ROLEX Periodic Servicing a scare tactic?

[steel4me]

Anybody here never had their rolex serviced and it is still ticking like it should?

I think this servicing stuff is marketing ploy by rolex to make $$. I have had 20-30yr old seikos that are still working today or were working up till 5 yrs ago when I lost them somewhere in the house but sometimes I think this periodic servicing is just a big hype ....

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Well, never serviced watches might "tick as they should", but if you take them to service, you'd be surprised by the bill you get for the exchange of worn out parts.

[Atomant]

So much for OEM specs. I don't think it's a scare tactic. Most OEM spec's are spec'ed to the best interest of the product's lifespan.

[gaijin1]

Last month I sent my GMT Master to RSC in New York for its first service since purchased new in 1978. It has seen regular hard use for 30 years.

It ran +5 sec/day when I bought it and it ran +5 sec/day when I sent it to RSC for service. I'm anxious to see how it runs when I get it back.

Besides the dial, crystal and hands which I requested be replaced, and the "maintenance" parts such as seals which are replaced as part of the routine service, the only "mechanical" parts being replaced are the winding crown and case.

Based on this experience, I would say that service every 5 years is overkill.

If you regularly dive with your watch, then annual pressure testing is a good idea. Outside of that, I'd guess that service every 10 years should be adequate.

HTH

[Prince]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

...but if you take them to service, you'd be surprised by the bill you get for the exchange of worn out parts.

Would that be "pleasantly surprised", or...

[Tools]

I think that 5 years is probably a very concervative estimate by LRolex to enslure that no parts of the watch are ever without oil or greas, and to reduce the ossibility of wear to as near zero as possible.

I also believe that the watch is probably capable of 10 years without issue in the majority of cases..

But scare tactic.... I hardly think so.

[nikhsub1]

Originally Posted by steel4me

Anybody here never had their rolex serviced and it is still ticking like it should?

I think this servicing stuff is marketing ploy by rolex to make $$. I have had 20-30yr old seikos that are still working today or were working up till 5 yrs ago when I lost them somewhere in the house but sometimes I think this periodic servicing is just a big hype ....

Do you feel the same way about your car? There is periodic maintenance on it as well, most importantly fluid changes, which is most important in a watch as well. Sure watches will continue to run for a long while, but more wear will occur and the movement will become dry and/or the lubricating oil will be degraded. You have to understand that our Rolex's (all mechanical watches) are constantly moving (when running of course) and need proper lubrication.

I'm sure a car could go 25,000 miles without an oil change. Having it's fluids changed at the recommended intervals is not 'hype', it is a recommendation to keep it running in top shape. Same goes for our watches.

[Arturo]

Someone, maybe it was Bo, posted a thread some months ago that showed the innards of a neglected watch with the congealed oils. If you are going to spend 5K minimum on something mechanical and fine, might as well get them serviced. I have heard 5 to 7 years.......

[doc_colton]

My Sub ran fine for 7 years from new, then it started stopping occassionallt and the reserve went down to about 2 hours. So in my case it was no scare tactic and it ran fine for two years longer than the prescribed service interval, so I'm happy.

[llamaofdoom]

If you are in humid environments or submerge your watch frequently, then I'd at least get it pressure tested every few years.

Otherwise, I'd go more by the sound of the winding - dry sounding versus nice and smooth.

[GoldenBear]

It is just like skipping a regular Dr. or dentist visit or changing the fluids in your car. You don't "have" to, but it is foolish to neglect things to save a few $$$. Proper upkeep is crucial on everything, especially delicate mechanical watches. (And your body)

[CPTL]

Check out this thread from last month.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...+improved+oils

Read Stan's post on page 2, post #27. Says it all.

[abigsecret]

Originally Posted by CPTL

Check out this thread from last month.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...+improved+oils

Read Stan's post on page 2, post #27. Says it all.

That post is the reason I started the "Posts of Fame" topic in the general discussion board!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by CPTL

Check out this thread from last month.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...+improved+oils

Read Stan's post on page 2, post #27. Says it all.

Originally Posted by abigsecret

That post is the reason I started the "Posts of Fame" topic in the general discussion board!

"Do you feel lucky"?, as it says in the post.

Yep, it is an excellent post, indeed!

[CPTL]

Man, that post changed my life. I remember afterward, for weeks...everyone was like, "did you read the post?" "You know, THE POST?"

[crimscrem]

I agree with the points Stan made in the link provided by others.

As a personal note, however, I took my 1977 DJ in for servicing for the first time since 1990 or 1991. At last service was the first service my dad had done on it since 1977. The last time, it cost my dad about $500. This time around, it cost me $400. No damage to the watch, which surprised me. It was still running pretty good when I had it serviced.

I've had the watch back for a little more than a week, wearing it every other day and putting it in the face up position, and it's running about 1 second slow.

Even though I didn't experience any damage from not having it regularly serviced, I think it makes sense to have it serviced. Does it need to be every 5 years exactly? Probably not, but I'm certainly not going to let any of my Rolexes go much longer over the recommended time.

[Fatso]

Or you could do it yourself.

[cocopeep]

I used my 1992 AK for 17 years, no service and ran great until I traded it in for my Datejust. I must say I wore the AK occasionally, or it probably would of stopped.

[jmjm]

My DJ is 10 yrs w/o service. It runs great (although I had it sitting in my safe for about 4 yrs off and on).

My father in law's DD is about 20 yrs old w/o service. He still wears it today and it is accurate as ever. (He's kind of rich but cheap type......nice man)

[CPCC]

You can easily go 10 years without service. NO gaskets wear out in 5 years. They are suggesting a cautious approach.

[SeaDwellerBund]

Those that are afraid to scratch their watches and wear them accordingly as wrist art, you won't need to service at least 10 years. Those, on the other hand who wear their watches to do everything, work out, fight crime, fight wars, play sports, hunt, etc., you best service your watch at least every 5 years and check your seals every year if you depend on your watch in the saltwater.

[Alex Stylianou]

Well my Rolex lasted 48 years without service and has just had it's first !

[f16570]

Just get them serviced every 7 or so years and all wil be fine in the world.

[Texsubmariner]

I think the mods should sticky the thread with Stan's post. This topic comes up frequently enough to deserve a sticky, IMO.

[abigsecret]

Originally Posted by Texsubmariner

I think the mods should sticky the thread with Stan's post. This topic comes up frequently enough to deserve a sticky, IMO.

The "Posts of Fame" thread IS a sticky...

[GoldenBear]

Gosh, all of these people insistent on getting a massive discount, buying out of state or country to save money, not wearing them because they might scratch, obsession about resale value and how soon they will make a profit and all of the other neurotic behaviors that are exhibited here...now people want to save money by skipping routine maintenance and proper upkeep to save a few bucks. How about all of you people that insist on buying used watches so you don't get hit with the dreaded "depreciation". What if the prior owner listens to the people here and become too "frugal" to properly maintain their (now your) watch? How would you feel about that? Is that a scam or a scare tactic? Come on, respect the watch, keep up the service. It is a delicate, quality timepiece. It needs to be maintained properly. Just do it.