Another dumb question

[bpiraino]

I've had Rolex watches since 1972 and have always wondered if it's safe to back up the date on a submariner date or datejust while in the time setting position by moving the hour/minute hand counter clockwise until the previous date clicks back.

Sometimes it seems easier to do this to set the date back a day or two then using the quick set to go through 29 or 30 days of dates. Does this cause any damage to the watch mechanism? I've tried to do a search and only found one reference that said "You can turn the hands of your watch backwards when adjusting the time, or date. No worries!" from this link http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...highlight=date

Is this info. accurate?

Thanks,

BP

[Paracentesis]

Yes it's all true. On non-quickset watches it's often quicker to turn the hands back to get to the right date.

[superdelsol]

The date wheel in my wife's Rolex Ref. 68273 31mm Date-Just can be advanced or retarded while in quick-set mode. I initially thought that this watch might need service, but TRF member and watchmaker "Rikki" informed me that some of the early Cal. 2135 movements used in this model have this feature. It's good to know that I can turn the time back to retard the date on non-quickset movements, as my wife has a Ref. 6916 Lady-Date that is non-quickset. I have a Ref. 16710 GMT-Master II in which I can retard the date while setting the local hour hand, which is very convenient. Here is a link to my question about the two-way date wheel in the Ref. 68273 31mm Date-Just with the Cal. 2135 movement:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=184024

[HL65]

Yes.