Maintenance of a Rolex Quartz watch?

[Boopie]

Okay, this is probably a really stupid question...but what kind of maintenance does a Rolex Quartz (e.g. Oyster Quartz, DateJust Quartz, or even a Cellini etc.) need, if any?

I presume that a quartz watch would never need to go to an RSC for maintenance (unlike with an automatic watch), and that an owner would just need to keep the watch case and band in good condition.

[Tools]

Sure it will........

The quartz motor only takes the place of the mainspring and parts of the escapement..

There are still the wheels, pinions, and jewels that the pivots ride on and gears that connect everything up to smoothly work together..

[JimC]

Originally Posted by Tools

Sure it will........

The quartz motor only takes the place of the mainspring and parts of the escapement..

There are still the wheels, pinions, and jewels that the pivots ride on and gears that connect everything up to smoothly work together..

Good points, Larry!

[Boopie]

Thanks. Is the maintenance schedule roughly the same as with an automatic, e.g. roughly every 5-7 years?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Boopie

Thanks. Is the maintenance schedule roughly the same as with an automatic, e.g. roughly every 5-7 years?

Rolex would probably say yes, but I would say no..

Two critical areas in an automatic are the pallet lever (under the pallet where it slides back and forth), and the mainspring barrel... also the mainspring puts torque on the great wheel and translates pressure to the pallet stones........ These are usually replaced at a service due to wear.... Those high pressure points are not there on the quartz....

I would judge that you could go twice as long with the quartz........ but I would want to look in the owners manual and see what they have to say........

[Rikki]

The Rolex oyster quartz is a unique movement there's nothing like it in a quartz movement. It uses a type of stepping motor with a finger that moves a pallet fork and an escape wheel,which in turn moves the other 2 train wheels. It is tuneable for timing unlike most modern quartz movements. I would have it serviced every 7 to 10 years and every other year have it watertested and gaskets changed. When these watches get wet they get real expensive to fix, the circuit and motor are a thousand just to start with for parts. They are great time keepers. I bought one 15 years ago from a customer who didn't want to have it repaired ,I restored it and sold it to one of regular customers and have only serviced it once since then. Cells every year and watertest not withstanding. Rik