The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I may be wrong, but I think people of modest means are going to start basing the size of their watch collections on the cost to maintain them instead of the front end cost to obtain them. At least this is what I am starting to contemplate.

What are your thoughts?

Service costs have always been pretty high, so im not sure its a new thing that people are going to have to adapt to. Besides, most of us have a hard time keeping a watch long enough that it will need to be sent away for service.

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-RJ

It's certainly a consideration if you love chronos. I do think it factors into several nice watches vs. a few really nice ones. But, as RJ noted, do you keep them that long? I have only serviced my Rolex so far.

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

What, are you nuts or something?

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SHARKMAN

I agree that I have normally moved on before the service was due.

only exception has been the zenith which I bought when it was 9 nine years old already and I wanted the peace of mind that the flyback el primero was healthy and guaranteed. I also wanted the bezel replaced due to damage and the watch restored to "new" condition. that was £389 3 years ago, I still have the watch, love it still and do not regret the service costs at all.

if I do sell the service will enhance the value as well.

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Timlaw

seawolf titanium yelow dial
rolex submariner 11610LN
panerai pam49
zenith el primero rainbow flyback
heuer monaco
tudor heritage chronograph

I have never considered it. That being said it costs more to service my old Rolex GMT today than I paid for it 30+ years ago. When I dropped my Steelfish on the crown, not covered by warrantee, I didn't hesitate to get it serviced. My AD stepped in and I ended up just having to pay for parts. The watch was less than a year old what was I going to do make it a doorstop.

If you assume that there is just regular servicing rather than repairs (may be a brave assumption, but...) then servicing works out to be about $100 a year per watch or less than a cup of coffee a week in most places. That doesn't strike me as too bad.