Is it theoretically possible for a Rolex to go 50+ years without service?

[the dark knight]

Read this interesting story on lifetime Pepsi wearer King Harald of Norway.

http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2018/04...e-wearing.html

Also another Pepsi wearer, James Lovell

http://www.rolexmagazine.com/2018/03...astronaut.html

These watches look worn and beaten to hell, as you'd expect for a daily wearer of 50 something years. King Harald's Pepsi's bezel is completely faded. Since I've seen serviced Rolexes come back looking almost new sometimes, and supposedly because King Harald has never worn another watch, is it possible he's NEVER had this watch serviced?

I'm more inclined to believe a King can just have a watch serviced very quickly and he could have requested no cosmetic changes or improvements to keep it looking original. But still, I am curious if not servicing a Rolex (or heck any automatic watch) for 50 years and to still have it run would even theoretically be possible.

[Onikage]

Someone on here had one. Mixed opinions on whether to rush it into surgery immediately or just let it be on a roll.

[yoniman]

I have a colleague who wears a sub. Then one day I noticed that it is not in his wrist anymore.

When I asked he said it's in his drawer. It just stopped after 30 years of constant wear without being serviced even once.

Oil/lubricants or the lack there of must have been the culprit?

I offered to buy it from him.

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[drmizzou]

Originally Posted by yoniman

I have a colleague who wears a sub. Then one day I noticed that it is not in his wrist anymore.

When I asked he said it's in his drawer. It just stopped after 30 years of constant wear without being serviced even once.

Oil/lubricants or the lack there of must have been the culprit?

I offered to buy it from him.

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Did he sell?

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by drmizzou

Did he sell?

Well, he just smiled and then laughed. And this is everytime we meet in the satff room.

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[meganfox17]

Exceptionally Super Duper Rare going unserviced for 50+ years but YES it's absolutely possible, perhaps 1 in 1 000 000

Another such an example is the Omega Speedmaster Cal 321 worn by the Last Man on the Moon, astronaut Commander Eugene Gene Cernan in Dec 1972 . NASA provided Gene with a Ref 105.012 but in addition Gene had his own personal Speedy Ref 105.003 on board Apollo XVII ( Gene wore two Speedies in the Lunar module but I'm not sure which one he wore during EVA on the Lunar surface )
Incredibly as it seems, his own personal watch has never been serviced since that final mission even till this day, the watch still runs perfectly ! Sadly Gene passed away on the 16.1.2017 at the age of 83

[Singslinger]

A good friend bought a Sub Date back in 1987 and has not serviced it once, but it still runs and keeps good time.

The dial has yellowed, the bezel rotates in both directions and the clasp is broken but otherwise it works well. I tried to get him to send it for an overhaul but he believes in the maxim "if it ain't broke, why fix it?''

Ah well.

[kertong]

Yes. My dad has a rolex 1500 that mom bought for him new in paris back in ~1978. He has never had it serviced (according to him - and I believe him as he went 50k miles before an oil change on one of his cars for example.. super lazy guy haha) and it currently still runs perfectly! haven't bothered to time it but it seems to keep time pretty accurately!

edit: here it is in all its unserviced glory:

[Rock]

Possible yes - but what sort of time would it be keeping. In 50 years it could be still running but minutes a day off.

[MonBK]

Yes

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by kertong

Yes. My dad has a rolex 1500 that mom bought for him new in paris back in ~1978. He has never had it serviced (according to him - and I believe him as he went 50k miles before an oil change on one of his cars for example.. super lazy guy haha) and it currently still runs perfectly! haven't bothered to time it but it seems to keep time pretty accurately!

edit: here it is in all its unserviced glory:

Wow. What would be the movement of that DJ?

Cheers

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[kertong]

Originally Posted by yoniman

Wow. What would be the movement of that DJ?

Cheers

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I believe it is the caliber 1570 movement :)

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by kertong

I believe it is the caliber 1570 movement :)

Thank you.

And I was just reading this:
"The movement features a monometallic balance, which adjusts to temperatures, and a self compensating free sprung Breguet balance spring." - Bob's Watches

Calling all watchmakers, is this feature still used or was it improved with today's movement?

Fascinating!

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[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by yoniman

Thank you.

And I was just reading this:
"The movement features a monometallic balance, which adjusts to temperatures, and a self compensating free sprung Breguet balance spring." - Bob's Watches

Calling all watchmakers, is this feature still used or was it improved with today's movement?

Fascinating!

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Current models use the parachrom blue balance spring.

[HL65]

I had a Sub that went 40 plus years without a service and watch ran fine and looked quite good inside. Rik Dietel who is a member here did service and watch didn't have any issues and came out fine. I think I paid $500 or so for service or so as well. I have pictures somewhere if I can find them.

I also had an old PP MK1 DRSD that was worn once and spent 40 plus years in a desk drawer and never had a service and it looked brand new inside and ran within 15 seconds a day as well. I have pics of that one too when it was opened up. People expect the inside to be worn and beat up but it looked like a new watch! Here are some pics:






Here is the Sub:

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

Current models use the parachrom blue balance spring.

Thank you.

This was before the Nivarox?

Learning everyday here.
Cheers

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[Wools]

I think this thread proves, yes, it’s possible to run a mechanical for a lifetime!

My idea is I will wear a watch and not take it back for a service till I notice something is not running right. Why open it up and possibly start the damage process when nothing is wrong?

Only exception to that is if you swim or dive a lot. That changes things!

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by Wools

I think this thread proves, yes, it’s possible to run a mechanical for a lifetime!

My idea is I will wear a watch and not take it back for a service till I notice something is not running right. Why open it up and possibly start the damage process when nothing is wrong?

Only exception to that is if you swim or dive a lot. That changes things!

My take on it too. Not that I'm a tightwad or anything.

[WatchinMD]

Originally Posted by HL65

I had a Sub that went 40 plus years without a service and watch ran fine and looked quite good inside. Rik Dietel who is a member here did service and watch didn't have any issues and came out fine. I think I paid $500 or so for service or so as well. I have pictures somewhere if I can find them.

I also had an old PP MK1 DRSD that was worn once and spent 40 plus years in a desk drawer and never had a service and it looked brand new inside and ran within 15 seconds a day as well. I have pics of that one too when it was opened up. People expect the inside to be worn and beat up but it looked like a new watch! Here are some pics:






Here is the Sub:

Wow! Great shots, Ken.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by WatchinMD

Wow! Great shots, Ken.

Thanks Larry!

[BLNR Nairobi]

Amazing pictures

[NLYogi]

I personally would enjoy to have my watch serviced, gaskets renewed, parts checked for wear, oils renewed etc. to ensure proper operation. For me this is part of the ownership of a MECHANICAL watch!

[Thegr8one]

Originally Posted by HL65

Thanks Larry!

Hi Ken, great pics. Do you still have vintage in the collection? If so, bring em out soon and get some pics on IG.

[el-heffe]

Wow. I'm in love!

[dannyp]

I would imagine that the fewer complications it has, the longer it can go. I would also assume that manual wind can go longer than automatic, no?

[Keptone]

yeah it is very possible, but it would be loosing minutes per day... or pobably won't be accurate.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by NLYogi

I personally would enjoy to have my watch serviced, gaskets renewed, parts checked for wear, oils renewed etc. to ensure proper operation. For me this is part of the ownership of a MECHANICAL watch!

Unless a watchmaker scratches dial taking hands off of your 6538 BC or accidentally knocks a lume off of your 6263 PN Daytona both of which I’ve seen done to friend’s watches. So your beloved serviced watches are worth far less as a result oh well. So just keep in mind with service comes a different kind of risk and a potentially a very costly one.

[the dark knight]

Originally Posted by HL65

I had a Sub that went 40 plus years without a service and watch ran fine and looked quite good inside. Rik Dietel who is a member here did service and watch didn't have any issues and came out fine. I think I paid $500 or so for service or so as well. I have pictures somewhere if I can find them.

I also had an old PP MK1 DRSD that was worn once and spent 40 plus years in a desk drawer and never had a service and it looked brand new inside and ran within 15 seconds a day as well. I have pics of that one too when it was opened up. People expect the inside to be worn and beat up but it looked like a new watch! Here are some pics:






Here is the Sub:

Wow, thanks for the pics, this is absolutely fascinating and amazing!

[Any4xx]

My wife has a cocktail watch that her grandfather bought for her grandmother in 1962. Never serviced. She rarely wears it, but I wound it up two weeks ago so she could wear it to a wedding. It ran just fine for a couple of days. Hard to tell just how accurate it is because the face is about the size of a dime and there are only the main 12 indices and no second hand. But two days later it seemed to be right on the correct time.

So there’s 55 years for you.

[Dyim]

My DJ stopped after 15 years.