Taking a look at the 3235

[yannis]

Nice photos thanks for sharing Bas and a great movement might i add.

[Panych]

Very useful subject, thank you Bas for your contribution.

Unfortunately my newly bought SD43 runs -3.5 sec/day with amplitude less than 260.
Can it be improved/fixed with itself (after braking in for example) or I’d better got to RSC asap?

[Dr. Robert]

I thought modern lube was better, last longer......did Rolex not use enough?

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Panych

Very useful subject, thank you Bas for your contribution.

Unfortunately my newly bought SD43 runs -3.5 sec/day with amplitude less than 260.
Can it be improved/fixed with itself (after braking in for example) or I’d better got to RSC asap?

The 3235 is no amplitude monster, 260 fully wound dial up/down is fine as long as the amplitude in any vertical position does not drop below 200 degrees after 24hrs.

Rolex doesn't give a set amplitude for fully wound, you could have one that doesn't come above 250 degrees right after servicing and still easily manage to not dip below 200.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I thought modern lube was better, last longer......did Rolex not use enough?

Not enough lube or possibly even no lube in this spot. Definitely not good!

[Laszlo]

Geez... Not sure how to react. Glad the 63.3% of my Rolex movements are previous gen.

[Panych]

Originally Posted by SearChart

The 3235 is no amplitude monster, 260 fully wound dial up/down is fine as long as the amplitude in any vertical position does not drop below 200 degrees after 24hrs.

Rolex doesn't give a set amplitude for fully wound, you could have one that doesn't come above 250 degrees right after servicing and still easily manage to not dip below 200.

Got it, thank you.
Going to visit AD’s watchmaker next week to advise whether it needs servicing and regulation.

[waterman1]

Excellent information here. Thanks for posting. It addresses the issue I have had with both of my new 3235 movements in that they suddenly start running slow. I’m glad to hear once the lack of oil is corrected the problem should be resolved....no long term issues. Thanks again!

[crown&badger]

Great post Baz! Have you considered doing videos of the teardowns?

I don't know if was just me, but I was thinking; "cripes, I hope there are no pieces left over after reassembly!"

[peterskinner]

There was also a problem with the early series of DD40s, involving the change-over. Rolex introduced extra parts to solve it.
Anyway, what a rare pleasure to find a thread about something technical, something that matters, rather than another thread about availability/price issues.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

Geez... Not sure how to react. Glad the 63.3% of my Rolex movements are previous gen.

They were definitely sexier. The specs are better on paper but woof they're utilitarian. One of the reasons why I thought Tudor's in house offerings were 'ok but ain't no Rolex' and now Rolex are using the inexpensive looking bead blasting etc.. Hrm I dunno want to think either.. * sorry it's 'circular brushing' not bead blasting.

[Oxfordian]

Wow, what a great thread, very informative from the outset.

I am very new to watches and horology in general, although I have admired from afar and bought my first quality watch back in 2010 when I bought an Omega Seamaster based on its look not what was inside the case or that it was a good make, it just looked nice.

My first Rolex a DJ41 is now two weeks old and from the comments that I have read in this thread I have nothing to be worried about, I have a 10 year guarantee through WoS so if the watch stops working properly I am well covered.

I have one question if I may, what is 'Amplitude' and how does it effect the timekeeping of a watch?

Thanks.

[travisb]

Thanks Bas! Nice to get an up close look at what's keeping things running inside some of my favorites.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by Oxfordian

Wow, what a great thread, very informative from the outset.

I am very new to watches and horology in general, although I have admired from afar and bought my first quality watch back in 2010 when I bought an Omega Seamaster based on its look not what was inside the case or that it was a good make, it just looked nice.

My first Rolex a DJ41 is now two weeks old and from the comments that I have read in this thread I have nothing to be worried about, I have a 10 year guarantee through WoS so if the watch stops working properly I am well covered.

I have one question if I may, what is 'Amplitude' and how does it effect the timekeeping of a watch?

Thanks.

Amplitude is the amount of degrees that the balance swings, ideally you want a fully wound watch to run around 270-280 degrees in horizontal position.

If the amplitude is very low when fully wound, it is an indication that something is causing a loss of energy somewhere in the movement. This is often caused by a lack or degeneration of lubricants.
If the amplitude is too low, the balance doesn't use its full potential and will get inaccurate.

[Oxfordian]

Originally Posted by SearChart

Amplitude is the amount of degrees that the balance swings, ideally you want a fully wound watch to run around 270-280 degrees in horizontal position.

If the amplitude is very low when fully wound, it is an indication that something is causing a loss of energy somewhere in the movement. This is often caused by a lack or degeneration of lubricants.
If the amplitude is too low, the balance doesn't use its full potential and will get inaccurate.

That is much clearer, thanks for the explanation

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by crown&badger

Great post Baz! Have you considered doing videos of the teardowns?

I don't know if was just me, but I was thinking; "cripes, I hope there are no pieces left over after reassembly!"

I have zero interest in doing videos, it is too much work and effort.

[extra260]

My DJ 41 is showing signs of slowing down by the month. Currently averaging about 3 seconds slow per day. It was 2 seconds per day slow for the 3 months prior. Just put the watch on my timegrapher and fully wound the Amplitude is 236 deg dial up. Crown up it reads 211 deg and crown down is 196 deg. Looks like I will be sending it off to RSC in Dallas

[JasChCh]

Originally Posted by extra260

My DJ 41 is showing signs of slowing down by the month. Currently averaging about 3 seconds slow per day. It was 2 seconds per day slow for the 3 months prior. Just put the watch on my timegrapher and fully wound the Amplitude is 236 deg dial up. Crown up it reads 211 deg and crown down is 196 deg. Looks like I will be sending it off to RSC in Dallas

That's pretty much what happened with my 126660 - it just got slower and slower until it was losing 6 or 7 seconds per day. I sent it back and it was fine for a little while afterwards, but then started doing exactly the same thing...except this time it was fast!

After three or four months it again ended up at 6 or 7 seconds per day, but this time it was gaining rather than losing time.

I sent it back again in the middle of this year and now it's performing perfectly - less than a second per day gain or loss regardless of position.

[KeithP]

Really nice to see these pics. I like looking at Rolex movements as much as ALS, VC, etc. Totally different to haute horology and there is always beauty to be found in form following function .

[extra260]

Originally Posted by JasChCh

That's pretty much what happened with my 126660 - it just got slower and slower until it was losing 6 or 7 seconds per day. I sent it back and it was fine for a little while afterwards, but then started doing exactly the same thing...except this time it was fast!

After three or four months it again ended up at 6 or 7 seconds per day, but this time it was gaining rather than losing time.

I sent it back again in the middle of this year and now it's performing perfectly - less than a second per day gain or loss regardless of position.

I’m confident they will figure it out. I would much rather be a little fast then slow. There are multiple positions that slow the watch down to self regulate the time but it’s much more difficult to find positions to speed it up. I believe dial up is theoretically the position it will run the fastest and I’m a steady -2 seconds in that position, all other positions are around -7 to -14 so speeding up won’t be happening with the help of Rolex

[SS Oyster]

Is that “Invicta” logo inscribed on the balance bridge supposed to be there?


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[Cru Jones]

Thanks, Bas!

[Boaters]

Great pics Bas love your threads.

[fskywalker]

Thanks for sharing Bas!


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[SearChart]

Originally Posted by extra260

My DJ 41 is showing signs of slowing down by the month. Currently averaging about 3 seconds slow per day. It was 2 seconds per day slow for the 3 months prior. Just put the watch on my timegrapher and fully wound the Amplitude is 236 deg dial up. Crown up it reads 211 deg and crown down is 196 deg. Looks like I will be sending it off to RSC in Dallas

Yes that is exactly the symptoms you don't want to have... Full service is most certainly necessary.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

Is that “Invicta” logo inscribed on the balance bridge supposed to be there?

I don't understand what you mean?

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

Thanks, Bas!

Originally Posted by Boaters

Great pics Bas love your threads.

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Thanks for sharing Bas!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Cheers guys!

[rollin62]

Thanks for sharing, and shedding light on potential issues and what the symptoms would be. Great asset to the forums!

[waterman1]

I had to send my 126600 sd43 in to RSC. It was -20 sec/day. Right now my 126660 is into RSC. It was -30 sec/day. Both were purchased within 1 year after the models were introduced.

[Yipper69]

Mine came back about 3 weeks ago. It is now + 2 seconds a week.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by waterman1

I had to send my 126600 sd43 in to RSC. It was -20 sec/day. Right now my 126660 is into RSC. It was -30 sec/day. Both were purchased within 1 year after the models were introduced.

Originally Posted by Yipper69

Mine came back about 3 weeks ago. It is now + 2 seconds a week.

Sorry to hear that there's so many of you who encountered this issue.