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Service interval scams?

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Conundrum1911

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#29 · (Edited)
MX793 said:
IIRC, Omega is among the ranks of companies that have an "all inclusive" service price. You pay the same whether they have to replace half the movement due to wear or just clean and oil. In which case, run 'er 'til she breaks and then get it serviced.

If service pricing does not include replacement of parts, you may want to consider preventative maintenance. You'd need to do a cost benefit analysis.
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This pretty much -- If it is the same cost for an oiling as it is for an overhaul, why bring it in for service until it is actually needed. With cars, they get serviced since forgoing $100 oil changes end in thousands spend replacing the engine.

Also, service intervals are set more or less for a watch that is worn daily, and never rests. I'm pretty sure there is a big difference in service required for a watch that runs 365 days a year, vs one that sees a few days of wrist time every month or so.

Then, there is also the debate when it comes to cheaper movements -- It never really makes sense to pay $300-500 every x years to oil a movement that can be completely swapped out and replaced for under $100 when it finally starts losing time.
 
el_duderino

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#31 ·
Squashracquets said:
Is it time to call BS on this whole regular service thing?
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No. It's little mechanical devices with lubricants in them. Servicing them is necessary.

If you want a reasonably reliable and accurate watch, have it serviced every seven years if it's a modern watch / at least every three years if it's a vintage one.

If you don't really care, wait until the watch starts making problems (running way too slow for example). The service itself will be more costly because some parts might have to be changed due to wear, but you'll have saved a lot of money from not doing regular services in between. So in the end this is the cheaper alternative.

But if it's a watch with a cheap mass produced movement, forget about servicing altogether. Simply exchanging the whole thing for a new movement is cheaper than a service.
 
sceva

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#33 ·
Just curious; What does a normal watch service consist of and what is the cost range?

I was reading that watches with the Seiko NH35, 36 or 38 movements or even the more expensive Miyota 9015 movement it is probably a better route to just have the movement replaced if and when it starts to show issues rather than actually having them services at regular intervals.
 
docvail

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#35 ·
Squashracquets said:
...worn every day for 53 years and never opened until it finally stopped...
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So...after 50+ years without maintenance, the movement stopped dead, apparently, and wouldn't restart, until it was cleaned, lubed, and the main spring was replaced?

And this is the proof that movements don't need occasional servicing?

Using the car analogy, if someone never changed their oil, oil filters, air filters, or spark plugs, and their car ran for 20 years before the engine died, would we say that all the recommended maintenance which was skipped had no impact? Do we want to know what sort of fuel economy the car got in its later years, or how well it accelerated?

Can we allow that, had the watch been occasionally serviced, the main spring may not have needed replacement, and the movement may not have stopped dead?

Do we know what sort of performance the movement had in the more recent years leading up to its stopping dead? Is it possible that it wasn't keeping good time, or that it may not have run for the full duration of its normal power reserve?

I'm not suggesting that every movement ought to be strictly maintained according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Perhaps the service interval can be stretched a bit more for a less-frequently worn watch.

But to say that no movement should be serviced until it breaks seems like tacit acknowledgement that a lack of service will probably lead to it breaking, and in all likelihood a more costly repair.
 
midshipman01

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#36 ·
sceva said:
Just curious; What does a normal watch service consist of and what is the cost range?

I was reading that watches with the Seiko NH35, 36 or 38 movements or even the more expensive Miyota 9015 movement it is probably a better route to just have the movement replaced if and when it starts to show issues rather than actually having them services at regular intervals.
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For a Seiko like those mentioned, in the 2-300 range would be "normal" for a tip to tail service. So yes, it probably does make more sense to movement swap unless the owner has a sentimental attachment. For something like a Rolex factory service you're going to be closer to $800 - $1000 for what they consider a full service, not including additional wear items that aren't included in the service cost like bracelets.
 
Cdavis0590

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#38 ·
Preventative maintenance is basically just an insurance plan. Do you charge your cars oil after the engine fails, or periodically to prevent a failure? Does your car just up and quit if you miss an oil change?
Mechanical parts need lubricants. How long that lubricant lasts depends on its quality, the cleanliness at time of lubrication, the resistance to foreign debris, temperature and humidity.
 
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