GMT Winding and Power Reserve Questions...

[nch209]

Just got back my GMT Master (ref 16750) from the watchmaker... yet again. As some of you remember, it was in for a complete overhaul nearly a year ago, and since has spent most of its time back at the dealer trying to "get it right".

On this model...
How long should the power reserve be when fully/manually wound?
How long should it last when somewhat wound, then worn for say 16hours?

(FWIW, I picked up the watch, wore it for 4 hours, and it died (While wearing). So I reset the date/time when I noticed it died, DIDNT wind it, wore it for 10 hours, took it off, and it died several hours later. So I manually wound it, and let it sit, and it died in under 12 hours. Seems a little off to me...)

This is not a fly by night dealer, as Rolex seems to be there low/mid line watchs! I hate to keep taking this back to them, but want it right. I am seriously having regrets on not sending it to the RSC in NYC

Thanks in advance for any thought!
clk199

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Power reserve should be around 45 hours, fully wound.

If the power reserve is low, you cannot expect it to wound up fully by just wearing it.

Just give it a FULL winding (~ 40 turns of the crown in the winding postion - you cannot "overwind" it!) and my guess is it won't "die" again, unless you don't wear it often enough.

[crimscrem]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Power reserve should be around 45 hours, fully wound.

If the power reserve is low, you cannot expect it to wound up fully by just wearing it.

Just give it a FULL winding (~ 40 turns of the crown in the winding postion - you cannot "overwind" it!) and my guess is it won't "die" again, unless you don't wear it often enough.

Bo, can older Rolexes be over-wound? I'm just wondering because of my DJ, which is from 1977.

[f16570]

I do not think that the DJ can be overwound.

[mike]

Rolex recommends 40 to 50 turns to wind. Pr should be in 40 to 44 hr. range.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by f16570

I do not think that the DJ can be overwound.

I don't agree!

I was in a discoteque once, and found the DJ VERY overwound! He played lousy records!

[f16570]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

I don't agree!

I was in a discoteque once, and found the DJ VERY overwound! He played lousy records!

BOOM BOOM

[mike]

Originally Posted by f16570

I do not think that the DJ can be overwound.

It has a "clutch" that prevents.

[nch209]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Power reserve should be around 45 hours, fully wound.

If the power reserve is low, you cannot expect it to wound up fully by just wearing it.

Just give it a FULL winding (~ 40 turns of the crown in the winding postion - you cannot "overwind" it!) and my guess is it won't "die" again, unless you don't wear it often enough.

Thanks for the quick responses, but I did wind it fully last night, let it sit, and it died in 11 hours and 45min. What do you think gives?

THanks!
clk199

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Sounds odd! It's tough to diagnose, but it is probably a rotor issue (could be not fixed well enough, or have a broken rotor shaft). Better have your AD look at it.

[Tools]

It is easy to tell if you have overwound your Rolex..

[mike]

Originally Posted by clk199

Thanks for the quick responses, but I did wind it fully last night, let it sit, and it died in 11 hours and 45min. What do you think gives?

THanks!
clk199

A watchmaker would give the best advice. I had something similar happen once, turned out to be a kink in the mainspring.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

I don't agree!

I was in a discoteque once, and found the DJ VERY overwound! He played lousy records!

Hey Bo, nice new avatar. Very cool guy.
dP

[gaijin1]

Originally Posted by clk199

Thanks for the quick responses, but I did wind it fully last night, let it sit, and it died in 11 hours and 45min. What do you think gives?

THanks!
clk199

Sounds as if you've been going back and forth with this watch for awhile.

If it were me, I'd bite the bullet and send it off to a RSC.

Maybe the RSC can point to a definite cause for the failure and you can pursue compensation from your local guy later if you wish.

Just my $0.02.

[StanGMT]

Originally Posted by clk199

Thanks for the quick responses, but I did wind it fully last night, let it sit, and it died in 11 hours and 45min. What do you think gives?

THanks!
clk199

Nah - that is definitely not right. Firstly, a 1675 or 16750 movement cannot be overwound. Secondly, the power reserve should be at least 48 hours fully wound. I take my 1675 GMT off overnight, usually for 8-10 hours, and this sometimes stretches to 18-24 hours if I'm doing anything rough - it has never faltered with this sort of 'down time'. You need to get this sorted and don't take any fobbing-off.

Stan.

[nch209]

Thanks for the responses. I have to say, this is my absolute favorite watch, and I have several OK ones, to include a late sub and daytona. For some reason, the 16750 has my heart!

With that said, I am currently keeping tabs on what it is doing. For instance, I am timing it when worn, when fully/manually wound, and when comming off the winder. This obviously takes time, but so far, not so good. Things are comming up short, especially after it has been back to the dealer several times AFTER a full service. I should have spent the same $500 to RSC, but that was my mistake.

In short, I am going to document everything, and then make a trip back to my dealer, and ultimately it is going to NYC for a service- pretty sad after I dropped 500 bucks on it and havent seen much of it. Not to be smart, but the way I see it, is if the dealer says they are right, I am going to nicely ask they put there money where there mouth is-read- I will sent it to New York, and if it is right, I pay for it, if it is wrong THEY pay for it. Is this fair, or am I looking at this wrong? I am not trying to be a jerk, but then too, I am not trying to pay a grand to service a watch! I am trying to save for a new home!!!

I am pretty upset with this service, but there customer care has been decent. I should have known somthing was up when the tech said there was NOT a quickset feature in the 16750.... oh hindsight!!!

Live and Learn!
Thanks ALL!
-clk199

[Vanessa CW21]

Something is definately wrong... pm sent!

[nch209]

Thanks for the PM, I just responded to it. Time for bed. Hope the GMT ticks a little longer tonight! I wish these problems would just S T O P!!!

-clk199

[gaijin1]

Originally Posted by clk199

I should have known somthing was up when the tech said there was NOT a quickset feature in the 16750.... oh hindsight!!!

Live and Learn!
Thanks ALL!
-clk199

Ummmmmmm ... There is no quickset feature in the 16750 GMT Master

Here's an explanation from http://www.ukwatches.com/Notes/rfgmt.htm:

The design philosophy behind Rolex was always one of gradual improvement of an existing product, rather than changing the complete watch, as many other makers would do. We see this process perfectly when we examine the small, incremental changes to the GMT Master in the 70’s and 80’s. Firstly from around 1976 the “hack” seconds feature was added and seven or eight years later the “quick-set” date feature arrived. Both of these features are interesting in that they were designed to make the watch easier to use and also that both of them increase the perceived accuracy of the watch; because if it is easy to synchronise the watch to a known time signal, then it is just as easy to compare it to any subsequent time signal. Similarly if the hands do not have to be moved to change the date on months without 31 days then the accuracy of the watch can be maintained without re-setting the time.

I own a 16750 GMT Master which I bought new in 1978 (ser# 555XXXX) with Caliber 1575GMT. I have to turn the hands through 24 hours to advance the date. I do, however, have the hacking second hand.

Maybe yours is from the early '80's? Is your serial number in the 8,000,000 range?

Anyone shed more light on this?

[mike]

Originally Posted by clk199

I am pretty upset with this service, but there customer care has been decent. I should have known somthing was up when the tech said there was NOT a quickset feature in the 16750.... oh hindsight!!!

Live and Learn!
Thanks ALL!
-clk199

Sounds like you have a 1675. The 16750 introduced the quick-set feature. Check your serial number. If it's not at least in the early 6 mil. range it's a 1675.

Also check the coronet on the dial--should be elongated if the dial is original.

[nch209]

Yea, mine is a 16750. I would have to look up the serial number. I know he was thinking it was somthing else, but he and the sales girl were like yelling at me that it had no quickset! (This is just AFTER the servicing!) Like I said, its so worn and unique that its my favorite!

clk199