Setting my DJ's date

[Topic]

How can i have the date change once it hits exactly 12 midnight? I understand when i set the watch in the morning before 12 noon i don't have to turn my hands around twice since i need to stay in the AM. But once it is past 12 noon then i have to turn my hands around twice and begin setting the time then since it will be in the PM correct? So now how can i set the date or time so it goes to the next date after hitting 12 midnight exactly because it usually changes after about 3-5 minutes (12:03-12:05) Probably a dumb question. Thanks

[atldavek]

That is normal for an automatic movement, usually changes +/- 5 mins of midnight.
You can set the watch before noon, just make sure you set it to "am".
Turn the crown clockwise until you see the date flip, then proceed to the am time.

[Chozn1]

As far as setting it, I always set it to the date before what it actually is. Say it's the 25th, then I'll set it for the 24th and then wind the time around the 12 and see if it flips the date or not to see if it's on AM or PM.

As far as the date changing exactly at 12, most will vary by 3 or 4 minutes. That's normal.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by Topic

How can i have the date change once it hits exactly 12 midnight? I understand when i set the watch in the morning before 12 noon i don't have to turn my hands around twice since i need to stay in the AM. But once it is past 12 noon then i have to turn my hands around twice and begin setting the time then since it will be in the PM correct? So now how can i set the date or time so it goes to the next date after hitting 12 midnight exactly because it usually changes after about 3-5 minutes (12:03-12:05) Probably a dumb question. Thanks

The date never changes exactly the same time twice.
dP

[Topic]

cool, thanks for the responses

[haakon59]

I don't think there is a mechanism for changing the "exact" time the mechanism changes date, this is normally done during the production process. The only control you have is whether to have the date change a around noon or around midnight, but you will not have the ability to change the setting from 12:03 to 12:00. I suppose you could send it in for repair to have it changed, but I don't know if it would be worth it.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Chozn1

As far as setting it, I always set it to the date before what it actually is. Say it's the 25th, then I'll set it for the 24th and then wind the time around the 12 and see if it flips the date or not to see if it's on AM or PM.

As far as the date changing exactly at 12, most will vary by 3 or 4 minutes. That's normal.

I do it the same way.

The date changing a couple of minutes, typically 3 minutes past, is VERY typical with Rolex. Some of the Rolex watches I have owned also changed nearly 6 minutes past.

You see, Rolex makes a "mistake" (sorry to say it!) by making sure that the date changes EXACTLY at midnight, but ONLY when you advance the hands MANUALLY via the winding crown!

And since there seeems to be a DELAY of the date shift when the hands are moving the normal way (NOT manually turned forwards!), the date would change about 3 minutes past.

If Rolex adjusted the date mechanism to change at 3 minutes BEFORE midnight when you advance the hands MANUALLY, the date would shift pretty much spot on when the hands are moving the normal way.

I had one of my previous Rolex watches adjusted this way (to have the date shift at 3 minutes BEFORE 12 when you advance the hands MANUALLY, and it worked great: The date shifted 10 seconds past midnight when the watch was going the normal way.

But I advice you to NOT have it fixed, since this is actually one of the more "complicated operations", and as long as the date changes within minus 1 to plus 5 minutes, there is absolutely NO reason to "fix" it. Better wait and have it corrected when the Rolex needs service altogether after about 5 years after purchase (or 5 years after its LAST service!).