SINCE 1979 • NEWPORT BEACH, CA
Rolex Clean, Oil & Adjust
Restore Peak Performance Without the Wait
For more than 47 years, Newport Jewelers has been the trusted destination for luxury watch service in Orange County. Our master technicians offer a specialized Clean, Oil & Adjust service for Rolex watches — the perfect mid‑cycle refresh to restore accuracy, smooth winding, and water resistance
Rolex: Why Clean, Oil & Adjust is Essential?
The Rolex Movement – Precision Needs Fresh Lubrication
Rolex calibers (3135, 3235, 4131, etc.) are engineered with over 200 components. Over time, oils thicken, attract dust, and lose viscosity — leading to reduced amplitude, poor timekeeping, and accelerated wear. A full overhaul may not be needed every 2 years, but a professional clean, oil & adjust (COA) restores the movement’s health without the cost or downtime of a complete rebuild.
Our COA service is ideal for Rolex watches that are running slightly off (e.g., -8 to +12 sec/day) or feel gritty when winding. We do not replace worn components (that requires a full service), but we deep‑clean, re‑oil, and regulate to bring your Rolex back to -2/+2 sec/day.
How Clean, Oil & Adjust Benefits Your Rolex?
+25% longer movement life when oiled every 3 years
-15% amplitude loss reversed after cleaning & fresh oil
2–3 days typical turnaround (vs. 6–8 weeks for full service)
Secondary market prices for Rolex watches with documented COA history are 10–15% higher than those without any service record.
Rolex Models Compatible with Clean, Oil & Adjust
Our Clean, Oil & Adjust Process – Step by Step
Movement Service
- Partial movement disassembly – Remove automatic module, bridge, and escapement.
- Ultrasonic cleaning of all non‑friction parts in a specialized watch cleaning solution.
- Inspection – Check for excessive wear (if found, we recommend full overhaul).
- Fresh application of Rolex‑specified oils (Moebius 9010, 9104, etc.) to jewels and pivots.
- Reassembly and lubrication of the automatic winding system.
Regulation & Adjustment
- Timegraph analysis in 5 positions – measure rate, amplitude, beat error.
- Micro‑adjustment of the balance regulator to achieve -2/+2 sec/day.
- Demagnetisation if necessary (using a high‑intensity demagnetiser).
- Final timing check after 24 hours to ensure stability.
- Water resistance test (if case was opened) – up to rated depth.
| Included Service | Details | Time |
|---|---|---|
Case & bracelet cleaning | Ultrasonic bath + steam cleaning, gentle hand polish (no heavy refinishing) | 30 min |
Crown gasket lubrication | Apply silicone grease to Triplock crown seals to prevent drying | 10 min |
Clasp spring tension check | Adjust Glidelock/EasyLink if needed, replace worn springs | 15 min |
Pressure test (wet/dry) | Test water resistance to 50m, 100m, 300m, or rated depth | 20 min |
Detailed service report | Before/after timing, amplitude readings, seal condition | — |
Clean, Oil & Adjust vs. Complete Overhaul
Ideal for COA
- Last full service 4–6 years ago, but watch runs slightly slow/fast.
- Amplitude is between 220° and 260° (healthy range is 270°–310°).
- No water damage, no broken parts, no rust.
- You notice a gritty feeling when winding or setting the time.
- You want to preserve originality and avoid unnecessary parts replacement.
Full Service Recommended
- Watch hasn’t been serviced in 7+ years or has unknown history.
- Amplitude below 200°, beat error >2.0 ms.
- Moisture inside crystal, crown won’t screw down, or date doesn’t change.
- Rotor makes grinding noise or watch stops intermittently.
- Vintage Rolex (pre‑1980) with old lubricants that have hardened.
Our Proprietary COA Method for Rolex
Unlike quick “oil splash” services that do more harm than good, we follow a strict protocol:
- Initial diagnosis – Timegraph reading, visual inspection of case and movement through caseback.
- Removal of automatic module and balance bridge – We do not fully disassemble the entire movement, but we expose all key lubricated areas.
- Ultrasonic cleaning of disassembled parts – Using a non‑aggressive, biodegradable solution that removes old oil without damaging delicate surfaces.
- Micro‑oiling – Each jewel receives precisely 0.05 µl of Moebius oil using a calibrated oiler. The escape wheel and pallet fork receive specialised lubricants (Moebius 9415).
- Reassembly and manual regulation – We adjust the Microstella nuts or regulator pin to bring the watch to -2/+2 sec/day in the dial‑up position, then verify in 5 positions.
- Water resistance check – After cleaning the caseback and crown threads, we perform a dry vacuum test followed by a wet over‑pressure test.
- Final 24‑hour timing observation – The watch is left running on a timegrapher to ensure stability.
All COA work comes with a 12‑month warranty on lubrication and timing accuracy.
Why You Should Never “Quick‑Oil” a Rolex?
Many inexperienced watchmakers claim to oil a Rolex without disassembly, simply by dripping oil through the rotor bearing. This practice leads to over‑oiling, oil migration onto the balance spring, and damage to the escapement. Our Clean, Oil & Adjust service is a partial but controlled disassembly that ensures fresh oil reaches only the intended friction points. The Parachrom hairspring and Chronergy escapement (in 32xx calibers) are especially sensitive to incorrect lubrication. We also test for amplitude drop after oiling – a critical indicator of success.
“My Submariner Date was running -12 sec/day and the winding felt rough. Newport Jewelers performed their Clean, Oil & Adjust service. Now it runs +1 sec/day and winds like butter. Incredible turnaround in 3 days.”
— Kit Newman
“Jacob explained the whole COA process for my GMT‑Master II. He showed me the old, dried oil on the timegraph printout. After the service, amplitude went from 230° to 295°. Highly recommend this service for any Rolex between full overhauls.”
— R Whis
Long‑Term Value of Regular COA
Rolex movements are designed to run for decades, but lubricants degrade. A clean, oil & adjust every 3–4 years reduces stress on pivots and mainspring barrels, delaying the need for expensive parts replacement. Many of our clients schedule a COA between full overhauls (e.g., year 3 after a full service). Documented COA history can add 10–15% to resale value compared to a watch with no service records.
How Often Should You Get a COA?
Based on 47 years of Rolex experience, we recommend:
- Every 2 years: Pressure test + gasket check (can be combined with COA).
- Every 3–4 years: Clean, oil & adjust (if watch is running well but lubricants are aging).
- Every 5–7 years: Full movement overhaul.
If you wear your Rolex daily in harsh conditions (saltwater, dust, high heat), shorten intervals by 1 year.