Rolex Servicing

[hutchingsp]

Now I've had the dial changed I'm considering having my Datejust serviced.

Although it keeps excellent time, in theory it's due and they tend to come back from Rolex looking like a new watch.

Only thing is, Rolex in London (St James) have quoted around 8-10 weeks turnaround time

Has anyone any experience of Rolex Service Centres overseas?

For the price of postage I'm wondering if it's any cheaper/quicker at, say, Rolex in Geneva?

[BermyAndy]

isnt that where london would send it to anyway?

[hutchingsp]

BermyAndy said:

isnt that where london would send it to anyway?

To be honest all I know is that Rolex have two locations listed for servicing in the UK, London and somewhere in Kent, Bexley I think.

I've no idea if St James is an office or if they do work there, but I always assumed the Kent place to be some anonymous building where they do a lot of the actual work and the London place to be a "shopfront" type of location.

Perhaps someone in the know can clarify?

[w1how]

I sent a battle scarred-worn every day for 4 years-solid gold yachtmaster to Bexley through my local Rolex dealer and although it was away for 3 months it was returned looking like a brand new watch.Cost was around £350(needed an exchange bezel)and a 1 year guarantee was given by Rolex.

[jamesb300]

It definitely looked like they did the work at St. James's when I took mine there. There's normally 2 people on the service desk with their white lab coat and loupe in hand so they obviously have some technical knowledge as they can also adjust the strap, etc, while you wait. Not sure if they actually send the watch elsewhere for the full service though.

James.

[Maxf]

jamesb300 said:

It definitely looked like they did the work at St. James's when I took mine there. There's normally 2 people on the service desk with their white lab coat and loupe in hand so they obviously have some technical knowledge as they can also adjust the strap, etc, while you wait. Not sure if they actually send the watch elsewhere for the full service though.

James.

Pretty sure they stay in the UK - I spoke to a watchmaker there about one of mine over the phone and he was british calling from a UK number. He supposedly had my watch in-hand.

[horacethefrog]

Yep, they stay in the UK, charge around £250, take an age (three months seems typical) and, in my experience, do a truly sh1te job. In the last 9 months my Explorer II has been on my wrist for only 4. It has just come back from their third attempt to make it run for more than 7 hours off my wrist. To add insult to injury they even tried to bullsh1t me by saying that I shouldn't expect it to last for more than 24 hours off my wrist (yet it used to before they touched it and even their own website says 48 to 72 hours). Disgraceful.

[wong]

In Hong Kong, they have a service centre. Takes around 2 weeks, costs around 100 - 150 pounds for service and polish. Its very busy and you have to queue (sit in posh leather seats ) for ~ 30 - 60 mins