UPDATE: Issue with GMT-IIc midnight date change

[dannyjak]

Hi guys

Been having an issue whereby the date doesnt snap correctly on my new, AD purchased GMT-IIc

I noticed the other night that at approx 11.58pm, the date half changed (didnt tick over completely to the next day). Then at about 2.00am, it changed over correctly.

After trying a few things suggested on this forum without any luck, I decided to get it looked at. Upon reading more of this forum, it appears that this issue is quite common for GMT-IIc's with one forum member having it fixed twice and for it to still come back.

So I took the watch over to the RSC (lucky they are close by to my workplace) and dropped it off for the lady there. She said she has never seen that issue before at all, and unfortunately their triage watchmaker wasnt there so it couldnt be looked at straight away. She said she would call back tomorrow on the day after to give me an update.

Funnily when I complained about the lack of quality control on such an expensive watch for such a "reputable" company, she replied...."that's what warranty is for". Now was I wrong to question why something like this would be an issue on a BNIB AUD $9500 watch? I think not and I think that was an inappropriate response from her, but I could be wrong.

Oh well, hope it gets sorted quickly and the problem doesnt come back!

[sleddog]

I too hope it gets fixed for you Danny!!!

I'm just glad mine ticks over just fine....
Keep us updated when it returns.....

[Ck8]

I have had 6 Rolex and I never envisaged spending thousands on a watch, such a well known brand, that anything other than perfection would suffice. Then I bought a SS GMT IIc and I have had so things wrong with it, trivial things were not addressed by Rolex quality control before they sold it. I normally check for scratches, the date change, the dial, the bezel align straight, etc.. But I never imagined the 24 hour hand did not align with the other hands. RSC corrected it and I had to send it back for regulating. Now I discovered the hour hand is out slightly when the minute hand is at 12, which is not uncommon with Rolex apparently. I might leave it now as it is running spot on daily and I also hate sending my watch to RSC as sometimes it can have scratches caused whilst getting it fixed.

A quality product should not rely on warranty; if there is a need to use the warranty, other than part failure, then the product has failed customer satisfaction.

[dannyjak]

Hi

Can you elaborate on what problems you had? I will get the RSC to check everything since they already have the watch

Also, how does the 24 hour hand not align?

Thanks

[chogge]

Hi

I have a new GMT IIc and I had the exactly same problem that you have with the date changing slow. Mine take 2-3 hours to change. So today I took in to my local AD who also has a Rolex watchmaker working there. He told me that he never heard of that before but he thinks that he can fix it in workshop instead of sending it to Geneva.

So I hope he calls me during this week to tell my what he found out.

[chishtif]

It is because of too much oil on the date wheel. The oil makes it stick and thats why it doesnlt snap as it should. Your watchmaker would just need ot clean up hat extra oil. I had the same problem.

[swatty]

I have a GMTIIc and have never watched the date change in 2 years. I am sleeping at midnight and as long as the date is correct when I wake up why worry.

PS: The GMTIIc is the best Rolex I have had

[padi56]

Originally Posted by swatty

I have a GMTIIc and have never watched the date change in 2 years. I am sleeping at midnight and as long as the date is correct when I wake up why worry.

PS: The GMTIIc is the best Rolex I have had

Likewise when you get to a more mature age we guys need our beauty sleep and as long as date changes sometime over night thats fine for me.

[DINGER]

Originally Posted by swatty

I have a GMTIIc and have never watched the date change in 2 years. I am sleeping at midnight and as long as the date is correct when I wake up why worry.

PS: The GMTIIc is the best Rolex I have had

Exactly what I was about to say

[dannyjak]

LATEST UPDATE:

Got it back from RSC after 4 days.

Problem was that the date wheel was not lubricated enough they said. So they pulled it apart, fixed it and its back working as expected now.

Still, I think its poor quality control, RSC says they have noted it and can trace it back to the person who put it together.

I did get a nice green pouch out of it though haha

[padi56]

Originally Posted by dannyjak

LATEST UPDATE:

Got it back from RSC after 4 days.

Problem was that the date wheel was not lubricated enough they said. So they pulled it apart, fixed it and its back working as expected now.

Still, I think its poor quality control, RSC says they have noted it and can trace it back to the person who put it together.

I did get a nice green pouch out of it though haha

Well when the bare uncased movements are sent back from the COSC after testing. Its only the dial, hands, date wheel,and winding rotor thats re-assembled by hand. And would doubt if Rolex would have a record for each individual watch by person to person.

[hsfrank]

While I understand the beauty of perfection, it is the definition of perfection that causes the most problems. Rolex makes beautiful and functionally superior watches. It is NOT 100% hand made and inspected. Even if it was it still would not be 100% perfect. Nothing is 100% perfect. It can be close but never absolute. No line is 100% straight. No measurement is 100% perfect. No calculation is 100% accurate . It all depends on the the definition that you accept as perfect. This being said it is the willingness of Rolex or the AD to correct the imperfections you note that is the true measure of worthyness IMHO.

[MortgageGuy]

Well first of all, I am sorry to hear you are having issues. I may very well be the member that you are talking about that had this issue over and over again and my watch continually had to be returned to RSC and then my AD re purchased it from me....

From this point on, I vowed NEVER to purchase a GMT again as I was so very disappointed and turned off however almost a year later, I have this. I am over the top thrilled with my new GMT again and have yet to have an issue... I hope I dont but if I do I will have to deal with it...


Glad to hear you got it back and all is well again, please let me know if you have a recurring issue


Adam

[Watch Professor]

Fortunately, my GMT has been performing faultlessly since purchased 6 months ago.

[harry in montreal]

i had a rolex GMT 16750 that had that precise problem. the date would only kick over when the hour hand swept by the date window. i lost the watch for 3 months. it had to be cleaned adn the part you describe was toast. cost me USD$600.00

bummer

[Ck8]

Originally Posted by hsfrank

While I understand the beauty of perfection, it is the definition of perfection that causes the most problems. Rolex makes beautiful and functionally superior watches. It is NOT 100% hand made and inspected. Even if it was it still would not be 100% perfect. Nothing is 100% perfect. It can be close but never absolute. No line is 100% straight. No measurement is 100% perfect. No calculation is 100% accurate . It all depends on the the definition that you accept as perfect. This being said it is the willingness of Rolex or the AD to correct the imperfections you note that is the true measure of worthyness IMHO.

I am really disappointed at your defence of QC at Rolex. Rolex can keep putting up prices and we will pay their demand; but not making sure their products are 100% perfect before leaving the factory.
We are talking about simple things like the date change, hands that are aligned properly with each other, little things that should be set right at the beginning.
In my opinion if a customer has to use the warranty guarantee then the company has failed to produce the satisfactory product. I'd paid for a watch that cost more than my car damn right I'd expect perfection. Some people buy Rolex because it is a Rolex and does not matter if it even tells the correct time. And there are those, like me, buy a Rolex for their quality and proud standards that comes with long existance.
The art of watchmaking is precision, precision and precision and that includes timing, material, craftsmenship and quality of the setting. (I sound like Tony Blair, education, education, education!)

[dannyjak]

I agree. We are not talking about a watch that costs $200.

If from day 1, the customer has to use warranty, then heck, thats poor QC from a company like Rolex. From what I am hearing, this is not a rare occurrence either, there are several reports of issues all over the forum.

If you cant deliver a quality product, then maybe you shouldnt keep pushing your reputation for such high quality standards, and expect your customers to use warranty for something that should have been picked up on the production line (its not that hard to test the date, or check that hands line up)

Willingness to correct the issue is expected, and should not be used as an excuse for issues that were too easily overlooked.

And we arent asking for perfection, we are asking for quality and lack of obvious defects

*** I have a feeling alot of people here will disagree due to their support of Rolex but welcome your opinions on this

Originally Posted by Ck8

I am really disappointed at your defence of QC at Rolex. Rolex can keep putting up prices and we will pay their demand; but not making sure their products are 100% perfect before leaving the factory.
We are talking about simple things like the date change, hands that are aligned properly with each other, little things that should be set right at the beginning.
In my opinion if a customer has to use the warranty guarantee then the company has failed to produce the satisfactory product. I'd paid for a watch that cost more than my car damn right I'd expect perfection. Some people buy Rolex because it is a Rolex and does not matter if it even tells the correct time. And there are those, like me, buy a Rolex for their quality and proud standards that comes with long existance.
The art of watchmaking is precision, precision and precision and that includes timing, material, craftsmenship and quality of the setting. (I sound like Tony Blair, education, education, education!)

[mitchy]

I'm not so sure. I agree that rolex should have picked up the date change 'flaw' but this hand allignement issue has to be pointed out that there is a little play with being 'off centre'. They are not quarts watches and as such the colum wheel is constantly moving instaed of 1 minute jumps. Hence the play is to be expected. However if the hour hand says 12 dead and the minute hand says 20 past then that's not acceptable :p

[dannyjak]

Originally Posted by x06verdm

I'm not so sure. I agree that rolex should have picked up the date change 'flaw' but this hand allignement issue has to be pointed out that there is a little play with being 'off centre'. They are not quarts watches and as such the colum wheel is constantly moving instaed of 1 minute jumps. Hence the play is to be expected. However if the hour hand says 12 dead and the minute hand says 20 past then that's not acceptable :p

true true, there is some tolerance for the hands, i myself didnt have that problem so dont know how bad it has been for other people

one thing positive to come out of this, sydney service centre is quite quick! happy with that

[swatty]

Originally Posted by dannyjak

true true, there is some tolerance for the hands, i myself didnt have that problem so dont know how bad it has been for other people

one thing positive to come out of this, sydney service centre is quite quick! happy with that

Agree, RSC in Sydney is great

[mitchy]

Oh and btw dannyjak u said bnib gmtiic was 9500 aud!? When did u purchase it? I just wanna know why they are cheaper in Sydney than in Perth :'( I paid 9760! Feeling ripped :( but oh well :)

[swatty]

Originally Posted by x06verdm

Oh and btw dannyjak u said bnib gmtiic was 9500 aud!? When did u purchase it? I just wanna know why they are cheaper in Sydney than in Perth :'( I paid 9760! Feeling ripped :( but oh well :)

Got a much better deal from DavidSW

[slevin kelevra]

I agree with CK8.

It totally sucks that you spend so much on a watch only to have issues with it almost straight away.

Mistakes do happen though and whilst very annoying are part of life.

I had an issue with a almost new sub and was unhappy at the service I received from the RSC. Like the OP I questioned Rolex's quality control and was very firmly told that the quality control is just fine!

Needless to say I was so unsatisfied by the RSC that I refused to send my watch back to them to correct an issue that THEY caused for the second time!

[TheDude]

To provide some counterpoint, my GMT-IIc will be 3yrs old in October, and it's perfect. The crown is even lined up perfectly when screwed in.

[slevin kelevra]

I would also add that the hands dont align perfectly on my 2009 Sub ND. Its pretty close though so im not sending it back!

[Ck8]

Originally Posted by slevin kelevra

I would also add that the hands dont align perfectly on my 2009 Sub ND. Its pretty close though so im not sending it back!

Can you post a picture to see how off set it is? The easiest position to check is at 6 O'clock position.

One thing for sure I will check everything before I buy another Rolex. It was not naivety that I had not checked before, it was trust and good faith that Rolex would have everything perfect before selling a watch. It turned out it was not up to expectation.