Rolex 26mm Datejust Service

This watch arrived in poor condition. The owner had worn it for several years without service, all over the world including several festivals. The watch stopped and she continued to wear it, even after the second hand fell off. Finally the bracelet broke and the watch was unwearable.

We remove the bracelet, the case back and are greeted with an unexpected site. The continued wear without service has split the movement in two. I expected something was loose inside from handling the watch, but I didn’t expect the train wheel bridge to have disconnected. I have only seen this happen once before, the other watch was a Panerai. Likewise the service window was neglected.

Amazingly, non of the wheels or pinions are damaged. Even under the microscope they are in perfect order. I expected several broken pivots. The main problem is badly worn rhodium plating. Below you can see the damaged bridges next to their replacements.

Under the dial the watch is in good order, This part of the movement has been protected from the damage on the other side of the case.

The automatic assembly is in desperate need of attention. It is reconditioned with a new bearing, new jewels and brand new 2135 reversing wheels.

The movement is in good order once again. anyone examining it would have no idea of the previous damage.

We can now run a post service test on the watch, The results are excellent.

With the watch working well we switch attention to the bracelet. The clasp has been pulled loose and can be refitted and pushed back into place. We heat the steel gently first to avoid snapping the metal.

The bracelet and case are refinished and refitted to the watch along with a new glass and seals. The watch is now waterproof, secure on the wrist, working perfectly and looking great. A large contrast to the condition it arrived in

The bracelet also looks great again.

If you have a Rolex which requires some attention please get in touch. Our Rolex servicing costs £395. This includes full movement service, case and bracelet refinishing, regulation, testing and a 2 year warranty. Any parts are charged at cost price only. The process usually takes approximately 2-3 weeks.

We are happy to examine your watch in the shop while you are present using our testing equipment and diagnose any problems free of charge while you wait.