Explorer 214270 needs full service after 6 years?

[alphasports]

My 2014 Explorer 214270 recently started acting up, it simply stops after about 20 seconds...I give it a FULL wind, like 60-80x, and again it runs for a few seconds then stops. Crown resistance is completely normal, no gnashing or other nastiness; shaking the watch reveals zero abnormalities. I brought it to the AD yesterday where magically it began working properly as I removed it from its transport case, and kept working the entire half hour I was there; they put it on the tester and it came back indicating low amplitude, which they say indicates it needs a full service.

The watch has never had a service and has seen only sporadic use since new, certainly never dropped or otherwise shocked, so for it to need a full service after only 6 years when Rolex itself recommends 10 years, I find odd. The same AD replaced the dial and hands 2 years ago, updating it to the "MkII" version, but otherwise it has not been opened.

I left the watch for service but am having second thoughts and may rescue it or at least try the other AD in town; yesterday's service technician said a couple of things that were nonsense and that have sowed seeds of doubt especially for a $850 "fix". Could this be a magnetism issue (I doubt it)?

[Uhtred59]

Let's review:
a. Watch doesn't work.
b. You would like the watch to work.
That leads us to service. It stinks that it fell out of the 5 year guarantee but it happens. 10 years is kind of their not more than timeline.

[Dsmith1974]

I’d guess that having the dial and hands replaced hastened the service date and you probably would’ve got ten years otherwise.


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[padi56]

Originally Posted by alphasports

My 2014 Explorer 214270 recently started acting up, it simply stops after about 20 seconds...I give it a FULL wind, like 60-80x, and again it runs for a few seconds then stops. Crown resistance is completely normal, no gnashing or other nastiness; shaking the watch reveals zero abnormalities. I brought it to the AD yesterday where magically it began working properly as I removed it from its transport case, and kept working the entire half hour I was there; they put it on the tester and it came back indicating low amplitude, which they say indicates it needs a full service.

The watch has never had a service and has seen only sporadic use since new, certainly never dropped or otherwise shocked, so for it to need a full service after only 6 years when Rolex itself recommends 10 years, I find odd. The same AD replaced the dial and hands 2 years ago, updating it to the "MkII" version, but otherwise it has not been opened.

I left the watch for service but am having second thoughts and may rescue it or at least try the other AD in town; yesterday's service technician said a couple of things that were nonsense and that have sowed seeds of doubt especially for a $850 "fix". Could this be a magnetism issue (I doubt it)?

It is recommended to service your Rolex approximately every 10 years depending on the model and real-life usage.Today this is the average length of time most have sent there watches in for RSC service.In other words use your own common sense,and like most all mechanical machines with cogs and wheels some may need service sooner that others.

[SubGMTExplorer2Fan]

Bruh! You changed the factory dial and hands without getting it serviced which gives you a new 2 years warranty extension? You are going to pay for this service no doubt.

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by alphasports

Could this be a magnetism issue (I doubt it)?

My 16710 GMT was last serviced by Rolex in 2012 and three weeks ago it just stopped several times after being manually fully wound. I made an appointment with Giovanni Passalacqua (The Independent Service Center in San Francisco) who opened the case and inspected the movement, checked for magnetism and found it was magnetized to a significant degree, demagnetized it, closed the case and pressure tested it, and said it was highly likely the magnetism had caused the stoppages. The movement was working fine including the self-winding function. It hasn't stopped since and has been keeping perfect time.

I would never have suspected magnetism to be the problem since I take care to avoid magnetic fields while wearing it.

Giovanni spent about twenty minutes with my watch and wouldn't let me pay him for his time. When I walked into his shop I knew him only by reputation.

The Truth About Magnetism and Watches | Quill & Pad

[alphasports]

Originally Posted by SubGMTExplorer2Fan

Bruh! You changed the factory dial and hands without getting it serviced which gives you a new 2 years warranty extension? You are going to pay for this service no doubt.

Yes in hindsight a bit of a drag, I was a bit impulsive on the upgrade, but the watch was only 4 years old at the time.

[alphasports]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

My 16710 GMT was last serviced by Rolex in 2012 and three weeks ago it just stopped several times after being manually fully wound. I made an appointment with Giovanni Passalacqua (The Independent Service Center in San Francisco) who opened the case and inspected the movement, checked for magnetism and found it was magnetized to a significant degree, demagnetized it, closed the case and pressure tested it, and said it was highly likely the magnetism had caused the stoppages. The movement was working fine including the self-winding function. It hasn't stopped since and has been keeping perfect time.

I would never have suspected magnetism to be the problem since I take care to avoid magnetic fields while wearing it.

Giovanni spent about twenty minutes with my watch and wouldn't let me pay him for his time. When I walked into his shop I knew him only by reputation.

The Truth About Magnetism and Watches | Quill & Pad

Good to know thx, several people have suggested magnetism is highly unlikely but I don't think it would hurt to demag it and see...alternative is $850 + tax.

[TheVTCGuy]

yes, it sucks, but I am OCD about maintenance, and if after six years I had to have the watch fully serviced and that would guarantee the watch would be operating at optimum performance, I consider it worth the money.

[alphasports]

Originally Posted by padi56

It is recommended to service your Rolex approximately every 10 years depending on the model and real-life usage.Today this is the average length of time most have sent there watches in for RSC service.In other words use your own common sense,and like most all mechanical machines with cogs and wheels some may need service sooner that others.

Thanks Peter. My common sense tells me 6 years for a babied watch that's in an irregular rotation with maybe 4-5 others is way too early for a full service. Given the 214270 is somewhat of a simple, venerable workhorse movement I have just enough doubt to at least get a second AD's opinion.

[alphasports]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

yes, it sucks, but I am OCD about maintenance, and if after six years I had to have the watch fully serviced and that would guarantee the watch would be operating at optimum performance, I consider it worth the money.

I am OCD the same way but am also skeptical enough to give it second thought. If it was 7-8 years of steady use, for sure service it. But 6 years part-time just bugs me...

[SubGMTExplorer2Fan]

Originally Posted by alphasports

Yes in hindsight a bit of a drag, I was a bit impulsive on the upgrade, but the watch was only 4 years old at the time.

Ehuh, it happens. Now you have to pay for the service, pay for any new parts if needed, and if you go to sell it. Unless you lie about the upgrades. Some eagle-eyed watch geek will call you out on the redial and ask for less money if you go to sell your Rolex. Honestly, it is your customized watch for real now. Enjoy it man. I am never going to criticize your taste. I don't own a Rolex. I don't have the funds to spend on one outright, but it would be my only Rolex if I do get one.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by Uhtred59

Let's review:
a. Watch doesn't work.
b. You would like the watch to work.
That leads us to service.

Yup. It's that simple

[JSolution]

Originally Posted by Uhtred59

Let's review:
a. Watch doesn't work.
b. You would like the watch to work.
That leads us to service. It stinks that it fell out of the 5 year guarantee but it happens. 10 years is kind of their not more than timeline.

Exactly this - be happy it’s not a patek :)

[alphasports]

Originally Posted by SubGMTExplorer2Fan

Ehuh, it happens. Now you have to pay for the service, pay for any new parts if needed, and if you go to sell it. Unless you lie about the upgrades. Some eagle-eyed watch geek will call you out on the redial and ask for less money if you go to sell your Rolex. Honestly, it is your customized watch for real now. Enjoy it man. I am never going to criticize your taste. I don't own a Rolex. I don't have the funds to spend on one outright, but it would be my only Rolex if I do get one.

Yes I've considered selling it along with my full-set GMT-LN, and have a couple of decent bundle offers from greys, but unless it's bundled with the GMT, as soon as I mention the Explorer has an upgraded dial plus no box (it was brought to Canada as a gift from the owner of a well-known Egyptian AD we were doing a local real estate deal with, so he left the box to avoid Customs hassles...it does have the coffin, card, links and hangtag), people run away! I get it, one "asterisk" gets people nervous, two and they flee.

So, I'll probably go ahead with the service and either keep it or sell as a bundle. It's a very nice watch, pretty good odds they'll both stay.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by alphasports

Thanks Peter. My common sense tells me 6 years for a babied watch that's in an irregular rotation with maybe 4-5 others is way too early for a full service. Given the 214270 is somewhat of a simple, venerable workhorse movement I have just enough doubt to at least get a second AD's opinion.

Given the amount of usage, I tend to agree and I'm big on timely maintenance/servicing

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by alphasports

I am OCD the same way but am also skeptical enough to give it second thought. If it was 7-8 years of steady use, for sure service it. But 6 years part-time just bugs me...

Yeah, I can understand that, but here we are and it is what it is. Have an experienced and qualified Rolex watchmaker give it a full service, probably be better then new when they are done. I can understand being upsetting, but right here and now the best thing to do is get it fully serviced. It kind of reminds me what happened to me with a Toyota Truck about 25 years ago. They were touted as lasting 300, 400 thousand miles before any major problems with regular maintenance. My head gasket blew at 130,000, and I was the super hero: preventative maintenance man with the thing. I was just the unlucky one of very few that had an engine not last the typical time without a major issue, it looks like your watch is the same. I would bet money that a good tech will get it running perfect for many years.

PS, I opted to spend the money and have my head replaced and the truck was running fine almost 300,000 mies later.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

The primary variable in the life of the watch seems to be that the AD opened it up to replace the dial and hands. Also there is the unseen variable of magnetism. If the watch doesn’t run and you are more than halfway to the ten year service mark it seems prudent to have it serviced even if the timing is less than ideal. A watch that doesn’t run isn’t a watch, it’s a paperweight.