paulr

How often do you get it serviced?
Is it important to keep a service record?
Do you send it to the manufacturer?
How much does it cost and how long does it take?

Just wondering what everyone's attitude is.Some people only do something when it go's wrong.

Thanks
Paul...

yoza

What make is the watch?

I dont keep my watches serviced, "if it aint broke, dont try to fix it". If they start to lose or gain time, I would send them away, but "touch wood" Ive never had a problem.

Proud Rolex, Omega, Breitling owner.

Dracoro

I've had a cheap(£100) Accurist watch for many many years and it's only needed a new battery. Servicing, unless broken, should never really be necessary IMHO. Apart from a new batters, my accurist is VERY accurate and has never lost/gained any time in all the years I've had it. Super VFM.

Shark

[Edited by Shark - 9/9/2003 8:48:48 PM]

yoza

Drac,
You dont need to mess with Quartz watches other than like youve said changing the battery, and re-sealing. But an automatic is a different kettle of fish. They are by rights supposed to be serviced at regular intervals, to keep them accurate.

A bit mad really when they are so much more expensive than their reliable quartz counterparts. But then again if your climbing Everest you would be better off with an auto, because there arent many jewellers on the top to change a battery

Anyway dont start me on watches, Ill be here all night.

Shark

On a more serious note I intend to have it serviced when it's 2 and every two years after that.

I think that’s what Rolex recommend?

David

Shark

yoza

Remind me what Rolex you have, and am I right about the official service interval.

Cheers

David

yoza

At the moment the Explorer in the picture, and a GMT MASTER II.

The Explorer is as the photo, and the GMT is red,black bezel with black face.

Shark

Nice, but why do you need two

David

yoza

Two, try fourteen........not Rolex's though. (I wish).

Ridge Racer

the rolex in the picture has stopped !! might need servicing !!

beemerboy

Yoza, you have far too much time on your hands....

gaffaw, gaffaw...

BB

PS: Its a shame Rolex's are less accurate than a £2 casio from the market though!!

paulr

Shark....have you had a quote for a service yet?

Diablo

Hi,

Rolex recommend at least every 5 years. Not sure about the other manufacturers.

You could ask on this fantastic watch resource

Lots of americans, but a good few europeans post as well.

I'd always go back to the manufacturer. For one, a rolex service by Rolex UK is like a bare metal respray and rebuild, rather than an oil change.

They completely disassemble case and movement, clean it all, reoil, replace gaskets/seals (and anything else you want) polish and refinish the case, etc, etc.

Not cheap,but you more or less get it back "as new"

D

paulr

Good advice i'd say Diablo.
My only concern is the cost.Blancpain service cost is betwwen 200 and 350 quid,every 5 years.I would imagine Rolex may not be far off.
(correct me if i'm wrong)

Diablo

Much the same.

Used to have a vintage cosmograph daytona.

Last service (4 years ago) was £385

But then I sold it for a tidy sum

Its a difficult call - there's not much they do at a standard service that would be different to, say, a repair after it stopped from lack of service.

But then I didn't buy a precision timepiece (Rolex Sub date) not expecting to have to pay for services.

And I say precision with conviction. Its more accurate than my Casio G shock..

Which model do you have Paul?

Mossman

Just had my Breitling serviced and repaire and that was £170.
Latest watch is a Panerai 118 and it is gorgeous!!! The workmanship and quality put the Breitling to shame.

Mossman

PaulT00

I've got a Breitling Navitimer which is nearly 30 years old. It's recently stopped working so it needs to go back for repair and service (even though I had it serviced only a couple of years ago). However, I've been told that one that age is now considered a "vintage" model and that servicing could cost as much as 600 quid! Anybody else encountered this? The really galling thing is it's only "worth" about 1000 quid in fully working order, but having inherited it from my father it's "worth" a lot more than that to me... but from a purely financial viewpoint it's more or less "beyond economic repair".

jbryant

I have an 5 year old automatic Tag that needs servicing. Cost varies from shop to shop but I've been told £110-£120. Seen a friend's Seamaster come back from service as the bezel had smashed off and it looked brand new!!

Does servicing make these things any more accurate?

Joolz

Brendan Hughes

My last rolex service (GMT II) was 170 quid from rolex in kent. It really did come back looking like from the factory.

Next one will be 170 EUROS from Rolex in Portugal.

Does it make it more accurate? Should, but mine didn't.

Every 4-5 yrs unless you plan to do a lot of diving, then more like every 2 yrs (seals should be checked).

Brendan

Luke

Got to be rich to keep a good auto running..

Funny my man who sells me good fakes never mentions bringing them back for a service!! And my Vacheron has been running fine for nearly 3 years....so how much have i saved??!!

I wonder how much of this sevicing stuff is a ripp off???

paulr

Diablo....dont own anything yet,i'm just thinking ahead before i buy something.
I want an automatic watch but not a chrono.Just cant decide what model though.

Diablo

Quick addition:-

Yes I'd keep the service record, for one you get a years guarantee with most, and if you are ever looking at resale or trade in it should add value.

You'll be looking at a £250 at least to service an Explorer II



[Edited by Diablo - 9/10/2003 8:32:03 AM]