Am I being awkward with Rolex Geneva?

[Amg7861]

Hi guys
I’m a newbie to the forum and to Rolex ownership, apologies for the lengthy rant but I would really appreciate your thoughts on a frustrating issue.
A couple of months ago I purchased a new Z-Blue Milgauss from an AD. All was fine until a week or so later when the watch was out of power. I pulled the crown out to position 1, gave it around 20 turns of the crown, then pulled crown out to position 2, set the time, pushed then screwed the crown back in. Expecting the watch to be running i noticed the second hand stuck, not moving or telling the time. I had to shake the watch in order to spin the rotor to get the watch to start.
I kept an eye on the watch over the course of a few weeks and it still continued to do this.
I took it to the official service center, they kept it for a few days, observed and timed it, returned it to me but couldn’t really explain why it was doing that. They also said that at this stage they didn’t really want to open it up as it was so new- which I agreed with.
They provided me with the Rolex Geneva customer service details and I proceeded to contact them, explaining the situation. Geneva keep telling me to allow the service center to open the case back to adjust the movement. However, after speaking to friends and thinking about it myself I’m a little disappointed that a brand new $8,000 watch’s seconds hand gets effectively stuck.
I know that shaking the watch will start it, but occasionally I set the watch and leave it on the table to wear later- if this problem persists then the time will remain stuck. I’m also hesitant about having the case opened up on such a new time piece.
This is my first Rolex, however I have a few other Swiss pieces and their seconds hands start to run after winding and even before screwing crown back in.
I do feel this is an oversight on the part of Rolex QC standards and am feeling a little short changed out of this. I expected something that bears the ‘Superlative Chronometer’ standard to just work straight out of the box.
I feel they should exchange it for another, but I get the impression they are trying to avoid this.
Am I worrying about nothing here? Am I being too awkward regarding the opening of the case/ movement so early on?
Would be grateful for your thoughts.
Best wishes
Al

[padi56]

It's quite normal that sometimes you might have to give any Rolex movement a small swirl to get them to start even after a small manual wind.

[Mephist]

If I understand it the problem is that you have to give the movement a swirl to get it started after winding it? And this is the only problem?

To me this is not a problem at all. This has been the case with all the five Rolex's I have owned and every other automatic watch. However I never give them 20 or even 40 winds as instructed. I give them maybe 5-10 and then slap that thing on my wrist, give my wrist a little shake and it is all good to go!

So to your question "Am I being awkward with Rolex Geneva?" I would say yes. However if Rolex states their watches will automatically start after 30 or 40 winds then by all means stand your ground and demand they fix this. But I would guess you would have to let them open the case. I also cannot see any problem in letting them open the case? It is like letting a mechanic open the hood of your car. Hard to fix what's wrong with just staring at it.

But if it was me. I would just wind it 5-10 times, slap it on, give it a little shake and get on with my life.

Good luck what ever you choose to do

[GL33]

I would not worry about it. My Exp2 always needs a quick shake to get the seconds hand moving after I wind it.

[airpeace]

just let them open it. what's the worry about?

[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by airpeace

just let them open it. what's the worry about?

Thanks for your reply. I just don’t see why a new 8 grand watch should be opened up for adjustment barely a few weeks after ownership. I specifically bought a Rolex to avoid this!

[MonBK]

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[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by MonBK

.

Mines a new watch- never been serviced
Booklet tells me to wind 30 times
Doesn’t say anything about having to put it on immediately- what if I set the watch down after having wound it and screwed the crown back in? It still remains stuck

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by Amg7861

Mines a new watch- never been serviced
Booklet tells me to wind 30 times
Doesn’t say anything about having to put it on immediately- what if I set the watch down after having wound it and screwed the crown back in? It still remains stuck

Wind it 40 times and it will eventually start.

[Speedbird-1]

Originally Posted by Amg7861

Mines a new watch- never been serviced
Booklet tells me to wind 30 times
Doesn’t say anything about having to put it on immediately- what if I set the watch down after having wound it and screwed the crown back in? It still remains stuck

I bet you're not even from NZ either, are you?

I'm no expert, but I think it needs a fresh battery.............. honest!


I may be totally wrong here, but you give the impression of being highly agitated,
which is kind of understandable.
Take the watch back to the AD, tell them NOT to take the back off without letting you know what their diagnosis is.
Then, you can decide to have your money back or let them fix it.

Best of luck.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by MonBK

.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by Amg7861

Thanks for your reply. I just don’t see why a new 8 grand watch should be opened up for adjustment barely a few weeks after ownership. I specifically bought a Rolex to avoid this!

Because even Rolex has QC issues. Even $50k+ watches can have QC issues. There is the human factor involved. Get used to it and have them open it and fix it.

[Bobby T]

Originally Posted by Amg7861

Thanks for your reply. I just don’t see why a new 8 grand watch should be opened up for adjustment barely a few weeks after ownership. I specifically bought a Rolex to avoid this!

Are you diving with watch??? I don't thinks so. Why are you so insistent on RSC not opening up the watch.....what do you think will happen if they do??? Fix it, perhaps??

[Maiden]

Quite normal, my two modern subs often take 20 to 30 winds before the second hand moves.

[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by Maiden

Quite normal, my two modern subs often take 20 to 30 winds before the second hand moves.

Thanks for the response, but I’ve tried 20, 30, 40 winds. Once crown screwed back in it still will not move. I have to then shake it to get it started. I could be wrong here, but aren’t all autos supposed to start after the crown has been wound and screwed back in?

[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by Maiden

Quite normal, my two modern subs often take 20 to 30 winds before the second hand moves.

Thanks for your reply, and I’m aware that it’s normal for the seconds hand to start moving after 20,30,40 winds but in my case after having done that and screwing the crown back in the seconds hand still does not move. If I remember to shake it then it finally starts to move?!?!

[T01]

Originally Posted by Maiden

Quite normal, my two modern subs often take 20 to 30 winds before the second hand moves.

x2

[Heff]

Both of my Rolex do this, an Explorer II and BLNR. Not a big deal really.


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[beshannon]

The spring does not have enough amplitude to start.

Amplitude can also fall as the watch winds down and the mainspring delivers less power.

https://www.watchtime.com/reference-...ary/amplitude/

You are overreacting.

Wind the watch 40 FULL turns of the crown and wear it.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by beshannon

The spring does not have enough amplitude to start.



https://www.watchtime.com/reference-...ary/amplitude/

You are overreacting.

Wind the watch 40 FULL turns of the crown and wear it.

Yes. This. twenty isn't enough. Twenty tickles my Rolex and I'll be lucky if they move....approaching 30 turns, the heart starts beating.

[Burlington]

Not uncommon on an automatic. Actually had the same on my AP but it fixed itself after a few weeks of wear.

[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by Burlington

Not uncommon on an automatic. Actually had the same on my AP but it fixed itself after a few weeks of wear.

Thanks for you reply. Sometimes I wind a zero power watchand set it on the table to wear later. In my case the Milgauss will be stuck on the time I set it at and if I don’t shake it.

[bkatx]

It only happens when the watch is out of power and you manually wind right? If so that's common, my Explorer I and a few others do this. A quick shake brings them to life and all is good.

[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by bkatx

It only happens when the watch is out of power and you manually wind right? If so that's common, my Explorer I and a few others do this. A quick shake brings them to life and all is good.

Thanks for your reply and correct that is what happens. maybe I’m being fussy here but surely it should start to tick once the crown has been pushed in. My GP and even low tier pieces start to tick once wound 30 odd times and even before screwing crown back in. This is an 8 grand watch which is effectively stuck
Btw the Milgauss instruction book says nothing about having to shake it after winding.

[HONDABBQ]

on my Z Blue it takes about 20-25 turns of the crown before the second hand even start to move. Do 40-50 full turns and monitor the situation. Im sure more crown revolutions will fix this problem.
If you take the watch off over night, or for a day or so, then it probably only need 20 turns to load up the spring.

[troways]

What is the point.

Some movement from other brand，you pull the crown and the watch continues to ran. However on the Rolex movement, you pull the crown and the watch stops.

It is all about the movement design, not the defects on the movement.

[Chester01]

What’s the issue with letting an AD open up the watch? That’s why the screw back case is there.

[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by Chester01

What’s the issue with letting an AD open up the watch? That’s why the screw back case is there.

Hi Chester01. Seriously, it bugs me that it has to be opened up so early on. In 5-10 years time for a service fair enough. It literally did this out of the box. None of my other pieces do this!

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Amg7861

Hi Chester01. Seriously, it bugs me that it has to be opened up so early on. In 5-10 years time for a service fair enough. It literally did this out of the box. None of my other pieces do this!

It does not have to be opened.

Wind it fully, wear it or return it. There is nothing wrong with it.

[Amg7861]

Originally Posted by beshannon

It does not have to be opened.

Wind it fully, wear it or return it. There is nothing wrong with it.

Like I’ve said I’ve wound it fully- still remains stuck after screwing crown back in.
I’m in a part of the world where the AD accepts returns within 15 days. Whilst still new its well passed that.