Quality of new watches

[2careless]

Hi,
I just read a long article in a Chinese watch forum about the quality of some new (genuine) subdate. Just wondering if anyone in TRF has noticed?

1. the date does not land in the middle of the window:
This shows a correctly centered date display.

This shows an incorrectly centered date display - more space on top.


2. bracelet - one side is filed round:


on the other side - no filing.



Has anyone noticed these "features" with your subdate?

[Thomas]

Looks to me as if someone has way too much time on their hands.

[SSD]

I have examined mine carefully over several months and can find no such problems. Z-serial purchased in July '07.

One cautionary note when looking at dates through the cyclops: beware parallax. Your post does not seem to suffer from that, but it is something to consider.

[Perdu]

Rolex quality seems to get better over time. I think the watches they turn out today are the best they've made. Just my opinion.

[2careless]

Well, for those who can read Chinese, here is the URL of the original post.
http://www.iwatch365.net/viewthread....a=page%3D1

Basically the story is that the guy is a perfectionist, and he raised the issue with Rolex Japan (he lives in Japan). Rolex Japan refused to admit there are any quality problems, refused free replacement of the date wheel and the bracelet. The guy eventually sold the watch to a 2nd hand shop (telling them these flaws) and still got like 80% of his purchase price.

[mfer]

I just got my 16610 and have no "features"...

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I did have an issue with the SS GMT IIc. It seems that the date numbers had not been painted on evenly on the date wheel, resulting in perfectly centrered dates from the 1st. to the 20th., but "hanging" dates from the 21th. to the 31th.

[Tools]

Although a quick look of several of mine does not reveal any of these "anomolies".

I still have to question anybody who would hold some artificially high (perfect) standard to a mechanical watch with 200 plus parts that is constantly in motion.

But I also have the same questions about folks who want to wear a watch on their wrist every day for years and still expect it to never scratch or blemish...

[bwalkerVintage]

Originally Posted by Tools

I still have to question anybody who would hold some artificially high (perfect) standard to a mechanical watch with 200 plus parts that is constantly in motion.

I completely disagree. If I buy a $10000 watch, I expect perfection. I personally have to question anybody that doesn't - that is what quality control departments are for. WHY should anyone have to settle.

This is a major issue in the USA these days. People are lowering their expectations for quality, service, etc.

I personally am going to continue to expect perfection where it should be found. If I can't get it from one company, I'll find a different company that I can get it from.

[cmr]

Originally Posted by bwalkerVintage

I completely disagree. If I buy a $10000 watch, I expect perfection. I personally have to question anybody that doesn't - that is what quality control departments are for. WHY should anyone have to settle.

This is a major issue in the USA these days. People are lowering their expectations for quality, service, etc.

I personally am going to continue to expect perfection where it should be found. If I can't get it from one company, I'll find a different company that I can get it from.

+1

[Markg]

Originally Posted by bwalkerVintage

I completely disagree. If I buy a $10000 watch, I expect perfection. I personally have to question anybody that doesn't - that is what quality control departments are for. WHY should anyone have to settle.

This is a major issue in the USA these days. People are lowering their expectations for quality, service, etc.

I personally am going to continue to expect perfection where it should be found. If I can't get it from one company, I'll find a different company that I can get it from.

+2. i expect perfection on a $100 purchase, much less a $10k or $25k purchase...

on the other hand, all my watches ARE perfect. only two had issues, and they were caused by the AD's letting others try them on and scratching them. so i returned both and got brand new ones.

[frostie]

No anomalies with my watch here and i do agree with what BWalkerVintage said

[scottschoe]

Mass production has its price...

[Felly Jr.]

Seems to me that if they're going to raise the price a thousand or so dollars at a time on some of these models that they SHOULD be perfect. (JMHO)

[mike]

Originally Posted by scottschoe

Mass production has its price...

Yeah, a lot of truth there. I've found, in the main, Rolex quality to be on par with the vintage pieces of yesteryear. I do think that when any company cranks out the number of watches a year Rolex does there's going to some that get through QC with an issue or two.

[BuffaloRolex]

The date being misaligned like that would bug me quite a bit...

[BiG JeEzY]

The only problems I have found on my Explorer II is that there is some dirt on some of the numbers on the date wheel. Its not on every number though. It seems to be very noticeable on dates where there is not a lot of writing like 1 and 11, notably. With the white background on the date wheel, the dirt can be noticeable.

I have no problem with a centered alignment on it though.

For my vintage GMT, theres seems to be no problems with the date at all. The date is very centered and perfect under the cyclops. The only problem is that the watch is less accurate with timekeeping than the Explorer II. The Explorer II deviated by about 1 second a day after recent tests while the GMT lost up to 5 seconds a day.

[Letsgodiving]

If I spend this type of money on a watch I want as near to perfection as reasonably can be expected. Any noticeable flaw would not be acceptable to me. Now if it is only noticeable with a loupe or a macro lens then I wouldn't sweat it. Btw, I haven't tried my loupe out on my Rolex and I don't intend to.

[bwalkerVintage]

Originally Posted by mike

Yeah, a lot of truth there. I've found, in the main, Rolex quality to be on par with the vintage pieces of yesteryear. I do think that when any company cranks out the number of watches a year Rolex does there's going to some that get through QC with an issue or two.

No doubt - probability dictates that some bad apples will slip through, but as long as it can be returned and corrected without hassle, then that is good by me.




Edit: My personal experiences with Rolex USA has been great. I did have a problem with a dial and they fixed it promptly and politely. They also clearly stated that perfection was their goal. This was Bev. Hills RSC.

[daunwaun]

My SD and DD are both perfect from what i can see.

[unclesallie]

i think it's lucky that you guys don't have x-ray vision like superman, and all of the knowledge of master watchmakers, otherwise, you'd go crazy everytime you looked at your rolex(or whatever).
best, dan

[frostie]

Originally Posted by unclesallie

i think it's lucky that you guys don't have x-ray vision like superman, and all of the knowledge of master watchmakers, otherwise, you'd go crazy everytime you looked at your rolex(or whatever).
best, dan

[CoopJr]

Originally Posted by bwalkerVintage

I completely disagree. If I buy a $10000 watch, I expect perfection. I personally have to question anybody that doesn't - that is what quality control departments are for. WHY should anyone have to settle.

This is a major issue in the USA these days. People are lowering their expectations for quality, service, etc.

I personally am going to continue to expect perfection where it should be found. If I can't get it from one company, I'll find a different company that I can get it from.

+3...I have a 1 month old sub date and don't have these mentioned problems.

[East Bay Rider]

I had never thought of checking to see if the "broken" edge on the links was uniform on both sides and consistent on all links. It is. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
My date wheel is also very satisfactory to me.
Z series GMT ll.

[applebook]

Originally Posted by bwalkerVintage

I completely disagree. If I buy a $10000 watch, I expect perfection. I personally have to question anybody that doesn't - that is what quality control departments are for. WHY should anyone have to settle.

I agree 110% with you, mate

[applebook]

Just so that you guys don't think that Rolex is alone in quality control issues, here's my early Blancpain Aqualung that had a terribly done dial, with uneven luminova application. No, this watch and no Blancpain watch was ever mass produced:

[Letsgodiving]

Originally Posted by applebook

Just so that you guys don't think that Rolex is alone in quality control issues, here's my early Blancpain Aqualung that had a terribly done dial, with uneven luminova application. No, this watch and no Blancpain watch was ever mass produced:

That 9 is not pretty. Thanks for putting it in perspective. Perfection is an elusive entity but something that we all strive for in vain.

[cmr]

Originally Posted by unclesallie

i think it's lucky that you guys don't have x-ray vision like superman, and all of the knowledge of master watchmakers, otherwise, you'd go crazy everytime you looked at your rolex(or whatever).
best, dan

every time you and your family board a boeing aircraft you are more than glad that i am so particular and have high standards of acceptance. i am an inspector for boeing. i don't ask for anything that is not demanded from us when building aircraft. their job is easy, all they are doing is making a wrist watch. it is very seldom somebody's life depends on their product, as we speak their are ten's of thousands of lives five miles in the sky going 600 mph depending on what i said was good enough to use on the aircraft they are in. you are correct in saying i am hard to please, it's my job.

[JJ Irani]

Good points you've raised about the links....made me check out my Platty bracelet again......all's well!!

[Terry Newton]

Originally Posted by cmr

every time you and your family board a boeing aircraft you are more than glad that i am so particular and have high standards of acceptance. i am an inspector for boeing. i don't ask for anything that is not demanded from us when building aircraft. their job is easy, all they are doing is making a wrist watch. it is very seldom somebody's life depends on their product, as we speak their are ten's of thousands of lives five miles in the sky going 600 mph depending on what i said was good enough to use on the aircraft they are in. you are correct in saying i am hard to please, it's my job.

I thank God for people like you that demand high standards. You have a job with huge responsibilities and a lot of lives in the balance.

Cheers to your good health and high values.

Terry Newton