Does my dweller need a service?

[Ricardo]

I have a N series sea dweller around 15 years young,Do i really need to have it seviced? It has never been touched and run's just fine +6 seconds a day case is unmarked as is bracelet.
I'm just trying to justify spending around £280 for a service,Or is it a case of if it ain't broke don't fix it.Also would i lose the original tritum dial and hands at the service,They no longer glow.Thanks in advance

[frostie]

It definetely needs a service. It is advisable to service the watch every 5-6 years. You can damage the watch if you don't service it. You should go to an RSC for a service.

[nimm12]

your 15yr old SD look like new! amazing...

[Gil F.]

Definitely due for a service. I think the justification would be the same as paying for a tune up or oil change on your car although it might work just fine for awhile without one. It's going to extend the life of your watch and prevent possible extensive damage in the future.

By the way, beautiful wrist shot.

I'm not sure about the tritium ... Mr. Bo might know!

[Robb]

It looks great!!! Yes, I think its time for a service

[Thani]

service is for the movement ! not the case and bracelet.. im sure u dont wanna damage the movement of ur nice SD..


however i dont know the deal in america and european countries with ur service, but in my country if they do need to replace the hands and all i ask them to bring it back to me and they do !

good luck

[mike]

Very nice example. At 15 years the watch certainly is due for service. I know many say "if it ain't broke don't fix it" but to be honest it's probably dry and wear is taking it's toll on the movement (not to mention seals that may be dry and allowing humidity inside on the movement and dial).

The cost one day to repair the internals will be a lot more than a service.
I would leave the dial and hands as is. Tritium hasn't been used for a while and as such adds a bit to the watch. If luminosity is a factor a new watch might be the best.

[jac67]

I would have it sympathetically serviced. That is, full mechanical service but DO NOT change the dial, hands, bezel (including insert and dot) and bracelet.


John.

[steel4me]

If you wore it every day then definitely service it but buying a watch 15yrs ago vs using it for 15yrs, are two very different things.

I have an SS DATE SUB that I bought 10yrs ago, brand new. As far as wrist time it has seen, I would say 9months ... the rest is Closet Time. So I am not gonna service my watch for at least another 10yrs or maybe even never due to my frequency of use.

So you know your frequency of use and are the best judge. The same old principle applies: if it ain't broke, don't fix it. My sub has rarely seen any water ( i think it is gonna die of dehydration)
and usually a watch does not see scratches or damages sitting in its box inside a closet for a few yrs

[Prince]

Agreed - time for service.

Absolutely pristine-looking SD. Congrats!!

[StanGMT]

Richard - your watch looks just superb - congratulations on such a fine acquisition.

I would definitely get it serviced because all oils do age and dry out and this is purely time-related - it happens even if the machine being lubricated (your SD in this case) isn't used. This means that, as Mike points out, your watch movement may well be experiencing a high wear-rate right now through poor lubrication. It will work just fine, as you have noted, but it will be 'suffering'. We know that lots of people adopt a 'don't fix it if it ain't broke' approach, but if you want to maximise the life of your SD it's better to get it serviced. The recommendation seems to be every 5-7 years.

Either send it back to Rolex or a good Rolex-approved 'independent'. Rolex charge about £280 and will want your watch for about six weeks, but the independent I use in Newcastle upon Tyne charges around £200 and he only keeps the watch for two weeks. There is sure to be a suitable independent somewhere near you. You can specify that you DO NOT want them to change the dial or hands, etc - I have done that before now.

I hope you get many years enjoyment out of you SD.

Stan.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

In the long run, it will be MORE expensive NOT getting it serviced.

[rpryan55]

Stan, Mike, Bo and the rest who are arguing for service are wrong in only one respect. They didn't use caps. GET THAT WATCH SERVICED! 15 years is WAY TOO LONG for the thing to sit unused. You will ruin that watch, and the cost to repair it will be astronomical, if you don't send it off soon.

[Tools]

Good advice has been given..

You do not have to send it in to an RSC for a Clean, Oil, and Adjust service..

There are probably still some good competent watchmakers in your area that are fully capable of giving your fine watch loving care and would be grateful for the opportunity..

But, please do it...you are at a point where metal-to-metal wear is occuring, guaranteed....Those fine metal grindings are working their way through the entire movement coating everything with a very fine film of grit. That grit is working just like lapping compound and eroding all the close tolerances away... Your watch is slowly dieing..............

[JJ Irani]

Excellent condition, I must say. But you should service it....just as you would your car.

I mean, you wouldn't just keep on driving your car for thousands of miles until you drive it into the ground, would you?

Similarly, a watch has several moving parts and around 220 components enclosed within that case. A service is definitely overdue, the oil inside must be virtually bone dry, you've got gear wheels and what have you grinding away against each other.

Think about that - servicing is required!!

[GoldenBear]

For all of you people that hide your watches in the safe or are "reluctant" (saying afraid seemed to get people's knicker's in a twist) to wear them are even more in need of a regular service as the watches stop running after a couple of days and the lube gums up and you need to keep all of the parts properly lubricated. My AD said 5-7 years, if you wear it or not. Constant wear (and service) keeps them well lubricated and running better. A properly serviced watch will last much longer.

[CPCC]

I never wait more than 6 years between services. Dont want to take any chances.

[Baptistman]

As everyone else stated, the oil will gum up if used of and on and because of its viscosity will dry up. It's really a good investment to service such a lovely watch. By the way yet another example of why I like Rolex you have a 15 year old piece, mines only just two months old and you could hardly tell. Rolex SA if your reading this do not be tempted to veer away from your style policy to much. Its one of the reasons I love the brand.

[marshallr47]

Definitely agree. You should have the watch serviced, as a preventative measure.

[DSJ]

My best friend's dad has owned his SS Sub for 22 years, but it suddenly had some condensation on the inside. Seals failed, movement was damaged from lack of lube, and it cost him over $1K for the rebuild. I'm just saying...

[Ricardo]

You guys sure made me feel guilty,So today i dropped my sea dweller off at the bexley service centre for a service and a new half bracelet section.8 week turnaround
Damn i'm missing it already

[f16570]

Get it serviced, I thought us Jocks were tight, but at circa £300 for a service over 15 years thats only £20 a year. Small price to pay for unquestionable service.

f

[GoldenBear]

For 300 (pounds) you will get back a 3000+ (pound) watch. Good choice.

[Ricardo]

Hi Guys,Well just to update,I took everyone's advice and 2 January put my watch in for a much needed service+ new 4 link strap section.

Well today i have just collected my watch and asked if anything was replaced....Well i could not believe list as long as your arm.

Apart from gaskets,they replaced Winder crown,stem and tube. 3rd 4th and 5th gear wheels,balance wheel with hairspring,reversing gears and they even replaced the helium release valve!!!

So i seems despite running regular at +6sec per day,it was pretty bad shape inside.Total cost with strap section replaced £357 ouch!!!

[f16570]

15 years and circa £280 to service it, what are you waiting for?
It has served you well about time you serviced it well.

[Jimbits76]

Service that baby!!!!!

£280 seems really reasonable to me!

J


Edited....Doh! I see you've had it done. £350 seems pretty good to me. There are guys I know who spend that on quartz pieces of junk every couple of years!!!!!!

Here's to many more years of wearing that great SD!!!!!!

[mdtddd2007]

Wow!!! Your SD looks like new.

[GoldenBear]

Seems like a small price to pay for basically a brand new watch...Glad it wasn't "too late".

[Welshwatchman]

£357 / 15 = £23.80 a year running costs.

Not too shabby.

Next time round it may be a good idea to get it serviced a little sooner, say 10 year's time.

[Paulie]

Originally Posted by Ricardo

<snip>

Apart from gaskets,they replaced Winder crown,stem and tube. 3rd 4th and 5th gear wheels,balance wheel with hairspring,reversing gears and they even replaced the helium release valve!!!

<snip>

Here's a very old video from 1949, which will give you an idea about what those gear wheels and balance do.

http://www.archive.org/details/HowaWatc1949