To service or not to service, that is the question...

[biscotti]

Hello everyone,
I have a Yachmaster that is now 6 years old. Apart from running a bit fast, I have had no problems with this watch. I have talked to many people and it remains 50:50 with regards to have it serviced or not. I'm really on the fence about this, just want to do what would be best for longevity of the watch. Your opinions please.

[Darlinboy]

I would go ahead and have it serviced. I am a big believer in preventive maintenance.

[sleddog]

Rolex recommends 5 year service intervals, but I personally push it out to 7 unless I sense an issue beforehand....

I'd recommend a service in the near future!

[BOA]

See what you can get out of it. I mean, they're still going to send it back after service like new, so what's the difference? Unless I see a breakdown of service costs that show how it gets increasingly expensive after five years, I go with letting it run as long as nothing feels out of kilter. For myself, I usually end up sending them in anyway at about five years, and it's usually because the winding gets a grind to it that I don't like, but still, those stories of people going thirty years without a service sort of warm the heart, and I can't imagine the total cost of a service at that point would be more than the total for six on-schedule services over those years. Just thinking out loud.

[mmmk604]

You might as well do it now instead of waiting for a problem to arise.
It'll come back good as new!

[GradyPhilpott]

Have the watch serviced.

Not doing so is like waiting to change your oil until you need a set of rings or worse.

[Lt.Arclight]

A bit fast? How much? A sure way to check the overall health of the movement is to put it on a timing machine to check the balances amplitude. As the lubricants degrade the ampitude will start to drop. And you will see bigger changes in rate from dial up or down to crown down or crown left. Eventually the amplitude will drop enough to cause a big change,ie the watch will gain seconds drastically.

If the winding starts to get scratchy, I would get it serviced asap because there are parts that ARE literally metal to metal and extensive wear will equal a HUGE repair bill.

I think 5-6 years is probably the real average time that service SHOULD be done. Especially if its a daily wear watch. You can opt out of the case polishing/reconditioning but preventative maintenance is a good idea.

[drjfc62]

I pushed the envelope with my TT sub--it had been about 8 years since servicing when it just quit on me. Cost me the $600 servicing plus $300 more in repair...so I learned my lesson and would agree with the preventive maintenance recommendation.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by drjfc62

I pushed the envelope with my TT sub--it had been about 8 years since servicing when it just quit on me. Cost me the $600 servicing plus $300 more in repair...so I learned my lesson and would agree with the preventive maintenance recommendation.

What was it and how did you find out it cost the extra 300 becuase you waited?

[drjfc62]

Good question. Of course, I can't be sure that the delay in servicing was directly related to the watch no longer functioning. To be honest, I forget now what I was told as to what the exact problem was, but I did have to replace parts that were not part of the normal servicing...so perhaps it wasn't connected. Sorry I can't be more specific. Still, next time I'll send it in sooner!

[vette boy 52]

I find 6 - 7 years between servicing. But then again I wear my watches is a form of rotation and may take it out to 8 years depending on how much a paticular watch is worn and how it is running. I have found that when a watch starts gaining time from the normal it has been running it is time for a service.

[gregdolley]

Originally Posted by BOA

<snip> "...those stories of people going thirty years without a service sort of warm the heart, and I can't imagine the total cost of a service at that point would be more than the total for six on-schedule services over those years. Just thinking out loud."

Speaking of 30 years without service - my Dad's explorer (that he got in 1978) was never serviced until about a year ago. I played with it before the service and it was working perfectly. He still felt that he should send it in just in case, it was over 30 years after all... RSC said there was nothing wrong with it, they just did the standard clean & lube and it was good to go.

So I'm kind of partial to the whole service every 5 years deal. I think they just say that as a precaution, and to make more money. I think 99% percent of Rolexes would be fine if they were serviced once every 10 years.

My day-date, while I've only had it for just under three years, the serial # is from about 2005 (so almost eight years old now) - I've never serviced it, and it's still working perfectly (prior to my ownership, it was sitting on the AD's shelf, so I know it wasn't serviced by anyone before me).

My DJ serial is from about 2008 (the year I got it), so almost five years old now (damn, time flies!), and it's still working perfectly too.

If you take reasonably good care of your watches I think servicing every 5 years is unnecessary. More like every 8 - 10 years I think is ideal.

[Hairdude1]

Send it in! Can't wait to see the new/old watch

[turboevo2]

I say 8-10 years service it. 6 years just too early!

[roadcarver]

The longer you wait, the more it will cost since some parts will wear out and may need replacement. 7 years is what it took before my 16600 went for service, no replacement parts needed. When I brought it in for service, the rotor when it was rotating was actually causing vibration through the case.

[jedinite]

My TT sub stopped working after 19 years, got in sent in to RSC Singapore, including Crystal change set me back CAD$760

[powerband]

My father-inlaw's gold presidential has not been serviced once since he purchased it new almost 2 decades ago. Running at +6 seconds per day. He sees no reason for service unless the watch makes him really late for his meds.

[Bangel]

I would get it serviced.

Then again, I do tend to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for just about everything I own.

[wokafu]

not break...no service...

[caryyee]

I hear plenty of stories of watches going fine for 20 years and not requiring anything more that a standard service, so for my watches, since they are on rotation, getting worn approx 2 months per year (I have 6 watches), I think I'll be happy extending the service interval out to 10-12 years.

Cars are different, have never heard of a car going without an oil change or a service for 20 years and still performing fine ...

[Runnin' Rebel]

I have 7 in rotation, my coke GMT is my daily watch, that one will get a service every 5-6 years. The rest 7-8 years or if I notice an issue, sooner.

[withthesword]

I say get it serviced. People sometimes use cars as an example of preventive maintenance, but I prefer to think of it like our own bodies.

Like a Rolex, we may keep ticking away with no problems for 20 years at a time. But we are recommended to get a yearly checkup, right? It's like a human maintenance schedule.

Imagine not seeing a doctor for 10 years and finding out that you are now dying from something completely preventable if only you'd caught it earlier. Or worse yet, we do the human equivalent to "wait till it stops ticking."

If you do your watch PM, some things can be caught early. And if you wait till it stops ticking, it might get really expensive to repair.

Best Regards,

Matte




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gbcecil]

Have it serviced for sure, I have a good place shows a watch diagram so you can look the Rolex over and identify the parts on the outside that may need attention.

[tattooedfagin]

If worn daily I'd say get it serviced, rotated with others then 7/8 years perhaps...RSC serviced my 1680 last year, hadn't been touched since 1982 yet still worked fine.....luckily nothing was needed other than a movement service but that's by no means the norm

[Psmith]

Depends...

How fast is it running? If it's very fast, say 10+ secs/day, then I would have it serviced (even if the fast running turns out to be just poor regulation)

If it is still within COSC (+ 6 secs/day) and consistently so - the key word here being consistently, as erratic running is a bad sign - then I might leave it another year

Personally, I would have a watch serviced every 5 years unless it has had a pampered life, in which case I would extend this to 7 years

[zama]

When you know the history I think you can stretch to 10 if it is on rotation, if it has been a daily wearer as you should assume buying new to you, then Service is good. I pick up my Tudor Tiger Chrono having just had its service for this reason (took it in the day after I got it), now I know it is good to go and right and that is worth the safety.

[Singslinger]

I would send the watch for a full Rolex service. Prevention is better than cure, IMHO.

[Chipmunk]

After reading all the replies, you're back to 50:50.

I had the same situation with my GMT. Took it in to have it checked(serviced). The technician @ the RSC said my D serial watch didn't need service....oil was good, just a simple regulation.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Psmith

Depends...

How fast is it running? If it's very fast, say 10+ secs/day, then I would have it serviced (even if the fast running turns out to be just poor regulation)

If it is still within COSC (+ 6 secs/day) and consistently so - the key word here being consistently, as erratic running is a bad sign - then I might leave it another year

Personally, I would have a watch serviced every 5 years unless it has had a pampered life, in which case I would extend this to 7 years

Dont 95% of all Rolex watches get a pampered life today after reading the thousands post on forum.

[Roller07]

I would definitly have it serviced even if everything seems to be running well. I learned the hard way with my Breitling Chronomat i bought in 96. I never had it serviced because it ran just fine and then just 2 weeks ago it stopped running and is going to cost $900 to repair. On the bright side, this misfortune is making me look at a Rolex and i can't wait.