Rolex Just Made It Easier to Own Its Watches
The fix is in.
Sending your Rolex watch back to the company for servicing has traditionally been a pretty stressful process.
Naturally, the prospect of sending your expensive watch away to be worked on for a period of weeks or months is going to stress you out a bit. Adding to the stress was the mystery of just how much the service or repair was going to cost you, as you typically would have to wait for a specific estimate before deciding how to proceed.
Well, things just got a bit easier. For the first time, Rolex has posted a pricing list on its website showing how much it charges for routine services for dozens of watch styles.
Rolex is making it easier to determine how much it costs to get your watch serviced. - Credit: Rolex
The cheapest full service will set you back $550. This covers modern, six-digit references of less-complicated models, such as the Datejust, Explorer, Day-Date and Air-King.
The next tier for modern watches includes sports watches like the GMT-Master II, Submariner, Explorer II and Yacht-Master. Servicing those costs $770.
The highest modern tier includes Rolex's complicated watches: the Daytona , Sky-Dweller, Yacht-Master II, Deepsea Challenge and the new Padellone . A full service on these models will run you $940.
But Rolex doesn't stop there. The brand also includes pricing lists for models with five- and even four-digit references, which are similarly broken down into tiers. Servicing for the five-digit references, which Rolex calls "Classic," tops out with a Daytona service at $1,430.
A modern Day-Date is among the cheapest services offered by Rolex. - Credit: Rolex
For the four-digit references, classified as "Vintage," prices can get downright terrifying. The most expensive routine service is linked to moonphase watches and pre-Daytona Chronographs, all of which cost $8,810 for a full service. For that money, you could buy a brand-new Explorer or steel Datejust .
Wondering what's included in a full service? No worries. Rolex's new site breaks that down for you, too. The movement is fully dismantled and serviced, and five- and six-digit references include replacement screws, springs, wheels, lubricants, acrylic crystals, gaskets and tubes at no extra charge. You'll also get your watch waterproof-tested for free, and you can opt to have the case and bracelet polished/brushed for an extra $170.
For the four-digit models, your service includes lubricants, gaskets and tubes, plus other worn movement components, provided they're available. Waterproofing isn't performed, and optional polishing/brushing costs $330.
Servicing mainly covers the movement. If you need case and bracelet work done, that will cost extra. - Credit: Rolex
Oh, and there's one more thing to watch out for on vintage models. Rolex can refuse a service if the watch is in too bad of shape, and you'll have to cough up $280 to get the bad news. Rolex will also perform full restorations in Switzerland for vintage watches, but again, you run the risk of having the company deny the restoration request, which will incur a massive $2,200 "analysis fee."
For all services, regardless of age, repairs to the case and bracelet cost extra, as do any other parts that need replacing that aren't listed above.
With Rolex's new transparency, you now have a much better idea of just how much a service is going to cost you, which makes the process a little easier (or at least less stressful). Sure, surprises can still pop up that may drive up the cost, but this price list should cover most cases, making it an excellent new resource for Rolex owners.
About the Author:
Johnny Brayson is an editor at Gear Patrol mostly covering watches. He enjoys watches that are packed with blink-and-you'll-miss-'em details and believes nearly every watch could stand to be a tad smaller.
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