Should I not wear vintage Speedy before service?

SOG53 · Dec 31, 2022

Recently bought 145.022-69. Runs perfectly winds well keeps excellent time. Prior service unknown could be many years ago. Should I avoid winding-wearing it before I get it serviced? Any real risk of damage? I’ve seen suggestion not to wear it but would like watchmakers opinion.

mac_omega · Dec 31, 2022

simply: Yes!

M'Bob · Jan 1, 2023

The more complex answer: it depends. Are you getting it serviced soon? Are we talking about a one-off special event wear, or repeated day to day for months before service?

Generally, the answer is no, don’t wear it if it needs a service. But these parts are still available, so if you’re getting it to the watchmaker soon, and want to wear it to your daughter’s wedding, I wouldn’t hesitate.

eugeneandresson · Jan 1, 2023

You can wear it all you like…just don’t wind it 😉

Duracuir1 · Jan 1, 2023

SOG53
Recently bought 145.022-69. Runs perfectly winds well keeps excellent time. Prior service unknown could be many years ago. Should I avoid winding-wearing it before I get it serviced? Any real risk of damage? I’ve seen suggestion not to wear it but would like watchmakers opinion.

You might as well add some photos. Congratulations!

STANDY · Jan 1, 2023

eugeneandresson
You can wear it all you like…just don’t wind it 😉

Now that made me laugh out loud…..😁

hronists · Jan 1, 2023

I struggle to understand your concerns. If watch runs fine - just wear it.

Dan S · Jan 1, 2023

It depends. After several years where I realized I was spending $5k-$10k getting watches repaired/serviced, I decided to take a more considered approach.

If I get a watch that's not running properly, then I will almost always have it repaired and serviced. Often it's an emotional decision, because I just want to bring the watch back to life. Frankly, I should be more disciplined about that because I don't always end up keeping those watches, and it's a big expense. Maybe that would be a good New Year's resolution.

If I get a watch that's running well and fully operational, I will generally wear it a few times to get a better sense of what I want to do with it. If it seems unlikely that I will keep it long-term, then I don't have it serviced. If I think I will will keep it, but wear it infrequently (e.g. a few times a year) or never, then again, I probably won't have it serviced immediately; I'll just wait and see whether my feelings change. So only if it seems likely that I will wear it regularly do I get it serviced.

I think this has been a good change for me, and looking back at 2022, it seems that I had about 25% of my purchases repaired/serviced. It was still a significant expense, but less than it could have been. And it will probably make it easier for me to let some of those watches go, since I haven't made a big investment in them.

Larry S · Jan 1, 2023

Dan S
It depends. After several years where I realized I was spending $5k-$10k getting watches repaired/serviced, I decided to take a more considered approach.

If I get a watch that's not running properly, then I will almost always have it repaired and serviced. Often it's an emotional decision, because I just want to bring the watch back to life. Frankly, I should be more disciplined about that because I don't always end up keeping those watches, and it's a big expense. Maybe that would be a good New Year's resolution.

If I get a watch that's running well and fully operational, I will generally wear it a few times to get a better sense of what I want to do with it. If it seems unlikely that I will keep it long-term, then I don't have it serviced. If I think I will will keep it, but wear it infrequently (e.g. a few times a year) or never, then again, I probably won't have it serviced immediately; I'll just wait and see whether my feelings change. So only if it seems likely that I will wear it regularly do I get it serviced.

I think this has been a good change for me, and looking back at 2022, it seems that I had about 25% of my purchases repaired/serviced. It was still a significant expense, but less than it could have been. And it will probably make it easier for me to let some of those watches go, since I haven't made a big investment in them.

+1

Spruce · Jan 1, 2023

Larry S
+1

+2

watchyouwant · Jan 1, 2023

Up to you. It's your watch. Wear it to check, if everything is ok. Time only preferred before a service. So, don't have the chronograph running 24/7. Enjoy.

rspace · Jan 1, 2023

Well you could take it to your watchmaker for an opinion. My watchmaker would check it on the timegrapher and advice me if the movement is dry or chrono needs to be looked at.

blufinz52 · Jan 1, 2023

SOG53
would like watchmakers opinion.

I'm not a watchmaker, but I agree with hronists fwiw. Congrats on the new Speedmaster!

Oku · Jan 1, 2023

hronists
I struggle to understand your concerns. If watch runs fine - just wear it.

Result of wearing an unserviced watch regularly:

smorrisonmd · Jan 1, 2023

SOG53
Recently bought 145.022-69. Runs perfectly winds well keeps excellent time. Prior service unknown could be many years ago. Should I avoid winding-wearing it before I get it serviced? Any real risk of damage? I’ve seen suggestion not to wear it but would like watchmakers opinion.

This is a subject that I've seen hashed over numerous times here and elsewhere. There are strong feelings on either end of the spectrum, and IMHO no clear answer. What I can tell you is that while the potential for damage is probably real, in my 35 plus years of collecting, I have yet to read of a single instance in which it actually occurred.
I think the likely worst case scenario is that wearing it without a service will result in damage to a relatively inexpensive part, that at least for now is still readily available. If that bothers you, then have it serviced. If not, then wear and enjoy it until a problem becomes apparent.

josiahg52 · Jan 1, 2023

I wore my -69 for a month or so and then sent it to @Archer It was no worse for the waiting but the gaskets had liquefied and spread itself about the movement. Very messy. Runs great now.

Archer · Jan 1, 2023

SOG53
Recently bought 145.022-69. Runs perfectly winds well keeps excellent time. Prior service unknown could be many years ago. Should I avoid winding-wearing it before I get it serviced? Any real risk of damage? I’ve seen suggestion not to wear it but would like watchmakers opinion.

Running perfectly could mean the watch is fine inside, or it could mean all the oils are dried up. In other words, the performance can’t always tell you what the condition of the movement is.

You would need to have a watchmaker check it on a timing machine, and perform a visual inspection on the movement to confirm the condition.

One thing is for sure, that you should keep it away from water until it gets looked at.

bananapeanut · Jan 1, 2023

If it's not broken don't fix it. Wear it until it dies. As long as you keep it away from water (as Archer said), the dial and hands are much more likely to be damaged during service than by wearing the watch. Personally, I wouldn't care about the movement unless it's a 321.

Scarecrow Boat · Jan 1, 2023

bananapeanut
the dial and hands are much more likely to be damaged during service than by wearing the watch.

Who is servicing your watches if this is your fear?

bananapeanut · Jan 1, 2023

Scarecrow Boat
Who is servicing your watches if this is your fear?

Most scratches you see on dials happened during service. Don't you agree? My point is that the worst thing that can happen when wearing the watch is that the movement gets damaged, but who cares about the movement? The case, dial and hands are much more valuable (unless it's a 321 movement). Sending a valuable vintage watch for service scares me, yes I admit. Even if the watchmaker is as good as Archer.