How often do you have your Rolex serviced

[The Lost Bears]

How often do you have your Rolex cleaned and serviced? My Explorer II is about 20 year old now. It works fine, but I am thinking it might be time to have it cleaned and serviced.

Also do you have any preference on which US service center to use? Thanks!

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by The Lost Bears

How often do you have your Rolex cleaned and serviced? My Explorer II is about 20 year old now. It works fine, but I am thinking it might be time to have it cleaned and serviced.

Also do you have any preference on which US service center to use? Thanks!

I had my GMT II for about 15 years before it started behaving a bit too erratically. I understand that, even if the watch still keeps decent time, it's a good idea to service it because as the various lubricants dry out you can seriously wear out some seriously expensive parts ... some costing 100x their weight in gold it seems :-).

I am lucky to live in the San Francisco Bay Area where they have one of the best in-house Rolex Authorized dealers.

Final bill was about $900 but it included a new black bezel ... for the Submariner's austere look with the GMT features.

Looked like new and works like new. Here's an after photo (sorry no before):



I am extremely happy. The way I see it, even if I have to spend, say, $1000 every 5 years it's about fifty-cents a day for a watch that I love ... and plan to pass on to my son.

It has served you well for 20 years, time to give it some TLC ... and I'd stick to the authorized service centers.

Alberto

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by The Lost Bears

How often do you have your Rolex cleaned and serviced? My Explorer II is about 20 year old now. It works fine, but I am thinking it might be time to have it cleaned and serviced. Also do you have any preference on which US service center to use? Thanks!

I just had mine services after 8 years mainly because it was scratched. It cost $900 and while I assumed it would go to NYC, it was sent to Lancaster PA. Who knew?

Came back as good as new with an appraised value 90% higher than I paid for it!

[Formerly YB-2]

The Rolex training school for watch repair is in Lititz, PA, IIRC. When I called a couple of months ago I was given $700 as the overhaul cost for my 1970 Datejust.

[Mikado463]

My GMT II (Pepsi version) will be twenty years old next year, I've had it cleaned / lubed twice. I take it to a local Rolex dealer in De (no tax).

The worst thing one can do is let their mechanical watches sit for long periods of time, the lubricant within the jeweled movement will dry out faster, hastening the wear factor.

IMO unless you subject your watch to adverse conditions every 6-10 years is fine.

[The Lost Bears]

Thanks everyone.

Alberto , your watch looks just like new. It is gorgeous.

I wear my watch everyday and don't let it sit. But I think it is time. I am going to see about sending my watch in and having it cleaned and lubricated. It will be strange being without it for a while. How long does it usually take?

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by The Lost Bears

Thanks everyone.

Alberto , your watch looks just like new. It is gorgeous.

I wear my watch everyday and don't let it sit. But I think it is time. I am going to see about sending my watch in and having it cleaned and lubricated. It will be strange being without it for a while. How long does it usually take?

Thank you for the compliment about my GMT II. I agree with you. I was always thorn between the Submariner and the GMT because I loved the black bezel, but now I have the best of both worlds. BTW, the shop also sold me a blue/red bezel, so now I have 3 bezels to choose from.

As far as how long it takes. For me it was a looooooong 7 weeks, and I can empathize with you about missing it from my wrist during that time. I've become quite attached to my Rolex. But the wait time passes and it will be well worth it.

Perhaps, while you wait, you might get one of these Seikos which, once you remove that metal band that does not look great, IMO, will serve as a nice SUBstitute (pun intended) :-)

https://www.pinterest.com/ianchappell/seiko-skx007/

Alberto


I very nice backup:

[rriley]

Originally Posted by The Lost Bears

How often do you have your Rolex cleaned and serviced?

Also do you have any preference on which US service center to use?

I have mine serviced when they stop working or begin to run slow. I have used "Sutter's Watch Repair" in Chicago for more than 40 years! I think that they only service Rolex.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Alberto

I had my GMT II for about 15 years before it started behaving a bit too erratically. I understand that, even if the watch still keeps decent time, it's a good idea to service it because as the various lubricants dry out you can seriously wear out some seriously expensive parts ... some costing 100x their weight in gold it seems :-).

I am lucky to live in the San Francisco Bay Area where they have one of the best in-house Rolex Authorized dealers.

Final bill was about $900 but it included a new black bezel ... for the Submariner's austere look with the GMT features.

Looked like new and works like new. Here's an after photo (sorry no before):



I am extremely happy. The way I see it, even if I have to spend, say, $1000 every 5 years it's about fifty-cents a day for a watch that I love ... and plan to pass on to my son.

It has served you well for 20 years, time to give it some TLC ... and I'd stick to the authorized service centers.

Alberto

Beautiful GMT, Alberto!

[Alberto]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

Beautiful GMT, Alberto!

Thank you Stephen. The interesting thing is that it's starting to look a bit vintage already. Aside from being a slimmer/smaller design compared to the new one, it's starting to get a bit of that faded look and patina on the dial ... or perhaps it's just that the new bezel looks much more modern with the larger numbers.

In any case, I am glad I kept it and it's a joy to wear every day!

Alberto

PS Twice a year, the GMT mechanism comes in handy for dealing with Daylight Savings Time ... I can change the hour hand with one click and the seconds hands keeps going ... ingenious.