Head Watchmaker at Sydney Rolex Service Centre, his advice to me

[clau2076]

Hi Guys,

Some interesting info I thought I would share with for you. Courtesy of the Head Watchmaker at Sydney Rolex Service Centre.

I went in to the official Rolex Service Centre in Sydney, wanting to adjust the bracelet on my watch. And ask him some questions on setting the time, date...etc

Anyway the secretary at the front desk says the headwatch maker will come out to greet me. I'm thinking hay this is good service. Its not a like a bank where the tellers hide from their customers

He tells me the following:
-On how he fits the bracelet. He said

"I tell everyone that comes in here that I think the best way to wear a Rolex is near the clasp you can just fit a quarter to half your index finger through the gap between the bottom of your wrist and the clasp. Thats how I adjust the bracelet as well."

He went on to say people often want it tighter so there is no movement when the watch is on their wrist. But 9 out of 10 times those same people come back and want it looser.

-On how he sets the time and date

"I always goto position 3 to set the date. I know all the manuals say you can change the date on position 2. But I set the date by using the hour hands. Why? The watch cant tell the difference between A.M. and P.M. so I wind the hand until the date changes to the date I want. I then know the watch is set in AM. Then I set the time accordingly"

I know these things are subjective and down to personal preference. But I thought I would share these tibits of info since its coming from a guy with some authority within Rolex. And I found the info helpful as well

Good service irony however was he was wearing a Timex digital watch. Go figure!

Cheers

[Singslinger]

Thanks for sharing

[Kokyuryoku]

Kia ora bro,

Originally Posted by clau2076

"I tell everyone that comes in here that I think the best way to wear a Rolex is near the clasp you can just fit a quarter to half your index finger through the gap between the bottom of your wrist and the clasp. Thats how I adjust the bracelet as well."

I totally agree. I personally like the feeling of watch a little loose, not to mention that your arm actually swells during the day, having it too tight would become uncomfortable I would think.

Originally Posted by clau2076

"I always goto position 3 to set the date. I know all the manuals say you can change the date on position 2. But I set the date by using the hour hands. Why? The watch cant tell the difference between A.M. and P.M. so I wind the hand until the date changes to the date I want. I then know the watch is set in AM. Then I set the time accordingly"

Being new to machanical watches this is something that I had to find out for myself . Now that I think about it, it really is common sense . I just move the hand until the date changes, then set the time. I can then use the quick set feature to set the correct date if necessary.

Originally Posted by clau2076

Good service irony however was he was wearing a Timex digital watch. Go figure!

Cheers

I should have got a photo

[clau2076]

yeah i was thinking that as well. Changing the date via position 3 definately common sense but like all common sense things you need someone to tell you.

Then you say "why didnt I think of that"

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by clau2076

yeah i was thinking that as well. Changing the date via position 3 definately common sense but like all common sense things you need someone to tell you.

Then you say "why didnt I think of that"

Exactly At least now you know that you're not alone

[Vlad@GKScott]

Originally Posted by Kokyuryoku

I totally agree. I personally like the feeling of watch a little loose, not to mention that your arm actually swells during the day, having it too tight would become uncomfortable I would think

Don't wear it too loose - it wears off bracelets alot quicker.

[jac67]

Sorry to say, but the head watchmaker in Sydney sounds like a tosser.

If you don't really know if the watch is in "am" or "pm", all you need to do is go around until the date changes once, adjust the time accordingly, then quick set it to the desired date.

I would have reservations with leaving my watch with someone like that.

Hey, just my 2 cents.


John.

[ijen0311]

Originally Posted by jac67

Sorry to say, but the head watchmaker in Sydney sounds like a tosser.

If you don't really know if the watch is in "am" or "pm", all you need to do is go around until the date changes once, adjust the time accordingly, then quick set it to the desired date.

I would have reservations with leaving my watch with someone like that.

Hey, just my 2 cents.


John.

x2... I didn't think that re-setting the date also reset the watch to AM

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by Vlad@GKScott

Don't wear it too loose - it wears off bracelets alot quicker.

Don't worry it's not that loose.

[handdoc]

nice info, thx

[swatty]

Have to agree, Service at Sydney RSC is great

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by swatty

Have to agree, Service at Sydney RSC is great

Daaammmnnn the bruddas are gangin up against me

[Lol-x]

Thanks for the information.

Regarding the setting of the date, if it is a quickset then I will use that quickset to set the date to the day before the current day, then I will set today's date by using the hands, that way too you get the AM and PM correct.

P.S. IMHO The Melbourne RSC is the best (just a little state rivalry ).

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Thanks for the information.

Regarding the setting of the date, if it is a quickset then I will use that quickset to set the date to the day before the current day, then I will set today's date by using the hands, that way too you get the AM and PM correct.

P.S. IMHO The Melbourne RSC is the best (just a little state rivalry ).

That's a better idea. Thanks Steve I'll be doing it that way from now on.

[Andad]

Wow.

[clau2076]

yeah the head watchmaker at Rolex SC Sydney. Come out I was quite surprised he looked like one of the watchmakers from the Rolex videos he was wearing a loupe with the metal thing that allows them to hang it around their heads when not using it. Pretty funny and kinda cool

[Andad]

And the digital Timex adds to the cred.

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by directioneng

And the digital Timex adds to the cred.

Especially if he uses it to set the time on all of the customer watches he works on...


Cheers

[clau2076]

you know what they say "do as I say, not as I do" Or in Rolex's case

"Buy as we advertise to you, but not what we wear ourselves!"

[hflee55]

thanks for sharing. nice info!

[Rolex116520]

Strange that he is wearing a Timex to greet Rolex customers , you would have thought that if the man wasn't willing to spent his own money on a Rolex that they would at least let him wear one during business hours . Who is responsible for P.R. there ?

[Psmith]

Perhaps his beater, for work ...?


I've been to the Melb RSC several times, and met a couple of the watchmakers, but never noticed what watches they were wearing.

Last time I went was to ask why my Sub's date was changing at Noon


Cheers

[clau2076]

Hi Yves,

It was quite funny I had to stop myself from laughing in front of him.

I have no idea who handles their PR.

He was a good guy, very friendly and knowledgeable. I dont really care if he doesnt wear a Rolex. As long as he could answer my questions. Just the disconnect and irony wasnt lost on me

[Andad]

Last time I went was to ask why my Sub's date was changing at Noon



I know, I know, pick me, pick me.

[SUB4Me]

Very logical information indeed!

[Lamone]

Thanks for sharing.

[eminere™]

Where is the Sydney RSC located again?

[Imtiaz]

When did Rolex setup a SC in Sydney? They used to ship my watches to Melbourne for service.

They charged me A$390 for the freight plus $450 for the service around 6 years ago. It took over 6 weeks.

Got tired of this and now just send the watch to Rolex in Tokyo for a full service and return for just A$450 all up.

[bran319]

Nice. Thanks for sharing.

[Mathemagician]

Originally Posted by clau2076

-On how he fits the bracelet. He said

"I tell everyone that comes in here that I think the best way to wear a Rolex is near the clasp you can just fit a quarter to half your index finger through the gap between the bottom of your wrist and the clasp. Thats how I adjust the bracelet as well."

He went on to say people often want it tighter so there is no movement when the watch is on their wrist. But 9 out of 10 times those same people come back and want it looser.

Thanks for passing this along. FWIW, I adjust my bracelet so that it is like this when the "comfort link" is open. Then, when I'm doing something more active I can close the comfort link, which makes it tight enough that it doesn't move around. Seems to work well.