Rolex watches are well known for their exemplary performance and durability. However, one might wonder whether it is truly essential to carry out a service, to which the answer is a big resounding yes.
Just like a car, if you take care of it, it takes care of you.
Servicing your vintage Rolex watches more often will help prevent unforeseen mechanical issues that may alter their optimal performance. Although servicing the watch may seem complex because of its value and collectability, you must maintain its pristine, original condition.
According to Rolex, you should service your watch every ten years. Remember, servicing is an integral part of ownership; thus, it should be done when the watch is in a good state.
So who should service your Rolex watch?
Rolex servicing can run up a cost of over £700. Fortunately, here at Time 4 Diamonds, we offer some of the most reasonable luxury watch servicing in the UK today.
In general, the truth is that not all professional watchmakers can service your Rolex watch. Even those with the technical knowledge and skill may lack the capacity to buy genuine service replacement components, thus making them incompetent for the job. Every single part of the watch should be made of genuine components for proper functionality. Introducing a counterfeit product at the service stage will lead to poor performance, and will not meet Rolex functionality standards.
Be sure to work with an honest and reputable reseller such as ourselves, who have spent years learning the intricacies of luxury timepieces, and treating them with the care and respect they deserve. With our extensive inventory of genuine replacement parts, rest assured that your Rolex is in safe hands.
Taking your Rolex to a trained independent reseller has many advantages above going directly to a Rolex service centre. One is of course price. Another is the human element as you can develop a relationship with one of our highly skilled in-house watchmakers. Having decades of experience working with Swiss watches, you will be able to communicate exactly what you need, and air out your views regarding the service process.
You can also share with us the parts that must be replaced and the ones that do not need replacing. Keep in mind that the value and collectability of these Rolex watches are tied to the originality of their different parts. One thing that Rolex aims to achieve when servicing a Rolex watch is that the watch may function optimally just as a new Rolex watch.
This will involve replacing specific items like the dial and bezel insert that can reduce the vintage Rolex watch’s resale value. That is the reason why it is advisable to take it to a trained independent watchmaker or watch reseller. For instance, replacing the hands and dial of Rolex Submariner would make the watch depreciate by £8,000. That was back in the 1960s, and the value surely would have increased by now. Unfortunately, the original components looked old and worn out though they play a key role in the value and collectability of the Rolex watch.
The only disadvantage of professional independent watchmakers or resellers is that there are some watches that Rolex has not given the authority to service. There are some components that the company will simply not sell. For instance, if your Rolex watch needs a case replacement, you will have to send it to a Rolex service centre as the case must have a new serial number.
Why should you service your Rolex watch?
The main reason why you should service mechanical watches like Rolex is that the lubricants wear out over time. Today, several specialized lubricants can be used to reduce friction, thus ensuring the Rolex watch’s proper functioning. The improvement in lubricant technology has resulted in an increase in the number of years that a mechanical watch can perform optimally.
How do we service a Rolex watch?
There are various steps involved when servicing a Rolex watch. They include:
Disassembly
At this stage, you need to dismantle the watch and its internal accessories. This can be a difficult task if you don’t have the correct specialized tools. It should be done by an experienced professional to minimize the risk of damaging your watch.
Cleaning
After disassembling, ensure that you clean each part using specially formulated solutions. This is referred to as ultrasonic cleaning, which is essential for removing dirt and old lubricants.
Parts replacement
As an experienced watchmaker dismantles the watch, they would be keen to note the specific parts that should be replaced due to wear and tear. Remember that these components should be replaced with genuine Rolex parts to ensure that your watch continues to function as per the manufacturer’s specifications.
Reassembly
After cleaning each part and replacing all worn-out components, it’s time to reassemble the Rolex watch. As you reassemble, consider reapplying used lubricants as they play a crucial part in a Rolex watch’s overall function. Remember, servicing is not complete if you don’t reapply several specialized lubricants on the watch movement part.
Time calibration and adjustments
Once you have reassembled the Rolex watch, ensure that you adjust it and dial in the correct time. This is essential in ensuring that it is functioning according to the manufacturer’s specifications. This process’s success requires an experienced professional watchmaker or reseller who has the special tools and equipment necessary for this task.
Refurbs and polishing
At this stage, you should ensure that the outer side of the case and bracelet are well polished and refinished to maintain its cosmetic beauty. But the case is different for collectible vintage Rolex watches. They should be left unpolished to keep their original value.
Post-service testing
After the entire Rolex watch service process is over, ensure that you conduct various post-service tests to ensure that the watch is up and running. An example of the must-do test includes ascertaining whether the Rolex watch is properly sealed to prevent moisture and dirt from getting in.
How do you conduct a Rolex watch repair process?
When servicing a Rolex watch, ensure that you tear down each component of the watch. An experienced professional watchmaker will remove all the dirt that has accumulated over the years. We do this by positioning the watch case and bracelet in an ultrasonic tank for at least 30 minutes, ensuring that the tank has a temperature of between sixty to seventy degrees.
After removing the two components from the tank, you can dry them using a watch heater. Once they are dry, you can start the polishing process using the Menzerna polishing compounds. After polishing, the components are returned back to the ultrasonic tank for 40 minutes. This time you can increase the temperature to 80 degrees. After 40 minutes, remove the watch components and put them on a large heating machine for drying.
It is integral to test the timekeeping accuracy and water-resistance. Once everything is said and done, check whether the watch has been lubricated. Also, be curious to check its recommended depth. If it is not up to standard, consider doing a Rolex repair to ensure that the Rolex watch can function correctly. After receiving your Rolex watch back from the Rolex service centre, ensure that you use your hands to wind the timepiece before you wear it. This applies specifically to mechanical watches. After winding the Rolex watch, ensure that you screw the crown properly to ascertain that the Rolex watch is waterproof tested.
How do you clean your Rolex?
If you can’t stay a day without wearing your Rolex (like us), then it must have accumulated dirt over time.
As a user, you need to do periodic cleaning of your watch’s external surfaces. The accumulated dirt will not only destroy your watch’s natural beauty but will also lower its overall performance as the chronograph pushers will stop functioning with time. If your Rolex watch wasn’t designed to have a waterproof Oyster case, you should make all possible efforts to prevent moisture and water from getting into the case.
With such a watch, you can clean the external surfaces using a clean microfibre cloth. But if the watch has the Rolex signature Oyster case, it qualifies to be treated differently by using soap and water. This will ensure that the timepiece is meticulously clean. Before cleaning the timepiece, it would be wise to ensure that the case is closed tightly.
Alternatively, you can consider getting your Rolex watch’s gaskets checked just to be sure that the case is sealed. To save time while cleaning your Rolex watch, consider removing the strap. This way, you can comfortably clean your watch using an ultrasonic cleaner without the fear of damaging your Rolex watch.
If you happen to wear your Rolex watch while swimming in an ocean, remember to rinse it off as soon as you are out of the ocean with fresh water. In case there will be any leftover salt and sand, ensure you remove them.
Leave it to the professionals. Reach out to us for a full Rolex repair today.
