Rolex Service?

Is this a daily wear or on rotation? If this is on rotation you might get away with stretching it a bit further. From what I have learned mechanical watches that are safe queens are more likely to be in trouble than a watch that was worn at least once a while. I typically wind all my watches every Monday, just to let them tick for a bit. I have not serviced a Rolex because I do not own one, but I have serviced a Zenith, the price quoted to me included parts and labor and took around 9 months. 

Many thanks, it doesn't get much wear, but does come out on occasion and gets some wrist time for a day.

I would try to find a watchmaker in your area that is specialised in servicing Rolex/Tudor.....I never bring my Rolex/Tudor watches to a Rolex AD for a service, it´s a total ripp off their service prices.....I have in my neighbourhood (well, its 60 kilometers) a top class watchmaker who services my Rolex watches for around 300 Euros (depending on the calibre)......it´s a bit like Mercedes/BMW....I bring my Mercedes for a service to an independant mechanic who does the exact same job with the exact same parts as Mercedes uses and he charges me for around 40% less than Mercedes would charge me.

I feel like price and time are dependent on where you live. I have an authorized Rolex service center near me here in the US and they quoted around 400 USD and 4 weeks

I would only take it to a local watchmaker if I had some really great references for them with my brand of watch. I have had multiple friends and acquaintances take their watches locally to a shop that someone referred them to and have the watchmaker there botch the job, and the watches ended up needing to go back to the manufacturer's service center after all. Similar to many other types of skilled work, do your research. If you can't find someone you trust, at least you know you can send it back to Rolex and you won't be gambling in the same way.

I've only had my services done by the manufacturer, except for some older watches because I had some great references for a local who was awesome with vintage pieces.

Had a Rolex sub from 2005 serviced just before Christmas, hadn't been serviced for 12 yrs ,I only wear it occasionally ,it was done by my local AD cost £600 asked for it not to be polished as I didn't want it too shiny.Polishing is included in the price,their were no faults or damage ,came back in a Rolex pouch and 2yr guarantee 

Many thanks, I think I will visit the AD in person with the watch and ask the questions about extra costs etc.

Maybe they can do an onsite assessment/health check, before sending it away

i took my Rolex submariner 116610LN for full service in 2018 to the Rolex service centre in London. they initially quoted 650 pounds at the time of the dropping my watch to them. Around a 2 weeks later i got the official assessment quote of a further 90 pounds which was to replace the bezel lume pip at 12. so part cost.

trust me when i say, there was nothing wrong with my sub to the casual visual eye. the Lume pip looked completely fine. The level they go to is insane when checking your watch.

Total cost 740. i saw this as reasonable. Many would not.

it took around a month before i saw my watch again. In contrast to many i allowed the full polish. It came back literally like a fresh out of the box new, just like everybody says. 

clearly this was back in 2018 so id expect the same service to be closer to the 900 pound mark now. I wanted piece of mind and knowledge that Rolex themselves had had their eye on my specimen. This isn't necessary as most reputable service centres can sort a Rolex no issue.

Many great ADs out there, but they all have to make margin, and it's not coming from selling timepieces😜! 

While it may be just as, if not more expensive going direct to the manufacturer, at least there is the feeling you are getting what you are paying for. 

Otherwise, if you have a watchmaker that has a good reputation/comes recommended, they may become a friend for life. 😀

I'd try a couple of AD just to compare the price,mine was in Liverpool 

I would have it analyzed with a timegrapher.  The amplitude should give you an idea of the "health" of the movement. 

imo: Why spend on quality when you can spend on peace of mind?

i’ve taken my previous Rolexes to reputable servicemen but it always came back w extra problems for me. I had an Exp 1 that came back with a smudged dial plus dust on dial and underneath the glass. I re-sent it back 3 times and it came back scratched, still dusty and some smudges. Gave up the ghost and sent it to Rolex. Brand, spanking, new, no issues. I wouldnt even trust Eric Wind’s service guy at this point, but YMMV 👍🏼

Wow what a horrible experience. I think it's gonna have to be the AD.

I was just a little concerned about spiraling cost. But that doesn't seem to be the consensus of experience on here.

My AD has a Rolex service technician in-house.  I had him service my Explorer.  It took about a month because of the queue in his schedule.

I had him polish it because it was in my wife’s rotation and she likes the factory polish.  It came back looking and running like brand new in a Rolex service pouch. 

Had my 16610 Sub serviced by RSC London December 21.

There is the generic cost of the service plus any extras, before any work commences you have to agree and there can be a back and forth. 

Everything is listed in the service invoice so no un expected costs.

A full polish is included in the service cost, which you can ask to not do,  but they won't discount if you choose not to polish. 

Here is a grab from my service invoice. 

Same price as my service minus the parts changed 

That's fantastic information. Many thanks for sharing it 😀 

Thanks everyone. You have really put my mind at rest. I normally swim in the sub £1000 end if the pond. And the explorer was a gift from my dad, as he put it 'early inheritance, for looking after mum & him during the big C'.

I was worried about a. 'We have your watch in 200 pieces now it's only 2k to put it back together' scenario but it seems like the the AD route is pretty smooth.

good plan, I tried 2 in Sheffield & they were exactly the same

Just put my explorer 2 in for a service with a AD in Chester they quoted £630 , obviously it's gone up £30 as all Rolex prices have gone up