Sorry they all do that sir....?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

Hi all

First post so be gentle with me

Earlier this year I bought my first Rolex - a new Submariner non date.

Didn't spot it initially in the shop as I had shiny new watch blindness but when I got home I noticed the bezel triangle does not exactly line up with the 12 o'clock marker.
After numerous attempts trying to rotate to fall bang on 12 and rotating the bezel against the stop clockwise the best I could manage is around a third of a second off.

I have returned to my AD who has sent the watch off to the RSC three times but it's come back the same every time. They are all like that sir has been the response.

Now I know some may say it's minor but on a precision timepiece I expect, well, precision and although the bezel isn't critical for function I would expect the bezel to align perfectly. Worse now I know it's imperfect I can't help noticing it.

I am about to sell the Sub because of a this and I now realise a Sea Dweller has a date but no cyclops so this will be next on my list.
Thing is all SD in shop windows that I have viewed appear to all have the triangle off to the left by up to 1mm or so.

Can anyone tell me if my quest to find a new aligned SD is futile?

Thanks in anticipation

On the ceramic models there is a bit of lateral play its because the bezel sits on three ball bearings plus a spring loaded click stop.Now we are talking about a cat whisker from the triangle marker,and the only alignment point when using the time lapse bezel is wherever the minute hand is on the dial.And they are not meant to be left permanently within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker your watch is not imperfect afraid its your OCD.

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by padi56

On the ceramic models there is a bit of lateral play its because the bezel sits on three ball bearings plus a spring loaded click stop.Now we are talking about a cat whisker from the triangle marker,and the only alignment point when using the time lapse bezel is wherever the minute hand is on the dial.And they are not meant to be left permanently within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker your watch is not imperfect afraid its your OCD.

Thanks for that- this is my fear and what I suspected.
I'm first to admit a little OCD - just like things right. I fear any sports Rolex will have the same issue so might have to keep saving for a Daytona or settle with an Omega

[Ruud Van Driver]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

Thanks for that- this is my fear and what I suspected.
I'm first to admit a little OCD - just like things right. I fear any sports Rolex will have the same issue so might have to keep saving for a Daytona or settle with an Omega

How do you know that the bezel is misplaced, it might be that the dial is not correctly seated. Soz, just messing.

Seriously, I agree with you. If it were my watch, my OCD would get the better of me but I wouldn't sell it. I would go back to the AD, tell them that I was not satisfied and request that they either replace the piece or send it to an RSC for correction. If they tell you that they'll send it off, ask for copies of documentation at the shop and the return paperwork completed by the RSC. I would have thought that a company like Rolex would document pieces in/out by the book and, as such, would complete an appropriate service sheet. At least then you would know that it has been seen by a grown-up and that the AD is not mugging you off. As has been said above, this process is likely to take a few weeks and, with Christmas looming, I would guess that you can bolt on another two weeks. And it's a ball ache. However, it's your watch and as the customer, IMHO you are exercising your prerogative to be satisfied with your purchase.

If you can't be bothered with the above, then trade in your watch for something else as it will eat away at you for all eternity.

The triangle on my Sub C LV lines up perfectly so I disagree that "they all do that."

[jhamiltonwa]

I got mine yesterday! I had read something similar on here before and it was the one thing I checked in the shop. I'd say like the root beer above it might be a bit left, but only by the hair on a bee's johnson. My OCD part has signed off as totally satisfied.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Progman2000]

If you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a Seiko Monster and have it line up properly there is no reason to accept this on a $5k+ watch IMO.

It would bother me.

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by Progman2000

If you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a Seiko Monster and have it line up properly there is no reason to accept this on a $5k+ watch IMO.

It would bother me.

I sold a seiko ssc017 diver recently but recall that aligned perfectly too.
Darn this watch obsession

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

I sold a seiko ssc017 diver recently but recall that aligned perfectly too.
Darn this watch obsession

Totally different bezel system so you cannot compare it to the ceramic system. Now on the older Rolex aluminum inserts it was quite a easy job to change the insert.But on the ceramic inserts special tool is needed to take off and replace plus a new gasket.So if you think its worth it to send back to Rolex for such a very minor third of a second off or a cats whisker.Then have it sent back to Rolex but expect a turnaround around 4 weeks or more to get watch back.

Can you post a picture of your sub.

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by padi56

Totally different bezel system so you cannot compare it to the ceramic system. Now on the older Rolex aluminum inserts it was quite a easy job to change the insert.But on the ceramic inserts special tool is needed to take off and replace plus a new gasket.So if you think its worth it to send back to Rolex for such a very minor third of a second off or a cats whisker.Then have it sent back to Rolex but expect a turnaround around 4 weeks or more to get watch back.

Can you post a picture of your sub.

It was around 3 weeks x3 for each time it was (apparently) returned to RSC so having had it only 6 months since new I've already been without it over two of those!

Sure, I will post a picture later. How do I do that please?

[cop414]

Does not hurt the watch functioning in any way obviously.... but we WIS are an OCD lot! It's one of the things that was on my long checklist before I bought my Sub several years ago... I was more concerned about the rehaut alignment as that can not be adjusted in any way.

[watchwatcher]

I think Adam is spot on. Really the only thing that matters in this discussion is the OP's customer satisfaction. And he is not satisfied. So the issue needs to be resolved to his satisfaction. Period.

That said, I would also doubt that this watch made it to the RSC. The AD is using double speak by saying "they all do that". In my experience, this is code speak for "this is not worth our trouble".

[Nycturbovr6]

This is very interesting

[mfnj]

Alignment is a funny thing. Viewing angle can make all the difference. There were times that I felt the bezel was not aligned and i actually used a very thin thread to check out the alignment both vertically and horizontally. It was perfect. Yet when I put it on my wrist I swear it didn't look like the triangle was aligned. Go figure! Just slap that SubC on your wrist and enjoy it!

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by mfnj

Alignment is a funny thing. Viewing angle can make all the difference. There were times that I felt the bezel was not aligned and i actually used a very thin thread to check out the alignment both vertically and horizontally. It was perfect. Yet when I put it on my wrist I swear it didn't look like the triangle was aligned. Go figure! Just slap that SubC on your wrist and enjoy it!

I have tried slapping it on but it just won't go away
My friend is an optician and was trying to convince me that my right eye is my strongest so items that are in alignment may appear to be to the left as in this case. I then flipped the watch 180 degrees and disproved his point quickly.
The staff at the AD said they couldn't see an issue then I held a piece of card to the 12 and 6 markers and showed them that I expected to only see this part of the triangle \ with the bottom touching the card. What I showed them was the start and bottom of / which wouldn't be seen if it was aligned.

Oh, they said.

[SeaAndSky]

Bonehead, if you had the means to accurately determine the alignment of the bezel to the twelve-o-clock marker I bet you would find that lining up perfectly is the exception not the rule. I never even looked at my GMT's alignment until this thread and I see it's off ever so slightly to the left. I couldn't care less. Enjoy the watch and don't obsess over tiny details. You're going to scratch it, dent it, stretch the bracelet, and if unlucky have to send it in for a component failure. Shit happens. But you still have the one watch made by man that strikes the perfect balance between ruggedness and elegent beauty. Enjoy it.

[SkyKing31]

It wouldn't bother me, but if it matters to you then perhaps look at something without the rotating bezel.

[SeaAndSky]

Would you please snap a quick photo so we can all see your watch?

[watchstudent]

Can't believe they won't get it changed for you. I had a Christopher Ward watch with a misaligned bezel and they apologised and fixed it very quickly and that is for a watch that cost 10% of the Sub.

[Bonehead33]

It's at home I'm at work. Will pop a pic on later if someone tells me how to do it ??

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

It's at home I'm at work. Will pop a pic on later if someone tells me how to do it ??

upload to photo bucket then copy and paste image file

[Bonehead33]

Will do

[SC11]

Pretty sure it's already been said but these new bezels have a certain amount of play between the clicks. I've seen some that line up spot on the clicks and some just over shoot the 12 but the play does allow it to move slightly back to perfectly align

But remember the bezel is meant to align with the minute hand not anything else.

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by SC11

Pretty sure it's already been said but these new bezels have a certain amount of play between the clicks. I've seen some that line up spot on the clicks and some just over shoot the 12 but the play does allow it to move slightly back to perfectly align

But remember the bezel is meant to align with the minute hand not anything else.

The first and second time it came back from the RSC there was the minutest amount of clockwise play in the bezel. Even turning it 'back' it is still out.

By you saying it should align with the minute hand I presume you mean the minute markers? If so then 12 o'clock is the minute I want it to align to but alas...!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

The first and second time it came back from the RSC there was the minutest amount of clockwise play in the bezel. Even turning it 'back' it is still out.

By you saying it should align with the minute hand I presume you mean the minute markers? If so then 12 o'clock is the minute I want it to align to but alas...!

No, the bezel triangle isn't really designed to align with anything on the dial.. not minute markers, not 12, nothing; it is an independent function.

It is designed to be turned to approximately "align" to where the minute hand is on the dial and start your visual timing count. It does not correlate to anything on the dial and so there is some tolerance allowances that Rolex uses during assembly.

It can be annoying to somebody who dwells on this, but it is common.


(most of us who actually used them for diving almost never "parked" the triangle at 12 - serves no purpose)

[SC11]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

By you saying it should align with the minute hand I presume you mean the minute markers? If so then 12 o'clock is the minute I want it to align to but alas...!

No I do mean the minute hand, the bezel is meant to be aligned with the minute hand at which ever point it is at to start timing your dive, unless you dived at spot on the hour each time

[sco]

Sell the watch.... Mine is off ever so slightly and it used to bother me a little. I have moved on, and enjoyed everything else about the watch immensely.

Just note, your new SD may be the exact same way...

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by sco

Sell the watch.... Mine is off ever so slightly and it used to bother me a little. I have moved on, and enjoyed everything else about the watch immensely.

Just note, your new SD may be the exact same way...

Finally! Someone like me! Yes, I adore the watch but for five grand it's got to be perfection and it just isn't, however minor.

I'm aware (obsessed) with the possibility that an SD might have the same issue and would scrutinise closely before taking it away (unlike last time where I skipped out of the shop merrily and oblivious)

[sco]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

Finally! Someone like me! Yes, I adore the watch but for five grand it's got to be perfection and it just isn't, however minor.

I'm aware (obsessed) with the possibility that an SD might have the same issue and would scrutinise closely before taking it away (unlike last time where I skipped out of the shop merrily and oblivious)

Ok, to be clear, I still have the Sub and LOVE it... I moved on from letting it bother me... I hope you can too. If not, it wasn't meant to be...

[GradyPhilpott]

There is a misalignment on my BLNR.

It took me months to notice it and quite some time to figure out what the deal was exactly.

After close inspection, I can now see that the rehaut and the bezel are in alignment, but it is the dial that is off by a very small amount.

It's not very noticeable 12 o'clock, but when the bezel is at other markers around the watch, it is more noticeable.

I haven't talked to the AD about it yet, but eventually I will.

Yes, I can live with it, but I'd rather my Rolex, timekeeper that it is, not have a physical flaw relative to its primary purpose.

[esdeezy]

My subc is the same. Doesn't align perfectly. I noticed this first day I took it home from the ad. It bothered me too but with mine I can turn it back where so it does align.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by esdeezy

My subc is the same. Doesn't align perfectly. I noticed this first day I took it home from the ad. It bothered me too but with mine I can turn it back where so it does align.

Thats the trouble now Rolex no longer make watches they just make so called alignment points.First it was the holograms case back stickers,now its case serials, winding crowns,Rolex Rolex Rolex and bezel alignment points.Afraid today many with such OCD takes the pleasure out of owning and wearing one of the finest mechanical watches made today.