Do you consider the service cost in relation to the price, when buying a watch?

[Watchmutt]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Remind me not to fly in one of your planes.

[Mickey®]

No.

[77T]

Nope - nor should you IMHO

Think of the service every 5-10 years as new tires for your car. When you bought your last new car did you worry about the cost of 4 new tires every 4 years?

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by patrike

When I buy a new watch I assume I will keep it for life. We all know that´s probably not going ta happen, but let´s pretend.

Let´s say I will live for another 50 years, I will service the watch every 5 years. That´s 10 times I have to do a service, and let´s say the service will cost an average of $ 1000 each time.

That´s $ 10 000 in service costs.

Do you guys relate this cost to how much the price of the watch is when you buy it? Is it reasonable that the total service price might be higher than the actual value/price of the watch?

I guess this might apply more to PP or AP watches, but a Daytona work as an example...

I don´t know if I got it all wrong, but in my mind buying the watch should be the most expensive part of owning a fine watch.

I figure out the cost of service, but I only plan on servicing them when they need it....

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by 77T

Nope - nor should you IMHO

Think of the service every 5-10 years as new tires for your car. When you bought your last new car did you worry about the cost of 4 new tires every 4 years?

Funny enough, the tires on my sports car cost more than servicing my most expensive watch!

[cl63531]

No I would not think of the service cost when purchasing a watch, its part of the whole package. As far as service every 5 years, I would do it if I wore the watch every day and if it was a chrono and if I used the chrono feature a lot I would take it in sooner than the 5 years. If I rotated watches I would probably service maybe every 6 to 7 years.

[yemenmocha]

I'm more worried about the replacement cost of my president bracelet when it does stretch out too much for me, many years later (I hope). If the situation is like now, the price of a new bracelet could cost a substantial percentage of what the whole watch is worth.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by montres1

i know it's not rolex content, but who wouldn't send their watch for service when it is done like this, 5 minute worth watching; watch spa :)

great video

[patrike]

But would you guys buy a car if you knew the maintenance and costs would exceed the initial price of buying it?

I feel that the Rolex prices in relation to the total service cost seems ok. But when considering one of the entry level Pateks or Audemars, the service cost will probably exceed the purchase price. If keeping it for life.

It's not that I object to pay for service. It's just that I think service cost shouldn't exceed purchase price.


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[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by patrike

But would you guys buy a car if you knew the maintenance and costs would exceed the initial price of buying it?

I feel that the Rolex prices in relation to the total service cost seems ok. But when considering one of the entry level Pateks or Audemars, the service cost will probably exceed the purchase price. If keeping it for life.

It's not that I object to pay for service. It's just that I think service cost shouldn't exceed purchase price.


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Well one service now costs more than original purchase price on say a red submariner, or even Paul Newman.

It's bound to happen.

[Vincent65]

nope!

[jorgemussi]

amazing!

Originally Posted by montres1

i know it's not rolex content, but who wouldn't send their watch for service when it is done like this, 5 minute worth watching; watch spa :)

[Michael T]

Seven year has been the magic number for three of my Rolexes over the years. One made it to eight with no service. Yes, the cost of service has caused me to back of an AP or Patek so far.

[patek.wis]

When I was about to buy a RM yes. And I passed

[Zdenek]

Never. .... When a watch needs service I put it off and buy a new one.

[Rikki]

So putting it this way my 5512 costs 150.00 new in 1966 full service today maybe 5 to6. Four times it's initial cost so what throw it in the gutter go get anutter I don't think so. The devaluation of the dollar is what costs us. Highend watches are serviceable useable for a life time how many products can you say that about these days, when everyyear you have to replace your phone your computer and a myriad of other consumer items. As I have mentioned in former threads in 1986 a little known law was repealed that required companies in this country to supply parts for their products for 50 years to be able to sell them here. That law was changed to 8 years THAT year we became a throw away society and consumerism went balistic. thus endith the lesson. Rikki

[Maxfli]

It's a factor for me, though not necessarily an overriding one. Let's just say it's comforting to have a couple of ETAs and quartz in my collection to balance things out in terms of overall service costs.

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by RolexDivers

I just take very good care of my watches. I baby them too much --- even put scotchtape on the clasp when deskdiving --- so I hope I will not need servicing --- the more you take care of them, the less likely you will need servicing. Even when I take my watch off, unless it is a g-shock, I put a tissue paper on the table and the watch goes on top of the tissue paper. I just like to see and feel the NEWNESS of my watches, as much as possible.

None of your precautions addresses the interior of the watch...which is why it's serviced. No amount of "scotch tape" or "tissue paper" will help the movement.
Your best bet, to reduce service, is to simply hack the movement so that it's not actually ticking.

[A.Sharp]

Thought doesn't really cross my mind... nor do I think I am going to be a stickler for the 5 year rule, either...

[powerfunk]

I do consider it, and I mentally factor it into the cost. I once bought a $1,000 Speedking that needed an overhaul. I just thought of it as a lovely $1,500 watch. I think it's a bit arbitrary to think that service costs shouldn't exceed a certain ratio of a watch's purchase price. It would be a sad day if we started throwing every watch in the trash that was no longer worth the cost of 7 overhauls (50 years service)!

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by 77T

Nope - nor should you IMHO

Think of the service every 5-10 years as new tires for your car. When you bought your last new car did you worry about the cost of 4 new tires every 4 years?

I do. I factor everything in my life, it's a process I picked up from the military and try to improve more and more. I have to be able to afford it and how it affects me overtime. I could buy a used 90's Ferrari right now for $80k but the service is a nogo for me, can't afford it.
I don't know how many bajillions of times on any forum I've been on hear people say I don't want to own a BMW out of warranty or a turbocharged car etc. those aren't crazy expensive but the sensible person considers the after affects.
If you're the type that doesn't care or factor this at all, you're either ill prepared or "very" wealthy in relation to the subject, if so that actually requires clarification. Not simply "I don't, it's just part of the purchase", yeah, because you're in a position to not care and just because I have to manage my expenses doesn't mean that somehow I can't afford it. The other option is people who don't care about stuff and buy just because it's cool or keep up with joneses. Example...entertainers with mega blinged out APs or Frank Mullers, Pharrell(very successful rap producer) has said many times he has no idea how to really even use his Enzo. He just bought it because it looked nice, was rare and cost a lot.
For example, I don't care about battery replacements on my Suunto, but I sure as hell would consider a $1000 plus service fee on an AP diver.

Pros and cons
What do I get but what must I give up.

[Foxer55]

Let me put it this way: I've owned my GMT Pepsi almost 50 years and it has been in for service 3 times I think, maybe 4. Total cost for service those 3 times comes to about $2000. I paid $145 for the watch at a discount so the watch may have cost $300-$400 on the open market. That's a total of $2145, let's say $2500 cost to me. I could still sell the watch at a very handsome profit today even after subtracting my costs. Does that answer your question?

[TSW]

Nope!

[Armyguy03]

Everyone griped about the service costs of a Rolex when I purchased, however, I am a chronic planner and immediately opened a savings account and am placing 100 bucks a month in the "Rolex Fund." This will allow me to place aside a small percentage (much less than we tend to throw away on Starbucks coffee) of my funds to that eventual cost.

[Jannal]

I didn't in the past, but now I do. Hence I've downsized my collection from 6 to 3 watches.

[dfjaws]

I didn't. I figured that if I could afford the watch now, hopefully I'd still have the means to have it serviced down the road.

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by dfjaws

I didn't. I figured that if I could afford the watch now, hopefully I'd still have the means to have it serviced down the road.

This was my thinking...

[boogiebot]

cant say that I have considered the service cost in ownership. however, one thing I have thought of lately is how far the service center is from where I live.

[SPG8]

When I've been buying a classic watch I certainly factor in what I "guesstimate" will be involved in bringing the watch up to its deserved top condition. It's part of the purchase budget.

For others I've bought I just know that every 5 years they will cost me about 10% to 15% of the value to give a complete overhaul and bring them back to "like new" condition.

For me it is like buying computers, cars and other things that need maintenance - the purchase price is only the beginning!

Funnily I see so often people buy computers without realizing that the hardware price really reflects only 1/2 the total outlay.

I SHOULD ADD - my recent experience with the Rolex full 5 year interval service has been excellent - I get back a "like new" watch with a 2 year new watch guarantee. Assuming Rolex service centres do do 100% of what they promise, the price charged is good value for money.

[c.rod]

Originally Posted by montres1

i know it's not rolex content, but who wouldn't send their watch for service when it is done like this, 5 minute worth watching; watch spa :)

that is insane. with how complicated most of those movements are its no wonder the services are pricey. but how much i wonder? if it was $1k to $2k that isnt that much $$ for how many labor hours are spend on it.....