Saudi Luxury / Watch basics
Watch servicing: how often, what it involves, what affects the cost
Find out how often your watch needs a service, what the work should include and how to judge a quote before you hand the watch over.
Makers’ service intervals for mechanical watches run from about three to ten years. Seiko suggests around three, Omega five to eight and Rolex around ten. Follow the guidance for your model even if the watch seems to run well: oils age and parts wear before the timekeeping shows it. Quartz watches need far less, but their seals still age, and a dead battery should come out promptly because it can leak.
What a full service involves
A watchmaker dismantles the movement, cleans every part, replaces worn ones, then lubricates, reassembles and regulates it. The case is opened, the gaskets are replaced and the watch is pressure-tested before it comes back to you. Case and bracelet cleaning is usually included. Polishing is often offered; discuss it first, because it removes metal.
A battery change or a strap adjustment is a separate, smaller job. If a shop quotes a low figure for a “service”, ask whether the movement will be dismantled.
What affects the cost
Prices vary widely, so ask for a written estimate and check the parts it lists before you approve it. The main factors:
- Complexity. A chronograph, GMT or calendar has more parts to strip and set than a three-hand watch.
- Brand and movement. A brand service for an Omega such as the Seamaster Diver 300M 210.90.42.20.01.001, with calibre 8806, usually costs more than one for a simpler automatic like the Hamilton Khaki Field H70455533.
- Where it goes. A brand service centre uses original parts but may send the watch abroad, which can add weeks. A qualified independent watchmaker can be quicker, but may not have parts for every brand.
- Parts. New parts add to the bill, and water damage to a dial or movement can cost more than the service itself.
Time, guarantee and paperwork
Allow several weeks for a full service; Rolex, for example, puts a complete overhaul at four to six weeks or more. A brand service usually carries its own guarantee, often two years, so get the terms in writing.
Keep the receipt with the original warranty card and box. A useful receipt names the workshop and the date and lists the work and parts. A bare “serviced” note proves little, while a specific, recent receipt from a brand centre or a recognised specialist gives a buyer confidence when you sell.
Quartz batteries and what to leave alone
A quartz battery usually lasts two to five years, depending on the model. A quartz watch such as the Casio Edifice EFR-526D needs little beyond that and a seal check. If you rely on its water resistance, have the battery changed where the gasket can be checked and the case pressure-tested.
Do not open the case back or remove bracelet links with improvised tools. A slipped blade scratches the case, and a badly seated gasket lets in water.
Signs it needs attention sooner
- It gains or loses noticeably more than it used to. A sudden gain is often magnetism, which a watchmaker can remove quickly.
- An automatic stops well short of its usual power reserve.
- The crown feels gritty when you turn it.
- Moisture appears under the crystal. Take it in straight away.
If you swim often or live near the coast, sweat, salt and chlorine wear gaskets faster. Omega, for one, advises a yearly water-resistance check, and our guide to what water resistance ratings allow explains why. For the full procedure, Watch Codex details what happens during a full service.