longest time one has not service rolex

[touchdowntodd]

i honestly can say ill pressure test it every few years, but im not takin it off til it isnt workin.. i would rather have a $1500 service every 25 years than $6-700 every 5 years just to be carefull... no matter what wahtever wears out will wear out, doesnt help to have Rolex look into it every 5 years, polish it up, and send it back to you with a large bill IMHO...

[zseriessub]

I bought a pre-owned DJ that was a 1988 model and had never been serviced - I gave it its first trip to RSC. So it went 20 years.

[Rikki]

The plain facts are that up until 1986 I believe the law in this country was anything manufactured or sold in this country the company had to supply parts for 50 years which a few companies still do, but by law they now only have to supply for 8 years. I believe the term is planned obsolesence. We live in a throw away society which has turned us all into a consumerism society. It's called throw it in the gutter and go buy anutter. I'm not in any way referring to Rolex just consumer goods at large. Why do you think we buy hammers from China because they cost 2 bucks an American hammer will cost substantially more but will last a lifetime. We are all programmed this way in the last 25 years even I go to Harbor freight to but a tool cheap to do 1 job and if it lasts longer than that well so much the better but I don't bank on it. Sorry to get on a rant been listening to Denis Miller too much lately Rik

[Waller]

I bought my 1971 1500 in 1978 in a pawn shop (so it was probably never serviced from new)

Never serviced in the 42 years since, working fine. It spent about 10 years in a drawer that was frequently opened and closed, so it was probably ticking away for some of that time.

Its been swimming on me since being put back in service, no moisture issues.

[dieselophile]

2003 SS Submariner - 10 years since my last service, its actually giving me better time than before, which worries me that something has changed!, it used to run a few seconds fast per day, now its just a hair fast - Im in the process of setting up to get it serviced.

[Snowbob]

I bought my GMT "coke" new in January 2000. Wore it every day for 20 years, the red on the bezel faded to almost pink.
Finally decided to send it in to Rolex on March 9th, right before the spam hit the fan.
I saw an article, dated March 19th that said the factory was shut down for "at least 10 days" but haven't seen anything since.
Still waiting on the quote, wonder when I'll see my baby again?

[mrmarty]

15 years on my 16710, still running like a top

[joli160]

Resurrecting a thread from 2009

[214270Explorer]

My Oyster Perpetual Date from 1987, 29 years. First serviced in 2016.

However, it was not a daily wearer after about 15 years.

[donas]

I bought my Kermit around 2005, nothing done yet (and it's not a safe queen).

[sean1967]

I bought my gmt2 on 07/07.2007 strapped it on and have not taken it off since . its never been serviced but sometimes I clean it in the shower with a toothbrush, seems to be just fine

[TimeLord2]

Originally Posted by Rikki

No No No everyother year just for gaskets and wt not complete service please reread Thanx Rikki As far as the business goes most of the watchmakers I know are beyond busy I work 70 plus hours a week and have for years there's just not enough of us left out here to keep up with the demand for service. Here's a few numbers for ya Just Rolex makes approximately 900000 to 1 million watches a year I am 1 of under 400 Independant Rolex account holders in the USA that being said if you divide 400 into a million that's 2500 watches a year to fix this year not icluding last year and the year before and so on. In my most productive year as a lone man in a one man shop I can't do 1000 watche so every year I am going backwards 1500 watches so believe me when I say when to bring your watch in for service it's not from a I need the work perspective it's solely from I don't want you to ruin your 10 thousand dollar watch viewpoint. Now these are the numbers from just 1 Manufacturer I have parts accounts from over a dozen companies some of which are no longer available to new watchmakers. I service and repair between 40 and 70 watches a week of all makes and kinds full and partial service to just batteries it's a great job and I love it. So if you all have any questions I'm an open book as I have always been. Rikki

So you're Rikki! I have heard and seen many fine examples of your work. Thanks for sharing!

[GMT Aviator]

Same as above, I have a 2007 16710 Pepsi. Stick dial and one of the last ever made.
It’s in rotation now and doesn’t get a lot of use like it once did, but it’s never been serviced and still ticks away just fine 13 Years later. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

[kayaker21]

Watch was still keeping time to +4 sec per day.

[maveric]

Is there any harm done to watches by not servicing them ever?

[Dirt]

I've gone a little over 7 years for an infrequently worn mechanical watch as my longest.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by maveric

Is there any harm done to watches by not servicing them ever?

Of course, as they will eventually stop for one reason or another through water ingress or possible wear and tear.
The wear and tear component will vary depending on how the watch was used/worn.

It's important to note that certain components are routinely replaced as SOP at the time of service and don't appear on an invoice as an extra charge.

[sean1967]

Originally Posted by GMT Aviator

Same as above, I have a 2007 16710 Pepsi. Stick dial and one of the last ever made.
It’s in rotation now and doesn’t get a lot of use like it once did, but it’s never been serviced and still ticks away just fine 13 Years later. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

mine .. is also a stick dial, z serial & born a pepsi, you should put it back on … its the perfect watch for the times were living in

[Wck88]

4 to 5 years should be okay. 7 years at most.

[Ntoz]

Just 3 years

[tacotaco]

Rolex bots resurrecting a 11 year old thread to gain market and consumer insight

[malnik]

my SS Sub-C has never been serviced since I bought it 9 years ago. It's still going strong. With modern engineering and mechanical fluid, I doubt it will ever need service.

[jlovda]

Submariner 5513. 1980 to Aug. 2020. But then, it sat in a safety deposit box for 95% of that time. Been running great since the service.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by jlovda

Submariner 5513. 1980 to Aug. 2020. But then, it sat in a safety deposit box for 95% of that time. Been running great since the service.

Let’s see pics of this bad boy!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[stylinleems]

Fathers GMT bought Aug. 1999 - A serial.

Sold Nov. 2018. New owner serviced the watch just in case, but told me that it came back with nothing wrong it other than the usual (oils etc).

19 years (with no service) and still worked great!

[Juan Luis]

Every day for 15 years with my first Rolex. A Datejust.

[Kigan]

DJ 16200, 16 years, 2004-

[christosterone]

A few years...something always breaks lol

[LuxLemon]

Originally Posted by Snowbob

I bought my GMT "coke" new in January 2000. Wore it every day for 20 years, the red on the bezel faded to almost pink.
Finally decided to send it in to Rolex on March 9th, right before the spam hit the fan.
I saw an article, dated March 19th that said the factory was shut down for "at least 10 days" but haven't seen anything since.
Still waiting on the quote, wonder when I'll see my baby again?

Pics? Are you going to get a new bezel and everything polished?

[ltmgeller]

I got my TOG from an AD 18 years ago and it’s still keeping perfect time. I haven’t serviced it yet and probably won’t for a while. I won’t wear it in the water, but other than that, I wear it like the rest of my watches.