Used mainly as watch...

[fricotin]

How long does the battery last when used mainly as a watch ?

 

[rgyiv]

For my Series 2, I still get 2 days (I charge my watch at night, I don't charge it the next night, then I charge it the following night)

 

[canyonblue737]

My Series 4 will typically get 1.5 - 2 days. Because of this I in general still have to charge daily, as getting through 2 days is always close and generally means I had to use it like you said, mostly as a watch.

 

[Dobbeltje]

.......mainly as a watch....??
Its a .....and a .......and a .......and a.........oh and also a watch.
There are far better watches and a lot cheaper where the battery last more then a year.

 

[winkosmosis]

.......mainly as a watch....??
Its a .....and a .......and a .......and a.........oh and also a watch.
There are far better watches and a lot cheaper where the battery last more then a year.

I disagree. I moved on from normal watches because time always drifts. You have to constantly synchronize with real time. For some jobs we need precise time

 

[brianric]

I disagree. I moved on from normal watches because time always drifts. You have to constantly synchronize with real time. For some jobs we need precise time

You can get a Citizen's solar-powered atomic watch. It syncs with WWV at 2 AM every day.

 

[Azathoth123]

Get a Rolex perpetual, it will run the rest of your life and you never have to charge it.

@winkosmosis has a point, but the Rolex I have is consistent, it runs the same every month (loses 1 min a month) so the ‘accuracy’ just depends on the last time that I reset it. In the watch world, there’s a lot to be said for consistent repeatability.

 

[douglasf13]

Get a Rolex perpetual, it will run the rest of your life and you never have to charge it.

@winkosmosis has a point, but the Rolex I have is consistent, it runs the same every month (loses 1 min a month) so the ‘accuracy’ just depends on the last time that I reset it. In the watch world, there’s a lot to be said for consistent repeatability.

Mechanical watches still have a lot of precision issues vs. quartz...and they aren’t as durable...and a Rolex needs a $700+ service every 5-10 years.

The answer is really something like a solar powered, atomic clock-synced G-Shock.

 

[Azathoth123]

Mechanical watches still have a lot of precision issues vs. quartz...and they aren’t as durable...and a Rolex needs a $700+ service every 5-10 years.

The answer is really something like a solar powered, atomic clock-synced G-Shock.

I’ve had mine serviced once in 43 years, about $200. I just did it because it was recommended, it wasn’t misbehaving. It still runs like it did 43 years ago, or even more consistently. I will add that I’ve had the band replaced at something like 30-35 years, which was close to the 1977 price of the watch.

Sounds like a lot, but at twice the price ($900) over 43 years, that’s $21/year to wear a Rolex President including service and a replacement band after 30+ years. I’m good with that.

 

[Breaking Good]

I’ve had mine serviced once in 43 years, about $200. I just did it because it was recommended, it wasn’t misbehaving. It still runs like it did 43 years ago, or even more consistently. I will add that I’ve had the band replaced at something like 30-35 years, which was close to the 1977 price of the watch.

Then you are an anomaly because it is $600 to $900 to have a Rolex serviced through a Rolex authorized service center and is recommended to be done every five to ten years.

 

[douglasf13]

I’ve had mine serviced once in 43 years, about $200. I just did it because it was recommended, it wasn’t misbehaving. It still runs like it did 43 years ago, or even more consistently. I will add that I’ve had the band replaced at something like 30-35 years, which was close to the 1977 price of the watch.

Sounds like a lot, but at twice the price ($900) over 43 years, that’s $21/year to wear a Rolex President including service and a replacement band after 30+ years. I’m good with that.

Then you are an anomaly because it is $600 to $900 to have a Rolex serviced through a Rolex authorized service center and is recommended to be done every five to ten years.

Exactly. Not only is the lubrication likely dried up and the gear train severely worn, but the rotor axle is performing a minor miracle by still functioning properly, as they're the weakness of the Rolex movement design (until bearings were used in more recent models.)

Of the 4 Rolex watches I've owned, I don't believe any kept time better than 90 seconds per month, and that's with recommended service intervals and proper timing equipment. If true, the poster above is the luckiest Rolex owner out there.

Mechanical watches are awesome (I even went to watchmaking class,) but, these days, they're a choice of the heart, not the mind.

 

[Azathoth123]

Then you are an anomaly because it is $600 to $900 to have a Rolex serviced through a Rolex authorized service center and is recommended to be done every five to ten years.

I had mine serviced in Switzerland probably 25 years ago, so probably inflation/exchange rate. Still, accounting for inflation, it would be hard to find a better deal considering that it still runs more consistently than new after the service.

I’d recommend having it serviced at about 15 years then foregoing service unless it needs it or you get to 50 years, lol.

It’s current value is greater than what I have in it, including the band and service, and there are not many things that you can say that about. I doubt that I’m an anomaly, if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in life, it’s that I am disgustingly average!

 

[Azathoth123]

Just call me ‘Lucky’!

 

[douglasf13]

I had mine serviced in Switzerland probably 25 years ago, so probably inflation/exchange rate. Still, accounting for inflation, it would be hard to find a better deal considering that it still runs more consistently than new after the service.

I’d recommend having it serviced at about 15 years then foregoing service unless it needs it or you get to 50 years, lol.

It’s current value is greater than what I have in it, including the band and service, and there are not many things that you can say that about. I doubt that I’m an anomaly, if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in life, it’s that I am disgustingly average!

You're an anomaly. Even for non-watch nerds who don't pay attention to this stuff, the typical service interval is 10 years. Watch people tend to do it more frequently than that for preventative maintenance reasons.

You are certainly in good shape buying that great looking Rolex at the height of the mechanical watch's relevance, but the msrp since then has risen so high vs. inflation that, at 4x inflation since 1977, spending $8K on a new one today is quite a bit different from when you bought the watch. When you purchased the watch, it would have been like buying a $2K watch today. Granted, there are also lots of $2K watches out there today just as durable and accurate as a Rolex.

I do wonder if, in another 40 years, the mechanical wristwatch will be about as popular as the pocket watch is today, so I hesitate to recommend people buying them for investment reasons. Mechanical watches are about passion more than anything else.

Here is my 38mm Apple Watch with my Sub...which I've since sold!

 

[Azathoth123]

Nice looking Sub there @douglasf13 ! When I got my President, I really wanted an Explorer, but it was just to big for me, I have small wrists. So it’s the 40mm Apple Watch for me.

 

[winkosmosis]

You can get a Citizen's solar-powered atomic watch. It syncs with WWV at 2 AM every day.

There are very few atomic watch options and all are ugly