When To Service

[jshepard]

I know that the recommended service intervals is 3-5 years but if a watch is still running within manufacturers specs should you still have it serviced to prevent losing/gaining too much time? Would Rolex even open it up and service it if it were still running up to specs or would they just polish it and charge you for the polish? Thanks!

[Brushpup]

After a given number of years, say 5+ give or take, they will say it needs service no matter how well it is running. They may insist, and you can deny, but that may be all you can do and have the watch returned. Watches also need periodic changing of seals as part of service and this is improtant. It's one reason they will insist on complete service and warranty thereof.

[jshepard]

Thanks for the response, I'm asking because I bought a protection plan when I bought my watch 3 years ago and the SA said included with the unlimited polishes and extended warranty was a free service before it expires. Now I'm a month away from 3 years and I called regarding the service and they're telling me they test the watch and if it runs within specs they don't even open it up to service, they polish it and give it back to you. I don't even care about the polish nor was I worried about breaking it (I was content with the standard Rolex warranty), I only purchased it for the service I thought I was gonna get. The watch is runs great, so it looks like I bought a really expensive polish job! I should've just saved that money towards an actual service when I needed it.

[jjnd08]

You'll get varying opinions on this. I'd say service it when it needs a servicing. But get a pressure test done annually if you swim with it.

[Brushpup]

I say leave it alone for at least another two years unless you have a problem. No polishing especially nothing unless you have to get something fixed. Everyone is different, but I never buy warranties on retail products.

[Bangel]

Two schools of thought.

There's the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it crowd" versus the preventative maintenance mob.

I'm more towards the latter, much like getting my car serviced at regular intervals.

[jshepard]

I'll bring it in have them check it, hopefully they include a pressure check. If all they're gonna do is polish it, I probably won't do it, I'm afraid of having a second regret if it becomes a piss poor polish job when I'm perfectly content with the minor scratches I've collected in the past 3 years. I usually don't go for these extended warranties myself but I thought getting a service included was a good idea not knowing there was a catch... Lesson learned!

[jshepard]

Originally Posted by Bangel

Two schools of thought.



There's the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it crowd" versus the preventative maintenance mob.



I'm more towards the latter, much like getting my car serviced at regular intervals.

Yes, I agree with the preventative maintenance, but apparently Tourneau doesn't service it "if it ain't broke," especially since it's the service supposedly included in the protection plan I've already purchased when I bought the watch.

[Bangel]

Originally Posted by jshepard

Yes, I agree with the preventative maintenance, but apparently Tourneau doesn't service it "if it ain't broke," especially since it's the service supposedly included in the protection plan I've already purchased when I bought the watch.

Sorry, I didn't fully appreciate your situation earlier in that you were actually referring to your protection plan.

In this case, I would definitely skip it. In the absence of any issues, 3 years would be too soon for a service for me (my AD recommends 5 years). I also don't see any point in getting a polish if you are "perfectly content" with its appearance. As you mention, I agree the only potentially worthwhile thing would be a pressure test.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It shows it's definitely worth reading the "fine print" when it comes to extended warranties. Let us know how it pans out.

[Snow-Dweller]

Service when it starts to have problems

[bp1000]

Tough call for me

My gmt is 7 years old but it's my most accurate rolex. It is almost flat perfect time keeping daily. Gains 1-2 seconds at most.

Clicks over on date closer to midnight than my others too.

It's very consistent too. Apart from a few dings and scratches it's in great shape.

[VICI]

It's more marketing and profit generating than necessity.

I'd leave it till you notice something is off.

I have a DJ that was last serviced in 2008 which funds perfectly.

[rozyd]

I suppose a better question might be this. If it is currently running within specs, and let's say it's plus 2, and there are no problems, but you send it out for service, and it comes back running plus 3, will that upset you? It is still within spec....

[Roger1079]

Originally Posted by jshepard

Thanks for the response, I'm asking because I bought a protection plan when I bought my watch 3 years ago and the SA said included with the unlimited polishes and extended warranty was a free service before it expires. Now I'm a month away from 3 years and I called regarding the service and they're telling me they test the watch and if it runs within specs they don't even open it up to service, they polish it and give it back to you. I don't even care about the polish nor was I worried about breaking it (I was content with the standard Rolex warranty), I only purchased it for the service I thought I was gonna get. The watch is runs great, so it looks like I bought a really expensive polish job! I should've just saved that money towards an actual service when I needed it.

This sounds like the Tourneau extended warranty. I fell victim to it as well with my first Breitling and will never do it again. Running within COSC specs is only a small part of the testing during service. There are many time lapse videos on You Tube of what services truly encompass and the extended warranty stores offer is usually a waste of money, the same as it is with a car. As others have said, it is recommended to change seals at certain intervals to maintain integrity of the water proofness and simply testing the watch gaining or losing time and polishing it does not even begin to provide any sort of true service. The first and lash polish job I got for free on my SuperOcean Chrono was mediocre at best and not only shined the parts, but visibly wore them down. The jeweler that did it obviously had no clue what he was doing.

I would just treat it as a learning experience and consider it a make once mistake. If you are a believer in what the factory recommends, send the watch to the manufacturer's service center and have it serviced completely and properly. That being said, I know many people with Rolex watches among others who have far exceeded the recommended service interval, sometimes by a decade or more, and have watches that operate perfectly. The choice is yours, but at the very least I would forget about the money lost on the extended "warranty" and never look back.

[Sammk]

What about in my case? I use a watch winder meaning my watches are running nearly all the time (although I give 10 days off the winder every other month). Should I get it serviced in 3 years or should I wait for the 5 year mark? I'm the "maintainance" kinda guy rather than "fix it when it has a problem" kinda guy.

Originally Posted by Bangel

Sorry, I didn't fully appreciate your situation earlier in that you were actually referring to your protection plan.

In this case, I would definitely skip it. In the absence of any issues, 3 years would be too soon for a service for me (my AD recommends 5 years). I also don't see any point in getting a polish if you are "perfectly content" with its appearance. As you mention, I agree the only potentially worthwhile thing would be a pressure test.

Thanks for sharing your experience. It shows it's definitely worth reading the "fine print" when it comes to extended warranties. Let us know how it pans out.

[Choo Yao Chuen]

The longer your interval for servicing, the more parts to be replaced......

[Rags]

Originally Posted by jjnd08

you'll get varying opinions on this. I'd say service it when it needs a servicing. But get a pressure test done annually if you swim with it.

x2

[Poly]

I've had my subd since 2004, and I've not serviced it all. It is gaining some time, so I'm probably going to send it off in the next few months.

[Demonoid]

I say service when it breaks or if you notice something is not right (gaining time, loosing time, sticking date etc).

[Snow-Dweller]

Originally Posted by Demonoid

I say service when it breaks or if you notice something is not right (gaining time, loosing time, sticking date etc).

Here here.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by jshepard

Thanks for the response, I'm asking because I bought a protection plan when I bought my watch 3 years ago and the SA said included with the unlimited polishes and extended warranty was a free service before it expires. Now I'm a month away from 3 years and I called regarding the service and they're telling me they test the watch and if it runs within specs they don't even open it up to service, they polish it and give it back to you. I don't even care about the polish nor was I worried about breaking it (I was content with the standard Rolex warranty), I only purchased it for the service I thought I was gonna get. The watch is runs great, so it looks like I bought a really expensive polish job! I should've just saved that money towards an actual service when I needed it.

Well, this is certainly a way to take your money. Another strike against Tourneau as far as I can see and likely a tactic to get more money into a salesmans pocket at the time of purchase..

Don't know where you got your "3 to 5 year" information. Rolex is clear and state that they recommend "about every 5 years, depending on use". This means to me that if I use it heavily in harsh conditions, 5 is my target. If it is in rotation with another few watches then 10 years wouldn't be out of the question. Only 3 years and it's barely broken in..

[jshepard]

Originally Posted by Tools

Well, this is certainly a way to take your money. Another strike against Tourneau as far as I can see and likely a tactic to get more money into a salesmans pocket at the time of purchase..



Don't know where you got your "3 to 5 year" information. Rolex is clear and state that they recommend "about every 5 years, depending on use". This means to me that if I use it heavily in harsh conditions, 5 is my target. If it is in rotation with another few watches then 10 years wouldn't be out of the question. Only 3 years and it's barely broken in..

Yeah, the SA said I get a free "overhaul" as the SA called it, before the warranty expires. It doesn't really matter thought cause that technically isn't written on the pamphlet that they gave about the warranty, and technically you will get a free overhaul in the case it goes out of specs, so technically he wasn't lying so one point Tourneau and I walk away with a valuable lesson. As far as 3-5 years, I know I read that somewhere, it was more of general watch info than towards a specific brand. I had the warranty for 3 years and if I was to get a free "overhaul", then why not if its included in the plan, at least that covers me for another 5 years rather than having to put money down for service 2 years from now, I thought of it as paying for service with the perks of repair for accidental damage for the next 3 years. It's alright though, I walk away a bit wiser. Thanks everyone for their insight!

[Tools]

Consider yourself fortunate..

I would not want a Tourneau technician taking my Rolex apart without knowing who and what credentials he/she had. That extra year of warranty they give you is not a Rolex overhaul but their own choice of watchmaker to do the job..

Especially if their "overhaul" is a quick shake and tick-test and declaration that it's "serviced"..

[andrewd]

unlimited polishes within a 3 year period? yikes!

[Bangel]

Originally Posted by Sammk

What about in my case? I use a watch winder meaning my watches are running nearly all the time (although I give 10 days off the winder every other month). Should I get it serviced in 3 years or should I wait for the 5 year mark? I'm the "maintainance" kinda guy rather than "fix it when it has a problem" kinda guy.

My Sub Date is my one and only. I bought it over 3 years ago and it has never stopped running since walking out of the AD with it on my wrist.

I won't be servicing it until it hits the 5 year mark at the very least.

My approach is the same as what Tools posted earlier. I interpret the company line "about every 5 years, depending on use" as a 5 year minimum (i.e. worst case) service interval.

Others may think differently.

[Vanessa CW21]

I'll put in my .02c

Have it serviced when you notice a problem. Either running fast, slow, a low power reserve (stopping at night), or calender issues. If you drop it, have it checked for a broken rotor axle. When you shatter a crystal, have it completely serviced (even if your watch is only a month old).

My own watch is now almost 8 years old. I never put it on my timing machine, but I haven't noticed it running fast or slow although it may be out of specs, but I don't really check the accuracy... Unless something is totally wrong, I won't bother to service it.
So, my point is, if YOU think something isn't right, have it checked/serviced if needed.
Now, if you wait 15 years EXPECT additional parts needing replacement, and don't assume because "it ran perfectly for 15 years" not much can be wrong, besides some dry oil.
It's all about expectations.

When it comes to free polishing offered by AD's. DON'T DO IT!! It's a sales tactic and you're just destroying your watch.

[bluerolex]

Originally Posted by jshepard

I'll bring it in have them check it, hopefully they include a pressure check. If all they're gonna do is polish it, I probably won't do it, I'm afraid of having a second regret if it becomes a piss poor polish job when I'm perfectly content with the minor scratches I've collected in the past 3 years. I usually don't go for these extended warranties myself but I thought getting a service included was a good idea not knowing there was a catch... Lesson learned!

Yes. Lesson learned. Those extended warranties if you have to pay for them are usually rip off.

In my opinion the service portion of your extended warranted is made in bad faith. They sold you a service knowing that it was not only not necessary in 3 years time but not recommended by Rolex. Maybe you can ask for a partial refund.

By the way if I had a 3 years old Rolex (unless I beat it up) and it is working right I would not have anyone else but Rolex do any kind of service on it. In fact, if I buy a rolex new and the AD have an in store extended warranty that comes with the watch. I would try to get a cash discount in place of it. But that is just me.

[jshepard]

Originally Posted by andrewd

unlimited polishes within a 3 year period? yikes!

Yeah, haha I mean you shouldn't polish it all the time, but the option is there when you need it polished. Believe it or not the SA encouraged me to take advantage of it and get it polished to "keep it looking new", I didn't comment...

[locutus49]

Keep in mind that nowadays with synthetic oils and certain parts, servicing intervals are actually longer. I'm of the school that with moderate use it should go 7 years between service (ideally). Just my experience. I had a DJ 1601 that went 10 years before the first service, and that was in the early 80's.

[RHIII]

For me...it's when something's not right...this is a "different strokes for different folks" question really.