How Much Does It Cost to Service a Rolex in 2026?

In 2026, the real Rolex service costs can run up to $3,500+, depending on the model and condition. Understanding how much to service a Rolex has never been more important as values continue to climb and proper maintenance directly impacts long-term investment return.

Hundreds of Rolex watches are overhauled each year at many repair centres in the country. The following prices and insights are taken directly from our service department's 2026 pricing, and you are getting current, real-time numbers.

Key Takeaways

1. Base Rolex service cost: $800 to $1,200 on the majority of models.
2. Chronographs (Daytona) and complicated watches (Sky-Dweller) start at 1,350+.
3. The official Rolex service centres are still 30-100% more costly than the finest independents.
4. In the case of daily-wear watches, Rolex servicing frequency is required every 5-7 years, whereas Rolex recommends service every 10 years.
5. Comprehensive service includes a 9-step factory overhaul - much more than cleaning and oiling.

Mechanical complexity is the primary factor in the price of Rolex servicing. The following are the real prices our master watchmakers will charge in 2026 to completely overhaul (MOVEMENT service, new seals, pressure test, light refinishing).

These are the minimum prices of an entire movement service. Other components (crystal, bezel insert, dial refinishing, hand, etc.) are charged individually after dismantling.

Even when you bring a vintage red Submariner or a tropical dial GMT to an RSC in 2026, there is a high chance that you will be offered modern service replacement parts for the watch, which can have a huge effect on collector value. The best of the independents leave you with the option.

When investing in a Rolex you're not just investing in a watch, you're investing in the famous commitment to precision, durability and performance that the brand is known for. To help to keep this promise, Rolex offers a comprehensive five-year international guarantee on all new watches bought from an Official Rolex Retailer.

What the Rolex Guarantee Covers

The Rolex guarantee ensures the proper functioning of their timepiece for five years from the date of purchase. Each watch is put through a rigorous set of quality control tests after assembly to ensure that it meets the strict standards for accuracy and reliability that are set by the brand. This extensive testing is the basis of Rolex's confidence in its craftsmanship - and the reason it stands behind each watch with such a robust guarantee.

What the Guarantee Does Not Cover

While the guarantee protects against manufacturing defects, it does not cover:

1. Normal wear and tear (including wear on non-metal straps or bracelets)
2. Loss or theft
3. Damage caused by misuse
4. Watches that have been modified with non-Rolex components or accessories

Any substitutions or additions of parts not manufactured by Rolex will invalidate the guarantee. Similarly, any work performed by third parties immediately renders the guarantee null and void.

Requirements for a Valid Rolex Guarantee

For the guarantee to remain valid throughout the five-year period, three conditions must be met:

1. The watch must be purchased from an Official Rolex Retailer.
2. The retailer must complete the guarantee card in full at the time of purchase.
3. The guarantee card must accompany the watch when brought to an Official Rolex Retailer or Service Centre for service.

Is the Rolex Guarantee International?

Yes—the guarantee is fully international. No matter where you purchased your Rolex, you can rely on authorized retailers and service centers worldwide to honor the five-year coverage, provided the guarantee conditions are met.

Formal advice from Rolex is still about every 10 years, with the aid of modern synthetic lubricants launched over the past 20 years.

But this is what we have day by day on our benches:

1. Daily wearers: every 5-7 years (continuous movement continues to drain lubricants quickly)
2. Occasional use: 7-10 years is achievable.
3. Vintage Rolex (before 2000): every 4-6 years- older oils wear out faster.
4. Extensive use (diving, sports, extreme climatic conditions): every 4-5 years and annual tests of pressure.

Instead of the calendar, watch the following red flags:

1. Increasing/reducing over 10 sec/day.
2. Condensation or moisture beneath the crystal.
3. Reduced power reserve
4. Gritty crown or hard winding
5. Stuttering second hand

It is the very 9-step procedure that makes the Rolex maintenance cost significant:

1. Primary diagnosis & elaborate estimation.
2. Complete dismantling of the movement, case, and bracelet.
3. Cleaning of all parts ultrasonically and manually.
4. Installation of all seals, gaskets, and damaged parts with genuine Rolex parts.
5. Reassembly and exact lubrication with Rolex oils.
6. Adjustment to chronometer standards (-2 / + 2 sec/day on modern calibers)
7. Case finish (you choose): refinishing light polish or full polish to your liking
8. case and bracelet refinishing (optional)
9. Water testing to the original water rating.
10. Last 5-7 days time test + power-reserve check.

Since it is genuinely a labor-intensive process that needs:

1. Watchmakers who were trained in factories (6-10 years of training).
2. More than a quarter of a million in equipment and tools.
3. Authentic Rolex components (1 mainspring would cost 80-150 dollars)
4. Lubricants and a clean room setting.
5. Accuracy testing in several days following reassembly.

You are not paying for a fast oil change; you are paying for a complete factory overhaul.

Definitely, in the hands of an established provider.

With a well-serviced Rolex, the watch will:

1. Market value: Gain or retention.
2. Be as waterproof and dependable.
3. Turn into a genuine heirloom of a new generation.

To save a few hundred dollars by skipping service is virtually a thousand-dollar mistake in the long run, as the dried oils permanently damage property.

Rolex service cost is just the price of having one of the best mechanical watches that has ever been made. Should you treat it as any maintenance on a high-performance car, i.e., do it right, at the right time, and it will pay you in decades.

It doesn’t matter whether you follow the official RSC path or go to a reliable third-party such as Grey and Sons. Still, it is all about certified watchmakers, authentic components, and the correct factory protocol.

Have a Rolex that’s due? Take it to any of our locations or ship it insured, and we will provide you with a no-obligation, accurate quote within 48 hours.

How much to service a Rolex Daytona in 2026?

$1,350–$1,650 base, commonly $2,000–$3,000+ with typical parts.

Is an independent Rolex service safe?

Entirely — when performed by WOSTEP or AWCI-certified watchmakers with an official Rolex parts account (we have both).

Will Rolex still service my 50-year-old watch?

Yes, but they may replace original tritium dials and hands with modern luminous versions — many collectors now prefer top independents.

Can I just get new seals and a pressure test?

Yes, a “maintenance service” runs $350–$550, but only if the movement is running perfectly.