What time is it? Watches and horology

I’d keep the original dial imo - it’s the story of the watch and clearly means something to you

I went to the Vacheron Constantin store today to see how much it would cost to get my watch serviced and get a strap and clasp.

£2150 for the service
£500 for the strap
£850 for the clasp

If I look for sold prices of similar watches it’s about £3.5k…

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That is an unusual dial, you don’t see all that many with the raised Rolex logo. I agree with others that it looks fine to keep to me.

The problem with Rolex is what they consider constitutes a component that “needs” replacing. From their point of view, just having tritium lume that doesn’t really work anymore means that the dial and hands need replacing. When, functionally, they might be fine apart from the lume.

It’s a similar thing with the case refinishing. From their point of view it should look as new as possible when it leaves the service centre. From the customer’s point of view that might mean removing all the patina and evidence of the life it has lived, not to mention losing the original shape of the case.

It is very much a Trigger’s Broom scenario as well. Difficult to answer definitively. I think it has to be an individual decision. If keeping it original means it no longer works, and hence won’t be worn/used, then what’s the best course of action?

I used to lurk on the TZ forum and the issue of Rolex not really being willing to leave vintage watches as is and just service the mechanism was a comman thing, I can't point you in the direction of one but I'm sure there are a number of non-Rolex certified watchmakers who can perform a sympathetic service to ensure it works without replacing old for new

Oh man, just googled triggers broom and it’s classical origin, that’s opened a can of worms 😂

Aka the Sugababes paradox. (Although that one doesn’t hold up in the same way since the original lineup reformed and got the name back, but still.)

Can you imagine if they did something similar to a historically important watch?Clapton's UG or Paul Newman's actual Daytona? The insurance companies would go insane

Keep the original/ unique dial. If it’s a little rough in comparison to the rest of the piece, it may serve as a nice contrast.

Once the dial is replaced or refurbed you may not see as much of your late father in it.

Thats my nostalgic 2 pence.

Crikey that's really poor. I'd be fuming. You want that watch face back and back on the watch.

This is why original condition vintage Rolexes are so rare though. And why there are so many Rolexes pieced together being passed off as original.

Outing yourself as an OG Sugababes fan there 🤝

I like that that's lovely!

I'd be old dial and all the case scratches. It has story and life!

I mean this whole debacle was worth it just to supersede all previous philosophical conclusions for this one. Well done for bringing all previous thought crashing into the 21st century. Think a Wikipedia entry needs updating

If that had a date window I’d be all over it

Facts

I think it’s the dial more than anything.

I think it’s crazy that you can’t specify what and what not to have done when you have a watch serviced.

I can understand replacing the crystal/plexi (like for like) and movement cleaning/repairs, but replacing dials and hands ‘because’ and grinding down cases to remove scratches makes no sense to me.

What’s most shocking is that you wouldn’t receive the original parts along with the serviced watch. Are they thrown away?!

Happy Friday

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To be fair they do specify on the invoice prior to instruction what they will be replacing. Which I don’t have a problem with, I did choose to have the dial replaced, I was under the impression it would be a like for like replacement, which if not possible I should have been informed as such.
Apparently they don’t throw components away and they should still have it, they are going to let me know wether it’s possible to reinstate it.

Happy Friday All!

That’s lovely! What reference is it?

Talk about dictatorship. Almost as bad as apple. 😁

Datejust 1603 with pie pan dial. With rarer markers though, they're very cool.

Cool markers, very nice.

Yep, 1603 from 1966! - my friend bought it because of the England world cup year and I snapped it up at a good price when he was moving it on.

In love with this classic !

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