A service, or full overhaul, is when a watch is taken apart into all its separate components and then put back together. It matters because every watch eventually needs one. A watch left unserviced will sooner or later develop a fault, and drying oil is often among the first problems after about five years.
What happens during a service?
At Rolex, the movement is taken completely apart and every part is inspected. Any part that falls short of the brand’s standards is replaced. Each part is then cleaned ultrasonically to remove dirt and contaminants. One retailer’s service process cleans the parts in chemical baths inside automated cleaning machines. Once the cleaned parts are dry, the movement is rebuilt and oiled. In an Omega complete service, a certified watchmaker oils the points where moving parts touch. Every stage must be done, and done accurately.
How is a serviced watch tested?
Omega sets the rate of the movement and checks its performance against the brand’s quality standard. Rolex pressure-tests the watch in water to confirm that it is watertight. For automatic watches, one retailer checks the self-winding system by running the watch on a wrist simulator for a few hours. A service can also cover the outside of the watch. In Omega’s complete service, the case and metal bracelet are polished without changing their shape.
How often does a watch need a service?
Most brands recommend a full service about every five years. Sooner or later, no watch can do without one. Waiting for something to go wrong means waiting for a fault, since an unserviced watch will develop one in time. In a watch that has gone about five years without attention, the oil drying out is often among the first problems.
Checked