Sad news-my Rolex broke! - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Sad news-my Rolex broke!

geargirl

I'm devastated! My Rolex band broke and I was told it will cost $5000 to replace it! (Yes $5,000 not $500) It is the only piece of jewelry I wear, was a gift from DH, and was sort of my "signature piece". Seriously, I don't even wear a wedding band.

I'd love some sympathy, if anyone has broken a treasured piece of jewelry, did you repair it at any cost? replace? Can anyone recommend a durable watch?

p.s. The watch repairman who specializes in Rolexes said he had never seen one that broke in this spot. I wore out a steel rod...

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

General

14 replies

Latest reply was from geargirl

K. Period.

Veteran

What about getting a second opinion? I know this company here in Portland does amazing things and sells (and refurbishes) Rolex: http://www.watchworkspdx.com/
I paid a chunk of change to get my Gucci watch band fixed. I love that watch. Same as you. Gift from DH. Worn it for the last 15 years straight. I had to have it fixed.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

... five thousand dollars to replace a steel rod? Yikes!!! Do you have access to any small shops that are owned by goldsmiths? They might be able to custom make you a rod for less than that.

I don't think I'd replace a rod in a watch for $5000 unless... actually, no unless. Even if the watch was very dear to me, and I had $5000 burning a hole in my pocket, I think I'd just buy a new watch and have to move on, unfortunately. I'd still keep the old one, but I'd call it a good run and a day.

Sorry to hear of this happening

geargirl

K. -Thank you for the suggestion. It makes me nervous sending my watch away and I know our local shop is reputable. Still...

lyn - that's what I think! Actually, it is to replace the whole bracelet as the rest is VERY worn, and if I replace only a few links, it will look weird. But I don't really want a new watch, I want MY watch (insert whiny tone here)...and it's useless if I can't wear it. FYI a similar new watch is $11,000. I seriously don't know what to do!!!

rachylou

Veteran

The rest is really that worn?

kerry

Veteran

Can you contact Rolex? I'd think their watches would be guaranteed for life.

chadya

Veteran

FWIW
Find a jewelry store that is an authorized Rolex dealer, they will send it to Rolex. Once someone who is not, touches it or opens it Rolex won't touch it in the future.
I had mine serviced my Rolex before. I would be careful who services it.

ETA, sorry it broke,

K. Period.

Veteran

Is it really possible to replace the links? If it is, I would replace the links and know that, since it is a particularly heavy wear area as demonstrated by the fact the links are worn out, it will soon look fine. In the meantime, you can see if you can distress it yourself a bit (steel wool?) or just live with it and call it your love links (as in I LOVE my watch this much!).

With mine, it was the spring on the clasp. It just lost its oomph. So, I have a new band, but same old wonderful watch. It hurt to pay for it, but now I'm glad that I did.

(Also, fwiw, I think bands are usually excluded from warranties and also not considered part of the watch so that if you have an unauthorized party work on the band, you won't violate their warranty. You aren't opening the case or touching the movement. Double check, but that's what I've always seen in the fine print, which I read. Because I'm weird.)

Mia

Veteran

I had a similar experience with my Concord watch which had a gold piece in the band fall out after many years of constant wear. At the jeweller where I purchased it (Birks which is in Canada) they quoted me $$$ to fix and said I needed a whole new band. I took it to the jeweller where we purchased my DH's Rolex and he dealt directly with Concord and they repaired it for only cost of shipping and it was out of warranty!! So... get a second opinion.

Our experience with Rolex was a bit of eye opener as my husband had his winder fall off during the warranty period and they said it wasn't covered! After the dealer did some "beating on them" we got a reasonable response but I am jaundiced about their quality and service now. I hope you are able to get yours sorted out as it is so distressing when your "precious" get's broken.
A friend of mine who wears Rolex advised me to send it directly to them but in my case we didn't need to.

Durable watch would be Timex Ironman

geargirl

Thank you all for your support. I really just appreciate being able to whine. I may contact Rolex directly and see if they have a suggestion. While my local store is a big Rolex dealer, they may be adding a big mark up...
In the meantime, I think I will just look for an alternate watch as it will probably be a while before I get it back, if I do fix it. My DH recommends just shopping for a new watch...maybe an ironman!

Sal

Veteran

You poor thing. That is so frustrating!

Suja

Veteran

Poor thing! I have a Rolex and would be devastated if that happened. Here's what I would do: search eBay and chronos24 for an aftermarket band. Basically, it is a band made of the same materials and the same size as a Rolex version without the Rolex premium. You could also post on therolexforum or another watch site for fix ideas. Also, get multiple other opinions. You might even be able to find a broken band or just the pin on eBay. Might want to buy a relatively cheap Fossil watch in the meantime while you sort out your options.

Good luck!

Anonymous

Geargirl, I'm so sorry to year about your Rolex band. I have an older Rolex, and it was pre-owned when my husband bought it for me 20+ years ago. It's probably almost 30-35 years old now. I really thought they were made to last a lifetime!

I've had to send mine away once or twice to get things fixed, but now I'm dealing with metal fatigue in the bracelet, just like you are. I had the clasp break in two, and after getting a ridiculously expensive estimate from an authorized Rolex dealer, I sent it back east to an excellent but unauthorized watch repairman that I know from my old town. He was able to solder in an aftermarket piece (the joint behind the clasp that doesn't show) and he only charged me about $15 for the piece and the labor. At this point, my watch is probably not worth very much anyway (unlike yours) and I'm just trying to hold it together as long as possible. I don't know what I'll do when it finally cannot be fixed any longer. I was hoping to hand it down to my daughter someday, but at this rate all she'll get is a box of screws and parts!

I take it off now when I sleep. I think I was jamming it up high on my wrist and stretching the links without realizing it. I wish someone had told me not to sleep in it 20 years ago. Of course keeping it cleaner would have helped too. The dirt and grit gets into the links and then wears away the metal. I just don't think about it because this watch has virtually become like a part of my body!
Good luck with your watch and I hope you explore some of the other options.

Von

Veteran

I really hope you can have this fixed for far less than 5K. I feel like with brands like Rolex, you buy them to last, not to last with 5-10K put in with repairs over it's lifetime.

geargirl

Claire-That really sounds like a good idea! I need to look for someone who can reattach the band. I even have the piece that broke!

Von- I know! It seems crazy to spend more on repairs that I originally spent on the watch!

I've been wearing my son's watch all day and moping whenever I had to check the time!

I can't thank you all enough! So many good ideas to pursue to fix the watch without spending $$$! Amazing!