quote:Originally posted by dinwiddie:quote:Originally posted by Rob_Sutherland:quote:Originally posted by fusionstorm:quote:Originally posted by PurpleHaze:quote:Originally posted by dinwiddie:
Does anyone know where in the DC area to have fine watches repaired?
For a Rolex, you really should see an official Rolex dealer. Liljenquist & Beckstead in Montgomery Mall is the closest to you.
PH
NO NO NO! Do not assume a Rolex AD will have someone on staff who's capable of properly repairing vintage Rolex watches. It's akin to assuming that you should take a '57 Bel Air or '67 Corvette 427/435 to your local Chevy dealership. It's an entirely different process both from a knowledge level as well as having (or knowing where to get) period correct parts.
I'd recommend getting in touch with either an authorized Rolex Service Center (likely the most expensive, and you'll have to be clear that you'd want as much of the key original parts like the dial and hands to not be replaced if at all possible), or well-regarded vintage Rolex service outfits like Watchmakers International or LA WatchWorks.
Take my advice, please. I own 10+ vintage Rolexes and frequent the fora dedicated to vintage Rolex on a daily basis.
+1000
Rolex is all about conservation not repair. You want to take it somewhere that will make sure it works without getting rid of the age or battle scars which will destroy the value of the watch. In some cases replacing the bezel with a new one will reduce the value of the watch by 25-50%.
I was hoping for somewhere closer. As I noted, the watch has special meaning to me because it was my mother's gift to my father on their first wedding anniversary, I am never going to be selling it. My father gave it to me because he doesn't wear it anymore (manly because at age 97 and being blind, he doesn't need a watch.) I remember it being the watch he wore when I was a kid.
Don't underestimate the value of your father's 65 year old Rolex timepiece. If he still has the original box and papers, it could be worth a small fortune. Priceless to you as it's a family heirloom, but valuable nonetheless to a watch enthusiast. Take the time and find a reputable Rolex dealer and repair shop.
As an aside, I was recently in Amsterdam and strolled into a fabulous watch shop. They are an authorized Rolex repair shop and the repairman I spoke with had encyclopedic knowledge of vintage Rolex'.
Good luck with your search and repair.