Family Heirlooms
A few months ago I was contemplating buying a new watch because after 25 years, my Rolex would sometimes stop running at night and I would have to reset it in the morning. What more can I ask of a watch?I thought. It served me well for 25 years and I certainly got my money's worth out of it.
But someone mentioned that I was wearing a family heirloom and that I should be thinking of having my watch serviced and repaired rather than replacing it. That got me thinking in a different way, and a new client who owns a jewelry store that is an authorized Rolex repair shop made it easy for me to have my watch serviced. He took it to his store with him when he left my office about two weeks ago and I picked it up from his store yesterday afternoon.
My watch looks brand new. I showed it to Ping and Cici and they couldn't believe it. To their eyes, it is a new watch. The store owner had given my watch top priority on their service list so the man who did the service work came out to visit with me when he heard I was there picking up my watch. It doesn't just look like a new watch from the outside, he told me. It is like a new watch on the inside as well. The only reason I had to replace a couple of things is because even the very expensive oil that is used inside a Rolex watch will break down over time and when the oil breaks down, some of the parts will wear out and have to be replaced.
So you are saying I shouldn't wait another 25 years before I have it serviced again? I joked with the man. Just bring it in for service every 5 years or so, he said, and then we won't have to replace any parts. Basically we will clean it and put new oil inside and your watch will keep on ticking.
I have done some on line research and found that there is quite a market for vintage Rolex watches. I saw one just like mine that dates from 1961 and it looks brand new and is advertised as running like new. It is a nice feeling to see that something that I have used for 25 years has a higher market value now than the price I paid for it. I should take better care of my watch these next 25 years, I told the girls. You take care of your watch and we will take care of you, they joked.
Deal.
But someone mentioned that I was wearing a family heirloom and that I should be thinking of having my watch serviced and repaired rather than replacing it. That got me thinking in a different way, and a new client who owns a jewelry store that is an authorized Rolex repair shop made it easy for me to have my watch serviced. He took it to his store with him when he left my office about two weeks ago and I picked it up from his store yesterday afternoon.
My watch looks brand new. I showed it to Ping and Cici and they couldn't believe it. To their eyes, it is a new watch. The store owner had given my watch top priority on their service list so the man who did the service work came out to visit with me when he heard I was there picking up my watch. It doesn't just look like a new watch from the outside, he told me. It is like a new watch on the inside as well. The only reason I had to replace a couple of things is because even the very expensive oil that is used inside a Rolex watch will break down over time and when the oil breaks down, some of the parts will wear out and have to be replaced.
So you are saying I shouldn't wait another 25 years before I have it serviced again? I joked with the man. Just bring it in for service every 5 years or so, he said, and then we won't have to replace any parts. Basically we will clean it and put new oil inside and your watch will keep on ticking.
I have done some on line research and found that there is quite a market for vintage Rolex watches. I saw one just like mine that dates from 1961 and it looks brand new and is advertised as running like new. It is a nice feeling to see that something that I have used for 25 years has a higher market value now than the price I paid for it. I should take better care of my watch these next 25 years, I told the girls. You take care of your watch and we will take care of you, they joked.
Deal.
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