Should I service my 14 yr old Explorer II? (pic included)

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by subtona

Moisture due to a bad O-ring where the movement could be a total loss is one thing but this is nothing a non invasive pressure test can't resolve.

Do you know how much "bigger" the repair bill might be if a couple of small parts need to be replaced due to wear? Would it be more than 2 routine service costs (i.e. 2 additional elective surgery). Details would help?

As far as being a cheapskate... I do not agree,

Bringing your watch in for service (RSC) means you will be trusting your watch in the hands of someone who in my consistent experience really doesn't care all that much about your watch. When they damage it they simply shrug and maybe replace your original & unique dial or just polish out that scratch they added on your 20 year old previously unpolished watch or jack up the screws in your bracelet etc... Service for a watch that is not broken is akin to elective surgery, i don't recommend it for those I care about and I certainly do not choose it for my watch.... It has nothing to do with being a "cheapskate."




Ps thankfully in the home and car DIY is a more available option, an option that I take whenever possible... If you want something done right...

I kind of see your point if it passes the pressure test. If it doesn't, then you're asking for trouble. Luckily (knock on wood), I've sent 3 watches to RSC in Dallas and have not had any issues. I ask for no polishing on bracelet or case and they listen. If you get the Rolex magazines, check out the article on tribology of watches. This is the study of lubrication. I was an R&D chemist in this field for 20 years before moving into sales and know very well that extreme pressure and anti-wear additives break down over time. The actual base oil IS stable and lasts much longer than the additives. However, it's the additives that do the real work. Personally, I will trust RSC and send mine in for routine maintenance until they give me reason to not trust them. And I wouldn't really compare it to elective surgery. A watch is a machine with moving parts. Any machine requires maintenance. I'm just not a believer in running it until it breaks. Everyone has their own philosophy and can do whatever they want to their watch. It's theirs.