Watch oils drying from sitting around

[RolexPete32]

Was not sure what to call this thread. I came up with a thought today and need some clarification from experts here.

Two stories.

1. A watch sits at an AD for 0 to 4 years. Now I know some may say up to 4 years really but yes. I have seen some very old serial numbers in the past at my AD.

2. A watch sits in a drawer at home for the same amount of time mostly untouched.

What came to mind is that I am hearing people on this fourm say a new watch from an AD is still a new watch regardless of the serial number. Then people say if your watch does not get wrist time at home give it a wind every few weeks or month to keep the oils moving. Well we know the AD's are not playing with the watches to keep the oils moving. So considering that and for that reason is buying an older watch from an AD really the same? Your oil could be dried out and you could be putting premature wear and tear on your watch with buying an older serial from the AD? thoughts?

[RolexPete32]

To add to the above. I do know you get the two year warenty however my thought is the sign of wear would not become evident until you took it for a service about 5 years or whenever you get it serviced.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by RolexPete32

To add to the above. I do know you get the two year warenty however my thought is the sign of wear would not become evident until you took it for a service about 5 years or whenever you get it serviced.

Well first the old serials yes some slow moveing watches could be at ADs longer than others.But the serials cannot date exactly when a watch was made all they can tell you that a case was stamped between X&Y years.Now for the past 15 years the oils used are now mostly synthetic and don't dry out.
Around 2000 I bought several Rolex Tudors from a guy in Germany,now these Tudors were from a huge private collection all were from the mid 1960s early 1970s.All were BNIB never been worn boxes tags papers etc,and as far as I know not even wound since bought new, but I wound them and tried them all before buying they all worked fine.Now I sold most but kept a few and one lady Tudor for the wife,now this watch was from late 1969 early 1970s and it had been sat in its box for over 30 years.But I gave it a full wind and it started straight away and ran well and kept excellent time,and some of you guys worry about modern day Rolex sat at ADs for a few years..But after a month of the wife wearing I gave it to my watchmaker friend to give it a service and check it over.He remarked there was still oil on the vital parts and movement was still as new but he did give just a oil and seal service that was around 10 years ago.Now wife wears the watch almost daily and it still keeps remarkable time for a old timer but is now due for a full service

[RolexPete32]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well first the old serials yes some slow moveing watches could be at ADs longer than others.But the serials cannot date exactly when a watch was made all they can tell you that a case was stamped between X&Y years.Now for the past 15 years the oils used are now mostly synthetic and don't dry out.
Around 2000 I bought several Rolex Tudors from a guy in Germany,now these Tudors were from a huge private collection all were from the mid 1960s early 1970s.All were BNIB never been worn boxes tags papers etc,and as far as I know not even wound since bought new, but I wound them and tried them all before buying they all worked fine.Now I sold most but kept a few and one lady Tudor for the wife,now this watch was from late 1969 early 1970s and it had been sat in its box for over 30 years.But I gave it a full wind and it started straight away and ran well and kept excellent time,and some of you guys worry about modern day Rolex sat at ADs for a few years..But after a month of the wife wearing I gave it to my watchmaker friend to give it a service and check it over.He remarked there was still oil on the vital parts and movement was still as new but he did give just a oil and seal service that was around 10 years ago.Now wife wears the watch almost daily and it still keeps remarkable time for a old timer but is now due for a full service

Thank you for your story. Very interesting to say the least. I enjoyed reading it.

[Mr. K]

Originally Posted by RolexPete32

Thank you for your story. Very interesting to say the least. I enjoyed reading it.

X2
Thank you Padi.

[tomchicago]

Use a winder and it's not an issue!

Originally Posted by RolexPete32

Was not sure what to call this thread. I came up with a thought today and need some clarification from experts here.

Two stories.

1. A watch sits at an AD for 0 to 4 years. Now I know some may say up to 4 years really but yes. I have seen some very old serial numbers in the past at my AD.

2. A watch sits in a drawer at home for the same amount of time mostly untouched.

What came to mind is that I am hearing people on this fourm say a new watch from an AD is still a new watch regardless of the serial number. Then people say if your watch does not get wrist time at home give it a wind every few weeks or month to keep the oils moving. Well we know the AD's are not playing with the watches to keep the oils moving. So considering that and for that reason is buying an older watch from an AD really the same? Your oil could be dried out and you could be putting premature wear and tear on your watch with buying an older serial from the AD? thoughts?

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by tomchicago

Use a winder and it's not an issue!

not sure about this statement. If you let it run constantly, there will be increase in wear of the parts and others.

[RolexPete32]

Originally Posted by Z-Sub

not sure about this statement. If you let it run constantly, there will be increase in wear of the parts and others.

I agree. Winders are a whole other story.