I want to open it so bad

[diablojota]

Here's a video to get you started.

[diablojota]

Here's another good one:

[diablojota]

My last vid, I promise:

[Andad]

Originally Posted by rescue7

Eddie, I've seen the pressure tester thats to be used to test all Rolex watches including the SDDS, $10k.

Hold on to that $3 caseback remover, the ball version.

That >5500psi pressure tester would have been worth seeing.
How many AD's would have one.

Most AD's in Australia would send your Rolex to Rolex Australia to have a link put on.

[gregdolley]

Originally Posted by LocoNBroko

I have opened every watch I ever owned. I have all of the correct tools, and a watch maker that is willing to pressure test them any time I feel like it.
I attempted to disprove a theory a few months ago about opening a factory sealed Rolex with a ball of duct tape. I thought there was NO WAY this could be done...
Well, not only was it done... But it was done fairly easily. The 16610 that I have opened with fairly little effort, and it SHOULD HAVE BEEN still factory sealed (unless someone at the AD had opened it).
My biggest fear has never been OPENING the watch, but accidentally hacking something up while it is open.

x2. I've opened a few of my watches too. It's not a big deal guys. Just make sure no big pieces of dust fall in, and put the gasket back in correctly - you'll know if the gasket is incorrectly seated if the back doesn't screw in all the way or (in the case of pop-off casebacks) it's just impossible to pop it back in. You can always get it pressure tested to make sure you did everything correctly.

I think everyone should know how to take off the caseback of their watch to periodically check it for dust deposits. Contrary to popular belief, chunks of dust or lint will work itself inside the case eventually even if it's pressure proof. Don't ask me how, but one time I found a big chunk of dust on the rotor of my Tissot and I only noticed it because the caseback is see-through. It was literally stuck on the outer edge of the rotor. So naturally I popped off the back and cleaned it out. Now what would have happened if I didn't have a see-through caseback? I would have never known it was there, so this is why you should check the inside of your watch periodically.

[gregdolley]

Originally Posted by BigHat

I got a better idea, find some pics to look at.

You have a good chance of screwing up the gasket, heck some suggest always replacing the gasket after opening. You also have a good chance of getting dust or other crap it in. Plus, you're going to have to buy a fairly pricey tool to do it right, that if you're smart, you won't use again.

Last of all, their beauty is mostly functional. Rolex doesn't spend much enerny on making them "purrty."

Tiny pieces of dust that you can't see with your naked eye are not going to hurt the movement. All watches have micro-dust pieces inside them. These micro particles are definitely not going to stop the gears from moving - they just cause wear over a long period of time. But this is why we get our watches serviced every five years - every part gets cleaned.

Replacing the gasket every time after opening is totally unnecessary. You replace the gasket if the watch doesn't pass the pressure test and there's no other reason for the pressure "leak" (which would mean the gasket is worn out). I've never replaced any of the gaskets in my watches after closing them, and they've always passed the pressure test.

[oneillba]

Why go looking for trouble?