Many people ask the inevitable question When and Where servicing their Rolex watch. It is important not to neglect the importance of maintaining your mechanical watches, because, just like beautiful cars, they require attention, and each one has its own specificities depending on the age or the model. Contrary to what some watchmakers may recommend, we recommend that you do entertain your watch only when it shows signs of wear signs of fatigue (pronounced drift, non-regular needles ...).
The first question to ask is whether your watch is recent or vintage.
But why is this information so important, you may ask? For the simple reason that Rolex is not able to replace components with similar ones when the watches are dated, which is obviously a big problem when you want to keep an original watch. In addition to replacing the components with new ones, the old components are not even returned to their owners.
If your Rolex watch is less than 20 years old, then it is "new". You can then go to a Rolex authorized service center, so that they can take it in charge and send it to the factory for revision. If any components are damaged, they will be replaced.
A watch is considered to be vintage when it is over 20 years old.
Attention: If you send your vintage Rolex watch to be serviced through an authorized Rolex service center, the components may be replaced and your watch will lose a lot of value because it will no longer be original. We therefore recommend that you go to reputable independent watchmakers.
Example: if you have a watch with tritium hands, during a simple revision, Rolex will replace the tritium hands by Luminova hands, tritium being no longer authorized. It is the same for a dial.
Rolex recommends that you have your watch serviced every 10 years or so, which may vary depending on the model and how you use your watch on a daily basis.
So if you want to do repair or entertain your Rolex watch, you can go to one of the Rolex authorized service centers in order to deposit your watch. There will be a wait, often quite long, as the watches are sent directly to Switzerland. No repair or revision will be done directly in the boutique. It usually takes 6 to 12 weeks for Rolex to perform the maintenance and potential repairs.
In terms of price, an overhaul varies between 800.00 € and 1,200.00 €, which can be evolving depending on the components to be replaced.
The network of official Rolex retailers and service centers is present in over 100 countries around the world. To find an authorized service center, you can visit the official website of the brandor you can locate the one closest to you.
If your watch is vintage, we advise you to turn to independent watchmakers. The advantage of turning to them is that you will have the possibility to impose your choice of conserver or not the original components provided that they are still usable.
Repair rather than change, a few words that make sense when talking about collector's watches.
But going to independent watchmakers can also apply to recent Rolex watches. Indeed, the cost of an overhaul will be much higher than the cost of a new watch cheaper than at Rolex directly, often 2 to 3 times lower.
Here is a list of some watchmakers that we recommend for the complete revision, maintenance or repair of your Rolex watch:
Clockwork of the passage 18 Passage du Chantier, 75012 Paris
The workshop of time 85 Rue des Rosiers, 93400 Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine
Antoine de Macedo : 28 Rue Madame, 75006 Paris
41 Watch 39 Rue de Verneuil, 75007 Paris (by appointment)
The craftsman of time Chau. de Waterloo 758, 1180 Brussels, Belgium
Please note that this list is not exhaustive.
The statements in this article apply to almost all watchmaking companies, however, some have a dedicated department for preservation of collector's watches such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin.
Now you know more about where and when to have your Rolex watch serviced.
Is a Rolex watch reliable?
Rolex is a Swiss luxury watch brand that is known for its precision, quality manufacturing and long tradition of watchmaking. The brand is often associated with success and excellence, although it suffers from a bad image. Rolex watches are also often considered an excellent financial investment.
Where to buy a Rolex watch?
At Rolex retailers: Rolex has stores in major cities around the world, where you can buy new, authentic Rolex watches directly from the brand (or at least get on the waiting list).
Which Rolex watch to choose?
If you're looking for a classic, chic watch, look to the Rolex Datejust. If you're looking for a watch that's tough as nails, look to the professional models (Rolex Submariner, Rolex Explorer, Rolex GMT Master).
What is the most expensive Rolex?
The most expensive Rolex in the catalog is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in platinum with diamond indexes, offered at more than $80.000.
About the author
Mathieu CeliPassionate about timepieces, and everything that revolves around them for many years, my ambition is to share my watchmaking adventure, and help you to enlighten yourself on this world that seems so inaccessible, and yet, is not. Every watchmaking story is initiated by encounters, and continues with an endless curiosity, a real addiction to the very embodiment of time.
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