Date Question

[SkyKing31]

My TT Rolex 1505 will change the date at exactly 11:45 pm .. I never noticed it before until last night when I heard the click from the date change. None of my other Rolex watches do this. They all change at 12 on the dot. Has anyone ever had this happen to them?

[joe100]

Totally normal. They can change anywhere from 1145-1215ish.

[77T]

It is possible that particular watch has some wear within the date change mechanism. You can leave it alone or have it looked at.

The gears that create tension on the spring/lever to change the date are somehow releasing the date wheel 15 minutes early. That's not really "common" on a modern Rolex - but can be acceptable in older vintage movements as they naturally age.

[SkyKing31]

Thanks guys! .. I guess I will leave it alone for now especially after just reading that RSC just changed a date wheel with open 6/9 to the new 6/9

[DJJon]

Leave it alone, but at the next service, have it adjusted back to very close, if not exactly at, midnight.

Enjoy !

[77T]

Originally Posted by SkyKing31

Thanks guys! .. I guess I will leave it alone for now especially after just reading that RSC just changed a date wheel with open 6/9 to the new 6/9

I seriously doubt the date wheel is the culprit - but if you are concerned about RSC shenanigans with it during service, you can always find a certified watchmaker who specializes in vintage Rolex work.

[vintage69]

I also own a 1505 and my watch changes the date at the same time. My watchmaker said it was normal for the 1500 series to change at that time. Don't worry and enjoy the watch. By the way, what is the design of your bezel. The bezel on my 1505 is machined 14k which is original. The bracelet is a 14k jubilee which is also original.

[OysterDavid]

The watch movement has no idea what time it is when the date changes. All that movement knows is when the hour hand has spun around two revolutions, it sets in motion a series of springs, wheels and other movement parts that have built up tension to force the date wheel to move another notch and advance the date wheel.

The time is 'set' by the watchmaker who will spin the stem/crown clockwise until that date wheel changes. At the moment the date wheel changes (the watchperson will likely be spinning the stem slowly) that would be considered midnight. The hour hand is mounted on the pinion straight up at 12. Then the minute hand is mounted so that it appears to be an exact hour marking and finally the second hand is mounted on it's pinion. At that point the watch appears to be at the midnight point when the date wheel changes, but because of the delicate nature of the movement, even the slightest movement after that date change can mean that combined with the normal mechanical variables of springs and wheels and levers, that date could change over when the minute hand is a couple of minutes on either side of midnight.

Some watch repair people are more skilled at aligning that hour and minute hand to the exact moment of midnight, so when watch owners here brag their watch changes exactly at midnight, they're probably just lucky they had a repair person with a very light hand.

If all of this is too wierd, one can always get a non date watch and then the issue disappears.

[Bangel]

Thanks OysterDavid! That was a very informative post. Much appreciated.

[padi56]

When you get to my mature age as long as the dates changed by morning when I wake up, and I am still alive and can see its changed thats fine for me.

[Mephist]

My datejust from the mid 80s is the only one of my Rolexes that changes the date at exactly 12:00 it is amazing. Both of the others with date changes about 3-6 minutes after 12:00 and these two are from year 2005 and 2012.

[SkyKing31]

Originally Posted by padi56

When you get to my mature age as long as the dates changed by morning when I wake up, and I am still alive and can see its changed thats fine for me.

[SkyKing31]

Originally Posted by OysterDavid

The watch movement has no idea what time it is when the date changes. All that movement knows is when the hour hand has spun around two revolutions, it sets in motion a series of springs, wheels and other movement parts that have built up tension to force the date wheel to move another notch and advance the date wheel.

The time is 'set' by the watchmaker who will spin the stem/crown clockwise until that date wheel changes. At the moment the date wheel changes (the watchperson will likely be spinning the stem slowly) that would be considered midnight. The hour hand is mounted on the pinion straight up at 12. Then the minute hand is mounted so that it appears to be an exact hour marking and finally the second hand is mounted on it's pinion. At that point the watch appears to be at the midnight point when the date wheel changes, but because of the delicate nature of the movement, even the slightest movement after that date change can mean that combined with the normal mechanical variables of springs and wheels and levers, that date could change over when the minute hand is a couple of minutes on either side of midnight.

Some watch repair people are more skilled at aligning that hour and minute hand to the exact moment of midnight, so when watch owners here brag their watch changes exactly at midnight, they're probably just lucky they had a repair person with a very light hand.

If all of this is too wierd, one can always get a non date watch and then the issue disappears.

Thanks for the information .. I just never noticed something like this before.

[SkyKing31]

Originally Posted by vintage69

I also own a 1505 and my watch changes the date at the same time. My watchmaker said it was normal for the 1500 series to change at that time. Don't worry and enjoy the watch. By the way, what is the design of your bezel. The bezel on my 1505 is machined 14k which is original. The bracelet is a 14k jubilee which is also original.

Mine has a fluted bezel and a silver dial w/ gold stick markers .. I have a SS Air King with a fluted bezel that I think looks really good.