should send it, there are most likely specialists they would recommend for servicing your watch with preserving its originality in mind.