service your Rolex every 10 years?

[Mephist]

I did read an article on another thread and noticed something in it.

"To take one example: the majority of brands recommend a five-yearly service for their watches; Rolex has raised the bar to ten years."

Article here: journal.hautehorlogerie.org/en/focus/rolex/rolex-one-of-a-kind-3939/

So is it true that Rolex now recommend service every ten year and not every five year?

If that is true it is great news, for many of us that means we can cut our service cost in half and buy more watches.

[MATCH1969]

Went to Rolex shop in Paris last week to receive my new sub and they indicated me 10 years for next service.

Seems it's now their standard for new models

[Lagunatic]

more like 5 to 7 years

[patrike]

Great news if its really true :)


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[The GMT Master]

I would be sceptical, at least on models without the ball bearing winding system. It's a known weak point that is heavily dependent on lubrication

[chill]

I just passed 12 years without service and my watch is +.02 per day. I'm not sending it in, they're likely to screw it up!

[WatchWeb]

AD advised me about 6 year mark for my GMT2C.

[MATCH1969]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

I would be sceptical, at least on models without the ball bearing winding system. It's a known weak point that is heavily dependent on lubrication

The girl from Rolex told me 10 years for a Sub, could be less if use in extreme condition every day

[Dr. Robert]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Cabaiguan]

I wonder if the extended Omega warranty and service intervals on the newer coax with Si spring is having an impact on Rolex' service recommendations?

Funny how well competition works.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Cabaiguan

I wonder if the extended Omega warranty and service intervals on the newer coax with Si spring is having an impact on Rolex' service recommendations?

Funny how well competition works.

Seems like it might be connected.
This is good news. Possibly the improvements in components and lubricants have extended the service intervals. Wonder if there's fine print though.

[Micha]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

x2

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by MATCH1969

The girl from Rolex told me 10 years for a Sub, could be less if use in extreme condition every day

In my experience, I would never recommend that long. 5-7 years is about right, and it has been that way for a long time - I don't know why they're just pulling figures out from nowhere. This is an important article: http://people.timezone.com/mdisher/a...135/3135_1.htm

Here is the important quote:

"Unfortunately, Rolex still does not use ball bearings in its top calibers. Instead, there is a plain sleeve bearing, and proper oiling is critical. When the lubricant evaporates or migrates, the metal axle experiences wear against the jewel....If Rolex specialists had designed an automatic device based on ball bearings (like in most modern automatic devices) - the watch would be more reliable."

Rolex only uses ball bearings in their three top movements, the cal. 4130 (the Daytona), the cal. 4160 (the Yacht-Master II) and the cal. 9001 (the Sky-Dweller). On their core range of movements, they still use sleeve bearings on their winding rotors, and I simply do not trust them for that long without being properly lubricated. This is something a ball-bearing mounted rotor does not experience, and I find it troubling that Rolex would recommend this. Rotor issues are so common after several years of use, I am extremely surprised at this new change in policy

[kilyung]

I think it's all relative. A watch that's sat in a safe or is rarely worn COULD last up to 10 yrs before needing service. In the case of a hard worn watch, to Chris' point, it's highly advisable to service around 5-7 yrs due to the wear on parts. Another possible reason to service more frequently is worn seals (more likely to fail than lubrication). Everyone is checking water resistance every year, right??

[Lumberjact]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

In my experience, I would never recommend that long. 5-7 years is about right, and it has been that way for a long time - I don't know why they're just pulling figures out from nowhere. This is an important article: http://people.timezone.com/mdisher/a...135/3135_1.htm

Here is the important quote:

"Unfortunately, Rolex still does not use ball bearings in its top calibers. Instead, there is a plain sleeve bearing, and proper oiling is critical. When the lubricant evaporates or migrates, the metal axle experiences wear against the jewel....If Rolex specialists had designed an automatic device based on ball bearings (like in most modern automatic devices) - the watch would be more reliable."

Rolex only uses ball bearings in their three top movements, the cal. 4130 (the Daytona), the cal. 4160 (the Yacht-Master II) and the cal. 9001 (the Sky-Dweller). On their core range of movements, they still use sleeve bearings on their winding rotors, and I simply do not trust them for that long without being properly lubricated. This is something a ball-bearing mounted rotor does not experience, and I find it troubling that Rolex would recommend this. Rotor issues are so common after several years of use, I am extremely surprised at this new change in policy

Hi Chris,

Does the fact that Rolex does not use ball bearing mounted rotors make them technically inferior, in that regard, to standard ETA movements which do have bearing mounted rotors? Because that would be a disappointing conclusion indeed...

[Armyguy03]

Two weeks ago when I got my SubC, I was told 7-8 years. BUT, he did point out that he has gone 12 without servicing his and he has worn it daily during that time.

[The GMT Master]

Originally Posted by Lumberjact

Hi Chris,

Does the fact that Rolex does not use ball bearing mounted rotors make them technically inferior, in that regard, to standard ETA movements which do have bearing mounted rotors? Because that would be a disappointing conclusion indeed...

Most in the know would put a chronometer grade ETA 2892 and a Rolex cal. 3135 on roughly level pegging. The winding rotor is more robust in the 2892, but the Rolex benefits from a full balance bridge (giving more stability to the balance wheel, and therefore improving timekeeping). Both are solid workhorses, but neither set the world on fire

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Lumberjact

Hi Chris,

Does the fact that Rolex does not use ball bearing mounted rotors make them technically inferior, in that regard, to standard ETA movements which do have bearing mounted rotors? Because that would be a disappointing conclusion indeed...

In this aspect the ETA rotor design is more advanced than the Rolex but that doesn't mean it's inferior. Either design can fail for a multitude of reasons and millions of Rolex rotors (as well as many more million ETAs) have fared well over the decades. A regular service interval will insure that you never have a worn rotor related failure so preventative service has to be considered part of the Rolex design parameter.

[Lumberjact]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

Most in the know would put a chronometer grade ETA 2892 and a Rolex cal. 3135 on roughly level pegging. The winding rotor is more robust in the 2892, but the Rolex benefits from a full balance bridge (giving more stability to the balance wheel, and therefore improving timekeeping). Both are solid workhorses, but neither set the world on fire

Thanks Chris. As always, interesting to read your views.

[nauticajoe]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

X3.

[kilyung]

I should note that I'm at 12 yrs on an Omega ETA 2892-A2 movement and 11 yrs on a Rolex 3130. Neither has been serviced but I check the seals annually and time keeping quarterly (both display strong amplitude, low error rates, and keep COSC time).

[Mephist]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Everyone is checking water resistance every year, right??

What? You only shower every Christmas?

I check it each morning while taking a shower.

[kilyung]

Originally Posted by Mephist

What? You only shower every Christmas?

I check it each morning while taking a shower.

Apt if ineffective. I bought a pressure leak detector.

[subtona]

imho: ball bearings are noisy / rattly on my daytona... a fact which in part, lead to me selling it.

traditional & quieter system is preferred by me... after 20 years of service, my sub visited rsc twice in that time (8 years then 12 years)... it never had an issue of keeping time and Rsc never mentioned an issue of undue wear.