Simple Rolex repair
Discussion
As with everything Rolex, it probably won't be a simple case of sticking it back on.
It's likely that the stem and/or crown will be damaged. If so, the back needs to come off, and you're looking at a service, because only a Rolex accredited repairer will be able to get the parts, and they won't take the caseback off without servicing the watch (on the basis that if anything subsequently goes wrong with the watch, they'll be held responsible for it).
So they will service it, you'll get it back looking and working like new, with a two-year warranty.
For a price.
It's likely that the stem and/or crown will be damaged. If so, the back needs to come off, and you're looking at a service, because only a Rolex accredited repairer will be able to get the parts, and they won't take the caseback off without servicing the watch (on the basis that if anything subsequently goes wrong with the watch, they'll be held responsible for it).
So they will service it, you'll get it back looking and working like new, with a two-year warranty.
For a price.
It depends why it's come off.
Rolex crowns are made of 4 parts (the cap, a tube, a spring and a central rod with a threaded hole in it for the stem. That means they can come off in 3 different ways:
The whole crown can unscrew from the stem - happens with any brand and an easy fix.
The cap can unscrew from the crown body. That usually means the spring gets lost but springs are springs and, again, easy fix
The stem can snap. That may be a problem or not depending on exactly where it's snapped.
If it snaps flush with the end of the crown then there's nothing to get hold of to remove the broken stub. That's a problem because normally you'd replace a crown if that happens because it's quick and painless. Some Rolex crowns are available but they're eywateringly expensive outside the dealer network. There are ways round it, they just take time and skill to extract that 0.9mm hardened thread without damage
If it snaps part-way along its length then it's a simple replacement stem - easy job, parts are available (I keep all popular Rolex stems in stock), but a bit of a premium because of the brand.
If it snaps too near its inner end then it's still a simple stem change but usually means stripping the dial to extract the tip of the old one which costs a little more because of the extra time.
Any chance of a photo of the detached crown?
Rolex crowns are made of 4 parts (the cap, a tube, a spring and a central rod with a threaded hole in it for the stem. That means they can come off in 3 different ways:
The whole crown can unscrew from the stem - happens with any brand and an easy fix.
The cap can unscrew from the crown body. That usually means the spring gets lost but springs are springs and, again, easy fix
The stem can snap. That may be a problem or not depending on exactly where it's snapped.
If it snaps flush with the end of the crown then there's nothing to get hold of to remove the broken stub. That's a problem because normally you'd replace a crown if that happens because it's quick and painless. Some Rolex crowns are available but they're eywateringly expensive outside the dealer network. There are ways round it, they just take time and skill to extract that 0.9mm hardened thread without damage
If it snaps part-way along its length then it's a simple replacement stem - easy job, parts are available (I keep all popular Rolex stems in stock), but a bit of a premium because of the brand.
If it snaps too near its inner end then it's still a simple stem change but usually means stripping the dial to extract the tip of the old one which costs a little more because of the extra time.
Any chance of a photo of the detached crown?
Thanks for the replies folks.
Nemesis - I wasn't planning on going completely "back street" repair! I take your point though. I was just thinking if a company such as Perpetual Time, who I don't think are an official Rolex agent, would be the type of people to go to, or does it have to be the local official agent?
Variomatic - thanks so much for the very insightful comments. Really appreciated. I will try to put a picture up tomorrow.
Nemesis - I wasn't planning on going completely "back street" repair! I take your point though. I was just thinking if a company such as Perpetual Time, who I don't think are an official Rolex agent, would be the type of people to go to, or does it have to be the local official agent?
Variomatic - thanks so much for the very insightful comments. Really appreciated. I will try to put a picture up tomorrow.
I know where I'd go and it wouldn't be Rolex as judging by their last efforts on my wife's watch I wouldn't actually class them as 'experts' or well skilled. A Rolex service is only good if you're planning on selling the watch within its 2yr warranty otherwise a good service can be found elsewhere. What can make it difficult is access to Rolex parts as I believe they will not sell them outside of their authorised network.
It's like taking your classic car to the main dealer against a reputable Indy. Sure I can go to the main dealer and they will take off a broken part and 'fit' a new one and charge me a great sum whilst I drink their coffee. Or I can go to my trusted Indy, find out why the part broke, talk though the options and be assured of the result given that they trade on their reputation.
It's like taking your classic car to the main dealer against a reputable Indy. Sure I can go to the main dealer and they will take off a broken part and 'fit' a new one and charge me a great sum whilst I drink their coffee. Or I can go to my trusted Indy, find out why the part broke, talk though the options and be assured of the result given that they trade on their reputation.
NDA said:
I think the point here is that if it's a complex repair, it's worth going back to Rolex.
To stay with the car analogy, I would happily have my local garage change the tyre on my classic car or new Bentley - but probably not a gearbox out.
It's not quite the same thing, to be honest.To stay with the car analogy, I would happily have my local garage change the tyre on my classic car or new Bentley - but probably not a gearbox out.
Rolex movements are, as a rule, some of the simplest out there to service - more like changing the brakes on a Ford Escort than rebuilding a Bentley gearbox.
That, incidentally, is a compliment rather than an insult. It takes excellent design to create a movement that can be made on a production line, have almost legendary toughness in normal use, perform to COSC standard, and still be mechanically simple.
The potential difficulty for a competent independent isn't technical, it's marketing. Rolex are supreme masters of encouraging people to believe that there's something almost magical about their movements which only people with funny handshakes could ever hope to understand.
They reinforce that by restricting most (not all) parts to those "in the club", and by insisting that the slightest little "oops" - such as a crown coming off - warrants immediate full, life-saving, surgery on the magic little mechanical elves running round inside.
They then further reinforce it by pricing this (honestly, very routine) work at far more than it's actually worth - after all, if it costs 50% more than similar work elsewhere then it must be good, huh?
Incidentally, membership of the "authorised repair centre" club is far more a matter of investment in Rolex Approved tooling (only available from them, and at rather high prices) than actual technical ability. Got £50k or so to invest in a trip to their training course and a full set of branded tools? You too can sign up
Not a problem and that's something I do like about the PH way - "I'll send you my Rolex when I can remember where I put it". You do realise that a lot of the population would be ripping their house apart when they couldn't put their hand on it? 
Incidentally, on the parts side here's a curiosity from their supply policy:
I can buy a sliding pinion and clutch wheel for the 3135 through mainstream parts channels.
Fitting it involves removing the stem & crown, de-casing the movement, stripping the hands and dial, removing the date work, dismantling the hand-set, reassembling the handset, lubricating it correctly, refitting the date work, replacing the dial and hands, re-casing the movement, refitting the stem & crown, and pressure testing.
Apparently I can be trusted to do that, so they make the parts available.
I can't buy a new crown.
Fitting that involves removing the stem and crown, unscrewing the old crown from the stem, screwing the new one on, refitting the stem and crown, and pressure testing. That requires specialist skills, so they won't trust me with the parts.
Or is it simply that broken crowns are more common than worn clutches and, by the time I've got far enough in to diagnose a worn clutch, they're obviously not getting the work anyway so they may as well make money off the parts rather than lose out to the generic makers who also supply them? Surely they're not that cynical*!
Of course, perfectly good quality generic crowns - made to exactly the same spec as original - are also available, but they can't carry the magic branding thanks to copyright so they're not popular.
Incidentally, on the parts side here's a curiosity from their supply policy:
I can buy a sliding pinion and clutch wheel for the 3135 through mainstream parts channels.
Fitting it involves removing the stem & crown, de-casing the movement, stripping the hands and dial, removing the date work, dismantling the hand-set, reassembling the handset, lubricating it correctly, refitting the date work, replacing the dial and hands, re-casing the movement, refitting the stem & crown, and pressure testing.
Apparently I can be trusted to do that, so they make the parts available.
I can't buy a new crown.
Fitting that involves removing the stem and crown, unscrewing the old crown from the stem, screwing the new one on, refitting the stem and crown, and pressure testing. That requires specialist skills, so they won't trust me with the parts.
Or is it simply that broken crowns are more common than worn clutches and, by the time I've got far enough in to diagnose a worn clutch, they're obviously not getting the work anyway so they may as well make money off the parts rather than lose out to the generic makers who also supply them? Surely they're not that cynical*!
Of course, perfectly good quality generic crowns - made to exactly the same spec as original - are also available, but they can't carry the magic branding thanks to copyright so they're not popular.
- the answer to that is probably "yes they are" btw, seeing as virtually all the parts they've made available outside their network are those that have good quality generic alternatives. The generic part becomes available and, 6 months or so later, Rolex decide that particular part no longer needs exceptional skill to fit and start supplying.
Edited by Variomatic on Sunday 1st November 14:52
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