My dad got an Omega in the early 70’s, never sent it to service, still on his wrist and keeping perfect time. Of course not good for Omega finance team but great for Omega reputation.
Yea A Seiko SKX can go 20 years. I think its redicolus. Ok so after 5 years intead of the watch keeping +/- 1 second a day if keeps +/-3 seconds a day. No big deal. If the watch is keeping within +/- 30 seconds a day Im happy. Not worth $500 - $1000
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I know somebody (my aunt's brother) who owns an omega and it's not working. He won't send it for servicing as that would be $1000. And he is not too old, so am guessing the watch isn't that old either.
My Dad bought a vintage Omega from the mid 60's in the early 2000's. He wears it everyday regardless of what he does and only serviced it once (he went for an independent watch shop, an Omega service centre would have probably given him a huge bill).
My friend David Yang has been wearing a Rolex Datejust for 57 years. Although the watch has never been opened for any service, it still runs normally and accurately. Also, I know an old jewelry salesman who has been wearing a Hamilton for 36+ years. The watch has never been opened yet still runs well. Two gentlemen have the same saying, “Nothing wrong, why fix?”
I have my father's Certina Argonaut 280 from ca. 1968. I bet that watch wasn't opened from mid 80' till last year. I've decided to give it to local watchmaker. It turned out it was dirty inside, the gasket was gone, the crown was worn out and one of the bridges - broken. It took 6 weeks, required sourcing parts from Australia (and I'm in Poland), because there were no new parts available, but all together... 25 euro. Works like a charm.
Not 100% sure why I found this channel (other than the fact I like wrist watches) but glad I did (find this channel). It very much appeals to my German sensibilities and the internal conflict between "keeping up on maintenance" and saving on service monies. Brilliant!
One more thing. To make this work you have to make sure the customer comes to you for the service and doesn't use his local watchmaker. So don't forget to make sure that they can't buy parts! (I asked a well known UK watchmaker's supplier which manufacturer they'd recommend based on them selling parts to non contracted watchmakers. They said that none did.)
I hope this go viral!I had an Omega for 20 years, bought used, no box, no papers, I wear it everyday and i never sent it for maintenance and works very well!Omega not taking one cent from my wallet !!😂😂😎
That is why out of patent movements such as from ETA or Selita are better than the vaunted and patented movements of the in house variety. The in house movements tend to restrict the supply of spare parts.
My father owns a Citizen that's over 20 years old and it's never been serviced. Still runs as accurate as it did when new. I find it unlikely you ever need to service a watch unless it's noticeably running inaccurate or not working properly.
Service is a very controversial subjects, it comes down to two main factors: 1. how much you use the watch 2. what is the beat ratio of the watch; if your watch has an hi-beat movement like some Zenith do, a service every 5 years make sense, but generally 10 years is fine.
I have a Zenith el Primero (so it is a high beat. Bought it ten years ago, use it every single day. Not once I have taken it for a service. Runs fine. I see opening a watch is a risk a human makes a mistake, or during maintenance dust or human particles get inside, etc. So I hang on the wise words; when not broken, why fix it?
Ferrari did the same thing in the early 1980s. The belt service for 308s was every 5 years. After a while dealers complained they weren't making enough money on service SO Ferrari changed the service interval to every 3 years.
A wonderful argument for the second "quartz crisis": just buy a nice (or even less nice) quartz from Seiko, Citizen, Timex etc for under $200, replace the battery every so often (if you didn't go Eco-Drive) and then replace it after 10 years if you wish....
As a watchmaker i can tell you that even older Rolex models can break down after 5 years on some parts in the movement. And you don't send the watch to switzerland, you look for an authorized dealer with a certificated workshop. Shorter waiting time, you have someone to talk to if problems arrive and the costs are at least cut in half if not more. I work with ETA movements and after 4-6 years the movement CAN show signs of wear and tear. It can keep ticking, but it will only get worse from that point on. If you send in your modern Omega or Rolex after 7-10 years, it should come back just as new, as they change out most gears, wear and tear parts even when they seem fine, just to make sure. In the end they replace all the sealings, regulate your watch back to the original precision if something has changed, test it for weeks so it still has the COSC certified accuracy. Waterproofing included. This all takes time, skill and money - so it will cost money. An average watchmaker in his workshop will not have the certification, so he will not get the parts (easily or officially) lets say from Omega or Rolex, so he will just reuse the parts found in the movement, clean it, oil it up (if he even knows how to do it correctly according to the manufacturer) and put it back in. This is also much cheaper, but sometimes they charge as much as the manufacturer, just to make some extra cash. (Hey, they need to survive, the watch industry is killing them) Also don't forget you are getting a renewed warranty for said service from the manufacturer, at least two years if i remember correctly. But always remember: Oil and parts break down, so they form a nice sludge of metal and smear, wearing down parts around them and jizzing all the crap around in the movement. Have a nice day
Yeah... but this is kind of bullshit. Humans have made plenty of watches that do not require any maintenance for very long periods of time. I've always known Rolex to not only be failure-prone (dare I say planned for obsolescence ?) but they are also known for shitty business practices like claiming their watches are jewelry and therefore it's not a problem if they break. They have become a gaudy status symbol.
You're not wrong! Best bet is to buy lots of different watches, wear them on a rotation (and not on a winder) and the service intervals extend indefinitely.
And maybe, "Thank you for sending us your vintage 321 Omega Speedmaster for service. We have changed the dial and bezel, so your watch looks new." Omega now thinks, "Great we have a genuine vintage Speedmaster 321 dial and bezel we can sell on ebay under our phantom account."
I bought a Rolex DJ back in the late 90’s and I’ve never had it serviced and don’t plan to until it stops working properly...because THEN it will actually NEED a service. I think some people confuse watches with cars LOL.
Connor Dooley sure, but there would be absolutely no benefit. It’s not like a car that needs regular maintenance. When a watch gets serviced it gets taken apart and completely rebuilt, then it’s a matter of time until it needs to be completely rebuilt. Servicing it before it needs it won’t help the watch in any way, you’ll just need service again sooner. Any reputable watchmaker will tell you the same. The exceptions would be of the watch becomes magnetized, which can be easily remedied (you’ll know because it’s running really fast all of a sudden) or if there’s a defect. That could include a manufacturing defect in a new watch or a defect from service caused by the watchmaker. Either one of those would be covered by warranty, either by the manufacturer or watchmaker who serviced it.
If a high end watch doesn't run perfectly after 10 years it is crap and should be get rid of. I have a King Seiko that hasn't been serviced in 50 years and it still ran strong. Bottom line: Don't service your watch unless there is something wrong with it.
Watches with ETA based or other common movements are the easiest to maintain, having minimal costs. The more complicate the higher the costs. Same goes with fancy material wheels. Another factor are the use of the watch, are you using it for swimming / diving / on a dusty environment with thin dust / extreme cold or heat / is it sitting on box idle for long time / living in a high humidity place etc etc , I am not saying that you need to follow the maintenance instructions but be aware that it may need… bottom line everything eventually will need maintenance and based on your watch collection it is always a good idea to save few $ /€ /£ every year for that purpose. My practice here is to put on the side the same amount as for the servicing costs. My plan is to have my watches serviced every 8-10 years, and for the ones that got serviced I am keeping the service papers / history. The money I am putting on the side for this purpose goes into stocks so won’t stay idle :) The one test I am doing though way more regularly is for waterproofing, especially for the watches that I am using when traveling.
i have a seiko 5 bought in 1996, the same year, i believe, that the 7S26 movement was released. it has had the crystal replaced 4-5 times but never a service, not much wrist time now but it still keeps great time
Well, yes Tim. My 1970s rectangular Omega de ville (one of rather too many Omegas in my possession, I'm afraid) stopped working. I took it to Omega in Geneva (where I have already taken rather too many vintage Omegas, I am also afraid), and they quoted me CHF550 for the revision (quite "reasonable", but the movement is simple, just a sweep second hand, no date), but said that the face must be restored (CHF935). Why? The dial looks perfect to me, even under magnification, beautiful even, very dark blue. Omega say that they cannot guarantee the revision for the two-year period they propose, because micro-particles from the hands or face will get into the movement and make it go wrong. In the case of this particular watch, I don't believe them (though, after mutliple trips to the shop with multiple watches, I have got to know the manager pretty well). So, the watch is languising in a drawer - and I hate things that don't work. Almost enough to swallow my pride and go back to Omega, rue du Rhône, Geneva. But not quite. The watch in working condition would only be worth about CHF500 (I think). But resale value is not what collecting vintage watches is about really, is it? Thanks for the videos - always interesting and amusing in equal doses.
Excellent. A little while ago I was thinking of buying an expensive watch but abandoned the idea when when I read the brochures and found it needs servicing about as often as my car.
I just got my EL Primero serviced. It was filled with grease, debris. etc The watchmaker took care of it and made sure nothing gets fucked up. Cost me $440 to get it all fixed up. No parts replaced, everything was good. If it was at Zenith they'll probably charge a big service and have the original parts replaced, which is a big no-no.
I don't know about Kiwi, but shoe cream jars from Saphir tend to last very long as well. I don't think it's a rip-off : cream for hydration and re-pigmentation of the entire shoe and wax for mirror polishing of the toe box.
I once gave my 90's Breitling Navitimer to an authorised service center, a week later they called me telling me that they need to replace the whole movement (even tho the watch still works) and that it will cost me 2600$. I kindly told them no thank you
My watchmaker tells me to leave my watches alone unless they are not working properly. He's a really thorough guy, but recently I bought a lovely old watch from the 1950s and I took it to the watchmaker to show him and maybe get it serviced. He said: "Does it work alright? If yes, leave it alone." So that's the advice I am following.
A lawyer friend of mine was given a Patek (pronounced "paddock" by ArchieLuxury!) by his client and lamented for years how much it costs him to keep servicing it.
Based on my reading through the years, this debate about servicing applies to all mechanical watches, not just Zenith and Omega. The alleged issue pertains to degradation of the lubricating oils and wear of the engineered parts. If the watch has a mechanical movement, the manufacturer will recommend periodic servicing.
Very true. I've got some pieces from cheap brands from the 40s that have never been serviced and they work just fine after all these years. It's a racket!
@ekim andersom MB comes with a bumper-to-bumper 4 year warranty and a 5-year on the powertrain and something like 100,000 for corrosion. I need to look at my MB service manual. ;-)
We are in a funny place with watch collecting. I am more in the use the watch until it stops keeping good time camp. Even some of my really old watches have only been serviced once in 20 or 25 years and still run fine. I had a vintage Omega that I inherited from my Grandmother's estate that might never have been serviced when I got it in 2001. I had that watch repaired locally and 18 years later, it still runs fine and keeps good time. Another vintage Omega I bought was a bit misrepresented as keeping good time. It didn't. But, the service, again local, only cost about $200 and 8 years later, still keeps good time. Finally, I had a modern Omega serviced last year for the first time after owning it for 15 years. It was starting to lose about 1 minute a day, so I figured it was time. Just a small servicing and it is back up and running. None of my watches are museum pieces, of course, and none cost me more than $1,000, so maybe that is the difference.
AD said once, never open as long as it holds time for as long as it should. Within a big service, usually everything that can wear of in that time is replaced anyway (at the same cost) and even if you have 1-2 parts that need to be replaced cause of longer wear and tear, you usually save that by having a service less in the end.
My first and lecture about watch service was given to me by someone who repair them in the form: You know how seconds + or - run your watch. If that difference change than you need a repair. There is no given time to service a watch.
Dried up gaskets, moisture invasion. Dried up oils, increased friction. These things exist and have to be dealt with. I don't want to wait for the signs of corrosion and wear. I'm not sure it makes sense to wait until the watch shows signs.
I recently bought 2 new Omega's & was thoroughly dissapointed with them. The quality just isn't there anymore, despite the much lauded Metas certification. Ended up selling both at a hefty loss. Now I have a pair of vintage (Omega Serviced) Seamaster's, manufactured when the Brand was at its peak & I'm happy. Both have Service Paperwork, period correct Boxes & "extract(s) from the archives". £90 an Extract just to confirm the production date, destination country & general specification, isn't cheap but was worth it. Also, servicing cost was reasonable for the amount of work done & I dont anticipate repeating the process for another 5-7 years. As for new watches, I've invested Grand Seiko. 100% In-House, unrivalled quality, bulletproof reliability and long real-world service intervals. In many ways just like a Rolex, except they're readily available and you're not likely to get robbed for wearing them.
The service requirements are so funny when I consider that my dad's Datejust, which is now approximately 50 years old, has been serviced once, yet tells time.
I actually like that idea of a certificate of authenticity from the maker, although they want way too much for the darn thing. Unfortunately, the watch industry is a shystie business in general...due to the low standard to qualify for "made in Switzerland." They also know their customer are very fickle people who'll lose their marbles over something as simple as a single red line of text...
Rusty Shackleford , yup. I recently purchased a low end Swiss Made brand which needed a new movement, and omg!, the stamp on the inside of the case-back said "Made in China". You need your own attorney to figure out how many sweatshop parts can make it into your "Swiss Made" watch. I get excited today when I see stuff made in Taiwan. That's high-end sh--!
@@KaneChamp I was thinking of maintenance as a way of saving money by avoiding or postponing costly repairs. Car maintenance can indeed save lives so I should maybe have used another comparison, like a coffee maker. I don't wait until that breaks down because of calcium buildup. It gets descaled and cleaned from time to time.
Omega told me every 3-5 years, I've owned my watch from new for 7 years, still running perfectly and I've not serviced it . Service it when it needs it people
I took my Zenith El Primero to my AD for a clasp issue. They sent the whole watch to Zenith. I got a new clasp, a service and it cost me nothing. I didn't ask for the service, BTW. Watch was running just a bit fast, and was over 5 years old. My AD told me if the watch is running fine, then to leave it alone. I realise every situation is unique, but Zenith hooked me up.
The British Army issuing shoe polish..? What a wonderful world that would be... I dunno, at least it was not so when I was a crow. Maybe they do so today. Shining parades tended to go through rather copious amounts of the stuff; bear in mind, we don't just bull the toecaps. Need one tin for layering, one tin for bulling, two tins (parade gloss black and parade gloss dark tan) for finishing... And of course, being Guardsmen, we had to keep our boots black in the field, so we never went out without brushes and polish. It's a far cry from my requirement as a civvy. I'll readily admit I've probably had the same tin of polish in the closet for the last 3 years. Kiwi is outstanding stuff...
I recommend only saphir shoe products for really good shoes. They give amazing suppleness and deep shine to quality leathers. Once an ex mistook it for moisturizer when I took the lid off and she complimented me on how wonderful it made her skin look and feel. I bought some for her and decanted it into a fancy crystal jar for her birthday and she was thrilled. Thrilled.
Delightful Tim,to add to that i have a O&W M5 with an ETA2824-2 movement that just died after 25 years with no service from new.Will i get it serviced?Probably not when i can purchase a chinese clone movement for $90 and that clone has been tested by mark lovick and found to be as good as the original.Thankyou for all the laughs your review gave me.(tee hee)
My dads Rolex had NO services since bought new in 1962 is within cosc specs per my time grapher. Much like oil changes for the auto. Consumer reports proved a oil change not required every 5k miles.
The recommended service levels are of course absurd, but it's not limited to Zenith and Omega. Every brand does some version of this and Rolex is actually the worst, replacing parts that don't need replacing so as to keep them in house and unavailable for counterfeiting.
When do I send my Rolex Submariner to service? When he broke down ... 30 years after my grandfather bought it ... second-hand. Service every 5 years? My balls!
A Rolex Submariner 116610 retails for around USD 8,5k, I guess. That is, if you can get it for retail. Now, let's speculate for a moment about the actual manufacturing cost of the watch, COGS as accountants like to call it. I have not run the numbers, but I find it hard to believe that it's more than USD 1,5-2,0k. Add amortization, depreciation, SG&A and what will you most likely get ... for a sure a number that is SIGNIFICANTLY less than 8,5k. That's what is Rip off to me ...
Ha ha ha . Always funny . I have a vintage Bulova ( 1950 ) that runs 2 min fast a day . I may wear it once a day every few weeks. Maybe I will take it in to get serviced . Maybe I will regulate it myself . If I mess it up I can still take it in . Same money right ? Lol
Tim, love your chanel, not sure if you have the most amazing dry wit or if you are just so earnest? Anyways, in your reviewing channels saga, could you please review Jody of Just One More Watch? Thanks!!!!
Yes brother.....those watches are extremely inexpensive and are built like a tank....very Soviet in it's POU(Philosophy Of Use)....does the job.... unapologetic, unabashedly Russian....
I have a new watch. I only bought it a year ago. I've read you should get it serviced every 3-5 years. But also read 10 years if it's a new watch. Some say only if it's slow. I'm bit confused.
Haha - love it! You could substitute 'watch' with 'car/automobile' too! By the way, don't tell Omega, but I have some of their watches and I'm the stingy bastard.... :-)
Brilliant! I have a 1984 Rolex Submariner 5513. It's latest service cost Euros 1000. I now never wear it. I like the style so I have a Steinhart Ocean One Premium Blue Euros 570. Keeps better time LOL.
Tim, I’m not sure it’s entirely fair to say Omega are part of the “service racket”. They recommend a full service between 5 to 8 years, which is more extended than most other brands. Also, if you check out the prices on their website they range from £430 to £570 which is pretty good when you consider what one of their full services comprises.
Actually I've mixed the two companies to one. And the service intervals of Zenith are exactly as I've described them. All on their homepage. And this certificate crap is the new idea of Omega. Also on their website.
Not only this the labor to full service just one of these timepieces is painstaking and exhausting. th-cam.com/video/R8LzKljGh9g/w-d-xo.html I'd go permanently blind servicing these minature, mechanincal wonders!
5 to 8 years is still a ripoff. I wore my Omega Planet Ocean 24x7 for 14 years. Beat that thing to death. Still ran PERFECT after 14 years of neglect and punishment. Omega watches (and pretty much all others) don't need servicing until it starts slowing down. And the whole "but then the parts wear out!" argument is bs. Just look at some watch-servicing channels/videos, some watches have been worn for 30/40 years without service and ALL parts are perfectly fine. Never seen a worn out part anywhere. Broken, because of a hard knock yes....but worn? Never.
In my town professional watch makers use mobieus watch oil , they say it has a shelf life of 5 years so it's recommended that you should service your watch every 5-6 years , I don't know there is any better watch oil than mobieus , and I don't even know what oil Omega and zenith use in their movements .
In the light of ever increasing warranties (JLC 8 years, Rolex 5 (+5 from some UK ADs) then I guess that loss of revenue will encourage alternatives like Authentication etc..
Hi, could you look at the camera lens and not the lcd screen, that way it looks like you are talking to the viewers and not someone behind the camera. Nice video btw Thx!
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. You might need a full service every 10 years. You don’t need any “small services” in between. Service the watch when it stops running or is running very poorly, or if you hear or feel something grinding. When you get a service they’re going to completely rebuild the movement. Watches don’t need “maintenance” with modern oils.
Ein kleiner Tipp, "impudent" bekommt die Betonung auf der ersten Silbe, wie bei Ratskeller. Nur weil Du das Wort so gerne benutzt. :) Or you could also say "shameless", if you mean to say something like "unverschämt." Oder "outrageous", je nach Kontext.
Pity my nephew: one day he will inherit the Patriarch's 1959 gold Seamaster automatic, will sadly thank his grandfather for the honour which he will have earned as eldest grandson, and then he will find out why it has been in a drawer since 1998.
Rolex recommends service every 10 years , and I won't service any watch before it past 10 years , main thing you need to take in your consideration is to change your watch gasket every 5 years to ensure there is no water or dust get inside the movement
My watch man services a basic watch for £50, £60 with a new glass. I hesitate to call my watch man a 'watch maker', none of them make a watch from scratch, they repair and service. I suppose you could call him a watch mechanic?
Well, actually I've mixed the two companies to one. And the service intervals of Zenith are exactly as I've described them. All on their homepage. And this certificate crap is the new idea of Omega. Also on their website.
@@CasebackWatches Tim is it true that the silicium parts of Ω watches, like anchor and Ballance wheel need to be changed by every service because of low fatigue?
My first ever automatic watch, which my mother bought me when I was 15, a Sekio 5, operated perfectly for 23 years before it needed a service. If this budget automatic movement can do fine for so long, so can the much better built Swiss movements.
@@nickmartin1513 in the UK at least, the service is very expensive, slow (3 months+ with very loose timescales for completion) and customer service in particular is terrible - you are just a ticket number and they ask you not to contact them about progress as they don't have an internal tracking system to let you know when you could get your watch back or if there are delays. Would have been a much cheaper and better experience to go to a local watchmaker.
![Chris Langan - The Interview THEY Didn't Want You To See - CTMU [Full Version; Timestamps]](/img/n.gif)
There could be a price on your head now. In Swiss francs, obviously ;)
High price, I hope ;-)
@@CasebackWatches Sure. And a certificate ;)
Swiss francs.
Leszek Kadelski francs. 🙃
@@jfdomega7938 Thanks, corrected :)
My dad got an Omega in the early 70’s, never sent it to service, still on his wrist and keeping perfect time.
Of course not good for Omega finance team but great for Omega reputation.
Yea A Seiko SKX can go 20 years. I think its redicolus. Ok so after 5 years intead of the watch keeping +/- 1 second a day if keeps +/-3 seconds a day. No big deal. If the watch is keeping within +/- 30 seconds a day Im happy. Not worth $500 - $1000
I know somebody (my aunt's brother) who owns an omega and it's not working. He won't send it for servicing as that would be $1000. And he is not too old, so am guessing the watch isn't that old either.
DG B I have a 1970 Speedy that still runs if your wear it everyday. It was my father in laws and I’m positive he never serviced it .
My Dad bought a vintage Omega from the mid 60's in the early 2000's. He wears it everyday regardless of what he does and only serviced it once (he went for an independent watch shop, an Omega service centre would have probably given him a huge bill).
I have a working Seamaster from my Great-Grand Father. Same here never has been serviced. Runs perfectly. Though Crown is broken, had it replaced.
My friend David Yang has been wearing a Rolex Datejust for 57 years. Although the watch has never been opened for any service, it still runs normally and accurately. Also, I know an old jewelry salesman who has been wearing a Hamilton for 36+ years. The watch has never been opened yet still runs well. Two gentlemen have the same saying, “Nothing wrong, why fix?”
I have my father's Certina Argonaut 280 from ca. 1968. I bet that watch wasn't opened from mid 80' till last year. I've decided to give it to local watchmaker. It turned out it was dirty inside, the gasket was gone, the crown was worn out and one of the bridges - broken. It took 6 weeks, required sourcing parts from Australia (and I'm in Poland), because there were no new parts available, but all together... 25 euro. Works like a charm.
That Certina is an absolute classic 👍
You are right , my relative wears datjust for 55 years , never been serviced
Rip off customers? How about unlimited limited editions?
With several thousand pieces each, yes ;-)
@@CasebackWatches Sorry, rip oph customers....
How are LEs a rip off?
Clyve Watch-Wrangler omega is dog shit microwaved as AC3 would say
Trev Barlow because they’re hardly LEs at 8000 pieces!! Morons run omega
Not 100% sure why I found this channel (other than the fact I like wrist watches) but glad I did (find this channel). It very much appeals to my German sensibilities and the internal conflict between "keeping up on maintenance" and saving on service monies. Brilliant!
Ok Goebels
One more thing. To make this work you have to make sure the customer comes to you for the service and doesn't use his local watchmaker.
So don't forget to make sure that they can't buy parts!
(I asked a well known UK watchmaker's supplier which manufacturer they'd recommend based on them selling parts to non contracted watchmakers. They said that none did.)
Now this is the real rip off.
I hope this go viral!I had an Omega for 20 years, bought used, no box, no papers, I wear it everyday and i never sent it for maintenance and works very well!Omega not taking one cent from my wallet !!😂😂😎
That is why out of patent movements such as from ETA or Selita are better than the vaunted and patented movements of the in house variety. The in house movements tend to restrict the supply of spare parts.
My father owns a Citizen that's over 20 years old and it's never been serviced. Still runs as accurate as it did when new. I find it unlikely you ever need to service a watch unless it's noticeably running inaccurate or not working properly.
Service is a very controversial subjects, it comes down to two main factors: 1. how much you use the watch 2. what is the beat ratio of the watch; if your watch has an hi-beat movement like some Zenith do, a service every 5 years make sense, but generally 10 years is fine.
I have a Zenith el Primero (so it is a high beat. Bought it ten years ago, use it every single day. Not once I have taken it for a service. Runs fine.
I see opening a watch is a risk a human makes a mistake, or during maintenance dust or human particles get inside, etc.
So I hang on the wise words; when not broken, why fix it?
Ferrari did the same thing in the early 1980s. The belt service for 308s was every 5 years. After a while dealers complained they weren't making enough money on service SO Ferrari changed the service interval to every 3 years.
A wonderful argument for the second "quartz crisis": just buy a nice (or even less nice) quartz from Seiko, Citizen, Timex etc for under $200, replace the battery every so often (if you didn't go Eco-Drive) and then replace it after 10 years if you wish....
As a watchmaker i can tell you that even older Rolex models can break down after 5 years on some parts in the movement. And you don't send the watch to switzerland, you look for an authorized dealer with a certificated workshop. Shorter waiting time, you have someone to talk to if problems arrive and the costs are at least cut in half if not more. I work with ETA movements and after 4-6 years the movement CAN show signs of wear and tear. It can keep ticking, but it will only get worse from that point on. If you send in your modern Omega or Rolex after 7-10 years, it should come back just as new, as they change out most gears, wear and tear parts even when they seem fine, just to make sure. In the end they replace all the sealings, regulate your watch back to the original precision if something has changed, test it for weeks so it still has the COSC certified accuracy. Waterproofing included. This all takes time, skill and money - so it will cost money. An average watchmaker in his workshop will not have the certification, so he will not get the parts (easily or officially) lets say from Omega or Rolex, so he will just reuse the parts found in the movement, clean it, oil it up (if he even knows how to do it correctly according to the manufacturer) and put it back in. This is also much cheaper, but sometimes they charge as much as the manufacturer, just to make some extra cash. (Hey, they need to survive, the watch industry is killing them) Also don't forget you are getting a renewed warranty for said service from the manufacturer, at least two years if i remember correctly. But always remember: Oil and parts break down, so they form a nice sludge of metal and smear, wearing down parts around them and jizzing all the crap around in the movement. Have a nice day
Yeah... but this is kind of bullshit. Humans have made plenty of watches that do not require any maintenance for very long periods of time. I've always known Rolex to not only be failure-prone (dare I say planned for obsolescence ?) but they are also known for shitty business practices like claiming their watches are jewelry and therefore it's not a problem if they break. They have become a gaudy status symbol.
Still wearing my uncle’s 1964 Time Marlin. Never been serviced and running great 55 years on the wrist
You're not wrong! Best bet is to buy lots of different watches, wear them on a rotation (and not on a winder) and the service intervals extend indefinitely.
And maybe, "Thank you for sending us your vintage 321 Omega Speedmaster for service. We have changed the dial and bezel, so your watch looks new." Omega now thinks, "Great we have a genuine vintage Speedmaster 321 dial and bezel we can sell on ebay under our phantom account."
Tin foil hat time!
@@trevbarlow9719 lol, my comment was more in jest.
@@philipsdefreville6138 ah, that's a relief!
Always ask for your original parts back. Omega will do this, Rolex won’t.
@@DWilliam1 absolutly true
I bought a Rolex DJ back in the late 90’s and I’ve never had it serviced and don’t plan to until it stops working properly...because THEN it will actually NEED a service. I think some people confuse watches with cars LOL.
If it ain’t broke...
Well if you care enough about it you can have it serviced before something breaks, whether the cost is worth it is up to the buyer.
Connor Dooley sure, but there would be absolutely no benefit. It’s not like a car that needs regular maintenance. When a watch gets serviced it gets taken apart and completely rebuilt, then it’s a matter of time until it needs to be completely rebuilt. Servicing it before it needs it won’t help the watch in any way, you’ll just need service again sooner. Any reputable watchmaker will tell you the same. The exceptions would be of the watch becomes magnetized, which can be easily remedied (you’ll know because it’s running really fast all of a sudden) or if there’s a defect. That could include a manufacturing defect in a new watch or a defect from service caused by the watchmaker. Either one of those would be covered by warranty, either by the manufacturer or watchmaker who serviced it.
@@connordooley cost is the same, wether its broken or not
Exactly the way I think sir. They replace parts with service. Great, when/if my watch breaks, it can be fixed by replacing damaged parts.
If a high end watch doesn't run perfectly after 10 years it is crap and should be get rid of.
I have a King Seiko that hasn't been serviced in 50 years and it still ran strong.
Bottom line: Don't service your watch unless there is something wrong with it.
High end mean high maintenance.
They can run strong but some of the components can be pretty worn down
Unserviced Seiko 5 for 8 years
Disagree. If you have a dive watch that you use for diving you need to make sure the gaskets are not dried out and it’s watertight.
D William thats is true but did say unless there is something wrong with it. Hard to determine but u probably dont need a full service for the gaskets
Watches with ETA based or other common movements are the easiest to maintain, having minimal costs. The more complicate the higher the costs. Same goes with fancy material wheels. Another factor are the use of the watch, are you using it for swimming / diving / on a dusty environment with thin dust / extreme cold or heat / is it sitting on box idle for long time / living in a high humidity place etc etc , I am not saying that you need to follow the maintenance instructions but be aware that it may need… bottom line everything eventually will need maintenance and based on your watch collection it is always a good idea to save few $ /€ /£ every year for that purpose. My practice here is to put on the side the same amount as for the servicing costs.
My plan is to have my watches serviced every 8-10 years, and for the ones that got serviced I am keeping the service papers / history. The money I am putting on the side for this purpose goes into stocks so won’t stay idle :)
The one test I am doing though way more regularly is for waterproofing, especially for the watches that I am using when traveling.
The best watch channel on TH-cam by a million miles.
i have a seiko 5 bought in 1996, the same year, i believe, that the 7S26 movement was released. it has had the crystal replaced 4-5 times but never a service, not much wrist time now but it still keeps great time
Well, yes Tim. My 1970s rectangular Omega de ville (one of rather too many Omegas in my possession, I'm afraid) stopped working. I took it to Omega in Geneva (where I have already taken rather too many vintage Omegas, I am also afraid), and they quoted me CHF550 for the revision (quite "reasonable", but the movement is simple, just a sweep second hand, no date), but said that the face must be restored (CHF935). Why? The dial looks perfect to me, even under magnification, beautiful even, very dark blue. Omega say that they cannot guarantee the revision for the two-year period they propose, because micro-particles from the hands or face will get into the movement and make it go wrong. In the case of this particular watch, I don't believe them (though, after mutliple trips to the shop with multiple watches, I have got to know the manager pretty well). So, the watch is languising in a drawer - and I hate things that don't work. Almost enough to swallow my pride and go back to Omega, rue du Rhône, Geneva. But not quite. The watch in working condition would only be worth about CHF500 (I think). But resale value is not what collecting vintage watches is about really, is it? Thanks for the videos - always interesting and amusing in equal doses.
That nonsense about having to change the dial sounds like a complete scam.
Excellent. A little while ago I was thinking of buying an expensive watch but abandoned the idea when when I read the brochures and found it needs servicing about as often as my car.
I just got my EL Primero serviced. It was filled with grease, debris. etc The watchmaker took care of it and made sure nothing gets fucked up. Cost me $440 to get it all fixed up. No parts replaced, everything was good. If it was at Zenith they'll probably charge a big service and have the original parts replaced, which is a big no-no.
I don't know about Kiwi, but shoe cream jars from Saphir tend to last very long as well. I don't think it's a rip-off : cream for hydration and re-pigmentation of the entire shoe and wax for mirror polishing of the toe box.
I once gave my 90's Breitling Navitimer to an authorised service center, a week later they called me telling me that they need to replace the whole movement (even tho the watch still works) and that it will cost me 2600$. I kindly told them no thank you
I have an 15 year old Parnis with a Seagull auto, and has it has been flawless. No servicing. Titanium case $68 !
My watchmaker tells me to leave my watches alone unless they are not working properly. He's a really thorough guy, but recently I bought a lovely old watch from the 1950s and I took it to the watchmaker to show him and maybe get it serviced. He said: "Does it work alright? If yes, leave it alone." So that's the advice I am following.
Paul Jackman My local watch maker said exactly the same. 👍
My watchmaker is the same. Such an honest man, I don't know how he makes a living. I hope he never retires.
@@elijahschnake3863 If you're in business long enough and have a reputation for integrity and fair pricing, you build up quite a customer base.
Always a pleasure . I am slowly gathering the confidence to do ( not services ) but say swapping out a case. Richard
Cheers Tim definitely an amusing way to say don't believe everything watch companies say
A lawyer friend of mine was given a Patek (pronounced "paddock" by ArchieLuxury!) by his client and lamented for years how much it costs him to keep servicing it.
Based on my reading through the years, this debate about servicing applies to all mechanical watches, not just Zenith and Omega. The alleged issue pertains to degradation of the lubricating oils and wear of the engineered parts. If the watch has a mechanical movement, the manufacturer will recommend periodic servicing.
They are now working on a way of remotely making your watch stop running if it is overdue its service.
Very true. I've got some pieces from cheap brands from the 40s that have never been serviced and they work just fine after all these years. It's a racket!
I absolutely love Omega, but I hate all their limited editions.
I have Molnia pocket watch from 60s and it still runs, but oils dried out and you can feel it.
With regard to the servicing,if their watches are that good why the frequent servicing?
That's what I've been thinking ever since I bought my first expensive watch. :-)
That is why i have so many Chinese watches.....................
@ekim andersom MB comes with a bumper-to-bumper 4 year warranty and a 5-year on the powertrain and something like 100,000 for corrosion.
I need to look at my MB service manual. ;-)
We are in a funny place with watch collecting. I am more in the use the watch until it stops keeping good time camp. Even some of my really old watches have only been serviced once in 20 or 25 years and still run fine. I had a vintage Omega that I inherited from my Grandmother's estate that might never have been serviced when I got it in 2001. I had that watch repaired locally and 18 years later, it still runs fine and keeps good time. Another vintage Omega I bought was a bit misrepresented as keeping good time. It didn't. But, the service, again local, only cost about $200 and 8 years later, still keeps good time. Finally, I had a modern Omega serviced last year for the first time after owning it for 15 years. It was starting to lose about 1 minute a day, so I figured it was time. Just a small servicing and it is back up and running.
None of my watches are museum pieces, of course, and none cost me more than $1,000, so maybe that is the difference.
AD said once, never open as long as it holds time for as long as it should. Within a big service, usually everything that can wear of in that time is replaced anyway (at the same cost) and even if you have 1-2 parts that need to be replaced cause of longer wear and tear, you usually save that by having a service less in the end.
Bernard Rohloff makes bicycle gears that have to have the expensive special oil changed annually. It's $1 per ml.
Love this video, thank you. And that word! Fantastic! I will use it.
I like how you mentioned the psychological aspect of the service, if it makes me feel good...then why not?
Vostok. Same accuracy specs as Seiko NH35. Service interval, 10 years. Total replacement of Komandirskie mechanisms, $23. Time required, 10 minutes.
My first and lecture about watch service was given to me by someone who repair them in the form: You know how seconds + or - run your watch. If that difference change than you need a repair. There is no given time to service a watch.
Dried up gaskets, moisture invasion. Dried up oils, increased friction. These things exist and have to be dealt with. I don't want to wait for the signs of corrosion and wear. I'm not sure it makes sense to wait until the watch shows signs.
Corporates need to be creative:) unlimited growth is reaching its limits...
+1,000 upvotes if I could.
I recently bought 2 new Omega's & was thoroughly dissapointed with them. The quality just isn't there anymore, despite the much lauded Metas certification. Ended up selling both at a hefty loss. Now I have a pair of vintage (Omega Serviced) Seamaster's, manufactured when the Brand was at its peak & I'm happy. Both have Service Paperwork, period correct Boxes & "extract(s) from the archives". £90 an Extract just to confirm the production date, destination country & general specification, isn't cheap but was worth it. Also, servicing cost was reasonable for the amount of work done & I dont anticipate repeating the process for another 5-7 years.
As for new watches, I've invested Grand Seiko. 100% In-House, unrivalled quality, bulletproof reliability and long real-world service intervals. In many ways just like a Rolex, except they're readily available and you're not likely to get robbed for wearing them.
The service requirements are so funny when I consider that my dad's Datejust, which is now approximately 50 years old, has been serviced once, yet tells time.
I actually like that idea of a certificate of authenticity from the maker, although they want way too much for the darn thing.
Unfortunately, the watch industry is a shystie business in general...due to the low standard to qualify for "made in Switzerland." They also know their customer are very fickle people who'll lose their marbles over something as simple as a single red line of text...
Rusty Shackleford , yup. I recently purchased a low end Swiss Made brand which needed a new movement, and omg!, the stamp on the inside of the case-back said "Made in China". You need your own attorney to figure out how many sweatshop parts can make it into your "Swiss Made" watch. I get excited today when I see stuff made in Taiwan. That's high-end sh--!
That’s an evil little chuckle you have there Tim 😂
You get a watch serviced if it starts to misbehave, otherwise it's not usually necessary. A good quality watch can run 20+ years between services.
Do you do the same thing with your car, driving it until it breaks down and then you get it fixed?
@@LaurensLeurs Not until it breaks, until it actually feels off.
@@LaurensLeurs What a stupid comparison... Name the watch that causes people to die if it breaks, so I don't buy it. Thank you.
@@KaneChamp I was thinking of maintenance as a way of saving money by avoiding or postponing costly repairs. Car maintenance can indeed save lives so I should maybe have used another comparison, like a coffee maker. I don't wait until that breaks down because of calcium buildup. It gets descaled and cleaned from time to time.
@@LaurensLeurs Exactly. But only if something is feeling weird or off. Or you see its not working as good. Otherwise hold on to your money
Omega told me every 3-5 years, I've owned my watch from new for 7 years, still running perfectly and I've not serviced it . Service it when it needs it people
this guy can't be german - he is too funny!
But you can be German because your comment is not funny
Ah I bet u get up at 4 am on your holidays to put your towel on the sun lounger
@@ed7384 your still not funny
Annex those sunloungers!
@@ed7384 still
I love when common sense wins! LoL
Great to see you again Tim…
I own a Seamaster bought new in 1999 and had it serviced once. Works great.
I took my Zenith El Primero to my AD for a clasp issue. They sent the whole watch to Zenith. I got a new clasp, a service and it cost me nothing. I didn't ask for the service, BTW. Watch was running just a bit fast, and was over 5 years old. My AD told me if the watch is running fine, then to leave it alone. I realise every situation is unique, but Zenith hooked me up.
They’re a classy company.
I only sent my Omega seamaster for service after 11 years on the wrist when it started to gain approx 25 seconds a day 🙃
Kiwi shoe polish lasts years!?
Not in the Army it doesn't, lol... at least not in the Guards...
Haha, ok guard duty is another scenario.
The British Army issuing shoe polish..? What a wonderful world that would be... I dunno, at least it was not so when I was a crow. Maybe they do so today. Shining parades tended to go through rather copious amounts of the stuff; bear in mind, we don't just bull the toecaps. Need one tin for layering, one tin for bulling, two tins (parade gloss black and parade gloss dark tan) for finishing... And of course, being Guardsmen, we had to keep our boots black in the field, so we never went out without brushes and polish. It's a far cry from my requirement as a civvy. I'll readily admit I've probably had the same tin of polish in the closet for the last 3 years. Kiwi is outstanding stuff...
I recommend only saphir shoe products for really good shoes.
They give amazing suppleness and deep shine to quality leathers.
Once an ex mistook it for moisturizer when I took the lid off and she complimented me on how wonderful it made her skin look and feel.
I bought some for her and decanted it into a fancy crystal jar for her birthday and she was thrilled. Thrilled.
Delightful Tim,to add to that i have a O&W M5 with an ETA2824-2 movement that just died after 25 years with no service from new.Will i get it serviced?Probably not when i can purchase a chinese clone movement for $90 and that clone has been tested by mark lovick and found to be as good as the original.Thankyou for all the laughs your review gave me.(tee hee)
My dads Rolex had NO services since bought new in 1962 is within cosc specs per my time grapher.
Much like oil changes for the auto. Consumer reports proved a oil change not required every 5k miles.
The recommended service levels are of course absurd, but it's not limited to Zenith and Omega. Every brand does some version of this and Rolex is actually the worst, replacing parts that don't need replacing so as to keep them in house and unavailable for counterfeiting.
I was watching Aljezerra news and it looks like boot polish is making something of a comeback ,not only in Germany and Denmark but right across Europe
@Bryan Davis if stupidity could fly, you'd be an Airbus A380 my boiii.
And this convinced me on one thing. Buy from Japan and stop bitching about the swiss. And if you hate servicing buy quartz. Love the video.
When do I send my Rolex Submariner to service?
When he broke down ... 30 years after my grandfather bought it ... second-hand.
Service every 5 years? My balls!
Your balls get serviced every five years? 😂
@@dufusfinder9771 at least 🤣
Yeah...I saw that, when I had my A.T....sold it as fast as I could! Omega, really wants you to buy a new watch...hell, most of them do!
A Rolex Submariner 116610 retails for around USD 8,5k, I guess. That is, if you can get it for retail. Now, let's speculate for a moment about the actual manufacturing cost of the watch, COGS as accountants like to call it. I have not run the numbers, but I find it hard to believe that it's more than USD 1,5-2,0k. Add amortization, depreciation, SG&A and what will you most likely get ... for a sure a number that is SIGNIFICANTLY less than 8,5k. That's what is Rip off to me ...
Chapeau Tim, unterhaltsam und schön dargelegter Inhalt. Guter Filmtip on top, ist neben Casino mit Robert De Niro einer meiner Lieblingsfilme 👍🏻
Danke schön, freut mich, dass dir das Video gefällt.
Guten tag schmetterlinge 😃🦋
Ha ha ha . Always funny . I have a vintage Bulova ( 1950 ) that runs 2 min fast a day . I may wear it once a day every few weeks. Maybe I will take it in to get serviced . Maybe I will regulate it myself . If I mess it up I can still take it in . Same money right ? Lol
Brilliant! Like your style very much. Will show some more Kadavergehorsam in the future to you. Wolke fom UF
Tim, love your chanel, not sure if you have the most amazing dry wit or if you are just so earnest? Anyways, in your reviewing channels saga, could you please review Jody of Just One More Watch? Thanks!!!!
Vostok watches list 10 years as a service interval :) That is high standard.
Yes brother.....those watches are extremely inexpensive and are built like a tank....very Soviet in it's POU(Philosophy Of Use)....does the job.... unapologetic, unabashedly Russian....
Becouse of videos like this I have subscribed to your channel. Excellent service 😂😂😂😂. All the best!! 😍
Greetings from Canada 🍁
When did Omega and Zenith become the Ferrari of the watch industry - buying the item, and then constantly driving it to the shop for upkeeps?
Rolex is the Ferrari of Horology, Omega is the Porsche
I have a new watch. I only bought it a year ago. I've read you should get it serviced every 3-5 years. But also read 10 years if it's a new watch. Some say only if it's slow. I'm bit confused.
Simple: If it's not broken, don't fix it.
Haha - love it! You could substitute 'watch' with 'car/automobile' too! By the way, don't tell Omega, but I have some of their watches and I'm the stingy bastard.... :-)
Brilliant! I have a 1984 Rolex Submariner 5513. It's latest service cost Euros 1000. I now never wear it. I like the style so I have a Steinhart Ocean One Premium Blue Euros 570. Keeps better time LOL.
Steinharts really are a steal. You get an ETA movement which everyone should be able to service
Tim, I’m not sure it’s entirely fair to say Omega are part of the “service racket”. They recommend a full service between 5 to 8 years, which is more extended than most other brands. Also, if you check out the prices on their website they range from £430 to £570 which is pretty good when you consider what one of their full services comprises.
Yes, my presentation might be a little exaggerated in this aspect.
Caseback Watches Just a bit odd, because you’re usually very fair and factual. Never mind.
Actually I've mixed the two companies to one. And the service intervals of Zenith are exactly as I've described them. All on their homepage. And this certificate crap is the new idea of Omega. Also on their website.
Not only this the labor to full service just one of these timepieces is painstaking and exhausting. th-cam.com/video/R8LzKljGh9g/w-d-xo.html
I'd go permanently blind servicing these minature, mechanincal wonders!
5 to 8 years is still a ripoff. I wore my Omega Planet Ocean 24x7 for 14 years. Beat that thing to death. Still ran PERFECT after 14 years of neglect and punishment. Omega watches (and pretty much all others) don't need servicing until it starts slowing down. And the whole "but then the parts wear out!" argument is bs. Just look at some watch-servicing channels/videos, some watches have been worn for 30/40 years without service and ALL parts are perfectly fine. Never seen a worn out part anywhere. Broken, because of a hard knock yes....but worn? Never.
Invent a special oil which turns to glue after two years. How long does the oil last? Is it even necessary? Deep questions.
In my town professional watch makers use mobieus watch oil , they say it has a shelf life of 5 years so it's recommended that you should service your watch every 5-6 years , I don't know there is any better watch oil than mobieus , and I don't even know what oil Omega and zenith use in their movements .
In the light of ever increasing warranties (JLC 8 years, Rolex 5 (+5 from some UK ADs) then I guess that loss of revenue will encourage alternatives like Authentication etc..
I turned my back on the swiss watches altogether!
i just bought the smp and im
mad, running like all other seiko wtaches and will cost me like 5 seiko watches in 5 years haha
Brilliant! You could win an oscar with that performance. 👍
Great video, Tim! Spot on, as always.
Tim I beg you, teach me how to buy a suit
Oded Asouline follow Sartorial Talks on TH-cam...he is your man..
Vest way too tight
Dan Dahl *waistcoat
You missed a step. You need to NPV that $10,600 in to the future. Also would the translation for Kadavergehorsam be Zombie?
Interesting translation. The braindead follower! :-D
Great video Tim. Enjoyed this one.
Hi, could you look at the camera lens and not the lcd screen, that way it looks like you are talking to the viewers and not someone behind the camera. Nice video btw Thx!
This is gold. Thanks!
cynical poetry at its finest. love it!
Instant click everytime your vid shows up.
Very interesting, I never knew that these companies do this! Thanks for the education
Understood! Whats your point? No service going forward?
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. You might need a full service every 10 years. You don’t need any “small services” in between. Service the watch when it stops running or is running very poorly, or if you hear or feel something grinding. When you get a service they’re going to completely rebuild the movement. Watches don’t need “maintenance” with modern oils.
Thanks , great clip!
Ein kleiner Tipp, "impudent" bekommt die Betonung auf der ersten Silbe, wie bei Ratskeller. Nur weil Du das Wort so gerne benutzt. :) Or you could also say "shameless", if you mean to say something like "unverschämt." Oder "outrageous", je nach Kontext.
Ok, danke.
Pity my nephew: one day he will inherit the Patriarch's 1959 gold Seamaster automatic, will sadly thank his grandfather for the honour which he will have earned as eldest grandson, and then he will find out why it has been in a drawer since 1998.
Rolex recommends service every 10 years , and I won't service any watch before it past 10 years , main thing you need to take in your consideration is to change your watch gasket every 5 years to ensure there is no water or dust get inside the movement
My watch man services a basic watch for £50, £60 with a new glass.
I hesitate to call my watch man a 'watch maker', none of them make a watch from scratch, they repair and service.
I suppose you could call him a watch mechanic?
Amazing, that makes every Rolex looks cheap
That is, until one figures in elite Rolex service plans.
@@swabby429 only if they selling numbers drop
Dimitrios Athanasiou Only if you buy the Zenith. Tim’s exaggerated the Omega numbers a bit, and also the service intervals.
Well, actually I've mixed the two companies to one. And the service intervals of Zenith are exactly as I've described them. All on their homepage. And this certificate crap is the new idea of Omega. Also on their website.
@@CasebackWatches Tim is it true that the silicium parts of Ω watches, like anchor and Ballance wheel need to be changed by every service because of low fatigue?
Liked and subscribed! Thanks for opening my eyes, dankeschön!
Thanks for the subscription!
Very informative and entertaining. Thanks!
My first ever automatic watch, which my mother bought me when I was 15, a Sekio 5, operated perfectly for 23 years before it needed a service. If this budget automatic movement can do fine for so long, so can the much better built Swiss movements.
It would probably be just as cheap to have your watch man drop a new movment in as service the original
@@bsimpson6204 Yep. For sentimental reasons I wanted to send it to Seiko for a full service. On reflection that was a mistake.
@@davideljones1982 why was it a mistake?
@@nickmartin1513 in the UK at least, the service is very expensive, slow (3 months+ with very loose timescales for completion) and customer service in particular is terrible - you are just a ticket number and they ask you not to contact them about progress as they don't have an internal tracking system to let you know when you could get your watch back or if there are delays. Would have been a much cheaper and better experience to go to a local watchmaker.
@@davideljones1982 thanks for the answer..