Rolex GMT II - Factory Service?

BenEadir

Hi all,

I got a Rolex GMT II watch from my wife for my 40th birthday back in 2008 (when we thought the Celtic Tiger wasn't going to completely die!!

She bought it from an official Rolex dealer in the US so I have the certificate, boxing, receipt etc. and now it's time for the recommended 5 year service.

I love the watch and use it almost daily so I want to maintain it and pass it onto my son as an Heirloom in due course.

Can you guys tell me what my options for servicing are and what I can expect to pay? Should I send it back to the factory or get someone like Weirs to service it?

Cheers,

Ben

bogmanfan

You have two options basically. Either send to Rolex (I suspect that this is what Weir's will do, on your behalf) or have an independent watchmaker service it. Both have their pros and cons.

Official Rolex service
Pros: They will have all the parts etc that might be required. You will get a 2-year Rolex warranty.
Cons: Expensive. Can take a long time (I've heard of people going 3-4 months waiting for their watch to come back)

Independent
Pros: Much cheaper and faster. Shouldn't take more than a couple of weeks.
Cons: No Rolex warranty, but they should offer their own warranty on any work carried out. Also, they may not have any parts that may be required, although I gather than Rolex spares are not too difficult to source.

If it were me, I would go with an independent. You can scan the forum here for recommendations, but I have personally used www.watchrepairs.ie a few times and was very pleased with their service.

blindsider

Get a quote from Weirs - and then ask Emily in Watchrepairs - then make a decision......I suspect the decision will be relatively easy to make.....

BTW - hang on to the box, receipt and papers for dear life. They are your proof of authenticity in a world of fakes!

CarltonBrowne

Very much what's been said already. There is an extra benefit to be had from a Rolex service if you don't have any paperwork - you've got the full set so that's not a concern.

BenEadir

Thanks all, appreciate the advice.

I am sure the local/independent service option would be better value for money and they would do a fine job but I think my preference is to keep the watch 'official' and get it serviced by them directly, even if it is more expensive.

I called Rolex in London and a standard 5 year service is £430 + extra if any additional work is needed over and above a standard service. The service will take approximately 6 weeks. At today's exchange rate £430 = approximately €500. €100 a year to maintain the watch, hadn't expected that!!

Cheers,

Ben

Cyrus

firstly

does it need a service? is it keeping good time?

If so, wait until it isnt before you get it serviced.

Secondly, no one else will refinish your watch the way rolex will, if it goes to them it will come back as new.

Duncan at genesis watch repairs in the UK may also be an option tho if you do decide to go independent.

BenEadir

Hi Cyrus,

Yes it is keeping pretty good time. I use it most work days but need (complete rubbish really) my golf GPS watch at the weekends, http://www.easygreen.com.hk/wr67/

I'd say it loses about a minute a week Vs the http://www.atomic-clock.org.uk/atomic-clock.php. How does that rate?

Ben

fishguy

Ben,

First of congratulations to the watch. It's an exceptionally well made watch and will lost a life time + if you get it serviced regularly. All the above is true. I think at the end what matters is the extra 2 years of warranty and the official Rolex service receipt as these might help to sell the watch if a need arises. Also I couldn't agree with Cyrus more on polishing the watch. Rolex is second to non with that. So if you want to keep the watch at all cost and it will only need a light polishing than an independent will do just fine. Or if you want to conserve the value (monetary value) better (as you are preparing to a future resale) than you better of with Rolex spend more and get more.

Just my 2 cents...

unkel

€500 and the extended Rolex warranty seems like a relatively good deal compared to the value of the watch

That said, I thought a reasonable time interval for servicing a high quality automatic watch would be more like 10 years?