Is there a weak point in the clasp of the newer Rolexes?

[Joey_V]

Hey guys -

Is there a weak point in the clasp of the newer Rolexes? I recall some GMTIICs having problems with the weld points - I looked and could not find if this was an isolated slew of incidents or if it was fixed.

I looked at my Milgauss GV and my SS Daytona and there appears to be weld points. The same goes for my GMTIIC.

Are these weld points potentially weak?

[handsfull]

Originally Posted by Joey_V

Are these weld points potentially weak?

Potentially....if done incorrectly.

There were reports of some breaking early on....but Rolex seems to have corrected/addressed the issue because I haven't seen another case for quite awhile.

[MortgageGuy]

Unfortunately I think there could be as the new clasps have not been time tested for decades as the previous models were. Time will tell but I believe the initial issues have been resolved by Rolex as this is not a common issue as of late

[gwalker]

I think Rolex fixed the issues after a few of the first GMTIIcs had some issues. I haven't seen this in a while.

[springbar]

Originally Posted by Joey_V

Are these weld points potentially weak?

The tiny, uninspectable, blind-welded, partial-penetration joint looks like the mother of all stress risers, but you don't seem to hear about them failing much these days.

There were several reports of failures in the early days, which is especially concerning because that's exactly the place you'd expect that design to fail. When a design that raises eyebrows for its apparent unsoundness turns out to _actually_ be unsound, it makes it appear like Rolex doesn't know what they're doing.

However, I've never heard of one letting go on a Milgauss, so I guess it works.

[jetlaghawaii]

My clasp broke after I put my baggage on the scale at the airline check in counter.
The stress of my bend wrist is what did it and I feel lucky it happened there, I could have easily lost my GMTIIc..............
Highly embarrassing and dissapointing non the less!!

It's a 2008 model, I will be visiting the Rolex store once I get back Stateside.

[RolexPete32]

Has it only been the GMT2c this happened or other newer clasp models? My air-king has this newer clasp. It has been my daily wearer since Nov. of 2007. The welds seem fine no problems?

[77T]

Wouldn't that clasp also be on the Expl.II?

[Ebruner]

Originally Posted by 77T

Wouldn't that clasp also be on the Expl.II?

Those welds are on every clasp on every watch rolex currently makes.

-Eddie

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by jetlaghawaii

My clasp broke after I put my baggage on the scale at the airline check in counter.
The stress of my bend wrist is what did it and I feel lucky it happened there, I could have easily lost my GMTIIc..............
Highly embarrassing and dissapointing non the less!!

It's a 2008 model, I will be visiting the Rolex store once I get back Stateside.

Yes it is disappointing. You could have one side failed and did not notice that and then the rest failed under stress again.

[psv]

I never had any issues, still a lot more substantial than the old tuna clasp IMO.

[Z-Sub]

[Z-Sub]

Originally Posted by psv

I never had any issues, still a lot more substantial than the old tuna clasp IMO.

Pat, it "FEELS" more substantial but over the long term, I believe the older clasps will hold up at least as good, if not better.

[BNA/LION]

Bummer! You are lucky it did not fall and break. I hope you get a replacement from Rolex!

[jujin]

Originally Posted by Z-Sub

Pat, it "FEELS" more substantial but over the long term, I believe the older clasps will hold up at least as good, if not better.

It definitely feels more substantial like you said. Just looking at the schematics of the clasp, I see a lot of different parts and the more complex something is the more prone it is to failure. No telling how these individual pieces will hold up in the long run but the old clasp was pretty minimalistic and simple in design compared to the current iteration.

[mlotus95]

cool diagram

[outlaw468]

Thanks for sharing that diagram.

[jlee5050]

Originally Posted by jetlaghawaii

My clasp broke after I put my baggage on the scale at the airline check in counter.
The stress of my bend wrist is what did it and I feel lucky it happened there, I could have easily lost my GMTIIc..............
Highly embarrassing and dissapointing non the less!!

It's a 2008 model, I will be visiting the Rolex store once I get back Stateside.

just curious Ray what's your clasp code? and also 2008=V serial?

Oh boy paranoia is setting in.

[Hairdude1]

Originally Posted by jujin

It definitely feels more substantial like you said. Just looking at the schematics of the clasp, I see a lot of different parts and the more complex something is the more prone it is to failure. No telling how these individual pieces will hold up in the long run but the old clasp was pretty minimalistic and simple in design compared to the current iteration.

Thanks for this!

[jetlaghawaii]

Jlee5050,

Clasp code is OP9, I have to look at my papers to find the serial number and I can't get at those till 2 weeks from now.

Ray

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by jetlaghawaii

Jlee5050,

Clasp code is OP9, I have to look at my papers to find the serial number and I can't get at those till 2 weeks from now.

Ray

Serial number is inside the dial, at 6 on the outer ring that says rolexrolexrolexrolex.

[z32turbo]

Very cool diagram.

Thanks!

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by jetlaghawaii

My clasp broke after I put my baggage on the scale at the airline check in counter.
The stress of my bend wrist is what did it and I feel lucky it happened there, I could have easily lost my GMTIIc..............
Highly embarrassing and dissapointing non the less!!

It's a 2008 model, I will be visiting the Rolex store once I get back Stateside.

Wow, hope it gets taken care of by RSC

[Johny]

i think that it is a solder joint(non fusion) rather than a spot weld(fusion).

[MP5]

Originally Posted by Johny

i think that it is a solder joint(non fusion) rather than a spot weld(fusion).

I agree as the weld should be stronger than the material around it. This is a QC issue that is probably corrected by now but it was a major mistake

[bigrustypig]

Very good info. thanks for sharing. I learned some more with that great diagram.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Joey_V

Hey guys -

Is there a weak point in the clasp of the newer Rolexes? I recall some GMTIICs having problems with the weld points - I looked and could not find if this was an isolated slew of incidents or if it was fixed.

I looked at my Milgauss GV and my SS Daytona and there appears to be weld points. The same goes for my GMTIIC.

Are these weld points potentially weak?

I'd say one downside is their huge cost if you need to replace one. IIRC they are $1,200 retail. That's a lot of money for a clasp.

[jetlaghawaii]

It's a "z" serial, I guess a little older than I thought...

[David cote]

It looks like a brazed item, I work in Brazing and Heat treating and that is what it looks like!!

Brazing is a metal-joining process whereby a filler metal is heated above melting point and distributed between two or more close-fitting parts by capillary action. The filler metal is brought slightly above its melting (liquidus) temperature while protected by a suitable atmosphere, usually a flux. It then flows over the base metal (known as wetting) and is then cooled to join the workpieces together.[1] It is similar to soldering, except the temperatures used to melt the filler metal are higher.

[jlee5050]

Originally Posted by jetlaghawaii

Jlee5050,

Clasp code is OP9, I have to look at my papers to find the serial number and I can't get at those till 2 weeks from now.

Ray

Thanks for the info. No disrespect nor any intention of raining on your parade but it seems according to an old thread on the boards the OP series bracelets are very prone to this type of accident. I just checked mine and it's a PJ6. Took a good look at it today and it seems fine. So far that is.

Hope you get it resolved... and I hope Rolex will do something about this too.