What if you buy a brand new Rolex and leave it there for 10 years

[Kanger]

I read about a double red sea dweller that was gifted to a man on his wedding day, who wore it that day, and in that he was not interested in his watches, put the DRSD in his safe for the next 25 years. Needless to say it never got a service in that interval and just sat in the safe. Curious enough, as Rolex technology has progressed and the usage of new "synthetic" oil, what will happen if a brand new Rolex bought today, say a Sub C or a GMT C just sat there for 20 years unworn, would it need service or would it still work like a charm in 20 years?

I ask because I have some BNIB pieces that I collect with full plastics, and am not sure what I am going to do with them in terms of servicing lol.

[dysondiver]

hi , there has been a few synthetic oil threads of late , regarding new old stock , do a quick search. not an answer i know , but its a start.

[dcash0615]

My guess is they would be fine. Only time will tell. I would not service them if they are just sitting and in BNIB condition. I assume you the plastics to remain on while not in use. If you send in or service the RSC may take some of the plastics off in the service. I say leave them be and when you take them out of hybernation and they don't work properly then do the service.

Curious though.... what models are you speculating with?

[Kanger]

Originally Posted by dcash0615

My guess is they would be fine. Only time will tell. I would not service them if they are just sitting and in BNIB condition. I assume you the plastics to remain on while not in use. If you send in or service the RSC may take some of the plastics off in the service. I say leave them be and when you take them out of hybernation and they don't work properly then do the service.

Curious though.... what models are you speculating with?

I had a Turn O graph that needed to be serviced, and it had some plastics left on the case, and Dallas made a point to remove them, and even listed "removing plastics" as an item on work performed. I just leave the pieces in a bank box and wind them once every 6 months to give the gears some work.

4 16610LV (2 with blank warranty cards)
4 16610 (2 random serial, and 2 with blank warranty cards)
1 16600 (V serial, blank warranty card) need some more of this, but it's not so easy.

Not really speculating, but I want my pieces of history as Rolex moves toward bigger watches and super lugs. I want my relics so that in a decade or two, I can have mine untouched and available to me. The plastics are tight so here's to hoping age won't change that; the ones with slightly peeling plastics worry me and I sell them for people who have no intention to collect but rather wear right now.

[dcash0615]

Very nice! You are more disciplined than me. When I buy a watch I have to take it for a test drive. My first piece I ever bought was a 16610LV back in 06. F serial, mark II dial, pointed 4. It was just recently retired to the safe deposit box along with a Z serial SS Daytona.

By and chance any of thoe four 16610LV's a Y serial or early F?

needed to be serviced, and it had some plastics left on the case, and Dallas made a point to remove them, and even listed "removing plastics" as an item on work performed. I just leave the pieces in a bank box and wind them once every 6 months to give the gears some work.

4 16610LV (2 with blank warranty cards)
4 16610 (2 random serial, and 2 with blank warranty cards)
1 16600 (V serial, blank warranty card) need some more of this, but it's not so easy.

Not really speculating, but I want my pieces of history as Rolex moves toward bigger watches and super lugs. I want my relics so that in a decade or two, I can have mine untouched and available to me. The plastics are tight so here's to hoping age won't change that; the ones with slightly peeling plastics worry me and I sell them for people who have no intention to collect but rather wear right now.[/QUOTE]

[Kanger]

Originally Posted by dcash0615

Very nice! You are more disciplined than me. When I buy a watch I have to take it for a test drive. My first piece I ever bought was a 16610LV back in 06. F serial, mark II dial, pointed 4. It was just recently retired to the safe deposit box along with a Z serial SS Daytona.

By and chance any of thoe four 16610LV's a Y serial or early F?

needed to be serviced, and it had some plastics left on the case, and Dallas made a point to remove them, and even listed "removing plastics" as an item on work performed. I just leave the pieces in a bank box and wind them once every 6 months to give the gears some work.

4 16610LV (2 with blank warranty cards)
4 16610 (2 random serial, and 2 with blank warranty cards)
1 16600 (V serial, blank warranty card) need some more of this, but it's not so easy.

Not really speculating, but I want my pieces of history as Rolex moves toward bigger watches and super lugs. I want my relics so that in a decade or two, I can have mine untouched and available to me. The plastics are tight so here's to hoping age won't change that; the ones with slightly peeling plastics worry me and I sell them for people who have no intention to collect but rather wear right now.

Never test drive because I have owned those models so many times before, and no Y and F, I like engraved rehault and credit card warranty cards on my LVs. The ultimate grail LV is a random serial with short feet dial and AR cyclops, no more than 500 on this planet, but that's pricey like 11k pricey on this forum's for sale thread from Hong Kong.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by kanger

Never test drive because I have owned those models so many times before, and no Y and F, I like engraved rehault and credit card warranty cards on my LVs. The ultimate grail LV is a random serial with short feet dial and AR cyclops, no more than 500 on this planet, but that's pricey like 11k pricey on this forum's for sale thread from Hong Kong.

IMHO anyone willing to pay that sort of money for in reality very very very minor detail differences over the thousands of LVs in this world must be sixpence short of a shilling .But today with the Internet hype and todays loupe mania with Rolex watches to spot these minor differences its a crazy world. But again IMHO not something for the serious Rolex collector to get excited about.

[subC]

My father has 2 Rolexes both were purchased in the early 80s and never been serviced. He wears them occasionally and they're still working fine today.

[ddnyc77]

I bought a 5 year old lv with plastics still on. It ran horribly and needed rsc service. Also rsc upon my request left the stickers on and therefore performed no case cleaning

[nch209]

Originally Posted by ddnyc77

I bought a 5 year old lv with plastics still on. It ran horribly and needed rsc service. Also rsc upon my request left the stickers on and therefore performed no case cleaning

No Kidding? Can you elaborate as to why it ran horrible and what it needed to get back on par? Just curious if you feel if it ran bad due to sitting for the 5 years, or if it was just a watch with issues...

[moviefreak]

RSC can open the case back without removing the caseback sticker...they just open it with the regular tool...

[nch209]

@ Daniel

I am not a watchmaker, and in my opinion, I think you will be OK. Frankly, I like your style and think its neat collecting the same piece... shows your passion! If you give them an occasion wind and store them safely, I think your watches can be frozen in time for a long time! I would love to see pics sometime!