Servicing a vintage Rolex

[Random Guy]

My father gave me his 1981 Rolex Air king watch and it hasn’t been serviced since, I’m traveling to Berlin in 5 days and I was wondering if I should get it serviced there (I’m staying there for a week), I see these vintage collectors saying not to service a vintage watch but idk if I should or should not get it serviced and I don’t plan on selling it.

[Rocket_Man]

Originally Posted by Random Guy

My father gave me his 1981 Rolex Air king watch and it hasn’t been serviced since, I’m traveling to Berlin in 5 days and I was wondering if I should get it serviced there (I’m staying there for a week), I see these vintage collectors saying not to service a vintage watch but idk if I should or should not get it serviced and I don’t plan on selling it.

Doubtful a week is sufficient time to service a vintage watch. Get it serviced close to home. The movement will need cleaning and probably a new mainspring and new gaskets. Just don't polish it or replace the dial or hands. Find a good independent. There are a few who regularly post on this forum.

[Chaching]

Rolex service wait is 4-6 weeks typically

[Random Guy]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

Doubtful a week is sufficient time to service a vintage watch. Get it serviced close to home. The movement will need cleaning and probably a new mainspring and new gaskets. Just don't polish it or replace the dial or hands. Find a good independent. There are a few who regularly post on this forum.

Is it possible that Rolex won’t change the dial or hands if I asked them to, I read somewhere that Rolex doesn’t care about vintage watches and they would send the old parts back to Geneva

[Toronto Soup King]

Originally Posted by Random Guy

Is it possible that Rolex won’t change the dial or hands if I asked them to

RSC here wouldn't service my old watch unless I agreed to them changing the dial and hands (and crown and tube and MS and gaskets and crystal IIRC) during the service. They don't want the liability if bits of your 37-year-old watch fall apart, dials are delicate when old, some of them, I think it's perfectly understandable. Much better for them if they hold their usual position of, "Send it to us and we will make it new again, that is your choice with us". If you want to keep your old parts, take your watch to an independent watchmaker, lots of them on this forum. Best of luck eh