Comments:
When to service your Lange?
Hi,
I have two Lange watches and was wondering what is the general consensus on the right time to send it for service. Do collectors send it for service at regular five year intervals or wait for a sign from the watch? If the later, what should one look for? Will the timekeeping start to vary, winding the watch will become stiff, or setting the time will feel less than smooth? Just looking for guidance.
Me, personally: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I don’t see much rationale in servicing early.
I belong to the view that a watch, unless it's vintage and parts are difficult to get, should be sent for service when it starts giving trouble.
ALS in any case provide a complete service to the watch, at a good price. Why not send only when it shows signs of needing service. Normally I've seen a watch, without rough handling, under rotation with few other good watches normally require service in 7-10 years. Others may give you their perspective as well. Regards
Generally wait until something starts to go wrong...
Generally, a watch that is regularly used often lasts 10 years or more between servicing.
Some sales people try to suggest that 5 year intervals are de rigueur but that's simply not true. They try to suggest that if you wait too long that more expensive parts are required to be replaced, which is generally not true.
Watches have lubricants, these lubricants do gel up after time and lose their viscosity over time. I highly recommend watches that have lubricants over 5 years be kept on a winder or wound regularly, to prevent the older lubricant from stagnating and gel-ing up. Constant use will prevent the lubricant from solidifying.
Lastly, since you presumably live in the United States, depending on which kind of Lange you have, I would simply wait until you have the time to visit New York City. Alkis, the officially licensed Lange Servicer in North America is based in Manhattan and he is an excellent resource for Lange watch owners. Go directly to Alkis in New York (bypass GO, collect $200, skip your Authorized Dealer) after you notice something wrong with the watch or if it's after 10 years and you happen to be in NYC with the watch. Give Alkis 2-3 months to service the watch and test it; and he will mail it back to you. Or, if you can, visit NYC again to pick up the watch! Allkis doesn't service every type of Lange, certain unusual/special models Lange requests Alkis to send back to Germany for servicing as they require certain servicing requirements, also Lange corporate wants to record certain data and evaluate the performance of these watches first-hand.
I have been told that it is 3 year intervals for manual wounds and 5 years for automatic watches
if you want your watches to be at its best. This is based on the assumption that one only has one watch and it is one's everyday watch so it is fair to assume that there's a fair amount of wear and tear in the movement. A simple part like a winding crown for example is subject to a fair amount of tear and wear over the years. Personally, I think 7 years is a fair interval for me as I rotate my watches and some watches hardly get worn (with those, you need to give them a good wind at least once a month). That said, I have sent in watches at shorter intervals.
By the way, the recommended service interval info is based on conversations I have had with Lange watchmakers during my factory visit and at Lange events (fortunately we have quite a bunch of events over here in Singapore). I prefer talking to them than to watch sales people because they are more "honest".
Hope the above helps.
Best,
Ian
By the way, the recommended service interval info is based on conversations I have had with Lange watchmakers during my factory visit and at Lange events (fortunately we have quite a bunch of events over here in Singapore). I prefer talking to them than to watch sales people because they are more "honest".
Hope the above helps.
Best,
Ian
Everybody has his own opinion or experiences on this matter.
Personal experiences:
Rolex Sea-Dweller worn practically every day over a period of 16 years: no noticable issues concerning the movement and timekeeping. Only thing I’m noticing these days is, that the crown getting in or out is less smooth. Thinking about sending it to Rolex for service.
Rolex Day-Date, though not worn regularly, owned for ten years now: no issues.
My wife’s Rolex Yachtmaster. Worn literally everyday and everwhere for 14 years: no issue whatsoever.
I agree, these are not PP or A.Lange & Söhne timepieces, but it shows, that a well made watch stands the test of time better than some (manufacturers) want us to believe.
Regards, George.
There is a story...
About Philippe Stern in one of the Patek Philippe magazines. Evidently, Mr.Stern has been wearing the first 3940 ever made, every day since the 1980’s. He has had it serviced one time in all those years. So the story goes.
If the watch
is running perfectly, does not feel dry or stiff when winding or setting and has the proper power reserve I would send in at about 10 years. The modern lubricants are much better than those of years ago. The problem can be that they come back with issues from the service which happens when doing a full breakdown and rebuild.
Reasons why I service watches only after they break...
(1) There's added risk every time the caseback is opened.
(2) There's added risk every time the watch is shipped and handled by others.
(3) I cannot enjoy the watch for the 2-6 months when it's being serviced.
(4) Numbers (1)-(3) above bother me much more than the theoretical possibility of paying slightly more money to replace/repair a worn-out part that might not need to be fixed if it were serviced more frequently.
(2) There's added risk every time the watch is shipped and handled by others.
(3) I cannot enjoy the watch for the 2-6 months when it's being serviced.
(4) Numbers (1)-(3) above bother me much more than the theoretical possibility of paying slightly more money to replace/repair a worn-out part that might not need to be fixed if it were serviced more frequently.
Of course, I would service it proactively and more frequently if I were submerging it in water.