No Maintenance in 28 1/2 Years

[Chaching]

1. Service that puppy.
2. Buy a darn camera it's like 2015.
Cheers!

[Shore Guy]

Camera is not enough for uploading, also needed is a computer which I don't have.

[iLLGT2]

No camera? No computer?
How are you posting on here, iPad? iPhone? Don't those have cameras, lol

Don't service it
Leave as is

[Shore Guy]

I am posting with an iPad 1 which doesn't have a camera. The pictures on my thread "No Maintenance in 28 1/2 Years" were taken by my neighbor who has both a camera and computer.

[eah990]

bunch of whippersnappers

[brandrea]

Leave it! I for one would like to check back in with you in another 28.5 years and see how it's running

[goldfixer21]

Sell the watch
buy a camera, a smart phone, and a computer
keep the phone number of the person that buys your watch
call him every month to see if it's still running
sooner or later it will not be because it hasn't been serviced in 28.5 years
buy it back for half of what you sold it for, after all it's not working
have it serviced
wear it another 28.5 years
it's really that simple

[acarriles]

Originally Posted by iLLGT2

No camera? No computer?
How are you posting on here, iPad? iPhone? Don't those have cameras, lol

Don't service it
Leave as is

It is a shame I can't see the pics... I don't have a monitor. I am typing this on my Regminton typewriter...

[DCgator]

I had a R Serial tt Thunderbird I bought brand new in 1990; its first ever service by a Ben Bridge Rolex-certified watchmaker was done at 22 years. Watchmaker said no damage, oil was okay, and replaced only the parts as RSC. Watch stayed accurate every time I used it in its entire 22 years of being on rotation with other watches. My oldest son has been enjoying the watch since Jan 2013.

[997.2]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

1. Service
2. Buy camera.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

its just like not changing the oil in your car or at this point no oil in the car at all. the bearings will go and more damage will be done than a properly serviced watch. things that would normally need lubed will need replaced thus a bigger repair bill.

even Hondas need oil service

Well I can tell you I have had watches that were 40-50 years old and never a service and looked immaculate inside and repair bill was not a penny more with same parts replaced like any other service so who knows. Would I recommend waiting that long? No but did I like buying untouched never opened vintage pieces? Heck yes!

[vette boy 52]

Okay. Great but get the poor watch serviced it deserves it.

[SearChart]

That's real proof of how good Rolex really is

[steptoe]

Why do people keep comparing the movement of a watch to a car engine ?

Does your watch live in a dirty enviroment, left outside and temps down to -20 degrees (possibly more) in winter and within minutes of starting temperatures up to 100+ degrees and then running at speeds from 1000 rpm up to 5000 rpm and being shunted backwards and forwards inbetween, being doused in petrol which in turn produces acidic condensation as a waste product.....

No, a watch (when it's worn and not tucked away in your safe) sits on your wrist in a temperate climate with temperatures barely fluctuating a few degrees at most. The movement running at a set speed in a sealed clean environment.

So 28 years without a service means the wearer has saved upwards of £5000, if as suggested by some that he needs it serviced every 5 years.
So even if it now needs some parts, which it may not, i doubt the cost would be anywhere near £5000. :D

[desmoboy]

My fathers Datejust had not been serviced for 30 years, I expect many others Rolexes have not been serviced longer than that.
Remember that for many like my father they would only consider taking a mechanical watch for a service unless it broke.
Guess Rolexes are quite reliable, Shore Guy that is the point you are making? What the condition of your bracelet like?

[Divingdud]

The price of an OP in 1986 must have been no more than the price of GMT (£540) based on UK price in 1980. So, a service will enhance the value of this watch.
Be quick, because once the watch is 30 years old, it will be deemed as vintage by a RSC and I have found this increases the basic service cost. It's possible there will be other parts more than those parts included in the service and the overall service cost might be considerable. Leave instructions the 'crown' on the bracelet clip is blanked out during re- finishing, because once when my GMT came back from servicing, the crown was polished quite flattened.

[Shore Guy]

To desmoboy,

Yes, the point is Rolexes are tough and reliable. As far as the bracelet condition, despite my never cleaning it, it looks fine and has not loosened. A picture of it is on this thread.
I am amazed about all of the contributors to this forum who obsessively clean their bracelets, sometimes everyday! Maybe my skin oil and flakes have helped and not hurt. I believe the oyster bracelet is tougher than the jubilee.

[Shore Guy]

To Divingdud,

FYI The price for my SS OP purchased new from an AD in 1986 was $880 plus $53 tax.
I don't know what this translates to based on the exchange rate at that time.

One (and I emphasize ONE) of the reasons I am loathe to get it maintained is fear that it will be polished even with explicit instructions that it not be. I consider all dings, abrasions, etc on the case, crystal, case back, bracelet, clasp etc. to be badges of service to be kept and not removed.

[Divingdud]

Originally Posted by Shore Guy

To Divingdud,

FYI The price for my SS OP purchased new from an AD in 1986 was $880 plus $53 tax.
I don't know what this translates to based on the exchange rate at that time.

One (and I emphasize ONE) of the reasons I am loathe to get it maintained is fear that it will be polished even with explicit instructions that it not be. I consider all dings, abrasions, etc on the case, crystal, case back, bracelet, clasp etc. to be badges of service to be kept and not removed.

Looks as if I had the 1986 purchase price about right.
You can always remove the bracelet and just present the watch for service, then after the service, you can safely go swimming wearing the watch.

[DubaiWatchGuy]

Originally Posted by Shore Guy

To desmoboy,

Yes, the point is Rolexes are tough and reliable. As far as the bracelet condition, despite my never cleaning it, it looks fine and has not loosened. A picture of it is on this thread.
I am amazed about all of the contributors to this forum who obsessively clean their bracelets, sometimes everyday! Maybe my skin oil and flakes have helped and not hurt. I believe the oyster bracelet is tougher than the jubilee.

thanks for uploading!

[Urosfan]

Wow sounds like she is due for service

[BrianMay]

I bought a 2001 Datejust 3 weeks ago. It's never been serviced - because the guy didn't wear it more than a dozen times. It was SO mint when I picked it up.

I spoke to my watchmaker telling him it had lost 10 seconds in 14 days - he said his advice was to LEAVE IT ALONE.

I find this story utterly reassuring. Comments like 'you wouldn't drive your car without an oil change' surely are irrelevant - this is his watch and the worst it can do is stop. Hardly the same as an engine seizure on the freeway.

Apples with Apples folks - please.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...ust%20%232.jpg

[dabbotjordan]

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

[Shore Guy]

To BrianMay,

My watch does not have the date feature, a feature which may require more service than my SS OP. YMMV

[Michael M.]

For me it is no surprise that your Rolex still keeps relatively good time, even after never being serviced after 28 years of ownership. As a Vintage Rolex collector and dealer, I cannot even tell you how many times I have purchased 40 year old watches that have never been serviced and yet keep accurate time. Just goes to show the quality of Rolex.

[VicLeChic]

That watch deserves some respect, and also some vacation. Give it an overhaul, a second youth.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Shore Guy

Tapatalk requires ios 7 or greater. I have original iPad which is nowhere near that.

E-mail the pics to me and I'll put them up for you.

[doubleinfive]

28.5 years? You've got a long way to go. My wife inherited a 6694 OysterDate from her dad and we had it serviced for the first time in 2013, 50 years after he bought it. It is now part of her regular Rolex rotation along with an OP Harley and Red Grape.

[VICI]

$500 /28.5 years = $17.54/yr to service it... not bad!

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by superdog

i am having a hard time believing anything.

there is a little saying on TRF:

"pics or it didn't happen"

x2, as soon as I put up my offer to post his pic he logged out.

He read it first and then left.