SS GMT Master IIc bracelet problem fixed!

[ttrq01]

I have a SS GMT Master IIc purchased new three months ago. (By the way, I think the GMT Master IIc is the best watch being made today! I am a convert from a TT DJ as I have grown up in the generation where this was and still is the "it" watch for many people...I still love mine and will never part with it!)

In the first couple of weeks of wearing the watch I noticed something a little strange. The end of the articulated link part of the bracelet extended out of the clasp in such a way where it was misaligned.

See this pic with the end-link folded over:



Now, check out this next pic with the end-link fully extended:



Here is a pic (sorry for the bad quality) of the articulated end-link:



This misalignment was bugging the heck out of me so I went to a few AD's to compare my watch with their new ones in the display cases. Interestingly I found a couple that had a similar problem although none were nearly as severe as mine and then I talked with a really good Rolex watch tech who diagnosed my watch's problem as a slightly bent articulated link over the axis that folds over. It could barely be seen. Another way we could determine that the link was bent is that the pin was very hard to unscrew as it was bent and binding within the link chamber as the tech was trying to remove it which made it almost impossible to remove without damaging the slot at the top of the pin for the screwdriver. This was what was causing the misalignment seen in the pics above. Also, we figured out that a little bend was causing a lot of misalignment because of the way the articulated link is designed. So now I knew this had to be fixed.

So, the watch was sent back to my dealer where the articulated end-link AND also the clasp were both replaced and just returned to me. I now have a watch where the bracelet is perfectly aligned within the clasp. We are not sure if this was a manufacturing defect or if it was somehow damaged prior to my owning the watch (I took some of the plastic wrap off so I am comfortable it was not worn or sized). Note that I have not posted any "after" pics as the alignment is now "perfect" in comparison to the pics above. Also, I opted to buy the two parts and have the dealer fix them rather than be without my watch for a couple of months.

Has anyone else had a similar problem? If you do, be sure to check the articulated link for any problems.

Cheers!