Sh21 basic service cost?

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gitfiddle
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Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by gitfiddle »

I have a c9 small seconds 5-day cosc that my dad just gave me. It hasn’t been worn much and works great! I’ve heard that I should send it in for an “oil change” every 5-7 years, but I cannot find a base cost, and CW staff won’t give me any info regarding the lowest possible amount, assuming no repairs etc, just so I can decide to take it to a local authorized Rolex repair shop (it’s out of warranty).

Could somebody please just give me a lowest end potential range? Maybe a ballpark of what you’ve spent if you’ve serviced your sh21 without any repairs or adjustments.

Pete
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

I am not sure why they cannot post the price of a basic service. Most major brands do it.

Then they can add that it may cost more if parts are needed.
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

nycWATCHnerd wrote:I am not sure why they cannot post the price of a basic service. Most major brands do it.
. . . .
CW used to publish service prices on their website up to, maybe 7 or 8 years ago, but then stopped.

In recent years, when asked about it, there's been a non-committal "yeah, we're looking into that", but it has yet to happen.

I'm not able to help with any info based on experience, other than to say that the SH21 is CW's in-house movement and thus ought to go back to them for service.

If it is looked at by an independent watch maker and parts are required, they will not be forthcoming from CW.

Guy

PS> @gitfiddle - you've got a good dad. :thumbup: :thumbup:

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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

Bahnstormer_vRS wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 2:19 pm
nycWATCHnerd wrote:I am not sure why they cannot post the price of a basic service. Most major brands do it.
. . . .
...CW used to publish service prices on their website up to, maybe 7 or 8 years ago, but then stopped.

In recent years, when asked about it, there's been a non-committal "yeah, we're looking into that", but it has yet to happen.

I'm not able to help with any info based on experience, other than to say that the SH21 is CW's in-house movement and thus ought to go back to them for service. ..
Exactly my point. Either push forward into service or get out of it but stop being wishy-washy about it.

I understand about the Sh21 because it is proprietary and relatively new but there is no reason they cannot publish a basic service rate for a Selita 200/220/300/320 movements that includes gasket replacement.

This is one of the issues that has been keeping me on the sidelines. I can get a Selita movement serviced almost anywhere but how will a local watchmaker in the USA get the correct CW crystal and caseback gaskets for a true full service?
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by rkovars »

nycWATCHnerd wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 2:59 pm
Exactly my point. Either push forward into service or get out of it but stop being wishy-washy about it.

I understand about the Sh21 because it is proprietary and relatively new but there is no reason they cannot publish a basic service rate for a Selita 200/220/300/320 movements that includes gasket replacement.

This is one of the issues that has been keeping me on the sidelines. I can get a Selita movement serviced almost anywhere but how will a local watchmaker in the USA get the correct CW crystal and caseback gaskets for a true full service?
I am definitely not arguing in CWs defense here as I too think that they should publish the base price for a service and list what that service includes up to and including the SH21.

That being said, crystals and gaskets are the easiest parts to get. All you have to do is measure for them. Crystals can be a little trickier but the gaskets are really easy.

Where I am cautious using a third party person for my CWs is that stuff happens. What if the dial or hands get damaged during the service? You will be stuck. At least if this happened at CW even if they didn't have the parts to fix it they would at least make it right in some fashion. The third party guy would also be stuck because his options to make it right would be limited.

Also, with all of the modern CWs you shouldn't need a crystal replacement unless you chip or shatter it. They are all sapphire with any antireflective coating beneath the crystal so they should wear fine for decades theoretically.

One thing to keep in mind is that manufacturers recommended service intervals are very conservative. Modern synthetic oils that are used in modern watchmaking have little in common with the ones used years ago. A modern watch will have no trouble going 10 years on a service. This line of thinking is mirrored by other manufacturers extending the service interval and warranty period.

There is also a train of thought that if the watch is running fine and keeping time within spec leave it alone. Only get it serviced when something is going wrong. Given modern manufacturing and materials there is some merit to this way of thinking as well.

The only caveat I will make here (which does not apply to the OP) is divers or any watch that you are concerned about water resistance. I have the divers I use regularly in the ocean pressure tested annually. It is much cheaper than a full service and ensures that they will perform as intended. Peace of mind for little cash outlay.
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by nycWATCHnerd »

rkovars wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 3:58 pm
One thing to keep in mind is that manufacturers recommended service intervals are very conservative. Modern synthetic oils that are used in modern watchmaking have little in common with the ones used years ago. A modern watch will have no trouble going 10 years on a service. This line of thinking is mirrored by other manufacturers extending the service interval and warranty period.

There is also a train of thought that if the watch is running fine and keeping time within spec leave it alone. Only get it serviced when something is going wrong. Given modern manufacturing and materials there is some merit to this way of thinking as well.

The only caveat I will make here (which does not apply to the OP) is divers or any watch that you are concerned about water resistance. I have the divers I use regularly in the ocean pressure tested annually. It is much cheaper than a full service and ensures that they will perform as intended. Peace of mind for little cash outlay.
I get it about service intervals. Even Rolex went to suggesting every 10 years.

I am not so convinced by the leave it alone theory. If you car was running fine would you not change the oil every 3000/5000/7500 miles (whatever the manufacturer recommends) because oils are so much better these days? A watch is a mechanical engine with moving parts that wear out so they need to be cleaned/serviced at regular intervals.

Water resistance is why I mentioned gaskets. They wear out, they dry out, and need to be replaced

And yes, while I could get a CW watched serviced by a non-CW local watchmaker, I would not for the reasons you mentioned. This is also why my Rolex/Oris/Tag/etc. watches all go back to the manufacturers for service, even the ones with off the shelf movements.
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by rkovars »

nycWATCHnerd wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 4:08 pm
I am not so convinced by the leave it alone theory. If you car was running fine would you not change the oil every 3000/5000/7500 miles (whatever the manufacturer recommends) because oils are so much better these days? A watch is a mechanical engine with moving parts that wear out so they need to be cleaned/serviced at regular intervals.
This is an analogy that I wish would go away. They aren't in any way the same (except they both involve gears - that is where the similarity ends). A watch is not a mechanical engine. The thing that wears parts the most in an engine is the extreme heat and pressure. Heat degrades everything far faster and the pressures are pretty extreme. Oils break down, metal fatigues etc.

A watch movement has very little wear mostly from friction. The friction is countered with the use of the oils and jewels. Keep in mind that a watch movement is designed to literally run 24/7. A car engine is not.
nycWATCHnerd wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 4:08 pm This is also why my Rolex/Oris/Tag/etc. watches all go back to the manufacturers for service, even the ones with off the shelf movements.
Except that parts for many of these brands are not impossible to get. I would definitely follow this guideline with anything with a silicon hair spring though. These are still highly proprietary even though the patents on the base tech have expired.

Tag is probably the easiest to get parts for.

A lot of this is carry over thinking from when most of the stuff was manufactured from organic materials (I am talking about the oils and gaskets here). The modern equivalents just don't break down like they used to. It also comes from a time when manufacturing tolerances were only a dream of what they are today.
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by iain »

nycWATCHnerd wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 4:08 pm I am not so convinced by the leave it alone theory. If you car was running fine would you not change the oil every 3000/5000/7500 miles (whatever the manufacturer recommends) because oils are so much better these days? A watch is a mechanical engine with moving parts that wear out so they need to be cleaned/serviced at regular intervals.

IWC have updated their service advice to say if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

This is a photo taken from the latest edition of their user manual that came with my Ingeniuer.

IMG_0123.jpeg
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

^^^^ That's quite a revelation from IWC.

Schofield, a much smaller brand I know, recommends the same.

Guy

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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by JAFO »

Don't service unnecessarily is probably very sound advice. It's good to know that those of us with 20 plus watches won't need to service then in our lifetimes, most likely. :D
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by Ttf23 »

For reference, it was about £360 when I had a C7 apex done earlier this year.
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by gitfiddle »

Thank you folks. It sounds like this nice of a watch should be just fine until it has issues. I've gotten some messages saying it can be between $400-500usd. I think I'll wear it till I see it losing or gaining time since it's out of warranty anyway.

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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by albionphoto »

Ttf23 wrote: Tue Jul 30, 2024 10:12 pm For reference, it was about £360 when I had a C7 apex done earlier this year.
Well now I know what the baseline cost of servicing my C7 Apex would be. Good to know there's another C7 Apex owner on the forum.
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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by WileyECoyote »

Thanks to everyone contributing to this thread. It has provided me with some timely information as I have been in the process of buying a C9 5 Day Small Seconds this week. Potential service cost & whether the watch would even need it right away were issues that I was considering before buying. I will second the comment that the IWC post concerning servicing modern watches was eye-opening. For a company like Christopher Ward that is very up front & transparent in how it prices its watches, I do believe a posted table of the basic cost of servicing for its different movements should be in order. Most of us understand that a SH21 movement is going to cost more than the others. If there are needed repairs outside of basic servicing, most should understand that would be extra. Basic service costs listed on their website doesn't seem an unreasonable ask by the customers.

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Re: Sh21 basic service cost?

Post by JAFO »

I don't think £360;is that high for a complicated watch service.

I thought omega charged £450, but it's £590 now. The watch I was thinking of having serviced might be worth that at a pinch. It's hardly worth having it done. £825 fora speedy.

Restoration starts at £2000 you will see.

https://www.omegawatches.com/en-gb/cust ... nformation
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