hi there,
Feel free to contact Rolex directly via email, rolexservice@rusa.com or call 833-765-3900 and they will direct you to the closest service center OR give you instructions in how to mail it to them. If you think it is 10 y/o then yes, it is due for service.

 

How much does a service generally run? does it help to have the watch in a watchwinder when not in use? I generally just set it in the drawer for months at a time,,,

 

I would venture to guess at least $800 for just a basic service.

 

According to Caring for your Rolex - Frequently Asked Questions | Rolex®

“Why is servicing important for my Rolex watch?” / “How often should a Rolex watch be serviced?”

To guarantee continued accuracy and waterproofness, Rolex recommends that you periodically return your watch to an Official Rolex Jeweler or Service Centre for professional servicing. It is recommended to service your Rolex approximately every 10 years depending on the model and real-life usage.

 

800 bucks?? wow.....I was savin for another sub too....

 

Everytime you walk into the AD.

Oh, scratch that, I misread it as 'How often should you service your Rolex SA?'

I would venture to guess at least $800 for just a basic service.

800 bucks?? wow.....I was savin for another sub too....

Just got a quote 2 months ago for my Dad's Submariner to get its first service after 14 years of ownership. @dfwcowboy is right - the standard service cost for a Rolex Watch with just Date Complication is $800 right now, with an estimated 16 - 18 week turnaround time (I sent his in in November, and am expecting return by the end of April) His service cost is a bit higher than the $800 though because he managed to scratch the sapphire crystal, the cyclops and scratch/chip the ceramic bezel insert and I'm having Rolex replace those as additional add-on costs.

The $800 that Rolex is demanding for the Submariner is a bit pricy compared to the $750 that Omega quoted for my Speedmaster (Chronograph) servicing, but these are the price of admission. You don't HAVE to follow Manufacturer recommendation - neither dad nor I did with our watches. I didn't turn the Speedy in until it had an actual failure, and Dad only turned his in for a service after 14 years because he became less gunshy after mine was returned with nary a hiccup.

 

I’m a firm believer in “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. In my opinion, a watch is due for a service as soon as it starts to lose, or gain time and or any other mechanical mishaps that could happen. If you do plan on submerging your watch it would be beneficial to have a yearly pressure test done and inspect seals.

 

Will watchmakers open it up jut to inspect the gaskets & seals w/o servicing it?

 

I generally just set it in the drawer for months at a time,,,

I was savin for another sub too....

So you rarely wear the one you already own but you want to buy another? Saving to buy an LV or LB?

 

Yes, once I have another I will wear the current one everyday. A sub no date is pretty much the only watch I want

 

A buddy of mine bought a sub in 1999. He has been a one watch guy except for a doxa thrown in here and there as of late. Never had a service and is keeping excellent time. Worn with the vibrations of Harley riding since 1999 as well with impulse motions.

This has made me lean toward the service when time is not being kept belief.

 

If you are asking about when to do the service, then I would ask if the watch is keeping accurate time, and is the power reserve normal? It's ten years old, you say? Probably due for service now is my guess.

 

I had 2 Daytonas serviced in the last few years. 10+ years of regular use on both ( not at same time😛) $1000 +- for the service.

rolex gives you a 2 year warranty that’s transferable.

a side benefit is that if you don’t have original paperwork, the watch is effectively authenticated by Rolex..worthwhile if you want ever want to sell the watch

 

Only service if something goes wrong.....
They will charge you the same for 5 years as 15 year interval......approximately.
They will automatically replace most of the same parts including the same polish job.
Full service use to be $400~700.....now more like $800~1,200.

 

💯
(Few hundred more if you go with a boutique service. RollieWorks, IWW)

 

~10 years old and you take it swimming? Personally, I’d get it serviced.

If you didn’t take it in the water, I’d just say run it until something breaks or the timing is no longer acceptable.

 

Being 10 years old, regardless of how much it’s been worn, I would get my watch serviced. Spending $800-$1k to get a watch serviced is steep but it comes with the brand. I’ve realized I don’t want a watch box full of the same expensive brand for this reason.

 

Very prudent evaluation & advice. watches are like cars, property, etc., and have to be maintained properly.👏

 

2 times a week

 

Has anyone had a 5 year old watch serviced and a 15-20 year old watch serviced for first time at RSC? Was the cost of replacement parts 2-3 times more for the older watch?

 

Serviced my Subby date after it started to lose time, when the previous 28 years it had gained slightly.

After a £425 Rolex approved specialist service, it now runs at a slight gain as before, presumably for the next 29 years.

Its your watch, service it when you like, but I am firmly in the “If it’s running well then it's fine” camp.

 

I would be a bit more proactive about it. When the 10 year mark rolls around, get it serviced. I wouldn't wait for it to stop working or start losing accuracy.

 

You don't service a Sub. Ever.

If it needs a service before the 3rd generation finds it in an underwear drawer, send it back for a warranty repair.

 

I’m a firm believer in “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. In my opinion, a watch is due for a service as soon as it starts to lose, or gain time and or any other mechanical mishaps that could happen.

This is a good point, but realistically if it has lost amplitude, things are worn out an need to be replaced. Ideally you would service the watch before things started wearing out.

800 bucks?? wow.....I was savin for another sub too....

Typical for luxurywatches. Fratello just had a pod where they were discussing this and said if AD's were honest, they would be upfront about this.

Its one reason why I tend to prefer a good ETA movement - that thing can get serviced for $200 all over the world.

 

All good information. I don't think this subject has come up before.

 

I took my speedy in for a service to a local watchmaker that I trust. He rebuilt a vintage JLC I had. He told me not to bother until there was an issue (timekeeping, etc). So that’s what I go with.
But I can see the argument behind regular intervals for maintenance

 

By the time that the oil dries out, won’t it run poorly hinting a service without even having a timegrapher, and before the gears grinding into powder? Serious question here

You may not even notice that it's running poorly until it is too late. From Archer's post I linked earlier :

Timekeeping is not a reliable indicator that a watch is in need of service. I see watches often that keep great time, but are a mess inside as there are many components inside a watch that are not directly related to the timekeeping function. Certainly if your watch suddenly begins to lose or gain time, this can be a sign it needs service, but the absence of a change, which is what some use as an indicator of "everything's fine inside" is certainly not true.

By the time you notice something is off, it's usually too late to rectify the problem with a simple disassembly and some new oil. At that point repairs will be necessary.
As I said in my previous post, it's not the end of the world as long as it's easy to get the necessary parts. But when a manufacturer stops making those parts, or when you're dealing with in-house movements of companies that went under during the quartz crisis/revolution, it's a whole other story.

For example : If my 1950s Mercator (see spoiler) ever needs parts, I can either look for other Mercators on Ebay, buy all that seem to be a similar size and hope that at least one of them contains the correct part in a usable condition, or I could have the part custom-made by a watchmaker who specializes in these one-off cases. Both options will set me back several times more than the cost of a regular overhaul.

Spoiler: photo

 

In my view, I don't believe it's essential to regularly service modern movements. Drawing from my personal experience with my Omega Speedmaster, I've found that the cost of replacement parts is minimal compared to the overall servicing expense. When my Speedmaster suffered significant damage from a fall and required repair, I paid for the servicing without any additional charges for the replacement parts. This led me to conclude that the expense of replacement parts is relatively insignificant when compared to the total cost of servicing. If we choose not to service the watch and continue using it until a component breaks, replacing any parts shouldn't pose a problem.