A mechanical watch is a small machine with hundreds of moving parts, running day and night. Like any machine, it needs maintenance. A service keeps it accurate, protects it from wear and water, and preserves its value.
This guide explains how often to service a luxury watch, what a full service involves, the signs that a watch needs one now, and how to look after it between services.
How often should a watch be serviced?
There is no single number. Most brands today recommend a service roughly every 5 to 10 years, depending on the movement and on how the watch is used. Modern movements, with better oils and materials, generally go longer between services than older ones.
What matters more than the calendar is how the watch is behaving:
- A watch that keeps good time, winds smoothly and has never been exposed to water may run well beyond the usual interval.
- A watch that is worn hard, exposed to water, knocked, or that has started to lose time may need a service sooner.
If you do not know when a watch was last serviced, for example a pre-owned watch without service papers, it is worth having it checked.
Signs your watch needs a service now
- It gains or loses noticeably more time than it used to.
- It stops while you are wearing it, or the power reserve is much shorter than it should be.
- The crown feels rough or gritty when you wind or set the watch.
- The date, day or chronograph does not work properly.
- There is moisture or fog under the crystal. This one is urgent: water inside a watch causes corrosion quickly, so have it seen as soon as possible.
- The rotor is noisy or you can feel it grinding on an automatic watch.
What happens during a full service
A full service is much more than a battery change or a clean. A typical full service includes:
- Inspection: the watch is examined and tested on a timing machine to measure its accuracy and the health of the movement.
- Disassembly: the movement is removed from the case and taken apart.
- Cleaning: every part is cleaned to remove old oil and dirt; the case and bracelet are cleaned too.
- Replacement of worn parts: worn components are replaced, along with the gaskets that keep the watch water resistant.
- Reassembly and lubrication: the movement is rebuilt and lubricated with specific oils at specific points.
- Regulation: the watch is adjusted for accuracy and tested for amplitude and beat error.
- Water-resistance test: water-resistant watches are pressure-tested.
- Final check: time-keeping and functions are checked before the watch is returned.
How long does a service take?
It depends on the watch and on whether parts are needed. A full service by a specialist usually takes a few weeks. Manufacturer service centers can take longer, depending on the brand and the time of year.
Manufacturer service or independent watchmaker?
Both can be good choices:
- While the manufacturer's warranty is running, use the brand's own service for warranty repairs, as work by others can affect that warranty.
- After the warranty has expired, a qualified independent watchmaker can service most luxury watches, often more quickly.
Whichever you choose, ask for a written quote before any work starts, and keep every service invoice. Service papers reassure buyers if you ever sell the watch: see why box and papers matter.
Should you service a watch before selling it?
Usually not, unless it does not work. A service rarely adds its full cost to the price, and many buyers have their own watchmakers. Our guide on how to sell a luxury watch explains more.
How to look after your watch between services
- Screw the crown down after setting the time on watches with a screw-down crown. An open crown is the most common way water gets in.
- Don't operate the chronograph pushers or the crown underwater.
- Avoid strong magnets, such as speakers, magnetic clasps on bags and tablet covers. Magnetism can make a watch run fast.
- Avoid hard knocks: they can damage the balance of the movement.
- Wind it regularly if it is hand-wound, and don't let an automatic sit unworn for months on end.
- Rinse it in fresh water after swimming in the sea or a pool, with the crown screwed down.
- Have the water resistance checked every year or two if you swim with your watch. Our guide to water resistance explains why.
Watch servicing at Watchflix NYC
We offer a full service for luxury mechanical watches. You get a free quote first, and nothing is done until you approve it. You can send your watch fully insured from anywhere in the US, or drop it off at our Los Angeles store. A service usually takes 2 to 4 weeks, and the work is covered by a 12-month warranty.
Request a free servicing quote
Frequently asked questions
How often should I service my Rolex?
Rolex's modern movements are designed for long service intervals; many owners service them roughly every 10 years, or sooner if the watch shows any of the signs above. Ask for a check if you do not know the watch's history.
Does servicing a watch reduce its value?
A proper service does not reduce value; documented services usually reassure buyers. What can reduce value is heavy polishing of the case or replacing original parts unnecessarily, so ask what will be done before you approve a quote.
Do quartz watches need servicing?
Yes, though less often: besides battery changes, quartz watches benefit from new gaskets and a water-resistance check, and their movements can also need cleaning over the years.
Can I wear my watch every day between services?
Yes. Watches are made to be worn. Regular wear keeps an automatic wound, and the main thing is to avoid water entering, strong knocks and magnets.
What should I do if there is water inside my watch?
Have it checked as soon as possible. Water causes corrosion quickly, and early attention can prevent much more expensive repairs.
