Service Interval

[Blnrwearer]

I have seen recommendations on watch service every 3-5 year, 5-7 years, etc, and I have seen watches run fine without services for 20+ years.

I am soliciting evidences that modern Rolex needs to be serviced under 10 years. In other words, evidence to show, if a modern Rolex is not service for 10 years, oil would be dry out or damage would occur.

My reasons are:
- The watch is completely sealed and is water proof. I think seal can last 10 years easy since seals in regular home water lines can easily last 10 years without leak. Modern synthetic oil should not "evaporate" and since the watch is sealed, oil should not harden since it has no exposure to air. Where would oil go?
- Unless over many years, seals starts to deteriorate and watch is no longer water proof, oil will start to dry out and damage/wear would then start to happen.

I think watch should be serviced but I am not sure about the service interval. I think 3-5 years is way too short and what I am not sure about is 7-8 years vs 10 years, assuming I wear it everyday (I don't understand why not wearing it everyday would prolong the oil life for the same reasons I mentioned above).

[Tools]

Here is a mini oil tutorial....

Oil is subject to shearing. In other words when oil is squished between gears or sliced by pinions, it is sheared - you know, sliced in a smaller piece. Over time it becomes much less effective because it's viscosity is no longer able to lubricate between the gears and provide the proper cushion.

Also, a secondary function of oil is to hold the grits and inclusions in suspension. Over time the amount of inclusion in the oil is sufficient that you are simply using a grinding paste rather than clean, lubricating oil..

Although oil is engineered to stay where you put it, it also may migrate from where it is intended to be...

So, it is unlikely that you will get "evidence" that there is an optimum time-frame for a service before failure; it is probable that if you do not experience failure beforehand, 10 years is as good a guess at longevity as your 7-8 year guess.

As you surmise, time is more likely to affect gaskets and seals than oil. The main seal likely to fail over time is the crystal to case seal..

[cop414]

Wow Larry, excellent explanation! We should call you Professor Tools!

[Blnrwearer]

Now officially 10 years: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=420425

[Agrippa]

I just got my Explorer II back from having it serviced. The last service was about 25 years ago. It had been running very slow and not keeping good time so I figured it was time to have it serviced. The watchmaker said that it had some rust on the movement but he did not have to replace any parts just clean and lubricate. He suggested that I have it serviced again in 7 years.

[DateJustEnough]

Is it 10 years for watches made before the change as well ?

[RollieVerde]

Originally Posted by Blnrwearer

Now officially 10 years: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=420425

There's nothing official about this. It's never been officially verified by Rolex, and if you'll read the owners manual it has said "periodically" with no set time frame for years. This is a document posted on the internet, it is not an official statement from Rolex to consumers.

[Blnrwearer]

Of course, nobody would care if you service it at shorter interval. It's your watch and your money bottom line.

[DateJustEnough]

Rolex Confirms 10-Year Service Intervals

http://www.ablogtowatch.com/rolex-5-...ice-intervals/

[Nick16200]

Does anyone know if the 10 year recommendation is only for watches manufactured as of a certain date or with a certain modern movement etc.? For instance would it apply to my 3135 movement in my Datejust?

[DateJustEnough]

10-Year Service Intervals seems to still be in question despite what the blogs say........

[Blnrwearer]

I personally will definitely go with 10 year service interval, unless I observe obvious change in accuracy/reserve power/etc.

[gwozhog]

If it ain't broke don't worry about it. Wear until the hands fall off.