service for a 10 yr old sub?

[seabreeze]

I am looking around the forum for this question, so aplogies if its been asked alot. HARD to believe i have been on the forum and my sub is around 10 yrs old.....jesus where does the time go?

Seems like its about the time i should check in about a service? I plan to call my AD if they are still around but I would love to hear thoughts. I am in Boston, if anyone brings their watches locally, would love a name. Otherwise I have a PM going with Philip Ridley.....they did something funky to one of my explorers years back but I am happy to give dad or son another chance as everyone seems to still feel very good about them...bt do wish that explorer issue was at least acknowldged back then

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by seabreeze

I am looking around the forum for this question, so aplogies if its been asked alot. HARD to believe i have been on the forum and my sub is around 10 yrs old.....jesus where does the time go?

Seems like its about the time i should check in about a service? I plan to call my AD if they are still around but I would love to hear thoughts. I am in Boston, if anyone brings their watches locally, would love a name. Otherwise I have a PM going with Philip Ridley.....they did something funky to one of my explorers years back but I am happy to give dad or son another chance as everyone seems to still feel very good about them...bt do wish that explorer issue was at least acknowldged back then

Is it keeping good time still?? If so don’t service it yet. I went 15 years for my 1st service and could have gone even longer as my watchmaker said the movement looked great..

One of our forums great watchmakers is Rikki. Very well respected and recommended. He has done routine services of many of my watches from Rolex, Panerai, etc…
http://www.timecareinc.com/

[seabreeze]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Is it keeping good time still?? If so don’t service it yet. I went 15 years for my 1st service and could have gone even longer as my watchmaker said the movement looked great..

I dont have it yet....seller is shipping hopefulyy on tuesday......nerve wracking to do a private sale on chrono on xmas weekend BUT
i was actually planning to use this as a water watch as I baby my sub which i know is silly but not really considering how expensive they are now..
so i have always wanted a seamaster and plan to use it as a water watch
I am sure the seals are ok after a 2019 service but I thought i might ask

[seabreeze]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Is it keeping good time still?? If so don’t service it yet. I went 15 years for my 1st service and could have gone even longer as my watchmaker said the movement looked great..

One of our forums great watchmakers is Rikki. Very well respected and recommended. He has done routine services of many of my watches from Rolex, Panerai, etc…
http://www.timecareinc.com/

keeping fine time but i noticed the bezel is gummy -

[rmurphy]

Zimmerman Watch Repair in York PA. The best of the best. Check his work out on Facebook. I just had a Datejust done in August and it’s not deviated more than 2 seconds from atomic time since.




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[seabreeze]

Originally Posted by rmurphy

Zimmerman Watch Repair in York PA. The best of the best. Check his work out on Facebook. I just had a Datejust done in August and it’s not deviated more than 2 seconds from atomic time since.




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awesome thanks

[rmurphy]

Originally Posted by seabreeze

awesome thanks

He of course has a Rolex parts account and is absolutely by the book as far as adherence to what Rolex says is necessary.


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[geoach]

Originally Posted by rmurphy

He of course has a Rolex parts account and is absolutely by the book as far as adherence to what Rolex says is necessary.


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if he is not rsc or a AD with a Rolex trained watch maker he does not have a Rolex parts account period

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by geoach

if he is not rsc or a AD with a Rolex trained watch maker he does not have a Rolex parts account period

Drew and I went to the same watchmaking school. He absolutely has a parts account, and actually has a really good relationship with Rolex.

[hutch300]

Originally Posted by geoach

if he is not rsc or a AD with a Rolex trained watch maker he does not have a Rolex parts account period

Sorry but this just is not true. I can't speak for Drew but I know there are places that have accounts that are not Rolex or an AD. Nesbits for example in Seattle. Best to not provide a definitive reply when you are providing conflicting and incorrect information to an OP.

[emersm]

I send all of my modern watches to Rolex for servicing.

[Calatrava r]

I would just send it to RSC.

[Michael1968]

Originally Posted by calatrava r

i would just send it to rsc.

+1

[KatGirl]

I vote for sending it to RSC.

Kat


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[brandrea]

So this is a 10 year old watch that you’re buying …

Do you know if it has been serviced?
Who was the seller?

I’d be inclined to give it a full wind, wear it and see how it keeps time before doing anything.

If after that, you find something is off I’d send it to RSC if it needs a service.

Looking forward to the incoming.

[seabreeze]

Originally Posted by brandrea

So this is a 10 year old watch that you’re buying …

Do you know if it has been serviced?
Who was the seller?

I’d be inclined to give it a full wind, wear it and see how it keeps time before doing anything.

If after that, you find something is off I’d send it to RSC if it needs a service.

Looking forward to the incoming.

Sorry 2 separate thoughts.....my sub is coming up on 10 yrs....since I bought it new.

Separately I just purchased an omega, hopefully it will ship out tomorrow due to Christmas...its from 2009 and had an mega service in 2019

[Rolexken]

I’m in the if it ain’t broke camp.

[Car32]

As it’s not that old, send to RSC. This will also give you the piece of mind that all parts are authentic.

[hutch300]

If I was in your shoes I would get a watchmaker take look to authenticate it and pressure test it. They would also throw it on a timegrapher and ensure its health. That would drive my decision on service.

Originally Posted by seabreeze

I am looking around the forum for this question, so aplogies if its been asked alot. HARD to believe i have been on the forum and my sub is around 10 yrs old.....jesus where does the time go?

Seems like its about the time i should check in about a service? I plan to call my AD if they are still around but I would love to hear thoughts. I am in Boston, if anyone brings their watches locally, would love a name. Otherwise I have a PM going with Philip Ridley.....they did something funky to one of my explorers years back but I am happy to give dad or son another chance as everyone seems to still feel very good about them...bt do wish that explorer issue was at least acknowldged back then

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by hutch300

If I was in your shoes I would get a watchmaker take look to authenticate it and pressure test it. They would also throw it on a timegrapher and ensure its health. That would drive my decision on service.

That is not a bad idea since you are not the original owner. You have no idea what kind of life that watch lived in. I owned mine from new so I knew its history and monitored it over the years. I might not have waited 15 years before first servicing If I purchased it so long from new.

First thing I would do is fight the temptation to wear it. Let’s do a test first….
Wind it 50 times, set the time to an atomic clock and then sit the watch down and monitor its time keeping every 12 hours and see how long it takes until it stops. That would give you an idea of its mainspring health and regulation. Then report back the results.

[Chuckwagon]

Re some of the replies… Am I misreading this?? I think the OP is saying he bought his sub from new 10 years ago and is wondering if he ought to get it serviced for the first time, not that he is buying a previously owned 10 year old sub.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Chuckwagon

Re some of the replies… Am I misreading this?? I think the OP is saying he bought his sub from new 10 years ago and is wondering if he ought to get it serviced for the first time, not that he is buying a previously owned 10 year old sub.

I read it as he bought it new 10 years ago as well

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by seabreeze

I am looking around the forum for this question, so aplogies if its been asked alot. HARD to believe i have been on the forum and my sub is around 10 yrs old.....jesus where does the time go?

Seems like its about the time i should check in about a service? I plan to call my AD if they are still around but I would love to hear thoughts. I am in Boston, if anyone brings their watches locally, would love a name. Otherwise I have a PM going with Philip Ridley.....they did something funky to one of my explorers years back but I am happy to give dad or son another chance as everyone seems to still feel very good about them...bt do wish that explorer issue was at least acknowldged back then

If everything I going fine with the watch and it's running exactly the same as it was when new then I wouldn't be too concerned for the short term, especially if the watch is being worn infrequently.
But if there's a reputable independent that you could take it to and get them to have a look inside to see if it requires a service that may be an option to possibly push the inevitable service out a little further, but I imagine the result of an inspection will be that they recommend a service at this point regardless.

The lubes(even the modern ones) don't have an effective life much beyond 7-8 years. When they get dirty and turn into the watch equivalent of valve grinding paste over time, it's a good idea to simply have the watch serviced.

It really depends upon how often you wear the watch and how much respect you have for it.
Frankly, I would just send it off to a RSC and be done with it.
It really is time

For perspective.
Back when it was built, the general rule of thumb was for a Rolex to be serviced at around 5-7 years.Those numbers are still sound

From a personal perspective and as I've said on the forum before. I typically don't get much more than 5 - 5.5 years out of any daily wearer Automatic regardless of brand before it either stops outright or periodically, or gives some other indication that there's a change with regard to the winding feel or timekeeping. That's a conclusive indication that a service is required that has always proven correct.
There's also the water proof aspect of things to consider

Please let us know how you chose to go forward?
Will you give an independent a go, or will it be Rolex should you proceed with a service.

[seabreeze]

yes i bought it new about 10 yrs ago...wondering about servicing it. Ill call my dealer today ....its my first RSC experience......the couple of places in my region listed on the rolex site just dealers....im assuming they forward the watches? I have a hard time believing there is some competent watchmaker hanging out in the Burlington mall

Separately I believe I have an incoming Sea master...the omega service seems much less cryptic if I opt to send that one in for piece of mind

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by seabreeze

yes i bought it new about 10 yrs ago...wondering about servicing it. Ill call my dealer today ....its my first RSC experience......the couple of places in my region listed on the rolex site just dealers....im assuming they forward the watches? I have a hard time believing there is some competent watchmaker hanging out in the Burlington mall

Separately I believe I have an incoming Sea master...the omega service seems much less cryptic if I opt to send that one in for piece of mind

I'm not so sure about the cryptic nature of a Rolex experience. Besides, you probably need to do it once in your life so you have a benchmark to go by and once you pop your cherry it will be good for you

The only thing you need to know outright and straight up is whether the dealers service the watch "in-house", or whether they send the watch to a Rolex Service Centre.
The RSC probably should be your first preference, so the next question is which one they send it to.

I remember my first Rolex Service Centre experience.
It's very straight forward once one understands "the Rowlex way".
You send it in through a dealer or you deal directly.
They inspect the watch and provide a quote.
The quote will have compulsory items that will need to be done and it may have optional items on it that you may decline including polishing.
Either you approve the work or decline.
If you approve the work you will be called by the dealer(if you go through them) when it's completed and ready to be picked up.
If you decline the Rolex service quote, the watch is returned to you and the small fee you pay up front is the cost of doing business and going through the process with insured courier service which they provide.

Usually, it's pretty hard to beat "the Rowlex way" and going through the dealer is the only way I have ever done it.
It's a very well worn path for Rolex and if you trust your dealer it makes the whole thing so much easier

As far as Omega service is concerned.
My experience and that of others has shown that it can be a little more hit and miss in some ways. I'm not saying it's worse, but like everything there can be variation whenever the human element is involved.
My Rolex experience has had some variation but overall it's been outstanding

Do you think you might like to have the watch polished?
What kind of condition is it in?

[seabreeze]

Thanks - Good advice.
I will dig into it all tomorrow. Probably will pass on getting it polished but its tempting, but I know it will hurt the value. I may try to do a little with the cape cod polishing cloth, the scour pad and some tape very lightly or leave it be

Originally Posted by Dirt

I'm not so sure about the cryptic nature of a Rolex experience. Besides, you probably need to do it once in your life so you have a benchmark to go by and once you pop your cherry it will be good for you

The only thing you need to know outright and straight up is whether the dealers service the watch "in-house", or whether they send the watch to a Rolex Service Centre.
The RSC probably should be your first preference, so the next question is which one they send it to.

I remember my first Rolex Service Centre experience.
It's very straight forward once one understands "the Rowlex way".
You send it in through a dealer or you deal directly.
They inspect the watch and provide a quote.
The quote will have compulsory items that will need to be done and it may have optional items on it that you may decline including polishing.
Either you approve the work or decline.
If you approve the work you will be called by the dealer(if you go through them) when it's completed and ready to be picked up.
If you decline the Rolex service quote, the watch is returned to you and the small fee you pay up front is the cost of doing business and going through the process with insured courier service which they provide.

Usually, it's pretty hard to beat "the Rowlex way" and going through the dealer is the only way I have ever done it.
It's a very well worn path for Rolex and if you trust your dealer it makes the whole thing so much easier

As far as Omega service is concerned.
My experience and that of others has shown that it can be a little more hit and miss in some ways. I'm not saying it's worse, but like everything there can be variation whenever the human element is involved.
My Rolex experience has had some variation but overall it's been outstanding

Do you think you might like to have the watch polished?
What kind of condition is it in?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by seabreeze

Thanks - Good advice.
I will dig into it all tomorrow. Probably will pass on getting it polished but its tempting, but I know it will hurt the value. I may try to do a little with the cape cod polishing cloth, the scour pad and some tape very lightly or leave it be

Don't be concerned about value retention due to polishing
The most value is lost through people doing a hack job.
Virtually nobody polishes a Rolex as well as they do. They do hundreds every year and they're set up for it.
If the watch is in reasonable condition it come back to you looking quite beautiful

[1st amg]

Originally Posted by seabreeze

Thanks - Good advice.
I will dig into it all tomorrow. Probably will pass on getting it polished but its tempting, but I know it will hurt the value. I may try to do a little with the cape cod polishing cloth, the scour pad and some tape very lightly or leave it be

Oh man, please don’t use the cape cod. I have tried and I suck at it. I also feel like I may have made it worse. So I sent that particular watch for polishing at RSC. They made it right


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[seabreeze]

Originally Posted by 1st amg

Oh man, please don’t use the cape cod. I have tried and I suck at it. I also feel like I may have made it worse. So I sent that particular watch for polishing at RSC. They made it right


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hmmmm interesting.
Going to call the AD today figure out a service

[yankeeromeo]

If it works don't fix it is my motto.