What prevents a Rolex from being overwound?

[DanP]

Hey guy's n gal's. Just wondering what device is inside a Rolex that prevents it from being overwound ,what does it look like ,and where in the movement is it located? Does this device work when the rotor is winding the watch or only when the crown is winding the watch? And I also was wondering when, say if you wear your Rolex every day all day like I do what percentage would it be keeping wound, or if it is problematic to always have the hairspring always kept with full woundness? Sorry if these are noobish questions, but Im learning everyday about my new hobby and Im not in wis-hood enough yet, so I really appreciate this new TECH subforum.
Thank you very much
Dan

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by DanP

Hey guy's n gal's. Just wondering what device is inside a Rolex that prevents it from being overwound ,what does it look like ,and where in the movement is it located? Does this device work when the rotor is winding the watch or only when the crown is winding the watch? And I also was wondering when, say if you wear your Rolex every day all day like I do what percentage would it be keeping wound, or if it is problematic to always have the hairspring always kept with full woundness? Sorry if these are noobish questions, but Im learning everyday about my new hobby and Im not in wis-hood enough yet, so I really appreciate this new TECH subforum.
Thank you very much
Dan

ummmm.. i think if not mistaken somebody said Rolex cant be overwound..let me find that thread..

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by DanP

Hey guy's n gal's. Just wondering what device is inside a Rolex that prevents it from being overwound ,what does it look like ,and where in the movement is it located? Does this device work when the rotor is winding the watch or only when the crown is winding the watch? And I also was wondering when, say if you wear your Rolex every day all day like I do what percentage would it be keeping wound, or if it is problematic to always have the hairspring always kept with full woundness? Sorry if these are noobish questions, but Im learning everyday about my new hobby and Im not in wis-hood enough yet, so I really appreciate this new TECH subforum.
Thank you very much
Dan

Apart from the Rolex models, most modern day automatic watches are equipped with a slipping clutch mechanism that prevents overwinding of the movement.

JJ

[watchmaker]

It is not a mechanism per se. It is the design of the mainspring, which unlike that of a manual wind watch, is not pinned to the wall of the barrel. Instead, it has a split end which sticks into small scallops on the wall of the barrel when the watch is in use, but when it is fully wound, it travels around each scallop, slipping into place, and never allowing you, or the auto work, to overwind the watch.

That is the distinct click you can hear when you continue to wind a fully wound automatic watch. Try it, it wont damage your baby.

[watchmaker]

I have found a rather simple diagram to help.
http://people.timezone.com/mdisher/W...edGlossary.pdf
if you follow that link, download the pdf, and look at page 47 titled The Mainspring of an Automatic Winding Watch

[DanP]

GREAT info there mr watchmaker

[Hatchet]

Leprechauns.

[Alcan]

Almost all automatic winding watches are designed to prevent over-winding. The mainspring is not attached to the barrel, but rides on indents on the inside of it. When the spring is fully wound, the spring slips inside the barrel. A Rolex mainspring and barrel are depicted below. Others are similar.

Btw, the 'slipping mainspring device' was patented by Adrien Philippe, founder of Patek Philippe, in 1863.

P.S. A quick search pulled up these 8 results from here.

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=mainspring

[DanP]

Thanks Al. I'll remember to use that search from now on to not come across as such a noob . I forgot everything under the sun Rolex has probably been discussed here

[akhamdani]

Originally Posted by bodybump

ummmm.. i think if not mistaken somebody said Rolex cant be overwound..let me find that thread..

You are right,that was Tools.