Buying a 5/6yr old NOS watch - does it need a service now?

MattC · **Posted:** Sat Jan 04, 2014 6:20 pm

srvbs wrote:

I just bought a 2006 Daytona that runs very well so far but hasn't had any service. So even though it runs well, I can't get over the fact that the oil and parts are about 8 years old. So I'm leaning towards having it serviced because I'm thinking I'm pushing my luck.

So I think that watch is in the same boat. It may run well for awhile but will need service soon. And I'm not always convinced that a warranty from an AD is comparable to one from the manufacturer (although I know you mentioned it was a Breitling warranty). I also had a GO that is a similar age but wasn't keeping good time. The AD serviced it but I didn't get a receipt of what was done and think it was just regulated.

So I personally agree with getting as good of a price as possible and then sending it in to Breitling before the two years (it will be hard to buy it and then immediately send it in).

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Congrats on the Daytona, beautiful watches.
That's what I was getting to, wear the watch for a year or so then send it in. It's going to be covered under warranty no matter what happens to it. I know if I bought a new watch I wouldn't want to send it out for service right away.

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Scott · **Posted:** Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:56 pm

My watch guy sold me a safe queen he traded for, and it was essentially assumed that as part of the deal, he replaced the oil and installed fresh gaskets. I think at 5 years you should at least get fresh oil.

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Roffensian · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:03 am

I find it interesting that so many people are happy with running a watch that needs servicing, almost as if the consequences are no big deal because there is a warranty. The damage done to the watch is still real, and not always obvious - we pay good money for a watch with very carefully polished pivots to minimise the friction and then happily allow the surface of those pivots to receive microscopic scratches by running them in jewels that have no lubrication. The damage is never going to be picked up during servicing so you will end up with a freshly serviced watch that is less efficient than it should be because there is more friction in the running train.

TobyBaines · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:13 am

Thanks guys, I'm thinking I'll try and get a better price and then send it for a service almost immediately with the cost met by myself. I doubt Breitling will take it in for a free service/warranty work so soon after purchase unless there is an obvious problem.

I'll call the AD on monday and see what deal can be had, he'e been helpful so far so hopefully that will continue and I can get the watch I've been after for a while now.

wessa · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 6:59 am

TomP wrote:

This thread interests me as I've often said on here that many misguidedly start the service clock from date of purchase rather than manufacture. But Breitling don't make it easy for the average punter to actually know the manufacture date, do they? The WIS on here know there's a case date stamp on the case between the lugs, but most punters won't know that and it's only visible if you remove the strap / bracelet, which many either don't do or have the confidence (or Bergeon) to do.

I'm afraid most punters don't even realize that mechanical watches need servicing every few years.
Never mind knowing to look between the lugs. Forget about the Bergeon tool as most would not have a clue what that even is.
Most "mortals" that I talk to think that automatic watches are much better than quartz because you don't need to change batteries hence they are cheaper to run (!!!)
Most just let them run until they come to a grinding halt after ten years or so and then complain why such an expensive watch "broke down" only after a few years AND why it cost 500 or so bucks to fix it!
I know, I was one of those "mortals" not that long ago ;-)

TomP · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:01 am

Roffensian wrote:

I find it interesting that so many people are happy with running a watch that needs servicing, almost as if the consequences are no big deal because there is a warranty. The damage done to the watch is still real, and not always obvious - we pay good money for a watch with very carefully polished pivots to minimise the friction and then happily allow the surface of those pivots to receive microscopic scratches by running them in jewels that have no lubrication. The damage is never going to be picked up during servicing so you will end up with a freshly serviced watch that is less efficient than it should be because there is more friction in the running train.

Totally agree. My SO is an 09 which will be going off for an overhaul service this year, even though that's well before the warranty expires.

TomP · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:03 am

srvbs wrote:

I'm not always convinced that a warranty from an AD is comparable to one from the manufacturer

No difference in this case: if it's a Breitling AD it's an (international) manufacturer warranty.

Kodiak · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:34 am

Watch service interval brings a lot of interesting discussion. I haven't seen any absolute numbers/data on the oils and their life/breakdown times, then again I haven't researched it in depth either. I guess it always made sense to me that mechanical parts rubbing together would need periodic maintenance.

I found this recently and I have no idea who the author is other than a claimed watchmaker. Found it to be interesting though, pics of actual wear.

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f20/how-of ... 89280.html

Roffensian · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 11:29 am

Similar thread on Purists Pro referenced here - viewtopic.php?f=6&t=25662

I`ll see if I can dig out aging rates for Moebius Synt-a-Lube (the oils used in virtually all watches these days), from memory the claim is just "high aging resistance".

MattC · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:09 pm

It is not wise to go longer than the service intervals, that I am not arguing. I had no idea that a year or two past the interval would cause that much damage. If this is the case than I have at least two watches that need to be sent in ASAP. Thanks for the info guys.

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Kodiak · **Posted:** Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:32 pm

TobyBaines wrote:

I'm thinking of buying a 'new old stock' breitling dating from 2008. It's been in a safe until now and has never been worn or moved for years. It's from an AD so will come with a 2yr breitling warranty and the dealer will check that it runs to COSC standards before buying.

My worry is that it needs a service now, surely the oil in the moving parts will be long past it's best. The dealer says it will be in better condition than a watch that has been worn since 2008.

Does the watch need a service now? Even with a two year warranty the thought of having to service it in two years should it run poorly after the warranty runs out is off putting, normally I'd hope to have at least 5yrs before having to service it.

So should I walk away?
Buy it but expect to service it in two years?
Or insist on a service now/price adjustment to allow for it now?

This was a question and answer from my earlier post regarding service. Al is the watchmaker responding to a question from 'oris diver'. Also, great article posted by Roff on same subject, good to review this subject now and then!

Quote Originally Posted by oris diver View Post
"Hi Al
How long would you expect the oils in watch to last before it starts to dry up. As you mentioned 5 years before a service is typical ,but a new watch might be sitting in a shop window for few years before it's sold."

"I'll try to answer this the best I can, but realize that being stored in a cool dry place, and under the hot lights of a display cabinet, will cause some differences in the lengths of time a the oils will still be sound. I have not done any direct experiments to say conclusively how long oils will last, but as I stated most watch companies have a 5 year service interval recommendation, and they require my oils to be no more than 2 years old. Doing the math, that would mean 7 years. Now, I have seen watches less than 7 years old with dried oils in them, but have also seem watches go longer.

It's not just completely drying out that is the issue, but loss of lubricating properties would happen before the oil is dry I suspect.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers, Al"

H2F · **Posted:** Mon Jan 06, 2014 2:04 am

While I understand the logic of periodic maintenance -- just about every serious watch collectors I asked, told me "if it ain't broken, don't fix it"...

And by "serious" I mean collectors whose watches are valued much higher than my comfort level -- which include the vintage Rolex guys, the Lange & Patek guys, and the MB&F & HW Opus independent collectors.

YMMV of course.

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