For many Rolex owners, the timelessness and longevity of these classic watches see them passed down from generation to generation. However, for a timepiece from this leading watchmaker to last more than a lifetime, it will need to be properly cared for. This proper care includes regular services with one of Rolex’s authorized Retailers or Service Centers.
Although the exact cost of servicing your Rolex will depend on the type of service that your watch requires, a standard service will typically cost you around $700-$950 USD. For anything more complex, or requiring new parts, you can expect to see this figure climb.
Ensuring that you regularly service your Rolex is part and parcel of owning one of these top-end watches. Exquisitely crafted and made up of tiny, intricate mechanisms, Rolex watches require expert care and attention if they are to last into the next generation and beyond.
How often do I need to service my Rolex?
According to the official Rolex website, you should aim to service your Rolex watch once every 10 years.
While this timeline is a good guide for the average Rolex wearer, how often you service your Rolex will really depend on how often you are wearing it, and under what circumstances.
For example, if you regularly wear your watch when diving or playing sports, then you may find that your Rolex requires a more frequent service.
What is involved in a service?
The aim of a routine service is to keep your Rolex watch accurate and waterproof. However, this process is rather more involved than it might first sound.
During the course of a service, Rolex will completely dismantle your watch and ultrasonically clean each individual component. These components are then individually examined, and any parts that do not meet the Rolex standard will be replaced with genuine Rolex parts.
Following this, Rolex will perform several technical and electronic tests to ensure your watch and its movement are accurate and waterproof. Rolex will then polish and buff the case and bracelet to restore lustre and shine.
After being serviced, your Rolex watch will be covered by a service guarantee.
Depending on the condition of your watch prior to servicing, this process can take anywhere between six and eight weeks.
Where can I get my Rolex serviced?
You should always have your Rolex watch serviced at one of Rolex’s authorized Retailers or Service Centers.
With a network that covers over 100 countries worldwide, and employing a team of carefully selected and specially trained watchmakers, Rolex’s authorized Retailers and Service Centers are uniquely and efficiently positioned to take the best possible care of your watch.
While it might be tempting to pop down to your local independent watchmaker when the time comes to service your Rolex, you should refrain from doing so. By servicing your watch with an authorized Rolex outlet, you will benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the very company that made your watch in the first place.
How can I care for my Rolex between services?
Even if you wear your Rolex every day, it will require only the smallest amount of ongoing care and maintenance, all of which can be done from the comfort of your home.
The most basic way in which you can care for your watch is by regular cleaning with a soft, microfiber cloth. If you feel your watch needs a bit of a deeper clean, you can always wash the case and metal bracelet in soapy water with a soft brush (a baby toothbrush is surprisingly handy here!).
It should be noted that any time you wash or submerge your Rolex in water, the crown should always be screwed down tightly to ensure waterproofness. To screw down the crown, you should twist it until it can not be turned any further. This will create a hermetic seal and protect your watch from any water or dust that might damage it.
If you have taken your Rolex for a swim or a dive (always screwing down that crown!), you should ensure that you rinse it thoroughly with fresh water. This will remove any salt or sand deposits that might build up on your Rolex, impacting the mechanism and dulling the lustre of your watch.
Let your Rolex last a lifetime
With proper ongoing care and regularly scheduled services, your Rolex has the potential to remain just as accurate, and just as glorious, as the day you bought it.