We strongly recommend our clients have their mechanical watches serviced every 3-5 years. If you don’t service your watch regularly, the oils and greases designed to keep the mechanism working properly can dry up. This may cause worn components, erratic performance and lead to greater
expense long-term when eventually repaired.
As part of a watch service we also check/replace seals and gaskets. This is especially important if you use your watch in water. We’d even go so far as to suggest you have a water resistance check every year, as rubber seals are perishable and even minor water ingress into a mechanical watch is a major problem.
“A watch may run for decades without servicing, but regular care ensures it thrives for generations.”
Of course some watches do not need to be serviced quite so regularly. Quartz watches have longer service intervals as quartz movements are far lower torque, with (generally) less moving parts and they use much thinner oils in a lower quantity.
There are also some mechanical movements designed to have longer service intervals. Those with a co-axial escapement for example. Omega recommend their watches using this escapement are serviced every 5-8 years.
We’ve heard numerous customers over the year say words to the effect of: “I’ve had this watch for 20/25/30+ years, I’ve never had it serviced and it’s always kept perfect time”. So what’s our response to this?
Well, all of the above still applies even if your watch is keeping “perfect time”. Indeed, “perfect time” may well prove to not be so perfect when we test the movement on a Timegrapher. The fact it’s still working after so long without any care or attention is more testament to the genius of the watch mechanism than a sign your watch is in good condition.
It’s worth bearing in mind there are numerous components in a watch which are unrelated to the timekeeping too – parts such as the hand setting and winding mechanism. These also need oils and greases in good condition to work well. Once we examine the movement it’s a certainty that many parts will need replacing – this number will only go up the longer a watch is left without any maintenance.
With more unusual or vintage watches, parts can be harder to come by, and when they are available they often command higher prices. It’s especially important to stay on top of maintenance and servicing of these watches.
The analogy we’ve heard used is one drawing parallels with a car – you have your car serviced regularly and it’s used only occasionally. A watch is a mechanical mechanism which runs all day every day, so it stands to reason this shouldn’t be neglected!
If you have a watch due for a service, or if you’re simply looking for some advice, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can do so using our Ask the Watchmaker feature. Our entire team is experienced dealing with all types of watch – both modern and vintage. We’d be delighted to help.
Summary:
Regular servicing is crucial to keep your mechanical watch in excellent condition. Neglecting maintenance can lead to dried-up oils, worn components, erratic performance, and costly repairs. This is especially important for water-resistant watches, as seals and gaskets degrade over time. Even if your watch appears to be running perfectly, unseen wear could still be causing damage. Vintage or unusual watches are particularly vulnerable, as replacement parts can be rare and expensive. Like a car, your watch requires regular care to ensure it continues running smoothly for years to come.
Looking to have your Watch Serviced and repaired?
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