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Old 12 January 2018, 08:05 AM   #1
onlysteel
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20 year old submariner stops ticking

hi folks,

I have a 1998 submariner, 16610. It served me well for the past 2 decades.
I bought it brand new from A/D.

This morning I noticed it had stopped ticking since I had not worn it in a week.
I wound it up and got nothing. The 2nds hand will not move forward.
If you look closely at the 2nds hands, it seems to be struggling to move forward but can not.

The watch was not abused or dropped or subjected to shock. Not now, not in the last 20years of ownership. It jut died, kind of like an old man.

Also, the watch has never been serviced.

So can someone tell me how severe this problem appears to be? What on the insides of the machinery might be causing this?

thank you
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Old 12 January 2018, 08:06 AM   #2
kilyung
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Nothing to be done but get it serviced
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Old 12 January 2018, 08:07 AM   #3
nick c
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Sorry to hear, yes service needed.
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Old 12 January 2018, 08:09 AM   #4
cjohns
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Pony up and it will run for another 20+ years.
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Old 12 January 2018, 08:09 AM   #5
Hot Carl
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Service will sort things out, should be straight forward enough. It'll be a few $$$ but just divide that over the years of loyal service it has given you and look at it that way.
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Old 12 January 2018, 08:11 AM   #6
William.L.
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Broke the main spring. I had a datejust from 1983 that had only been serviced once. Kept good time till I started wearing my gmt, and then it crapped out. A simple service and she'll be running good as new.

The main spring can fail, and if you keep wearing it, it'll keep going. Once you take it off and it winds down, it unwinds the spring and your done, and in the position your in now. Don't freak out, its totally normal after that long of a service interval
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Old 12 January 2018, 10:30 AM   #7
The Libertine
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Severely needs a service, that’s your problem.
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Old 12 January 2018, 10:36 AM   #8
schoolboy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by William.L. View Post
Broke the main spring. I had a datejust from 1983 that had only been serviced once. Kept good time till I started wearing my gmt, and then it crapped out. A simple service and she'll be running good as new.

The main spring can fail, and if you keep wearing it, it'll keep going. Once you take it off and it winds down, it unwinds the spring and your done, and in the position your in now. Don't freak out, its totally normal after that long of a service interval
Thanks for explaining :)
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Old 12 January 2018, 10:56 AM   #9
Nikrnic
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Well when you get it back it will be like new��
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Old 12 January 2018, 10:58 AM   #10
sco
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Time to send that one in for a tune up!
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Old 12 January 2018, 11:06 AM   #11
DoctorA
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Wow ! 20 years without service! That’s amazing!
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Old 12 January 2018, 12:06 PM   #12
onlysteel
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Wow ! 20 years without service! That’s amazing!
It was not continuous wear so it had lots of down time sitting in the safe and amazingly the lume is pretty decent too at night!

ok --- So it needs servicing and to save $$ I would want to take it to some reputable watch shop that works on Rolexes and there are plenty out there.

Now how much should a servicing cost, keeping in mind this issue of the 2nd hand not moving?

thank you
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Old 12 January 2018, 12:11 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by William.L. View Post
Broke the main spring. I had a datejust from 1983 that had only been serviced once. Kept good time till I started wearing my gmt, and then it crapped out. A simple service and she'll be running good as new.

The main spring can fail, and if you keep wearing it, it'll keep going. Once you take it off and it winds down, it unwinds the spring and your done, and in the position your in now. Don't freak out, its totally normal after that long of a service interval
Same thing happened to my 2011 Explorer last month. In for service now. It was running beautifully, but I took it off for a couple of weeks, and wouldn't start up again. Hope for a quick resolution.
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Old 12 January 2018, 03:54 PM   #14
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OP. I see you’re in LA... you could take it to RSC Beverly Hills or contact form member Vanessa.

I think those are the two best options based on your location.
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Old 12 January 2018, 09:12 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by onlysteel View Post
It was not continuous wear so it had lots of down time sitting in the safe and amazingly the lume is pretty decent too at night!

ok --- So it needs servicing and to save $$ I would want to take it to some reputable watch shop that works on Rolexes and there are plenty out there.

Now how much should a servicing cost, keeping in mind this issue of the 2nd hand not moving?

thank you
Don't try to save money on this particular service. Let RSC do it.
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Old 12 January 2018, 09:13 PM   #16
Gharddog03
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Just needs a tune up!
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Old 12 January 2018, 09:52 PM   #17
brandrea
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Try Vanessa
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Old 13 January 2018, 01:09 AM   #18
pilotjim
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My friend has a 1985 DJ that stopped working a few weeks ago. It had never been serviced since he bought it new in 85. 32 years with no service and no problems. He wears it every day, and he owns a heavy-duty towing company....does quite a bit of manual/mechanical type work. Pretty impressive!

He just got it back from service, and it looks like new and runs perfect again!

Last edited by pilotjim; 13 January 2018 at 01:10 AM.. Reason: Arithmetic
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Old 13 January 2018, 02:28 AM   #19
Flier
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If you have not followed the service intervals then there is not much to say
I struggle to understand why there are people who avoid a service, without pointing to the OP
Dont we all service our cars?
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Old 13 January 2018, 02:50 AM   #20
Boaters
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Get it serviced .. It has served you well
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Old 13 January 2018, 04:28 AM   #21
Hooper
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I'm with everyone else..., Service is the only solution! Good luck
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Old 13 January 2018, 04:43 AM   #22
Beckster
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If you have not followed the service intervals then there is not much to say
I struggle to understand why there are people who avoid a service, without pointing to the OP
Dont we all service our cars?
Cars...safety involved. Watches...not so much. 😁
But yeah, just get serviced. I'm sure you'll be happy after that.
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Old 13 January 2018, 04:49 AM   #23
Uhtred59
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Originally Posted by William.L. View Post
Broke the main spring. I had a datejust from 1983 that had only been serviced once. Kept good time till I started wearing my gmt, and then it crapped out. A simple service and she'll be running good as new.

The main spring can fail, and if you keep wearing it, it'll keep going. Once you take it off and it winds down, it unwinds the spring and your done, and in the position your in now. Don't freak out, its totally normal after that long of a service interval
Makes the one watch guy smile.
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Old 13 January 2018, 04:50 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by onlysteel View Post
It was not continuous wear so it had lots of down time sitting in the safe and amazingly the lume is pretty decent too at night!

ok --- So it needs servicing and to save $$ I would want to take it to some reputable watch shop that works on Rolexes and there are plenty out there.

Now how much should a servicing cost, keeping in mind this issue of the 2nd hand not moving?

thank you
Look, the whole movement needs servicing. Those 20 year old oils are long gone and dried up. It will need a new mainspring, rotor axle, all new seals and whatever else may be worn beyond tolerance. I would send it to Vanessa at Jewelers On Time. Expect fee to be around $600+- depending on parts. FWIW you are lucky it ran for 20 years without stopping. Service intervals should be around 8 years or so, but never 20 IMHO.
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Old 13 January 2018, 04:58 AM   #25
pickettt
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Look, the whole movement needs servicing. Those 20 year old oils are long gone and dried up. It will need a new mainspring, rotor axle, all new seals and whatever else may be worn beyond tolerance. I would send it to Vanessa at Jewelers On Time. Expect fee to be around $600+- depending on parts. FWIW you are lucky it ran for 20 years without stopping. Service intervals should be around 8 years or so, but never 20 IMHO.
$600? That doesn't sound so bad after 20 years. (Geez, if my younger, broker self heard me say that.)
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Old 13 January 2018, 05:35 AM   #26
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is their any advantage to getting your watch serviced before it doesn't function properly?My local Rolex watchmaker told me the service fee is the same price regardless how many parts need replacement.
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Old 13 January 2018, 05:56 AM   #27
Flier
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Cars...safety involved. Watches...not so much. 😁
But yeah, just get serviced. I'm sure you'll be happy after that.
If you love your watch you would service it
Safety or not
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Old 13 January 2018, 06:32 AM   #28
Clay
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20 years with no service...???
I'm amazed it didn't stop sooner...
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Old 13 January 2018, 07:23 AM   #29
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You've just added another decade to the recommended service interval! Nice :-)
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Old 13 January 2018, 08:22 AM   #30
fskywalker
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OP. I see you’re in LA... you could take it to RSC Beverly Hills or contact form member Vanessa.

I think those are the two best options based on your location.

Also ABC Watchwerks and LA Watch Works good options there.


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