when to service your Rolex

[YuriyV]

Originally Posted by mtgjr

Too late for what? What's the risk of not servicing until accuracy starts to slip, amplitude is low, etc?

Often too late to service damaged movement after years of friction in dry bearings.

[lord91]

My AD advised me to service it anywhere between 5 to 7 years, as the oil may dry up/loose its properties and seals may be worn off. However, they did admit they saw watches that have been serviced after 1o years, and were perfectly fine, but this was their safety rule per say. I am no expert on this, just sharing info

[Jemspeed]

I send my watch to RSC twice a year for service whether it needs it or not. It's cheap insurance. Servicing less frequently is just asking for trouble.

[belligero]

Originally Posted by YuriyV

Often too late to service damaged movement after years of friction in dry bearings.

Except that doesn't actually happen; a large number of watches that come into the local Rolex shop for service are run until the timekeeping is terrible, or they stop entirely. They rarely need anything aside from the standard replacement items included in the service cost; rotor axle, reverser gears, mainspring, rown and gaskets.

A movement that's gone beyond serviceability never happens unless there's also serious moisture damage. Rolex movements just don't need to be serviced very frequently as long as the seals are good.

Originally Posted by Jemspeed

I send my watch to RSC twice a year for service whether it needs it or not. It's cheap insurance. Servicing less frequently is just asking for trouble.

Quality. :D

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by YuriyV

Often too late to service damaged movement after years of friction in dry bearings.

That's not what happens. And even if it was, the accuracy and the amplitude would drop well before "years of friction in dry bearings" occurred. There is no too late in the context you suggested.

[UnicoJG]

Originally Posted by Showcall

So after acquiring a Day Date from 1991 with no service history. The Big Question is do I service it? It keeps great time The Day and Date function click over ever so smoothly. (I'm yet to wear it in the shower) so i'm wondering if I should get it a check up?

No service history? I would get it serviced immediately and after the first service, every 7-8 years.

[Chalet]

Doesn't Rolex now recommend 10 year service intervals?

[Nox]

Originally Posted by Chalet

Doesn't Rolex now recommend 10 year service intervals?

On new pieces however with older ones it's best to stick to the 5-7 year service. They do an awesome job of polishing and refinishing so if you like a shiney watch there's nothing stopping you sending it off earlier :)

[Syed117]

Originally Posted by Jemspeed

I send my watch to RSC twice a year for service whether it needs it or not. It's cheap insurance. Servicing less frequently is just asking for trouble.

Twice a year?

Haha.

[modee]

The main thing with mechanical watches is to make sure they are run occasionally. As you maintain a larger and larger collection it becomes difficult to wear them more than occasionally, so just be sure to wind the mechanicals and shake the automatics regularly whether worn or not.

It hurts a mechanical watch (or automobile for that matter) to leave it idle for too long.

This is also why there are huge watch winders and safes that keep the automatics moving, but as the collection gets too huge, the cost of such devices and safes big enough to house each watch inside a winder which is in turn inside a safe becomes problematic. Plus the straight manuals still need to be wound by hand.


As far as the servicing every two years, five years, ten years whatever - it depends on how the watch is worn. First of all, just be sure to at least keep it ticking every few months. Don't just let it sit there frozen for years on end.

So, assuming you at least let the sucker tick every now and then, if that is ALL you do, is just let it tick every now and then and barely ever wear it, then you don't need service on it very often at all. The oils in the watch will not gunk up or dry away just because of time; this gunking up or drying away often happens either because of excessive use, or underuse.

But if you wear the watch regularly, and it gets exposure to sweat, water, humidity, and of course simply because it is running a lot, it may require more frequent service, but by more frequent I just mean the manufacturer's recommended intervals.

I am not a master watch maker by any means but I have watches that are up to 100 years old and some have not needed any service in thirty years. Other watches seem like every few years they need service.

I have some clocks that are over 300 years old and they run with no regular service.

[SearChart]

I'd service my watches at least once per 5-8 years. Gaskets I'd replace every year when you go into the water regularly, same with springbars.