How Often Should You Service Your Watch — And Why It Matters
A high-quality timepiece is more than an accessory. Whether it’s a mechanical heirloom, a modern automatic, or a finely tuned quartz movement, a watch is a precision instrument—one composed of hundreds of parts working in constant synchronization. And like any machine, it needs proper maintenance to function at its best.
One of the most overlooked aspects of watch ownership is servicing—not just polishing or replacing straps, but the disassembly, lubrication, adjustment, and recalibration of the internal movement. In this edition, we break down how often your watch should be serviced, what types of watches require different care, and what happens when maintenance is ignored.
Watch servicing goes far beyond cosmetic upkeep. A complete service (often referred to as an “overhaul”) includes disassembling the entire movement, cleaning each component ultrasonically, replacing worn or aged parts, re-lubricating all friction points, reassembling and regulating the movement for accuracy, resealing and pressure testing (for water-resistant watches), and polishing and case cleaning when applicable.
This process restores both functional performance and longevity. Skipping it doesn’t just impact timekeeping accuracy—it can lead to costly internal damage that might not be immediately visible.
Mechanical Watches (Manual Wind) should be serviced every 3–5 years. These rely entirely on a wound mainspring and internal lubrication. As oils degrade or evaporate over time, friction increases, leading to wear on pivots, gears, and jewels. Even if the watch is rarely worn, the movement still requires upkeep to prevent seizing.
Automatic Watches (Self-Winding) should be serviced every 4–6 years, depending on usage and water resistance. These watches run constantly when worn, and continuous motion creates more wear on moving parts. Regular lubrication and regulation help prevent performance drift and wear. Gaskets should be checked as part of any service cycle.
Quartz Watches require less frequent servicing—every 5–10 years—with battery changes every 1–2 years. While they are electronically regulated, the internal motors and gear trains still need occasional maintenance. One critical warning: dead batteries left in place can leak acid and corrode the movement.
Chronographs and Complicated Watches (moonphase, tourbillon, perpetual calendar, etc.) should be serviced every 3–5 years regardless of use. These high-complication movements include dozens of additional moving components and levers under tension. Even minor neglect can throw off alignment, cause reset issues, or permanently damage key complications.
Vintage Watches require special care. Even if not worn regularly, they should be inspected and serviced every 2–3 years. Vintage pieces are especially vulnerable to brittle parts, degraded oils, and moisture damage due to aged gaskets. Many should be serviced before wearing again, especially if they’ve sat in a drawer for years.
Why does all of this matter, especially if your watch still seems to be running fine? Because internal wear often goes unnoticed—until it’s too late. Dried lubrication causes metal-on-metal friction, damaging pivots and wheels. Timekeeping gradually degrades. Gaskets dry out, moisture seeps in, and corrosion begins. In automatics, a broken mainspring or rotor wobble can cause full stoppage.
Neglect leads to exponentially higher repair costs—what could have been a $300 service can turn into a $1,200 overhaul with custom part replacement if a failure occurs.
There are some clear warning signs that a watch needs service. Look out for consistent time gain or loss, power reserve feeling unusually short, louder ticking or winding sounds, moisture fog under the crystal, chronograph reset issues, or stiffness when adjusting time. But ideally, you should service before these appear.
At Johnston Jewelers, we don’t just sell watches—we help protect them. With over 50 years of experience, we’ve guided clients through every stage of watch ownership, from daily wear to long-term preservation. We work with certified watchmakers trained to service modern Swiss movements and vintage timepieces alike.
We offer in-house inspections, pressure testing, movement diagnostics, OEM or compatible part sourcing, polishing, and full overhauls. Our goal is to help you preserve both performance and value—ensuring your watch can be enjoyed not just today, but 20, 30, even 50 years from now.
Have a watch you’re unsure about? Want to learn more about vintage care, quartz preservation, or servicing schedules for a specific model? Reply to this newsletter and let us know.