How Often Should You Service Your Watch?

Like a high-performance sports car, your mechanical watch needs to be serviced now and then. The oils that lubricate the many components of a watch tend to dry up over the years, causing friction and decreasing the watch’s accuracy. With reduced lubrication, the crown of your watch will be harder to turn, and other metal parts will rub together, creating a fine dust that can harm the watch.

Most Swiss and German watch manufactures recommend that your mechanical watches should be serviced once in every five years. Some say as few as four; others as many as 10; every five to seven years is therefore a good range to keep in mind. It depends on how much and how often the watch is worn, and how it is stored when off the wrist. The more the watch is worn the better. As a rule of thumb, a watch should be overhauled approximately every four to five years. If it is worn regularly and stored properly, one could wait longer.

Where should you Service your Watch?

The best place to have your watch serviced is the retailer where you purchased it. Alternatively, you can go to any authorized retailer of the brand, and they will perform the service. You can also send your watch out to any brand-authorized service center. You will find a list of authorized centers on most brand’s websites.

How Much Does a Service Cost?

There is a cost associated with a service. It varies from brand to brand and largely depends on how complicated your watch is. It’s safe to say that most mechanical watch services cost depending on the watch’s complexity and what needs replacing.