Mechanical watch movements are like engines in luxury automobiles; they need to be maintained and serviced on a regular basis. Lubricating an automatic movement is similar to getting an oil change in your car. When an automatic watch is not serviced every 3-5 years the oils dry out, timekeeping may lose accuracy, and parts can begin to wear. Old lubricants turn into a fine dust and can wear out the pivots of watch wheels if not replaced regularly.
A complete watch service at Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers® consists of disassembling the watch movement, cleaning every part of any old lubricant, re-lubricating all necessary points, re-assembling the movement, and adjusting the timing to standard factory specifications. The exterior of the watch is then fully refinished, removing all scratches and restoring the factory finish to the exterior case and bracelet, and timing is checked for accuracy over a period of 72 hours. A service from Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers® also includes a one-year warranty on timekeeping and a 90-day warranty on parts.
It is a common misconception that if a watch has not been worn for years, it does not need to be serviced. An automatic movement works best when it is in use; the rotation of the winding rotor and motion of the various gears and parts allow oils to distribute evenly throughout the movement; when it is not being worn these oils disperse and dry out.
Sometimes watches can run for many years without being serviced, but doing so wears down the movement parts, eventually causing very costly repairs and can dramatically reduce the accuracy of the timekeeping. If you wish to keep your timepiece in optimum working condition and perhaps someday pass it on to an heir it is crucial to have regular maintenance performed. Fine watches can continue to perform flawlessly for decades, maybe even centuries, as long as they are properly maintained.
