Automatic Watches
Watch Servicing 101: When, Why, and How to Service Your Mechanical Watch
By Argos Watches
Keeping your mechanical watch in top shape is easier than you think! It’s like taking care of a classic car or a beloved pet—it needs a little attention to stay at its best. There’s a lot of confusing talk out there about when and how to service your watch, but we’re here to clear things up.
This isn't just about telling you when to get your watch serviced; it's about helping you understand its needs so you can make smart choices.
This isn't just about telling you when to get your watch serviced; it's about helping you understand its needs so you can make smart choices.
Does Your Watch Need a Service? Let's Find Out!
Is Your Watch Keeping Time?
This is the first thing most of us notice. If your watch is running well and showing the correct time, you might not need a service right away. If your watch is not producing any unusual noises, operating smoothly, and maintaining accurate time, it's likely in good condition. Remember that old saying, "If it ain't broken, don't fix it."
Now, if your watch is not keeping good time, it’s always fast or slow then it probably needs a service. But don't rush off just yet! Let's check a few more things first.
Are All Your Watch's Features Working?
There’s a big difference between a watch that tells time and one where all its features work correctly. Your watch can be spot-on with the time but still have a hidden problem.
Here are some common examples:
Your automatic watch might tell perfect time when you wind it, even if its automatic winding system (the part that winds it as you move) is actually broken. This can happen due to wear or impact.
If you have a chronograph (stopwatch) watch, the whole point is for the stopwatch to work! It might tell time perfectly, but if you can't start or reset the chronograph, what's the use?
Does your date change properly? I often see watches where the date display gets stuck halfway or doesn't flip over at midnight, even though the time is correct. That's a clear sign something's off.
Other cool features like moon phases, leap year indicators, or alarms can also have issues while the time itself is still accurate.
If your watch is accurate but has a malfunctioning feature, have it checked. At the very least, ask a watchmaker to figure out what's wrong. A small problem today can easily become a much bigger, more expensive problem later if you ignore it.
How Old Is Your Watch?
If your watch is less than 4 years old and keeps good time: Don't spend money on a service yet. We usually find watches don't truly need a service (not just for prevention) until they're about four years old or more.
If your watch is more than 4 years old and keeps good time: While it's running well, a service is definitely something to think about. Watchmakers can almost always find something that could use a little attention in a watch that hasn't been serviced in four years.
If your watch is any age and NOT keeping time: You absolutely need to get it serviced. Any watch that isn't running properly, no matter how old, needs a professional look.
Special Care for Vintage Watches
- Why the Rush? If a part breaks in a vintage watch, you're in for a much harder and more expensive time finding a replacement or getting one made. Vintage watch parts are super rare.
- Costly Breakdowns: A broken part in a vintage watch will make your service bill much, much higher than just regular maintenance. Getting a custom part made from scratch is a skilled, expensive job.
- No More Parts: Simply put, if a watch model is old enough, companies stop making its parts to save money.
How Long Has It Been Since Your Last Service?
This brings us to the big debate: how often should you service your watch? There are two main ways to think about it:
Option 1: The Proactive Approach – Full Service Every 4 to 7 Years
Many watch brands suggest this timeframe. Rolex, for example, recommends 7 years. Cartier and Jaeger-LeCoultre offer 8-year warranties, hinting at when you should consider service. Breitling suggests five years. Basically, the warranty often tells you the minimum time your watch should last before it might need a check-up due to normal wear.
Why service your watch every 4-7 years?
First, watch oils evaporate. Modern synthetic oils eventually dry out. This means tiny gear pivots run dry, causing friction, creating metal dust, and slowly wearing them down until they can snap. This damage builds over time, often unseen. Watchmakers recommend servicing to prevent serious internal harm.
Second, water resistance fades. Gaskets and seals dry out. Even if your watch runs perfectly, its water resistance can fail without warning. Waiting 4-7 years risks costly water damage. Routine service replaces these vital seals.
Finally, consider the wear and tear. A mechanical watch ticks over 252 million times a year! That's billions of movements in 7 years, all relying on tiny oil drops. Just like a car needs an oil change, your watch needs regular care to prevent major issues from all that constant work.
First, watch oils evaporate. Modern synthetic oils eventually dry out. This means tiny gear pivots run dry, causing friction, creating metal dust, and slowly wearing them down until they can snap. This damage builds over time, often unseen. Watchmakers recommend servicing to prevent serious internal harm.
Second, water resistance fades. Gaskets and seals dry out. Even if your watch runs perfectly, its water resistance can fail without warning. Waiting 4-7 years risks costly water damage. Routine service replaces these vital seals.
Finally, consider the wear and tear. A mechanical watch ticks over 252 million times a year! That's billions of movements in 7 years, all relying on tiny oil drops. Just like a car needs an oil change, your watch needs regular care to prevent major issues from all that constant work.
Option 2: The Reactive Approach – "If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It"
This approach means you wait until your watch actually stops or breaks down. It's actually how most people handle things—they don't get something checked until there's a problem. There's nothing wrong with this, but it's more about reacting than preventing.
Parts for Modern Watches: If you have a fairly modern watch (made in the last 15-20 years), it's very likely that replacement parts will be available if something breaks. Often, a full service (even if it's because something broke) will cover most internal parts. So, if your watch works perfectly for 10 years and then a pivot breaks from lack of oil, the watchmaker might fix it as part of a full service. In this view, does it make sense to pay for services every 4-7 years if you could go longer and potentially pay less overall?
The Big Risk: Water Damage is the major downside to this approach. If you swim, dive, or even expose your watch to heavy rain regularly, do NOT follow this method. Water damage can be huge and cost way more than regular seal checks, wiping out any savings you might have thought you made.
The Big Risk: Water Damage is the major downside to this approach. If you swim, dive, or even expose your watch to heavy rain regularly, do NOT follow this method. Water damage can be huge and cost way more than regular seal checks, wiping out any savings you might have thought you made.
So, Which Approach is Right? Both Can Be!
There's no single "right" answer. Both ways of thinking have good points. Your decision should match your personal finances, how often you wear your watch, and how much risk you're comfortable with.
- If money is tight, don't feel bad about waiting to service a watch that's running fine.
- If you wear your watch daily and put it through a lot, it may need more frequent servicing.
- If you hardly wear your watch or treat it like a newborn baby, you can probably stretch out the time between services.
- If you want to keep your watch's insides in the best possible shape, then regular servicing is your best bet.
- If you're okay with the chance of a bigger repair bill later to avoid more frequent service trips, the reactive way might work for you.
A New Way to Look at Time
From the strong case protecting it to the elegant spin of the hands on the dial, and from the clever mechanics inside to its practical features, each part tells a story of smart design and precision. The more you learn about watches, the more incredible you'll find them!
Ready to see this amazing craftsmanship in action?
Check out the Olympus collection from Argos Watches. These premium mechanical watches offer impressive details like a unique dial with a small seconds sub-dial and a power reserve indicator.
Powered by a robust automatic movement with 33 jewels, every Olympus watch is a symbol of excellence and strength, perfect for those who value both style and reliability. Discover the full range of high-end mechanical automatic watches by Argos Watches and find a timepiece that's a true masterpiece of engineering.
Powered by a robust automatic movement with 33 jewels, every Olympus watch is a symbol of excellence and strength, perfect for those who value both style and reliability. Discover the full range of high-end mechanical automatic watches by Argos Watches and find a timepiece that's a true masterpiece of engineering.
