Author Topic: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?  (Read 3820 times)

Offline aramis

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Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« on: April 03, 2021, 06:15:57 PM »
I have a 21yr old rolex, last service was 2012. It's due for a service. Do you send back to an AD or would you send to a independent watchmaker? Thx.

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Offline G.MAC

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2021, 06:28:49 PM »
It depends if you have an independent watchmaker that you can trust. If you do, then I would send to that independent watchmaker. If not, I would send to the Rolex service centre instead as opposed to the AD.
Your ONLY job in this world is to make sure that you are happy

Offline RyanLiang

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #2 on: April 03, 2021, 06:30:18 PM »
Depend your budget.
Independent is much cheaper than Rolex Center.

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Offline aramis

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #3 on: April 03, 2021, 07:44:26 PM »
It depends if you have an independent watchmaker that you can trust. If you do, then I would send to that independent watchmaker. If not, I would send to the Rolex service centre instead as opposed to the AD.
My bad, I meant RSC and not AD. I heard, I maybe wrong, that RSC tends to change parts even if they are still OK, even if you insist not to do so. Is that true?

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Offline bulletnos

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #4 on: April 03, 2021, 09:45:55 PM »
Yea, they do change some parts, even those that may cosmetically be different from the original eg. service dial, etc. Some may be highly sensitive, especially those older sports models like Subs, GMT-Masters...

I'm also considering if I should send in my 216570 for service soon...RM2.5k - including some change of some parts, including the crown, seals, balance wheel (I think) - according to RSC. Only concern about independent watch makers is that they may not actually change parts - you won't be able to tell unless you open the watch. Unless as mentioned, they are someone you can really really trust.

Just my 2 cents...i'm in a dilemma myself

Offline dpkong

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #5 on: April 03, 2021, 11:23:40 PM »
Yea, they do change some parts, even those that may cosmetically be different from the original eg. service dial, etc. Some may be highly sensitive, especially those older sports models like Subs, GMT-Masters...

I'm also considering if I should send in my 216570 for service soon...RM2.5k - including some change of some parts, including the crown, seals, balance wheel (I think) - according to RSC. Only concern about independent watch makers is that they may not actually change parts - you won't be able to tell unless you open the watch. Unless as mentioned, they are someone you can really really trust.

Just my 2 cents...i'm in a dilemma myself

curious as to why you would need to charge the balance wheel on a fairly recent watch? New crown, tube and seals are normally included in a standard service isn't it?

Offline dualcarb

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2021, 05:57:10 AM »
I have sent all of my watches to RSC. While they are not vintage, they started to inaccuracies in timekeeping. Given that they are 10 years old (six digit references). Only instructions that I gave RSC was NOT to polish my watch. And it came back with an additional 2 years warranty. I would pay the money just for peace of mind.

I have sent two vintage watches to Michael Young in Hong Kong for a service before, and they came back perfect. One had issues, one of the gears went kaput, and Micheal sourced me the part and had it fixed while giving it a service. Another was a watch which my late grandfather wore. It was kept in the drawer for so long, that it could not even be wound up.

Long story short. If you can find a trustworthy watchmaker, then send it to them. Esp if they are vintage watches.

Offline bulletnos

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Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2021, 09:56:01 AM »
Yea, they do change some parts, even those that may cosmetically be different from the original eg. service dial, etc. Some may be highly sensitive, especially those older sports models like Subs, GMT-Masters...

I'm also considering if I should send in my 216570 for service soon...RM2.5k - including some change of some parts, including the crown, seals, balance wheel (I think) - according to RSC. Only concern about independent watch makers is that they may not actually change parts - you won't be able to tell unless you open the watch. Unless as mentioned, they are someone you can really really trust.

Just my 2 cents...i'm in a dilemma myself

curious as to why you would need to charge the balance wheel on a fairly recent watch? New crown, tube and seals are normally included in a standard service isn't it?
I think they mentioned only if needed for certain parts...yup it is included in the service cost. Unless we want to change aesthetics...like bezel for 216570 cost RM900...swap basis that is...

Aside to Dual Carb, totally agree with you that it is important to find a reputable independent one if that is the direction...I’ve sent to independent ones before and they may end up scratching like the hands...etc

Even the authorised centres also have that problem some times...human error la I guess. Even my sub is now back at RSC changing the hands as they scratched it the last time, but good thing about RSC is that they take full responsibility, very good service...


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« Last Edit: April 04, 2021, 09:58:17 AM by bulletnos »

Offline adriangsc

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #8 on: April 04, 2021, 11:27:09 AM »
From what I think is just like car. Back to original service centre will be costly. If independent ones have to be specialise and trusted like those sifu and guru level. You can try amcorp


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Offline aramis

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #9 on: April 04, 2021, 11:45:46 AM »
Mine is the 16570. Is it even possible asking RSC not to change any parts unless it is really required? Aesthetics are not required IMHO but RSC might have different opinion. Dilemma dilemma...

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Offline Cocas

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #10 on: April 04, 2021, 02:26:26 PM »
Independent watch maker has the inherent weakness : old age discontinuity....

Offline bulletnos

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Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #11 on: April 09, 2021, 01:40:53 PM »
Just got my watch back from RSC...changed the hands FOC as they accidentally scratched it the last time. But they were extremely professional about it, no questions asked, they even gave me a pouch and cloth out of courtesy...

One setback with independent ones is that if they scratched yr stuff like this, they may argue til the cows come home...



Happy and satisfied with RSC!

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Offline Gary30624700

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2021, 04:23:32 PM »
before buying a watch, consider you can afford the maintenance fee or not.

just like u can installment a BMW, but u may not afford the maintenance fee
this is life

Offline kukujiao

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2021, 07:05:21 AM »
Can independent shops source parts for watches like Rolex?

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Offline rnsm1979

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Re: Servicing watch: AD or independent watchmaker?
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2021, 08:02:53 AM »
Can independent shops source parts for watches like Rolex?

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yes, independent watch maker has their own way of sourcing those rolex part