Daytona rattle.

[JSM333]

Just bought a 2003 gold Daytona. That when you turn your wrist to look at the time it rattles. It’s even worse if you shake the watch or tap the glass.

I sent it back to the dealer and I’m being told that it’s completely normal and that’s it’s been checked over and there’s no issues with it.

Anyone else experienced similar?

[dnd2984]

Originally Posted by JSM333

Just bought a 2003 gold Daytona. That when you turn your wrist to look at the time it rattles. It’s even worse if you shake the watch or tap the glass.

I sent it back to the dealer and I’m being told that it’s completely normal and that’s it’s been checked over and there’s no issues with it.

Anyone else experienced similar?

Yea Daytona movement can be loud. Sounds normal.

[Tools]

Depends on what's rattling.

Typically, tapping and shaking any bracelet mounted watch results in some rattling noises.

[7enderbender]

Sounds like the bracelet and it’s probably too lose - which also destroys the bracelets over time.

[0nly5iv3Digits]

^Especially W/18K bracelets... They wear super-quickly.

[Tqmb79]

Originally Posted by 0nly5iv3Digits

^Especially W/18K bracelets... They wear super-quickly.

No they don’t from my experience. They last very well, at least since the last 5-7 years. No experience prior but mine have held up great with no issues at all. Is this not the case way down the line?

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Originally Posted by Tqmb79

No they don’t from my experience. They last very well, at least since the last 5-7 years. No experience prior but mine have held up great with no issues at all. Is this not the case way down the line?

Compared to steel, they certainly do. Especially if you wear them loose on-wrist. Many 1803, 18038, 18238 guys have replacement and A/M bracelets as a result.

It’s a thing. Gold is quite soft.

[JSM333]

It’s not the strap!

It’s on a leather one.

The noise is coming from inside the watch. It sounds like the parts are loose inside and moving around. But I’m being assured that they are not, they’ve checked the rotor posts and apparently they are fine.

The best way I can describe the sound is that it sounds like a ball bearing swirling around the inside of a cup.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by JSM333

. . .

The best way I can describe the sound is that it sounds like a ball bearing swirling around the inside of a cup.

Seriously.

The winding rotor is exactly ball bearings swirling around in their bearing race on a Daytona.

[Rolex1982]

Either the rotor or the endlinks which can develop some wiggle room. Had that with my daytona meteorite on leather.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Rolex1982

Either the rotor or the endlinks which can develop some wiggle room. Had that with my daytona meteorite on leather.

Most probably the rotor the Daytona has a ball bearing rotor and in general these are a bit more noisy than the older sleeve rotor bearings and all normal. Simple answer for the original poster stop shaking your wrist and tapping the glass close to your ears.

[Rolex1982]

Originally Posted by padi56

Most probably the rotor the Daytona has a ball bearing rotor and in general these are a bit more noisy than the older sleeve rotor bearings and all normal.

This was my first thought as well, only reason I thought of the endlinks, because he says it is worse when tapping on the crystal. But either way, most likely nothing to worry about if watch runs normal.

[Toptimes]

That's frustrating, its odd that the dealer mentioned its normal, especially if its noticeable when you move your wrist or tap the watch.

[ratty]

Originally Posted by JSM333

Just bought a 2003 gold Daytona. That when you turn your wrist to look at the time it rattles. It’s even worse if you shake the watch or tap the glass.

I sent it back to the dealer and I’m being told that it’s completely normal and that’s it’s been checked over and there’s no issues with it.

Anyone else experienced similar?

I have never heard anything like this with my watches, but I don’t go out of my way to listen for it!

If in doubt take it in to Rolex and ask what they think about it.

[JSM333]

My next port of call is to take it in to have it looked at and get a Rolex specialist to look at it.

I just thought I’d see what you guys thinks as the dealer is telling me that all old Daytonas especially on gold will sound like it. I just find it hard to believe.
It just doesn’t sound right.

By the way I’m not listening out for it and I dont need to put it close to my ear to hear it. Like I said it happens on a quick wrist turn.

I suppose my concern is two fold.

1. It’s not genuine.
2. The mech inside is a mess/damaged.

[Lalo007]

It’s probably the rotor, I just experienced that same problem on a datejust

[JSM333]

Originally Posted by Lalo007

It’s probably the rotor, I just experienced that same problem on a datejust

I’m being told that rotors are all sound.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by JSM333

I’m being told that rotors are all sound.

Yes..... the Ball Bearing rotor.

[JSM333]

Originally Posted by Tools

Yes..... the Ball Bearing rotor.

Apologies. I’m obviously not very bright. But I don’t understand your cryptic posts disguised behind passive aggressive humour.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by JSM333

Apologies. I’m obviously not very bright. But I don’t understand your cryptic posts disguised behind passive aggressive humour.

Well IMHO you are worrying over nothing, your watch is fine, whatever you do don't buy a watch with the Valjoux 7750 movement. Because that one is very noisy and you can feel the rotor wobble on the wrist, but its still one of the finest chronograph movements made today.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by JSM333

Apologies. I’m obviously not very bright. But I don’t understand your cryptic posts disguised behind passive aggressive humour.

They are neither cryptic, disguised, nor humour.

You say that it sounds like bearing noise. Your watch rotor is a ball bearing supported rotating device. When moving it sounds like ball bearings rolling in their race, just as you describe.

[rolexjackson]

One of the “noisiest” watches I’ve ever owned is a Patek 5226. I believe it’s because they use ceramic ball bearings in their rotors.


Life is short buy the watch-

[Bazil]

Take it to the RSC in London and have it checked properly especially for peace of mind, you’ll know one way or another once they’ve examined it .. if you have concerns of it being genuine trust me they’ll answer that ..
Hope it gets resolved ..

[PenDelicate]

Originally Posted by JSM333

Just bought a 2003 gold Daytona. That when you turn your wrist to look at the time it rattles. It’s even worse if you shake the watch or tap the glass.

I sent it back to the dealer and I’m being told that it’s completely normal and that’s it’s been checked over and there’s no issues with it.

Anyone else experienced similar?

I've a gold Daytona from 2000, serviced last year: it's almost completely silent; I certainly never hear it in daily use. There's no reason for a 4130 movement from 2003 to be noisy.

[goldboy]

Even a brand new Daytona (or most any new Rolex), has a squeak / squeel type of noise coming from the links. It depends where the noise is originating from but I'd suspect it;s normal.

[BroncoOne]

Originally Posted by JSM333

Just bought a 2003 gold Daytona. That when you turn your wrist to look at the time it rattles. It’s even worse if you shake the watch or tap the glass.

I sent it back to the dealer and I’m being told that it’s completely normal and that’s it’s been checked over and there’s no issues with it.

Anyone else experienced similar?

Same. Gold Daytona on an alligator leather OEM strap.
Normal. I’ve owned it for 10 years without any issues.

[JSM333]

Originally Posted by BroncoOne

Same. Gold Daytona on an alligator leather OEM strap.
Normal. I’ve owned it for 10 years without any issues.

So if you put it to your ear and shake it, it’s silent?

Because mine sounds like the mech is moving around. And I’m confused by the amount of people on here saying it’s normal.

But you and @pendelicate who both own the same watch say the opposite. And both say yours does not produce a rattle.

I wish I could share a video.

[PenDelicate]

Originally Posted by JSM333

So if you put it to your ear and shake it, it’s silent?

Because mine sounds like the mech is moving around. And I’m confused by the amount of people on here saying it’s normal.

But you and @pendelicate who both own the same watch say the opposite. And both say yours does not produce a rattle.

I wish I could share a video.

Oh, let me retract my earlier statement.

I stand-by never noticing noise in normal daily use, but if I put it to my ear and shake it, then I do hear it: it's not silent.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by JSM333

So if you put it to your ear and shake it, it’s silent?

Because mine sounds like the mech is moving around. And I’m confused by the amount of people on here saying it’s normal.

But you and @pendelicate who both own the same watch say the opposite. And both say yours does not produce a rattle.

I wish I could share a video.

Well IMHO you are worrying over nothing just wear your watch on your wrist and forget about the rattle that's most probably the normal ball bearing rotor noise.

[goldboy]

Originally Posted by JSM333

So if you put it to your ear and shake it, it’s silent?

Because mine sounds like the mech is moving around. And I’m confused by the amount of people on here saying it’s normal.

But you and @pendelicate who both own the same watch say the opposite. And both say yours does not produce a rattle.

I wish I could share a video.

If it sounds like the noise is coming from the movement I'd say that's not normal. Although I don't own any Rolex from around that era of production, so I can't say for sure.

All of my modern Rolex have super silent rotors, it's one aspect of that differentiates Rolex from competitors.

I'd have it assessed by an independent before sending it in to Rolex for servicing.