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Rawhyde · 1 October 2007, 09:46 AM

Back in May, I took my Tudor Chronograph into a local watchmaker for service. He has a good rep, and we even have a mutual friend; so I gave him my watch to clean and oil. He has a grandfathered Rolex parts account, and even the local AD sends him watches that have had non-Rolex sanctioned mods like diamond bezels, etc...

Before I gave it to the watchmaker, it had gotten to the point where I had to set it 2-3 times per day.

After several weeks, I went in to pick it up. He wound the watch and set it with by the atomic clock. I wore it the rest of the day and took it off that night. When I got up in the morning, it was stopped! It had lost 9 hours! I took it back in and let him take another look...

Several weeks later, I got it back. He told me he had it on his winder during the day, and took it off and laid it down at night...working fine.

While it was away, I got my new TT Blue Sub and I've been wearing it, but I wound the Tudor everyday for a week. It was keeping time just fine.

I let it go to sleep, and it sat dead for about a week. Saturday morning (around 10AM) I decided to crank it up... I wound it 40 times...nothing happened

I wound it 15 more times....nothing

I gave it a few of JJ's patented "Brandy Swirls"...still dead.

I tapped it a few times with my fingertip and FINALLY it starts up! I wound it another 20 times. I checked it several times that day and all was OK. I went to check on it just now, and it had STOPPED at 10:15PM last night!

It ran for 11-12 hours. I feel like it should have had more power reserve than that!

Any idea what is wrong? I feel like I have 3 choices:

1. Take it back to the local watchmaker.
2. Send it to the RSC (I hear they charge $800 for a Daytona, how much for a poorman's Daytona?)
3. Ignore it... (Ain't very likely. I like this watch, and I want it running properly.)

Anyone had a similar experience? Any good advice? Maybe some sympathy....

Please help,

Rawhyde

Nick Hacko · 1 October 2007, 09:50 AM

Please clarify: is your Tudor manual wind or automatic? Model number?

Rawhyde · 1 October 2007, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hacko

Please clarify: is your Tudor manual wind or automatic? Model number?

Tudor Chronograph Model 79170 automatic chronograph. I got it in 1996 from a buddy just a week after he got it from the local AD.

Alcan · 1 October 2007, 10:00 AM

Craig, if your watchmaker has taken 2 kicks at it and it still doesn't run properly, he's missing something. I think your choices are to let him have one more go at it or send it to another watchmaker. Your call.

SSD · 1 October 2007, 10:18 AM

Craig, bring it down here to Atl.. We'll take a trip to my AD, he has an in-house Rolex trained technician with 20+ years experience. That'll do the trick!

Rawhyde · 1 October 2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSD

Craig, bring it down here to Atl.. We'll take a trip to my AD, he has an in-house Rolex trained technician with 20+ years experience. That'll do the trick!

See if you can get me an estimate.

Tools · 1 October 2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcan

Craig, if your watchmaker has taken 2 kicks at it and it still doesn't run properly, he's missing something. I think your choices are to let him have one more go at it or send it to another watchmaker. Your call.

This looks like the logical approach to me..

Unless you plan to tackle it yourself....

Rawhyde · 1 October 2007, 10:55 AM

I'm hoping to hear from Nick, Iron Stark, or Vanessa an educated guess as to what the problem is likely to be.

Right now, I'm strongly leaning towards sending it to the RSC. I was hoping to use a local guy and save some money and avoid the risk of shipping. A couple of years ago, my uncle had a GMT get lost in the mail. It took over a year to get his money and get his watch replaced.

I'm a pretty good gunsmith, mechanic, and a mechanical engineer; but I can't tackle something that tiny. (I just referred to a Tudor Chronograph as tiny...) If it was the size of a saucer, and I could get parts...I WOULD try it.

I was hoping this'd work out. I was going to send him a vintage Lejour chronograph that needs restoration....kinda afraid to now.

Rawhyde

Nick Hacko · 1 October 2007, 11:38 AM

My guess: your watchmaker is having difficulties because there could be more than one problem. Also, I would expect to find substantial amount of wear and tear in 1960s Tudor
therefore cleaning, oiling and adjustment (regular service) is not sufficient. If he is unable to source worn out parts than he is just wasting your time (and his own time too!). Rolex parts account, skills and good intentions alone won't cut.
Since most Tudor parts are hard to source- even Rolex is unable to repair certain calibre - success rate for vintage Tudor watches is not all that high.

Based on above, I would send it to Rolex service centre for repair quote. If they can't help, try to find another watchmaker who has better access to spare parts.

abigsecret · 1 October 2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hacko

I would expect to find substantial amount of wear and tear in 1960s Tudor...

You've read it wrong Nick, it's 1996, not '69.

I think you should give your watchmaker another chance, and explain him exactly what you're telling us. He might have just misunderstood your initial concern. Hopefully he'll do the right thing this time. If not, at least you're not "loosing" any more money, just some time.

Good luck!

Rawhyde · 1 October 2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Hacko

My guess: your watchmaker is having difficulties because there could be more than one problem. Also, I would expect to find substantial amount of wear and tear in 1960s Tudor
therefore cleaning, oiling and adjustment (regular service) is not sufficient. If he is unable to source worn out parts than he is just wasting your time (and his own time too!). Rolex parts account, skills and good intentions alone won't cut.
Since most Tudor parts are hard to source- even Rolex is unable to repair certain calibre - success rate for vintage Tudor watches is not all that high.

Based on above, I would send it to Rolex service centre for repair quote. If they can't help, try to find another watchmaker who has better access to spare parts.

Thanks Nick but it was bought new in '96 not a 60's vintage watch. At least parts would be easier to get...

Thanks for the advice!

Rawhyde

Nick Hacko · 1 October 2007, 11:59 AM

huh, my bad. Please disregard my previous post.

Just send it to rolex service centre, they will take good care of it.

daunwaun · 1 October 2007, 01:06 PM

Send it in to RCS...cant go wrong

frostie · 1 October 2007, 01:42 PM

Send it to RSC and everything will be fine

1 October 2007, 09:46 AM	#1
Rawhyde Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Craig Location: NW Georgia Watch: Blue Sub+Tud Chron Posts: 834	Watch hard to start... Any advice from watchmakers? Back in May, I took my Tudor Chronograph into a local watchmaker for service. He has a good rep, and we even have a mutual friend; so I gave him my watch to clean and oil. He has a grandfathered Rolex parts account, and even the local AD sends him watches that have had non-Rolex sanctioned mods like diamond bezels, etc... Before I gave it to the watchmaker, it had gotten to the point where I had to set it 2-3 times per day. After several weeks, I went in to pick it up. He wound the watch and set it with by the atomic clock. I wore it the rest of the day and took it off that night. When I got up in the morning, it was stopped! It had lost 9 hours! I took it back in and let him take another look... Several weeks later, I got it back. He told me he had it on his winder during the day, and took it off and laid it down at night...working fine. While it was away, I got my new TT Blue Sub and I've been wearing it, but I wound the Tudor everyday for a week. It was keeping time just fine. I let it go to sleep, and it sat dead for about a week. Saturday morning (around 10AM) I decided to crank it up... I wound it 40 times...nothing happened I wound it 15 more times....nothing I gave it a few of JJ's patented "Brandy Swirls"...still dead. I tapped it a few times with my fingertip and FINALLY it starts up! I wound it another 20 times. I checked it several times that day and all was OK. I went to check on it just now, and it had STOPPED at 10:15PM last night! It ran for 11-12 hours. I feel like it should have had more power reserve than that! Any idea what is wrong? I feel like I have 3 choices: 1. Take it back to the local watchmaker. 2. Send it to the RSC (I hear they charge $800 for a Daytona, how much for a poorman's Daytona?) 3. Ignore it... (Ain't very likely. I like this watch, and I want it running properly.) Anyone had a similar experience? Any good advice? Maybe some sympathy.... Please help, Rawhyde

1 October 2007, 10:00 AM	#4
Alcan 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Al Location: Way Up North Watch: your P's & Q's Posts: 10,473	Craig, if your watchmaker has taken 2 kicks at it and it still doesn't run properly, he's missing something. I think your choices are to let him have one more go at it or send it to another watchmaker. Your call. __________________ Member #1,315 I don't want to get technical, but according to chemistry alcohol IS a solution!

1 October 2007, 10:18 AM	#5
SSD "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jamie Location: Georgia Watch: Stainless Sub Date Posts: 3,023	Craig, bring it down here to Atl.. We'll take a trip to my AD, he has an in-house Rolex trained technician with 20+ years experience. That'll do the trick! __________________ SUBMARINER OWNERS' CLUB ESTABLISHED 1953 TRF Member # 5464

1 October 2007, 01:06 PM	#13
daunwaun "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Ken Location: toronto Watch: 18K YG Day Date Posts: 2,985	Send it in to RCS...cant go wrong __________________ DAUNWAUN

1 October 2007, 09:50 AM	#2
Nick Hacko Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: . Posts: 274	Please clarify: is your Tudor manual wind or automatic? Model number?

1 October 2007, 10:55 AM	#8
Rawhyde Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Craig Location: NW Georgia Watch: Blue Sub+Tud Chron Posts: 834	I'm hoping to hear from Nick, Iron Stark, or Vanessa an educated guess as to what the problem is likely to be. Right now, I'm strongly leaning towards sending it to the RSC. I was hoping to use a local guy and save some money and avoid the risk of shipping. A couple of years ago, my uncle had a GMT get lost in the mail. It took over a year to get his money and get his watch replaced. I'm a pretty good gunsmith, mechanic, and a mechanical engineer; but I can't tackle something that tiny. (I just referred to a Tudor Chronograph as tiny...) If it was the size of a saucer, and I could get parts...I WOULD try it. I was hoping this'd work out. I was going to send him a vintage Lejour chronograph that needs restoration....kinda afraid to now. Rawhyde

1 October 2007, 11:38 AM	#9
Nick Hacko Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: . Posts: 274	My guess: your watchmaker is having difficulties because there could be more than one problem. Also, I would expect to find substantial amount of wear and tear in 1960s Tudor therefore cleaning, oiling and adjustment (regular service) is not sufficient. If he is unable to source worn out parts than he is just wasting your time (and his own time too!). Rolex parts account, skills and good intentions alone won't cut. Since most Tudor parts are hard to source- even Rolex is unable to repair certain calibre - success rate for vintage Tudor watches is not all that high. Based on above, I would send it to Rolex service centre for repair quote. If they can't help, try to find another watchmaker who has better access to spare parts.

1 October 2007, 11:59 AM	#12
Nick Hacko Banned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: . Posts: 274	huh, my bad. Please disregard my previous post. Just send it to rolex service centre, they will take good care of it.

1 October 2007, 01:42 PM	#14
frostie 1,000,000th PostMember Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Earth Posts: 14,048	Send it to RSC and everything will be fine

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