Could rolex do better?

[samuelhuntington]

As I am about to send another watch to rsc to get serviced I was thinking to myself 'could rolex, or any other watch maker, make a watch that could go 10, 20 or even thirty years between services? I remember hearing a story about a lightbulb at a NYC firehouse that's has been on since the early 1900's but if lightbulbs lasted that long company's wouldn't be making any profits. So could rolex do better? Mabey better gasket materials, oils and such. Or do you think they are doing the best they can with the techonogy available. I'm sure it's big business servicing high end timepeices. Any thoughts?

[azguy]

oils and lubricants all have a finite life expectancy, and gaskets wear depending on so many issues like heat, cold and humidity....

[Cru Jones]

Well, some manufacturers are now warranting for four years, so, sure, but, these are intricate mechanical timepieces, so, I am not "expecting" much more than what is out there.

[kilyung]

The answer is yes they could really extend the service intervals with modern materials. However would the expense outweigh the benefits? I don't believe so. I'm not sure that the economics are close to the automotive industry but it's got to be similar. The profit on a new car is ok but the real margins are in the service. Similarly with watches, why cut off your service revenue at the expense of higher manufacturing costs?

[Davidokamoto]

Originally Posted by azguy

oils and lubricants all have a finite life expectancy, and gaskets wear depending on so many issues like heat, cold and humidity....

Spot on

[gwalker]

Yea they could but it cuts into their bottom line IMHO. Most Rolexes aren't actually serviced in the correct intervals or at RSCs so I highly doubt Rolex is making a killing on services. Those huge buildings aren't cheap in NYC and Dallas. Rolex will produce and sell as many watches as they can at the greatest profit margin. That said these watches are built tough and are just fine IMHO. Expensive things are expensive to own and maintain correctly period. IMHO $600 every 6-7 years is cheap to keep it running correctly.

[capote]

Doesn't JLC have a watch that is suppose to last a very long time without service?

[77T]

Originally Posted by samuelhuntington

As I am about to send another watch to rsc to get serviced I was thinking to myself 'could rolex, or any other watch maker, make a watch that could go 10, 20 or even thirty years between services? I remember hearing a story about a lightbulb at a NYC firehouse that's has been on since the early 1900's but if lightbulbs lasted that long company's wouldn't be making any profits. So could rolex do better? Mabey better gasket materials, oils and such. Or do you think they are doing the best they can with the techonogy available. I'm sure it's big business servicing high end timepeices. Any thoughts?

They did - it was the OysterQuartz. And a light bulb could be made to last 100 years if you'd pay $800 for one.

As for Oyster Perpetual movements, the level of innovation in the area of 10 - 20 - 30 year service intervals has not been encouraging. It would take some real breakthroughs in materials and engineering that would never payoff for Rolex in the long run...unless they could charge an extra $10,000 per watch and demand remained strong.

[gslaskin]

The Grand Seiko quartz 9F movement is designed to be serviced every 50 years.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by gwalker

Yea they could but it cuts into their bottom line IMHO. Most Rolexes aren't actually serviced in the correct intervals or at RSCs so I highly doubt Rolex is making a killing on services. Those huge buildings aren't cheap in NYC and Dallas. Rolex will produce and sell as many watches as they can at the greatest profit margin. That said these watches are built tough and are just fine IMHO. Expensive things are expensive to own and maintain correctly period. IMHO $600 every 6-7 years is cheap to keep it running correctly.

Agreed!

[Cabaiguan]

Originally Posted by kilyung

The answer is yes they could really extend the service intervals with modern materials. However would the expense outweigh the benefits? I don't believe so. I'm not sure that the economics are close to the automotive industry but it's got to be similar. The profit on a new car is ok but the real margins are in the service. Similarly with watches, why cut off your service revenue at the expense of higher manufacturing costs?

Bingo.

[slcbbrown]

Originally Posted by samuelhuntington

As I am about to send another watch to rsc to get serviced I was thinking to myself 'could rolex, or any other watch maker, make a watch that could go 10, 20 or even thirty years between services? I remember hearing a story about a lightbulb at a NYC firehouse that's has been on since the early 1900's but if lightbulbs lasted that long company's wouldn't be making any profits. So could rolex do better? Mabey better gasket materials, oils and such. Or do you think they are doing the best they can with the techonogy available. I'm sure it's big business servicing high end timepeices. Any thoughts?

One thing about the free market-- if the technology is out there, someone will try to sell it. If Rolex didn't want to utilize this new 10-20 year technology, a competitor absolutely will. You would have quite a marketing plan if you could tell everyone that your watch was 400% better than Rolex in some area.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by slcbbrown

One thing about the free market-- if the technology is out there, someone will try to sell it. If Rolex didn't want to utilize this new 10-20 year technology, a competitor absolutely will. You would have quite a marketing plan if you could tell everyone that your watch was 400% better than Rolex in some area.

I don't disagree but you really have to weigh the costs vs profits. These new technologies are expensive. Until a giant like Rolex or Swatch implements it, you won't see economy of scale to get the cost lower. Who'd pay Rolex level prices for a better technology watch with a no name brand?

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by gslaskin

The Grand Seiko quartz 9F movement is designed to be serviced every 50 years.

Does this include battery replacement?

[Xenophon]

I heard that Rolex only introduced the two year warranty because European law dictated it. If that's the case I can't see them adding any more time on the warranty gratis.

[Mr. RoC]

I can't comment on Rolex right now because we just bought our first in Feb 2012 BUT I can comment on my now sold 19 year old Tag S/EL Professional 200 Quartz and 14 year old Mid-Size Omega SMP. The tag has never been serviced, only battery changes and to the day I sold it it was only -4 sec per day compared to time.gov. Pressure test only to 30 feet. Watch tech did not recommend any deeper until a complete service.

My Omega.... 7 year intervals before going in for service and during each of those seven years my SMP 1120cal. ran flawless, except the lumes began to fade away. 0 sec gain or loss compared to time.gov when worn on wrist or dial up on night stand. I only brought it in for servicing was for the water resistance assurance because I was diving with that watch other than that I would have left it alone. Only regret I have with my SMP was I wish I bought the full size back then.

Bought my Xplr and was running +7sec per day from new and brought it into RSC and now it's +4sec per day compared to time.gov but I am hoping my Xplr will last me a lifetime with just 1 or 2 services till the day I die and pass on my Rolex to a loved one.

[slcbbrown]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I don't disagree but you really have to weigh the costs vs profits. These new technologies are expensive. Until a giant like Rolex or Swatch implements it, you won't see economy of scale to get the cost lower. Who'd pay Rolex level prices for a better technology watch with a no name brand?

An auto watch is still a little machine, so I'm not sure a proven technology really exists. Certainly, PP for $50,000 would use it, if it were there. People pay $100,000 for a useless tourbillon, wouldn't they pay for a 20 year service interval?

If you drive a Chevy or a Mercedes, you still get to change the oil at about the same interval.