DIYbanter - View Single Post - Determining YEAR for Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Chronometer

wrote:
Duane Bozarth wrote:
To OP, just take it to a Rolex dealer and all will be known...if you
paid what you say you did, a few hundred can only be a reasonable
investment to attempt to get at least some of the value restored before
it's pass repair or it's thousands.

Hi Duane,

Thanks for the advice.

If this were a purely financial decision (like which stock to buy or
sell), then it would be easy. Take it to an authorized Rolex dealer.
Pay another $800 which would instantly result in an $1800 dollar watch
on the private market. Whoopie doo. Financial decisions are easy (I buy
& fix cars that way). And my front lawn, I tell the gardener to fix the
patches of crabgrass.

My lawn is a message to my neighbors of who I am (so I pay someone to
take care of it) but I actually don't care much about my lawn. But my
watch isn't a message to anyone. A watch (to me) is supposed to be
rugged and functional and reliable and sturdy and strong. A lawn is
just a pretty showthing to the neighbors.

Point is, you won't see me posting on alt.crabgrass asking all kinds of
simple questions about the green boring stuff on my front lawn that
looks ugly. I pay someone else to have fun with my lawn. Money makes
the grass green.

But, a watch is a very different and personal thing. It's not just
money. The money is nearly meaningless anyway when you pay anything
more than a few hundred dollars for a watch wouldn't you think?

Anyone who says buying a two thousand dollar solid unplated watch is a
purely financial decision doesn't think the way I do, I guess. Despite
the fact the horologic microeconomoc finances have been debated, the
money isn't the main issue at all (otherwise I'd have bought a ten
dollar Casio once a year and be done with it).

Also, sending it out for repair isn't the issue either. Did you ever
take something apart because you were just fascinated about how
beautiful it was? Did you ever wonder what makes it tick; what it was
made of; how to modify its ticking; how to ...

If all I wanted was a working watch, I wouldn't be posting to
alt.horology in the first place. And, since I respect the knowledge of
folks like Richard, Jack, John, Frank, etc., I actually go to the
effort to answer their concerns just as they spend the time and
courtesy to answer mine.

If I didn't love this Rolex, I wouldn't be trying to take it apart!
I'd pay someone else to learn all about it!

Rusty

I fully understand your highly emotional relationship with your Rolex
watch, which is utterly unvaluable: love is priceless.

I assume that besides your Rolex, you have a loved one. Now, should she
feel ill, would you want to play the doctor med with her, would you
feel the urge of operating her all by yourself, risking her health and
possibly her life?

Similarly, please show your love to your Rolex and go to the next Rolex
dealer, who shall be able to show you the innards of your watch,
explain the function of each single part, perhaps show you an animation
of the movement, repair and restore your watch to full value, as your
loved one's medic would.

Please trust the advice of all the people on this NG who love their
watches as much as you do your Rolex, and respect the built-in know-how
inheritance, skills and workmanship of over decades well trained
dedicated watchmakers.