Servicing
Servicing is a full overhaul where a watchmaker opens the watch, cleans the movement, replaces worn gaskets and oils, then reseals and tests it. Mechanical watches need it every few years and quartz far less often. It keeps both timekeeping and water resistance reliable.
At a glance
- Mechanical interval
- Every few years
- Quartz interval
- Far less often
- Protects
- Timekeeping and water resistance
A watch wears in ways you cannot see. The oils inside the movement thicken, the gaskets harden, and parts begin to rub against one another. Servicing is the scheduled work that reverses this wear before it turns into a fault.
What the watchmaker does
The watchmaker opens the case and takes the movement apart. The core of the job comes down to a few steps:
- Cleaning: old oil and dirt are removed from the movement completely
- Renewing: worn gaskets and oils are replaced
- Resealing and testing: the watch is closed back up and checked for accuracy and water resistance
How often it is needed
A mechanical watch needs servicing every few years, because its oils degrade over time. An automatic watch follows the same rule. Quartz watches need it far less often, though their gaskets should still be checked to keep the water resistance intact. For more upkeep topics, browse the maintenance category.
To see how an honest entry-level watch ages in daily wear, read our Orient Mako 3 review.
Examples
On an automatic diver like the Orient Mako 3, servicing every few years keeps both timekeeping and water resistance reliable.
View this watch
Comparison
Mechanical and quartz watches call for different service intervals.
| Option A | Option B | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical servicing | Quartz servicing | A mechanical watch needs a full overhaul every few years, while quartz gets by with servicing far less often. |
Related terms
Watches that show this
Frequently asked questions
How often should a watch be serviced?
Mechanical and automatic watches need servicing every few years, because the oils inside the movement degrade over time. Quartz watches need it far less often, though their gaskets should still be checked to keep water resistance intact.
What does a watchmaker actually do during a service?
The watchmaker opens the watch, takes the movement apart and cleans it, replaces worn gaskets and oils, then reseals the watch and tests it. This full overhaul aims to keep both the watch's timekeeping and its water resistance reliable.
Do quartz watches need servicing?
Yes, but far less often than mechanical watches. A quartz movement needs fewer oils, yet its gaskets should still be checked and renewed, and the watch resealed and tested, to keep water resistance intact.