General Question about servicing NOS

[Neek]

I just purchased a NOS 16610LV that has been sitting in a vault since 2004. When I purchase vintage pieces I always consider the price of a quality service part of the cost to get the piece. In this case, after 14 years of sitting, the watch seems to be running perfectly, should I consider sending it to RSC for a servicing? Besides losing or gaining time is there anything in particular I should be on the lookout for to confirm that I do need to send it in?

[exador]

Some members will say "It's been sitting so long the lubricants will have dried out. Pull the crown and send to RSC immediately".

I say if it ain't broken then don't fix.

The main point is though, do you intend to wear it or just put in your 'vault' ?

[Neek]

Originally Posted by exador

Some members will say "It's been sitting so long the lubricants will have dried out. Pull the crown and send to RSC immediately".

I say if it ain't broken then don't fix.

The main point is though, do you intend to wear it or just put in your 'vault' ?

I will wear it, albeit infrequently. It won't be daily or probably even weekly.

[exador]

Originally Posted by Neek

I will wear it, albeit infrequently. It won't be daily or probably even weekly.

Then just enjoy it and get it serviced down the line of you see any timekeeping issues

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by exador

Then just enjoy it and get it serviced down the line of you see any timekeeping issues

I would tend to agree.

Alternatly, one could impose a self appointed cut off point in the order of the 20 year old mark given that's it's only going to be worn infrequently.

Congratulations on the pickup
Post some pics if you get the chance

[JPMickB83]

No expert here, but the issue is more likely around the gaskets than the lubricants (if any issues at all). I wouldn’t swim or shower with it, but careful, occasional wear is probably fine, especially if it’s keeping good time.


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[Neek]

Originally Posted by Dirt

I would tend to agree.

Alternatly, one could impose a self appointed cut off point in the order of the 20 year old mark given that's it's only going to be worn infrequently.

Congratulations on the pickup
Post some pics if you get the chance

Thanks, as soon as I have 10 posts I'll put pics in the LV Owner's thread.

[Neek]

Originally Posted by JPMickB83

No expert here, but the issue is more likely around the gaskets than the lubricants (if any issues at all). I wouldn’t swim or shower with it, but careful, occasional wear is probably fine, especially if it’s keeping good time.


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I generally don't see the need to shower or swim with any of my watches. Maybe it's because I really like vintage, and I never trust the water resistance of any vintage piece.

[SMD]

Pressure test only if running well.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by exador

Then just enjoy it and get it serviced down the line of you see any timekeeping issues

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[Chester01]

If it is running fine leave it. I just had my 16610 serviced last year. That was after 18 years of running smoothly.

[77T]

If you know it hasn’t been opened by some wanker over the past 14 years.

If you know the seller is impeccable and everything inside is perfect.

Then you might just wait.

But I have a hard and fast rule - ALL incoming goes to my certified watchmaker with the Rolex Parts Account for verification of everything including lube, beat and amplitude.

If alls OK then wait on service. And after closing it up - a pressure test - just to be doubly sure I’m covered on the waterfront.

It costs a little bit to be sure I don’t bite off a bigger cost later.

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[brandrea]

Unless you know the history of the watch, I’d send it in for a look see

[RolexEDC]

I would just bring in to my local AD to have it pressure tested. The gasket should be fine even tho it's been sitting in a vault. If it's running fine then I would just wear it

[N5XTC]

Originally Posted by Neek

I generally don't see the need to shower or swim with any of my watches. Maybe it's because I really like vintage, and I never trust the water resistance of any vintage piece.

never understood people showering with watches. i wear my russian dive watch when swimming, called an Amphibia. not wearing my rolex, no way.

[N5XTC]

by the way, the Amphibia costs about $55 and has some serious waterproof technology. an amazing watch. i'd never wear my explorer swimming, not that it would hurt it, buy why? lol

[Neek]

Originally Posted by N5XTC

never understood people showering with watches. i wear my russian dive watch when swimming, called an Amphibia. not wearing my rolex, no way.

It just seems weird to me to shower with anything on. Swimming I understand at least, you have it with you, you don't want to leave it on the beach or at the chairs...but in your own house?

[N5XTC]

Originally Posted by Neek

It just seems weird to me to shower with anything on. Swimming I understand at least, you have it with you, you don't want to leave it on the beach or at the chairs...but in your own house?

good point. i am in a hotel currently and was going swimming. i dont want to leave the watch in the room or at my towel. wearing it would be the safest. burying it would prob be better. lol

[Neek]

Originally Posted by N5XTC

good point. i am in a hotel currently and was going swimming. i dont want to leave the watch in the room or at my towel. wearing it would be the safest. burying it would prob be better. lol

Hopefully the room has a safe!

[Flybak]

I would have it professionally looked at to see if everything is in proper working order and there's been no funny business under the hood.

Nice watch to get in NOS condition, congrats!

[GB-man]

Provided you bought from a credible seller I would do nothing. If it isn’t broke don’t fix it.

[Likestheshiny]

I generally don't see the need to shower or swim with any of my watches. Maybe it's because I really like vintage, and I never trust the water resistance of any vintage piece.

While a watch from the early 2000's is hardly the same as your vintage pieces, if you're going to wear it at all you should still get a quick pressure test and let a watchmaker put it on his wavy-line-thingy machine. You'll be pretty upset if it turns out to have basically zero WR and a splash of water gets into it -- very unlikely, but wouldn't you want to be sure? And the watchmaker can tell you if it's running fine, so no need to guess if it needs servicing.

[N5XTC]

i have a 1948 Hamilton pocket watch. it had sat since at least the 1960s, was my fathers. I took it to a pocket watch guy in Ohio and asked to have it serviced, cleaned and oiled. he told me if it ain't broke dont fix it? LOL. are you kidding me? these watches can run forever on dirty or dried up oil but it harms the watch. i sent it to the watchdoc online and he cleaned and oiled it. not sure about the rolex, but a servicing would never hurt. better safe than sorry.

[Quicksilver]

If its running well, leave it. I recently bought a nos Sea Dweller 4000 and the time keeping was very erratic - took it to RSC and they said service it, the lubricants have dried out. It had probably been sitting in an air conditioned vault in Singapore for 3 years, and this had dried the oils out. But if its running well, I would not worry.

[Why1504]

IMO, water will destroy a movement quicker than anything. If it was mine I would send it in. Your gaskets could be fine today, but they are a ticking time bomb. A lube and gasket job is well deserved.

[Neek]

Just for the update, I did send it in and received it back in October 2018 and all was well.

From my last wearing St. Patrick's Day:

IMG-1479.JPG

[214270Explorer]

Originally Posted by N5XTC

i have a 1948 Hamilton pocket watch. it had sat since at least the 1960s, was my fathers. I took it to a pocket watch guy in Ohio and asked to have it serviced, cleaned and oiled. he told me if it ain't broke dont fix it? LOL. are you kidding me? these watches can run forever on dirty or dried up oil but it harms the watch. i sent it to the watchdoc online and he cleaned and oiled it. not sure about the rolex, but a servicing would never hurt. better safe than sorry.

Exactly.

Those springs in pocket watches are so powerful they can grind a dry movement to death while still keeping time. Then at the last moment it all goes bad . . ..

.. .. Ask my cousin who inherited one . . . ....

[blue lion]

For what we pay for these watches getting it checked out seems like a cheap expense to me. I'd have it looked at.