when to service your Rolex

[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?

[stil]

I'd find a watchmaker to time it and give it a once over and go from there.

[watchwatcher]

If it's working good, don't worry about it. But, if you are going to wear it in the shower, I would recommend you getting it pressure checked.

[Daytona88]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

If it's working good, don't worry about it. But, if you are going to wear it in the shower, I would recommend you getting it pressure checked.

this...no showers yet!

[tkerrmd]

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?

Now

[77T]

As far as accuracy, you can DIY that.
But I always have a newly acquired watch H2O'd - have only had one problem in several dozen deals but it only takes one to prove the rule.


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[Jannal]

Some say service the watch until it stops working/not keeping time. Others say every 5/7 years.
IMO, you should treat your watch like a car. Moving parts gradually wear out, if not regularly serviced parts will wear out more quickly, causing more damage and higher servicing cost.
I would service the watch every 5 years or so, in order to relubricate and replace the rubber gaskets to ensure 100% waterproofness.

[jmiicustomz]

Originally Posted by Jannal

Some say service the watch until it stops working/not keeping time. Others say every 5/7 years.
IMO, you should treat your watch like a car. Moving parts gradually wear out, if not regularly serviced parts will wear out more quickly, causing more damage and higher servicing cost.
I would service the watch every 5 years or so, in order to relubricate and replace the rubber gaskets to ensure 100% waterproofness.

I 100% concur with this. I am sending out my most recent purchase tomorrow to be serviced and I know it was serviced in 98 and it keeps great time but not worth the chance of something be dry in there. Plus I don't know the last tech in there and I know my guy does great work.

[jeffgo888]

I would , with no hesitate, get it checked out and serviced. Why risk it? Get peace of mind

[japenney]

Do not wear in shower until seals are checked. I would get it serviced personally.

[Showcall]

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm heading on Holiday for 3 weeks so leaving it with the AD for a service (which is a 4 week turn around) will lessen the pain.

[jmiicustomz]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm heading on Holiday for 3 weeks so leaving it with the AD for a service (which is a 4 week turn around) will lessen the pain.

Great call! You will enjoy it that much more upon return as you will not have any reservations as to its health or waterproofness.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm heading on Holiday for 3 weeks so leaving it with the AD for a service (which is a 4 week turn around) will lessen the pain.

Good plan

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Thanks everyone for your advice. I'm heading on Holiday for 3 weeks so leaving it with the AD for a service (which is a 4 week turn around) will lessen the pain.

4 weeks?
No way
More like 11 weeks

[blue lion]

Getting it serviced is the right call for me.

[Showcall]

Originally Posted by Dirt

4 weeks?
No way
More like 11 weeks

Thats probably because you are in Brisbane? So if its a AD service they would send it to Sydney or Melbourne? I have serviced 3 watches over the years with Rolex Sydney. always 4weeks.

[Widows Son]

I just got three back from servicing. All ran fine but because of the unknown service history, I bit the bullet.

[YuriyV]

Service period is determined by watch manufacturer. Usually it is 5 years.
When you buy used watch without service history, consider it as non serviced.
If you are going to wear it (and especially to expose it to water), get it serviced first. Period.
Running the movement without service would (and will) cause damage (slowly but surely).
Old mineral oils (used to use by servicemen) after 5-7 years simply brought a watch to stop. It was clear sign it needs a service.
Modern synthetic oils just evaporate without warning and watch can work other 5-10 years dry, grinding itself inside.

[madgpol]

If diving then ensure its pressure tested regularly. If it's not exposed to water and is accurate leave it alone. I've got a 1675 GMT that tells very good time and hasn't been serviced in the last 10 years

[Lordofrolex]

Originally Posted by watchwatcher

If it's working good, don't worry about it. But, if you are going to wear it in the shower, I would recommend you getting it pressure checked.

x2

[schamp]

Hi,
I have a question about servicing. I have my grandfathers watch, and he last had it serviced in 2004. He barely wore it, and it's been in the box for the last few years. Is it worth servicing it? In the post you guys mention it may be worthwhile every 5 years or so, but is that for watches that are being used? Or maybe it's a good idea just to make sure it has a long life still :)

[YuriyV]

Originally Posted by schamp

Hi,
I have a question about servicing. I have my grandfathers watch, and he last had it serviced in 2004. He barely wore it, and it's been in the box for the last few years. Is it worth servicing it? In the post you guys mention it may be worthwhile every 5 years or so, but is that for watches that are being used? Or maybe it's a good idea just to make sure it has a long life still :)

Does not matter either a watch worked or was in storage. After 5-7 years oil evaporates and/or gums and moving parts begin to wear intensively.
I'd suggest to service regularly.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Thats probably because you are in Brisbane? So if its a AD service they would send it to Sydney or Melbourne? I have serviced 3 watches over the years with Rolex Sydney. always 4weeks.

WOW, that's amazing.
All of mine have been serviced in Melbourne.

What is the workmanship like out of Sydney?

[belligero]

Originally Posted by YuriyV

Does not matter either a watch worked or was in storage. After 5-7 years oil evaporates and/or gums and moving parts begin to wear intensively.
I'd suggest to service regularly.

What's the point?

It's possible to check the seals and the state of the movement without requiring a service:

• Get it pressure tested and replace the seals if necessary.
• Put it on a timing machine, and service only if the amplitude is too low.

It's critical to test and maintain the seals, as moisture in the case will displace oil and cause all sorts of other problems. But there's no benefit in servicing a Rolex movement it isn't needed. Why mess with the watch if it isn't necessary?

[crowncollection]

I would service


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[joli160]

I would as well have it fully serviced. It comes back nice and clean and showering with it will be OK.

[YuriyV]

Originally Posted by belligero

What's the point?

The point is to change oil in an engine every 6 month or every 5000 miles. What happens first.

Originally Posted by belligero

Put it on a timing machine, and service only if the amplitude is too low.

Using modern oils, when amplitude is too low, often it is too late.

Originally Posted by belligero

Why mess with the watch if it isn't necessary?

Follow manufacturer's service recommendations.
A watch like a car. Needs periodical maintenance.

[Showcall]

Originally Posted by Dirt

WOW, that's amazing.
All of mine have been serviced in Melbourne.

What is the workmanship like out of Sydney?

Workmanship is fine they can be a little testy and try up sell. But not bad otherwise. 11 weeks is brutal was it getting replacement parts?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by Showcall

Workmanship is fine they can be a little testy and try up sell. But not bad otherwise. 11 weeks is brutal was it getting replacement parts?

Brutal indeed.
Certainly character building.
No replacement parts have ever been required except for 1 spring bar(incidental) on the very first service I ever had which was on my very first Rolex that was bought second hand.

Over the years I have probably had about a dozen services(all told) and 1 major repair performed by Rolex in Melbourne across a number of watches which were all arranged through the AD, and they have all run between 9 and 11 weeks.
1 service was performed by the Rolex World Service division in Geneva while I was working OS which was also about 9 weeks.
My understanding is that it's a long standing Rolex policy for the Brisbane AD to go through Melbourne for some reason? This was even after the Sydney RSC opened.
From memory I think the 9 week service period out of Melbourne was around the time Sydney opened, so I assume they were able to take the pressure off at the time.
The most recent service was quoted as a 13 week turn around, but was complete in 11 weeks regardless
I have also heard that Melbourne handles the work on the East coast and Sydney typically handles the West coast.

The Melbourne workmanship has been a little inconsistent regarding minor issues with the inner works, all else has been superb.
The initial outcome of the last service was a little disappointing and getting it sorted out was a little like pulling teeth, but the AD went into bat for me and helped a lot to get it sorted out.
That's why I asked for some feedback about the quality of workmanship in Sydney. Thanks for that

[mtgjr]

Originally Posted by YuriyV

The point is to change oil in an engine every 6 month or every 5000 miles. What happens first.


Using modern oils, when amplitude is too low, often it is too late.

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