The amplitude of my 16570 tested at 285 but my watchmaker says to service anyway?

[BiG JeEzY]

Hello all,

So this week I decided to take my black 16570 out of the box to wind it up and give it some much deserved wrist time. This is the least worn watch in my collection and while I do like it, I just prefer wearing my other watches more and unfortunately this watch only gets brought out once in a blue moon.

So I had this spontaneous plan of bringing the watch to my watchmaker to put on a timegrapher and see how it runs since the movement sits idle most of the time.

The timegrapher results read an amplitude of 285 on a full wind and that the timing was +5 seconds a day. He said those were good numbers and asked me when I last had the watch serviced. I told him back in 2013, almost 10 years ago. When he heard that, he somewhat changed his tone and said I should service the watch. He argued that the seals are probably dried out and the watch is no longer water resistant to standards.

Having said all this, should I follow his advice and have the watch serviced? Even with the amplitude at an ideal 285? I get the whole water resistance reason but this watch has never been submerged ever in its life. It lives a relatively pampered life and only gets exposed to water whenever I wash it under a bathroom faucet. If anything, the crown does not wind as buttery smooth as my other watches but its not that bad, the crown still functions like it should.

I just thought I ask the forum for some opinions before I consider putting in hundreds of dollars on a service that I wonder if its really necessary yet at this point?

[HL65]

I wouldn’t.

[Dirt]

It's a hard one
Maybe I would and maybe I wouldn't given the circumstances. Was the last service done by Rolex?
Arguments can and will go back and forth on this, but what I will say is that I probably would get it serviced for a number of fairly good reasons especially as a precaution, with the only reason why I probably wouldn't being how the finances are situated at this point in time.
It's not like it's going to be urgent though all things considered, but I wouldn't swim with it unless it's been pressure checked
It's your money and it's not like you will miss it when it's away.
The thing is, with a situation like this is lubes migrate away from where they're supposed to be over time and they also evaporate with the modern synthetics.
Only opening it up and having a fairly close visual inspection of the movement will determine with any degree of certainty whether it could use a service or not or whether it could be delayed somewhat. By the time that's done, one may as well just go ahead with the service instead of wasting a watchmaker's time on it.
It's only money

[saxo3]

I would not service this watch, based on the little technical information given and only because a watchmaker proposed it. The 16570 uses the rock solid caliber 3185/86.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by saxo3

I would not service this watch, based on the little technical information given and only because an AD proposed it.

No AD involved?
It was a local Watchmaker

[saxo3]

Yes, corrected.

[Tommy125]

I’m not a watchmaker but I’ve heard that the rotor axle on 31xx movements need lubrication, and without it may grind and cause metallic dust to erode the gears and stuff.

[Old Expat Beast]

Can this watchmaker do a pressure test?

[Andad]

No.

[joli160]

No, why should you ?

[Mystro]

Other than maybe a pressure test, there is no way I would crack that watch open. I would be curious what it’s power reserve is just to see how healthy the mainspring is. All these are things you can do without opening up the watch.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Can this watchmaker do a pressure test?

Exactly ^^^

If you don’t swim with it, I wouldn’t crack it open.

[1William]

The timing is good and short of the seals I would have no questions about a watch that stays put up most of the time. To get a better fell why not just drop the watch into the rotation for a week or two and give it some good wrist time. See if it still functions as it should with wear. If it does, I would not service it. If issues, service time it would be.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by saxo3

I would not service this watch, based on the little technical information given and only because a watchmaker proposed it. The 16570 uses the rock solid caliber 3185/86.

If it's a 3186, is it possible that even in 2013 it wouldn't yet have received the updated components for the jumping hour hand? That's the only reason I can think of to service if otherwise running well.

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Can this watchmaker do a pressure test?

My question exactly. Or, if not that watchmaker, another in the area?

[WatchSmith]

I'm a watchmaker and I just serviced my 2007 GMT which had never been serviced. It ran ok and the amplitude was in spec, but the oils were dried and the escape wheel was worn and needed replacing.

It's an age old argument. Service or not. The 31xx series movements can continue to run past their service intervals. They can run until they're worn to shit. Personally I would follow the advice of your watchmaker and give it a well deserved spa treatment.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Triplock

I would follow the advice of your watchmaker and give it a well deserved spa treatment.

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by Triplock

I'm a watchmaker and I just serviced my 2007 GMT which had never been serviced.

You are a certified watchmaker?

[Gab27]

How often is it getting worn--are you talking maybe once or twice a month?

[HiBoost]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

I just thought I ask the forum for some opinions before I consider putting in hundreds of dollars on a service that I wonder if its really necessary yet at this point?

I think you might wish to consider "a service", but specifically one which is focused on the WR. Without evening opening the case (i.e. quite quickly and cheaply) a competent watchmaker can determine if your watch has a reasonable WR at this point. If it does, you're done. If it doesn't, you should be able to have the seals replaced (the aforementioned test will pinpoint which locations have issues) for far cheaper than a full movement teardown/cleaning/lube.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by HL65

I wouldn’t.

Agree with Ken, 285 amplitude is good, no need to service yet. You can get it water pressure tested, if it fails you can get the new seals but that does not require a movement service.


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