Initial lubrication or tune-up for rep mechanical movements?

[TimeSpeed]

Hello everyone,
Just ended up with a replica watch for the first time (story for another time).
​​​​​​The watch is pretty good except for overly stiff winding and some rotor noise.
I'm now wondering if applying a high quality lubricant might extend the life of the movement.
Do you guys typically do this?
Is it possible to just add lubrication or would dissambly be required to clean first?
Any product recommendations?
​​​​​​

 

[Futzorr]

You will need to dissamble the movement and clean it and then apply lubricant.
it wont extend the life by just adding lubricant due to the fact that factory watches arent serviced and cleaned up. You would just apply new oil on top of old oil

theres a section here with modders who can help you out. Id suggest choosing one in your area due to customs

 

[p0pperini]

Most of us guys don't typically do this. We'd send the watch to someone who can.

Servicing a watch movement is a highly specialised, extremely fiddly job that requires learning some skills and having the right tools. It can be learned, but it's a very long way from "just add lubrication".

Take a look at any YouTube video of the process, and you'll see what it involves. Here's a good "for instance" (I'm a patreon supporter of Mark's channel, because it's really excellent):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXUXpNeTKkI

 

[Hor-Fan]

You should just lube the automatic winding module, don’t worry about the movement unless it has issues.

 

[TimeSpeed]

Yes servicing would definitely be the way to go but servicing on my gen watches is ~$500 at local watch shop. I don't know if they would service a rep but I wouldn't like to spend $500 dlls to service a $500 watch.
What do you usually pay?
Any recommendation for shops in the US?

 

[TimeSpeed]

theres a section here with modders who can help you out. Id suggest choosing one in your area due to customs

Are you saying 'modders' typically offer this as a service?

 

[mech500]

Yes servicing would definitely be the way to go but servicing on my gen watches is ~$500 at local watch shop. I don't know if they would service a rep but I wouldn't like to spend $500 dlls to service a $500 watch.
What do you usually pay?
Any recommendation for shops in the US?

Servicing reps should cost around £50-120, depending on the movement (chrono or not). Plenty of watchmakers here that can service it for you. Having said that, just wear it....who cares about stuff winding. I’d wait until it breaks.

 

[ShiroTenshi]

You said "overly stiff winding" but to clarify, have you had experience winding the same movement used in the rep, on another watch? The 2824 and 2836 are typically not the smoothest to wind, even if it is swiss.

 

[TimeSpeed]

No, I do not have experience with 2824s but as it turns out that service will be needed sooner rather than later as the watch already stopped running.
I have sent an inquiry to watchmakerusa.com, any other recommendations?
I must say my joy of replica watches was short lived, I will try to get this fixed and hopefully it'll run for a good time after that.

 

[Art Tic]

Over the years, I have purchased dozens of reps and only serviced about 7 (favorites). I typically wear it until it stops running, and then decide if I want to pay $200USD or more for one of RWI's reputable watchmakers to service it. Sometimes even after service they break anyway. In most cases, I move on and buy another. That is part of the rep watch hobby, and I accept it. The only exception was an older Noob 116600LN and the famous Noob Daytona which I sent out for service after receipt. Both are still running well after years.

Chinese clone movements are cheaper made than the Swiss counterparts and, in my experience, are unreliable. I count myself lucky if my rep lasts a year. However, if your rep has a Miyota or Seiko movement, either normally quite robust, then the watch should last a while even if it is put together in a non-clean environment with hardy any lubricant.