Sorry they all do that sir....?

[Bonehead33]

Hi all

First post so be gentle with me

Earlier this year I bought my first Rolex - a new Submariner non date.

Didn't spot it initially in the shop as I had shiny new watch blindness but when I got home I noticed the bezel triangle does not exactly line up with the 12 o'clock marker.
After numerous attempts trying to rotate to fall bang on 12 and rotating the bezel against the stop clockwise the best I could manage is around a third of a second off.

I have returned to my AD who has sent the watch off to the RSC three times but it's come back the same every time. They are all like that sir has been the response.

Now I know some may say it's minor but on a precision timepiece I expect, well, precision and although the bezel isn't critical for function I would expect the bezel to align perfectly. Worse now I know it's imperfect I can't help noticing it.

I am about to sell the Sub because of a this and I now realise a Sea Dweller has a date but no cyclops so this will be next on my list.
Thing is all SD in shop windows that I have viewed appear to all have the triangle off to the left by up to 1mm or so.

Can anyone tell me if my quest to find a new aligned SD is futile?

Thanks in anticipation

[Brushpup]

It's not entirely uncommon and it shouldn't keep you from enjoying the watch. Wear it, and enjoy it.

[brandrea]

That would drive me nuts. Mine have all lined up perfectly. In light of the fact you bought the watch from them and they've tried to correct the problem, I'd ask them to find you another .

It seems odd to me that if their stance is that " they're all like that" they'd send it in for service to correct for the misalignment ..

[joli160]

No, not all of them do that. Ask your AD to compare. I doubt your AD sent it to a RSC. If they have a technician in-house than it is an easy fix. Otherwise look for an independent watchmaker who can fix it for you. No big deal and enjoy your watch

[Bonehead33]

It was Watches of Switzerland that sent it in for me. The manager there agreed with me but the service centre couldn't/wouldn't help. It's no problem now as it will be for sale shortly -thought I could get away without a date as I'm not a cyclops fan but now realise an SD has a date and no cyclops so I will be actively looking for a perfectly aligned SD from an AD. My question to any SD 4000 owners is are your bezels PERFECTLY aligned or are my expectations too high and I might as well buy an omega (who after close scrutiny appear perfectly aligned!)

[Rogdogg]

I think it's incredible that they don't all line up exactly. I have a Sub that lines up very nicely but the fact that this is even an issue with anybody at all annoys me. I mean, why not just design it to line up.... end of.... nobody would ever mention it again. They must be aware that it will annoy people. The OP is going to get rid of his watch because of it.

[Bonehead33]

I took it into another AD for a second opinion and the manager checked his own hulk Sub and it was very slightly off to the left. He cursed me for pointing it out he hadn't noticed before. He said I was the third person he had spoken to that month with bezel misalignment problems...

[Bonehead33]

It's like the last click before twelve is a third of a second before twelve so I can never get it to rest exactly even twisting it hard against the stop makes it better but still off

[Old Expat Beast]

It is annoying, but be prepared for some people to come on later and tell you it doesn't matter, wear it and enjoy it, and all that. If it matters to you, then it matters. If you took it to an RSC they would fix it for you. Its the way the insert is seated in the bezel.

[The Joker]

Nothing is perfect when you analyse it down to the nth degree.

Get past it and enjoy the watch.

[Thunderbird88]

My Root Beer from '91 as reference.
Spot on!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It is annoying, but be prepared for some people to come on later and tell you it doesn't matter, wear it and enjoy it, and all that. If it matters to you, then it matters. If you took it to an RSC they would fix it for you. Its the way the insert is seated in the bezel.

Great advice Adam.

I actually never thought of removing the bezel and shifting it slightly to be aligned.

[dysondiver]

its a two min fix , they will prob do it while you wait ,
welcome to the forum.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Great advice Adam.

I actually never thought of removing the bezel and shifting it slightly to be aligned.

I don't think it's a DIY job with ceramics though.

[Alcan]

Two ways of fixing it, either remove the bezel and reposition the insert as mentioned (and there are pictorial threads here showing how), or simply file a small amount off the end of the click spring. Either way will align the insert.

[Racerdj]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

It is annoying, but be prepared for some people to come on later and tell you it doesn't matter, wear it and enjoy it, and all that. If it matters to you, then it matters. If you took it to an RSC they would fix it for you. Its the way the insert is seated in the bezel.

Exactly!

[Im Lauf der Zeit]

Originally Posted by Alcan

Two ways of fixing it, either remove the bezel and reposition the insert as mentioned (and there are pictorial threads here showing how), or simply file a small amount off the end of the click spring. Either way will align the insert.

You're showing an Alu insert, sounds like the OP has ceramic since he recently bought new.

Nevertheless, if he finds it annoying it should and can be fixed.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by Thunderbird88

My Root Beer from '91 as reference.
Spot on!

Close but not spot on by my eye. "They all do that" is sales speak for, "buy it, my sale is more important than your satisfaction."

[Bonehead33]

Yes it's a ceramic bezel its a 2014 Sub.

So you think I have been blagged by the shop and it didn't go to the RSC after all?

Any SD owners who can comment on their current watches?

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Close but not spot on by my eye. "They all do that" is sales speak for, "buy it, my sale is more important than your satisfaction."

Perfectly put, I like that!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

Yes it's a ceramic bezel its a 2014 Sub.

So you think I have been blagged by the shop and it didn't go to the RSC after all?

Any SD owners who can comment on their current watches?

As Adam said, I'd take it or make sure your AD takes it to an RSC. Ask them if the ceramic bezel can be re aligned to zero.

I'm sure it has more to do with how the bezel was mounted vs. the ratchet alignment of the bezel. At least this logic makes sense to me Good luck!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

Hi all

First post so be gentle with me

Earlier this year I bought my first Rolex - a new Submariner non date.

Didn't spot it initially in the shop as I had shiny new watch blindness but when I got home I noticed the bezel triangle does not exactly line up with the 12 o'clock marker.
After numerous attempts trying to rotate to fall bang on 12 and rotating the bezel against the stop clockwise the best I could manage is around a third of a second off.

I have returned to my AD who has sent the watch off to the RSC three times but it's come back the same every time. They are all like that sir has been the response.

Now I know some may say it's minor but on a precision timepiece I expect, well, precision and although the bezel isn't critical for function I would expect the bezel to align perfectly. Worse now I know it's imperfect I can't help noticing it.

I am about to sell the Sub because of a this and I now realise a Sea Dweller has a date but no cyclops so this will be next on my list.
Thing is all SD in shop windows that I have viewed appear to all have the triangle off to the left by up to 1mm or so.

Can anyone tell me if my quest to find a new aligned SD is futile?

Thanks in anticipation

On the ceramic models there is a bit of lateral play its because the bezel sits on three ball bearings plus a spring loaded click stop.Now we are talking about a cat whisker from the triangle marker,and the only alignment point when using the time lapse bezel is wherever the minute hand is on the dial.And they are not meant to be left permanently within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker your watch is not imperfect afraid its your OCD.

[KBM]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

It was Watches of Switzerland that sent it in for me. The manager there agreed with me but the service centre couldn't/wouldn't help. It's no problem now as it will be for sale shortly -thought I could get away without a date as I'm not a cyclops fan but now realise an SD has a date and no cyclops so I will be actively looking for a perfectly aligned SD from an AD. My question to any SD 4000 owners is are your bezels PERFECTLY aligned or are my expectations too high and I might as well buy an omega (who after close scrutiny appear perfectly aligned!)

The new SD has a date, no cyclops AND 3mm extra in height, so be sure to try it on for comfort before buying!

[jhamiltonwa]

I got mine yesterday! I had read something similar on here before and it was the one thing I checked in the shop. I'd say like the root beer above it might be a bit left, but only by the hair on a bee's johnson. My OCD part has signed off as totally satisfied.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Progman2000]

If you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a Seiko Monster and have it line up properly there is no reason to accept this on a $5k+ watch IMO.

It would bother me.

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by padi56

On the ceramic models there is a bit of lateral play its because the bezel sits on three ball bearings plus a spring loaded click stop.Now we are talking about a cat whisker from the triangle marker,and the only alignment point when using the time lapse bezel is wherever the minute hand is on the dial.And they are not meant to be left permanently within a cats whisker of the 12 O'clock marker your watch is not imperfect afraid its your OCD.

Thanks for that- this is my fear and what I suspected.
I'm first to admit a little OCD - just like things right. I fear any sports Rolex will have the same issue so might have to keep saving for a Daytona or settle with an Omega

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by kauebm

The new SD has a date, no cyclops AND 3mm extra in height, so be sure to try it on for comfort before buying!

Thanks for the advice- I sure will providing the triangle's straight first ahem...

[watchwatcher]

I think Adam is spot on. Really the only thing that matters in this discussion is the OP's customer satisfaction. And he is not satisfied. So the issue needs to be resolved to his satisfaction. Period.

That said, I would also doubt that this watch made it to the RSC. The AD is using double speak by saying "they all do that". In my experience, this is code speak for "this is not worth our trouble".

[Bonehead33]

Originally Posted by Progman2000

If you can spend a couple hundred dollars on a Seiko Monster and have it line up properly there is no reason to accept this on a $5k+ watch IMO.

It would bother me.

I sold a seiko ssc017 diver recently but recall that aligned perfectly too.
Darn this watch obsession

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Bonehead33

I sold a seiko ssc017 diver recently but recall that aligned perfectly too.
Darn this watch obsession

Totally different bezel system so you cannot compare it to the ceramic system. Now on the older Rolex aluminum inserts it was quite a easy job to change the insert.But on the ceramic inserts special tool is needed to take off and replace plus a new gasket.So if you think its worth it to send back to Rolex for such a very minor third of a second off or a cats whisker.Then have it sent back to Rolex but expect a turnaround around 4 weeks or more to get watch back.

Can you post a picture of your sub.