The Watch Buyers Group Blog

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Rolex Repair Cost: How much does it cost to fix a Rolex?

Posted on March 5, 2023 by The Watch Buyers Group

Rolex Repair Cost

Fixing a Rolex watch can be expensive. There are less expensive service options available but is truly cheap Rolex repair possible? Or even a good idea? Answering these questions requires an understanding of the complex nature of watchmaking…   The world is moving ever toward “planned obsolescence” and disposable technology, a “throw-away” culture favoring replacement over repair. Automatic timepieces stand in stark…

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Rolex Bracelet Tightening: To Tighten or Not to Tighten

Posted on January 12, 2023 by The Watch Buyers Group

Rolex bracelet tightening.

These two bracelets are identical… Actually, from these clasp codes, you can see that bracelet in the upper portion of the photo, which was manufactured in 1990, is actually 4 years older than the bracelet in the lower portion of the photo… So what happened here? Why does one of these bracelets look 2 years…

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Why a Sapphire Crystal Will NOT Work on an Older Rolex Watch

Posted on January 5, 2023 by The Watch Buyers Group

Many of our customers with older Rolex watches ask if we can replace their acrylic crystals with synthetic sapphire crystals, like the ones that Rolex uses on their new watches. Although every watch in Rolex’s current catalog is now fitted with a sapphire crystal, Rolex does not manufacture sapphire crystals for use on older watches.…

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Not All Rolex Repair Stories Have Happy Endings

Posted by The Watch Buyers Group

Simply put, some Rolex watches are too damaged to repair in a practical and cost-effective manner. Depending on what has happened to a watch and the extent of the resulting damage, some Rolex watches may require extensive repairs and a large number of replacement parts. In some instances, the cost of repairs may exceed the…

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Why your Rose Gold Watch May Now Look Yellow

Posted by The Watch Buyers Group

As an element, gold is naturally a soft and malleable, yellow-colored metal. Pure gold (24 karat) is too soft for most watch and jewelry applications, so other metals and/or elements are added to the gold to increase its hardness and durability.  18 karat gold is a concentration of 75% gold, and 25% other metals/elements. The…

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Why Your Rolex Watch Does Not Glow in the Dark Anymore

Posted by The Watch Buyers Group

One of the questions that we frequently get asked by our customers is, “why doesn’t my Rolex glow anymore, and is there anything that can be done to make it glow again?” In most instances, an older watch no longer glows due to limitations of the manufacturing materials that Rolex was using at the time…

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Repairing Rolex’s Proprietary 18-Karat Gold

Posted by The Watch Buyers Group

Recently, we overhauled a vintage Rolex Day-Date President for a customer who had accidentally reached a bit too close to an active grinding wheel while working in his tool shed. As you can see in the photograph that was taken before service, the top, left lug of the watch received a substantial gouge in the…

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Moisture Damage and Rolex Watches

Posted by The Watch Buyers Group

One of the few things that can render a Rolex movement beyond repair is moisture. Unlike electronic devices, moisture damage in mechanical watches is not caused by the instantaneous presence of a conducting liquid. Rather, the damage results from the rust and corrosion that takes place after the movement has been exposed to a liquid. …

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Now Offering In-House Insurance Appraisals

Posted by The Watch Buyers Group

We are happy to announce that we are now performing in-house insurance appraisals!  Many Rolex and other high-end watches become separated from their original paperwork over the decades. Protect your timepiece and increase its value by getting an appraisal and certificate of authenticity performed by one of our in-house NAJA-certified appraisers! Click HERE to order your…

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