How Often Should You Service Your Rolex?

Rolex watches are well known for their ability to last lifetimes as generational heirlooms. 

While they are revered for their accuracy and durability, these luxury timepieces do need occasional maintenance.

Rolex’s official guidelines suggest that your watch should be serviced around every 10 years, however some model (depending on age and frequency of use) will need to be serviced closer to the five to seven year mark.

Now this sounds like a big gap in time, but it really speaks to the longevity of a Rolex.  

Modern improvements in watch technology has made it so Rolex watches do not need constant servicing. 

However, the 10 year guideline is a general suggestion, and the amount of time that you need in between watch servicing can be far sooner. 

In this blog, we will break down when you should bring your Rolex watch in to receive servicing, depending on the age and model of the watch, and also how to tell if your Rolex watch needs to be serviced.  

How Often to Service Rolex Datejust or Day-Date

The Rolex Datejust and Day-Date (“President”) are meant for daily wear or more dressy occasions. Timepieces like this were not built to withstand harsh conditions, unlike Rolex’s sport models. 

For the most part, these watches will “suffer” from daily bumps and scratches, as well as endure the moisture and humidity of daily life. 

However, people don’t necessarily wear these watches daily. 

If your Datejust of Day-Date is only worn every now and again (say on special occasions or in rotation with other watches), waiting until about the 10-year mark before fully servicing it will likely be fine. 

However, for those who wear their Datejust or Day-Date daily, you will likely need to fully service your watch every five to seven years. The constant movement and exposure to sweat, dust, and temperature changes will expose the watch to environments and circumstances that can cause internal wear. 

Rolex’s movements are very well-made and technologically advanced. But preventative maintenance at 7 year intervals helps the watch maintain accuracy and can help catch any possible early issues with the watch.  

How Often to Service a Rolex Submariner

Dive watches like the Rolex Submariner and its deep-diving counterpart, the Sea-Dweller, are built to withstand water pressure and harsh conditions. 

While most wearers don’t necessarily dive with their watches, frequent exposure to saltwater and pressure means their waterproof gaskets and seals require careful upkeep. 

For divers, it is suggested that you have your watch's water resistance tested yearly. Furthermore, these watches should also be fully serviced every five to six years.

However, if your dive watch is not used for diving, and instead is a fashion accessory, you can wait until closer to the 10 year mark to fully service it. 

How Often to Service Rolex Daytona

Rolex’s Daytona models are far more mechanically complex. 

Being chronographs, essentially having stop watch functions, these models have more internal moving parts than other Rolex models. All of these parts will require proper lubrication and calibration over the years. 

If you regularly use your Daytona for timing, it is recommended that you service your watch more often—every five to seven years—to keep it running smoothly. It is better to be safe than sorry, as dried oils or worn parts in a chronograph can lead to functional issues far more quickly. 

During service, watchmakers will ensure that the chronograph’s intricate gears and pushers are clean, lubricated, and properly aligned for precise timing. 

These pieces are more high maintenance, but will perform extremely well as long as you keep them maintained. 

How Often to Service Vintage Rolex

Now, the general guidelines stated above do not necessarily apply to vintage Rolex watches. A Rolex watch predating the 1990s or 2000s will need more frequent care, anywhere from every three to five years. 

These watches rely on older movements and oils that can break down faster than their modern counterparts. 

However, most collectors find it important to preserve a vintage Rolex’s original parts, such as keeping its original dial and hands, when servicing it. Keeping a vintage piece original greatly increases its market value, and potentially maintains its sentimentality. 

This means that you must ensure that your watch servicer should not update or swap dials or hands when servicing your piece. 

Maintaining originality is often as important as servicing the watch itself. 

Whether your piece is modern or vintage: you must be sure not to neglect its routine service, as doing so could cause irreversible damage or reduce the accuracy and longevity of your watch. 

Signs Your Rolex Might Need Servicing

Here are some warning signs to look for, that might suggest your watch needs to be serviced:

• Loss of accuracy: If your Rolex suddenly starts losing or gaining more than about 10 seconds consistently per day, the movement likely needs to be checked. 

• Condensation under the crystal: Fogging or moisture droplets inside the watch crystal are a major red flag. This means water has breached the seals, and the watch should be serviced immediately to prevent rust or movement damage.

• Power reserve is low: If you notice your watch isn’t holding power as long as it used to (modern Rolex models should run about 48 to 70 hours when fully wound), it could indicate dried lubricants or a worn mainspring and will need to be serviced.

• Rough crown or pusher operation: The winding crown on a chronograph should turn and screw down smoothly. A gritty, stiff, or unusually loose feel when setting the time or winding suggests that it needs service.

• Stuttering or skipping seconds hand: The sweep of the seconds hand should be smooth. If it starts to stutter, jump, or occasionally stops and starts, the movement likely needs cleaning/servicing.

• Unusual noises: If you notice new sounds like grinding or ticking louder than normal, or a rotor rattling when you gently shake the watch, it’s time to have a watchmaker take a look.

It is important to service your Rolex in order to make sure your watch lasts. Regular maintenance, as suggested above, will keep your Rolex running smoothly for generations to come. 

This servicing can cost anywhere from $600 to $1,5000, depending on the model and needs of the watch, but it is a small price to pay compared to the oftentimes priceless value of a Rolex.