Rolex trench watch repair

T-Maxx

I have a Rolex trench watch which is in dire need of repair / restoration. Any recommendations in the Dublin area please?

Bus Boy

Dawson Jewellers is who I've bought and used for pretty much everything. Worth a buzz at least.

Wibbs

That's an option, but if I were you I'd make really sure of the quality of restoration/service was up to scratch on a piece like that. Because of the Rolex name they can fetch decent money for a Trench watch, depending on the model and movement finishing, well over the thousand and up mark. It's not that their movements are anything fancy or complex(at that stage of their history they were actually pretty basic), but originality is everything. After cracked dials, replacement hands and crowns are the usual and this hits the value in a big way. I'd be looking a little further afield like this chap in Kilkenny , who would be more of a specialist and you would be dealing directly with the watchmaker.

Any chance of pics?

CarltonBrowne

I had a trench watch repaired recently by a very nice Canadian chap called Robert Horan based in France. The relevant thread about the watch is here:

http://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.php?109742-Help-identifying-this-movement-not-Universal-Geneve-Oris

His website seems to be down at the moment (edit: it's back up):
http://www.roberthoran.eu/
His email address is: rhwatchservices@yahoo.ca

Wibbs

Gorgeous watch CB, loving the photobombing doggie.

T-Maxx

Wibbs

That's all there T. Crown, hands, dial. Niiiiice. IIRC "A" is 1916? I think my 1916's are hallmarked A. I like that it's not the more common radium/luminous dial layout. What size is it T?

That's going to be a real cracker when serviced and (gently)cleaned up. The beauty about watches from this period is that they're generally easy to fix and even get parts for. Once sorted, they can be remarkably robust too, if you keep them away from water.

CarltonBrowne

That strikes me as being a perfect candidate for restoration. A mechanical service, a new crystal and a light polish of the silver case. Whilst the dial is not perfect I would say it's still in the top 10% in terms of condition for age - probably just a once over with some rodico.

For a replacement strap I can't recommend David Boettcher at Vintage Watch Straps highly enough. Get him to make you a custom strap with one of his replica silver buckles and you won't regret it (the picture of mine above is on one of his straps however the strap was specced for a different watch that I no longer own - I'm planning to get one of his silver buckles gilded and then incorporated into a new strap).

http://www.vintagewatchstraps.com/index.php

T-Maxx

That's exactly the strap it needs. Thanks for that link!

OldRio

T Maxx....


I wonder if I may be bold, and ask you if you would keep us informed on the restoration. Lovely watch and good luck.

blue5000

T-Maxx what width strap does the watch take? Came across this on ebay, might be worth looking through their other items for sale
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hirsch-Genuine-ELEPHANT-HIDE-16mm-RARE-watch-strap-CHARCOAL-BLACK-60s-VINTAGE-/161878168929?hash=item25b0b0d561:g:R50AAOSw4HVWECvG

Can you keep us posted? Thanks.