When to service your watch

[@sinjinadams2862]

Great video! I was a service technician for 40 years although in a different field and this has always been the age old question, do you need to service your equipment on a regular basis. Well, the simple answer is yes. But and this is a big but, that is only if you need or want it to operate at peak performance. It doesn't mean that if you don't get it serviced it won't still operate perfectly fine for years to come. My humble advice for watches is, if you're using your watches in a professional capacity, you're a diver or an airline pilot or in the military as just a few examples, strictly go by the manufacturers recommendation for servicing your watch. Whatever they recommend do it. If you're not using your watches in a professional manner like the vast majority of us are, then my recommendation would be to only service your watches when needed. When you notice that they just aren't keeping very good time or are obviously have some type of issue. Again, I'm not a watch expert but this is what I do with my watches and from what I understand this is also what Marc of Long Island Watches does and I believe he is a mechanical engineer.

[@WATCHingJames]

A great piece of advice. I agree. If you need the watch to run perfectly as you identified then it is worth servicing regularly.

[@adk7962]

Great summary. There are people who stretch to purchase a luxury car but forget just an oil change costs an arm and leg. Thanks again!

[@WATCHingJames]

It really is something that needs to be considered when buying more expensive watches. Ongoing costs can really add up.

[@WATCHingJames]

I hope that this video is helpful to you. Or, at the very least, entertaining.

[@rawdah786]

I was desperately looking for a trustworthy & informative video like this on servicing automatic watches as I’m new to the hobby - thanks James 👍🏼

[@WATCHingJames]

Thank you. I was hoping it might be helpful

[@dunderhay9169]

This is an excellent summary of a contentious subject 👍. I think the oil drying is a red herring, I do try and wear all mechanical watches once a month to keep things moving, but forget the oil otherwise. Logically if you have ten watches they get 1/10th the wear of one watch worn 24/7 (unless you have a winder 🤣) so ignoring water resistance 10 years + but realistically until they go wrong is fine. At current service prices, it is actually cheaper to replace basic grade sellita 200 ☹️. I won't moan again, but I will say that sometimes a luxury watch will return from a service worse than before, I wouldn't be in a hurry to service your Tudor and remember, they replace all worn parts of the movement in the service price, so if you run it longer, you get better value 🤔. Personally, I've opted out of servicing, the watches I wear have cheap enough movements that I can either try servicing myself or replace at a sensible cost.

[@WATCHingJames]

I am thinking more and more about swapping movements myself. It has been great to see so many great comments to this video.

[@martinowl]

A great topic to discuss. So many variables to consider. As others have commented, with cheaper movements, from a financial point, makes no sense, just replace with a new one when it stops or becomes wildly inaccurate. I believe I am correct in stating, the Swatch group Powermatic 80, gets exchanged when sent for servicing. From what I have seen/read, with more expensive movements, it depends on the manufacturer on how available parts are to get hold of.

[@jaysterling26]

I've heard/ seen that Tudor do the same with their movements ( not an issue to me). I've been looking at hollow end links and the 'perfect' spring bars - I think I've reached a conclusion, but the videos on this are scant.

[@michaelriera6277]

Regarding Tudor, this is a rumor spread and repeated online.

[@WATCHingJames]

I think Tudor does the same thing. Which does make me rethink serving a little bit.

[@WATCHingJames]

It would be good to know if it’s true or not. It would affect what I do with my BB58

[@simonmcguire4290]

A very well put together and common sense based approach to mechanical watches servicing - a lot of approaches I already subscribe to. You may not be an expert but your enthusiasm and an interest into asking the correct questions definitely qualify you as knowledgeable.

[@WATCHingJames]

Thanks Simon. I really appreciate you WATCHing and taking the time to comment.

[@voidifremoved]

I have a collection of similar size. Many years ago looking at the cost of service of 20+ watches I decided to learn how to service my own watches. The only watch I do not service is a Breitling Navitimer which cost me 1100.00 CDN to service. In the end, if you look at the cost of a replacement ETA movement brand new it = the cost of a service if no parts are needed. That is my first go to. I just run my watches until there is an issue, I dont have a timeline. With a timegrapher it can give you some insight if a watch needs to be serviced unless the watch breaks which has never happened except for some vintage watches. A lot of watchmakers cut corners in some way or another, it takes me hours and hours to service a watch but everything is done using best practices and to perfection because they are my watches. Synthetic oils (Moebius) are used now in servicing watches and just like synthetic oils for cars the point of the oils breaking down has increased dramatically.

[@WATCHingJames]

That is great that you can service them yourself. It is definitely something that I would like to learn and do myself. I think the first step is being comfortable replacing the moment. Which is definitely within my comfort zone.

[@AllenReinecke]

I bought a 1940 American Eagle Bulova last year. It was well looked after. I researched a service, and online options, mostly in California, across the country, were $250 just to start. I found a local guy at a small, old-fashioned watch store, who did it for $50! He said it had service marks inside the case, and it was well looked after for it's age. That tank-style watch is unbelievably tiny to work on. I have a 1914'ish Seth Thomas mantel clock. It was my grandparents, then my dad's. Now mine. I had it serviced in 1994 after Dad died, but never since. That was almost certainly never serviced before me, not since. It still keeps time within a couple minutes a week! Good arguments on your part. Most of my other watches are NH35A movements. I'll wait until they drop, and just replace the movement!

[@WATCHingJames]

$50. Wow. That is great. I had a 1950s watch service last year and it cost me $300.

[@bikeman123]

$50 He obviously didn't service it

[@BrianHenderson-h5d]

Hi James I bought a Hamilton Pan Europ second hand from eBay 1/3rd of retail price When it came the bezel was stuck which firstly I thought hey it was cheap live with it However it still had over a year of its 2 year warranty left So after a couple of emails I was sent a travel case and pre paid packaging so off it went I was dreading the quote However it was returned bevel fixed and a full service and polish and clean free of charge from the U.K. service centre for the swatch group Wonderful service Great channel thanks James Brian from Blyth U.K.

[@WATCHingJames]

That’s great to hear. I’ve had a recent similar experience. I bought the cheapest option available for a particular watch. Had it serviced, polished and a few small things fixed and it was still cheaper than buying one of the more expensive options.

[@statlerwaldorf7130]

Great video mate, I did have to giggle when you said you had a large watch collection at 17 watches, then I thought in horror, I must be obsessed as I have over 70 in my collection at the moment...... I better get earning more money for all those services I am gonna need. Keep up the good work :)

[@WATCHingJames]

Hahahaha. It is all relative. It has already increased since this video 😳

[@danieldayton3064]

For more affordable watches, with Seiko or Miyota movements, it may be more cost effective to invest in good quality servicing equipment, and to simply replace the movements as needed. Paying $400.00 to service a watch that cost $300.00 to purchase doesn't make sense, when a replacement movement may cost $50.00 or less. (As a bonus, you'd have the movements that you've replaced to practice your watchmaking skills.)

[@WATCHingJames]

A very good point. Something I intend on doing more this year is practicing swapping movements and taking hands on and off. This will make this whole process a bit more affordable if I can comfortably do this with my watches.

[@that_which_is_not]

I’ve been quoted £250 in the UK for NH35 servicing. £100 for movement replacement. I can secure a new movement off eBay super cheap, I know which one I’ll be opting for! The watch shop can use the old movement for spare parts too, so it won’t be totally wasted, I’m happy with that. Ongoing, I buy quartz only, personally

[@WATCHingJames]

I think movement swaps is something worth looking at. And knowing you are going to do that you can push out the timeframes.

[@bikeman123]

A new NH35 movements is about £30

[@keving4187]

Watch servicing for me is when my NH35 or ST2130 dies (haven't happened yet) I take a new one out of my drawer and spend 30 mins changing it. It's probably some sort of psychological condition but I feel "safe" when I know I can fix a problem myself, should it occur. The idea of having needing help externally is unsettling for me. Yeah yeah I know...

[@WATCHingJames]

I think that is the best way with these movements. I’ve started practicing with an old watch so when the time comes I’ll be confident doing it with my nicer watches.

[@MirrlyonTime]

Great video James! I only have one watch that I would be concerned with servicing and that’s my CW Sealander. The rest are Seiko autos for the most part so if they go they go or can be replaced fairly reasonably priced. One factor many don’t think about when buying a luxury watch is the cost of servicing and for Rolex anyways, it costs a lot of money (more than my Sealander cost me).

[@WATCHingJames]

It is definitely something worth keeping in mind when buying watches.

[@thegorn]

Most of my watches I'll swap the movements myself with either a replacement quartz, NH34/35/36/38 or SW200 movement. There's only a couple of watches I'll take to a watchmaker - a couple of vintage pieces.

[@WATCHingJames]

I think learning how to swap out the movements maybe one of the best things we can do as collectors

[@thegorn]

@@WATCHingJames Modding and regulating Seikos several years ago taught me a lot! I find everything about movement swaps is straightforward (if the dial feet line up with the movement) except for setting the seconds hand, which is very fiddly.

[@mukakta]

Another thing someone should keep in mind is whether the manufacturer service price includes replacement parts. If it does, then to me there's really no rush unless I'm noticing any discrepancies in how the watch runs, since I wouldn't be bearing any extra cost by waiting anyway.

[@WATCHingJames]

A very good point.

[@BenNS1971]

Great video, James. Very useful

[@WATCHingJames]

Thank you

[@MrDwaynelockett]

Great information, James.

[@WATCHingJames]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Contredanse]

I have similar categories but for different reasons. I primarily buy watches to own, not to resell onwards. Like you, I also wear all of my watches regularly and cycle through ALL of them at least once per month. So (prices are as of purchase date, and not SRP): 1) Never service, replace watch when broken - Less than 500 USD watches that, if repaired, would cost too much and would be better spent on a new watch anyway. 2) Service only when broken - 500 USD

[@WATCHingJames]

Another great system. Thanks for WATCHing

[@stancusorin2915]

saved to watch later

[@WATCHingJames]

Thanks for WATCHing. Later 😁

[@Stricko72]

Great video, youve covered this subject well. My thoughts, bring a car analogy into this, your basic family car gets serviced once a year, but if your running a taxi you'd need it servicing more as its done more miles, same with watches. Vintage pieces i buy, i always get them serviced due to oil degradation even new old stock watches, got one in now actually. And i factor that in the price when i buy an old watch. As for my more modern fleet well my oldest watch is a longines hydroconquest nearly 6 yrs old and i have worn it a lot, so thats going in this spring, and for that type of watch it will need seals replacing and pressure testing if i want to keep getting it wet. I am very lucky as i have a proper fully trained an certified local watch maker thst is very very reasonable with his prices (im in the UK) so the affordability of keeping my collection in good shape is great (£65 for a basic service with no parts) so thats a boon for me. Obviously chronograph's and complications will cost any of us more money (thats why at the moment I'm sticking with VK and seagulls) and yes a cheaper movement ie Nh35s etc are generally unviable to get professionally serviced as its cheaper just to replace the movement, but thats where we can learn and have a go ourselves, plenty of info out there, a modest tool kit bit of knowledge and if all goes wrong its not going to break the bank to get a new movement put in (i have rolled my eyes at all the negativity with the swatch movement they put in the blancpain colab, its a throw away movement but so will be 90% of lower end seiko and myota). V Cheers James,as ever looking forward to your next one.

[@WATCHingJames]

I wish service cost were lower here. But I will definitely be practicing movement swaps this year. It is a great way to bring the service costs down.

[@sivanstar]

totally agree, right on the money!

[@WATCHingJames]

Thank you

[@larrydalton2205]

Very good video topic James! Thanks for your research. I have done similar but less exhaustive research and that has influenced my buying (or not buying) choices. I'm very content with watch movements that some would think as boring so i don't plan on servicing apart from a deterioration in performance. And by servicing, i mean movement replacement of my NH34/35, Miyota, ETA or SW movements. So I have no schedule. Regarding winders, thanks for mentioning this as I do have winders for 6 watches and i need to get some watches out of those winders for some rest time because they are just simple three handers. Even my caller GMT's (NH34 and SW330-2) shouldn't be kept there for long periods as that complication is easy to reset. The traveler GMT is a pain to rest though. Thanks again for the reminder on winders and not letting watches sit unwound for months.

[@WATCHingJames]

Thanks for WATCHing and taking the time to comment.

[@RabbitWatchShop]

Being an owner of two Tudors and one Rolex, I'll just send them to Switzerland when the beat error and/or rate is not within spec, or something essential breaks. This is what the old timers did before I got into this hobby, so I'll follow their wisdom. As for my shitters, which Archie Luxury would label them, I'll be able to repair most of them myself. Manufacturers suggested service intervals are just estimations, because expected service varies by user.

[@WATCHingJames]

Great to hear you are looking after your watches and thank you for WATCHing

[@SimonKinsella]

Official Omega servicing is fixed price regardless of what needs replacing or repairing, so as long as the watch is running and keeping acceptable time I can't really see much argument to send it in pre-emptively. (Usual caveats about seals still apply of course - you can always get pressure checks performed periodically in the meantime)

[@WATCHingJames]

That’s good to know. Thank you

[@Nico-be7ic]

My question, what job do you have? Cool video as always! Greetings from Germany (I am an Engineer 🙂)

[@WATCHingJames]

Hello over there in Deutschland. I think that’s how my mind works. Plus I probably over think watch topics. Hahahaha

[@GentlemensWatchServices]

Interesting video. My thoughts and opinions are: The difference between high and low grade movements isn't so much big differences in materials or design. It's in manufacturing tolerances and the amount of "watchmaking" that's gone into the assembly, adjustment and regulation. The fact that the high grade watch has those advantages when it leaves the maker, means it maintains accuracy for greater intervals between servicing, not less. Many lower grade movements with dubious lubrication, metal fragments and "close enough is good enough" assembly could benefit from a service the day they leave the factory. A well sealed watch that's received a good clean, lubrication, adjustment and regulation should be fine for 7-8...10 years. 3 year intervals for watches that aren't going diving is too short. One other point, one of the greatest stresses that a movement undergoes is being serviced, if it's running well and there isn't a reason why there may be an issue, leave it alone.

[@WATCHingJames]

Thanks for WATCHing

[@scatterbrain9490]

Great info

[@WATCHingJames]

Thank you

[@nathanaelsmith3553]

Ive just started building watches from mod parts for fun so if/when my NH/Miyota based watches go a bit screwy, I'll just replace the movements. Its not cost effective for me to pay someone else to service those watches if I can just buy and swap out the movement myself for $35-80. That is a consideration for me now when I buy watches. Having a popular reliable cheap movement is an advantage. I am also considering buying a timegrapher so I can check my watches. Why service an old watch if its running fine? Why not service a newer watch if it needs it? Regular servicing after 3/5/10 years if not needed does not make sense to me, unless perhaps if it is a watch with an expensive/uncommon movement.

[@WATCHingJames]

I think that is one of the best things to learn in this hobby. To feel comfortable and confident to swap movements. Long term it will save us lots of $$$$

[@miopera40]

unless it uses a weird movement all you need to do is replace the whole "japanese" movement if it ever breaks after 50 years

[@WATCHingJames]

Thanks for WATCHing

[@NaNByZero]

Depending on the price for a new movement it can make sense to just swap it yourself or let it be done by a watchmaker. 🕐⚙️🍸

[@WATCHingJames]

Definitely

[@DavidUKesb]

I have several Soviet watches which are 40-50 years old, still working, and I doubt many, if any, have ever been serviced.

[@WATCHingJames]

That’s great to hear.

[@naomiredpath4351]

👍

[@WATCHingJames]

👍

[@canadianwatchmonkey3992]

I only services watches as needed. I like you will try to rotate through my collection. 😊

[@WATCHingJames]

I think that is the best and most appropriate advice for the majority of us. Thanks for WATCHing

[@bikeman123]

A watch will tell you when it needs servicing with poor time keeping. The biggest risk to your watch and wallet is when someone dismantles it into a thousand pieces. Dont let that happen until it needs it. The only exception to this is a valuable vinatge watch in which parts are no longer available, in that case it may be worth preempting issues.

[@WATCHingJames]

Thanks for WATCHing

[@michaelriera6277]

Rolex in 10 years. Whether you service your Tudor after 5 years or wait 10 years or when time keeping suffers Tudor will replace all damaged parts. Makes no sense to service before time keeping deteriorates as you’ll be spending exactly the same amount for a complete overhaul so why increase the frequency. Any ETA or Selittia movement is cheap and easy to replace so wait until there is deterioration of time keeping as ALL major brands will replace parts as part of its complete service.

[@WATCHingJames]

That’s a very good point about Tudor replacing parts. I’ll keep that in mind.

[@malikknows3510]

LOL, if we all sent our watches in every 5 years or so, we'd have to wait years...

[@WATCHingJames]

I had to wait 3 months to have my Seiko Pogue to be restored and serviced. It was a long wait.

[@malikknows3510]

@@WATCHingJames I had to wait 10 months for a Sinn 856! All the best!

[@WATCHingJames]

😳

[@naomiredpath4351]

👍

[@WATCHingJames]

👍