Rolex Sub - what's likely to have broken?
Discussion
So it's 6 years old, never serviced and I think I might have broken it 
Left it on the bedside table overnight and it stopped at 06:15 this morning. Assumed the coil had wound down so gave it a shake and I got a slow whirring noise and it feels like a weight is moving around. It feels rather like one of those gyroscopic toys that you hold in your hand (if you see what I mean). I manually wound it and its running now but if I shake it, the same whirring noise and gyroscopic effect.
So I assume something on the auto-winder has broken?
I guess my second question would be, who to trust to repair it - or should it go straight back to Rolex?
Left it on the bedside table overnight and it stopped at 06:15 this morning. Assumed the coil had wound down so gave it a shake and I got a slow whirring noise and it feels like a weight is moving around. It feels rather like one of those gyroscopic toys that you hold in your hand (if you see what I mean). I manually wound it and its running now but if I shake it, the same whirring noise and gyroscopic effect.
So I assume something on the auto-winder has broken?
I guess my second question would be, who to trust to repair it - or should it go straight back to Rolex?
It's very unusual for any thing drastic would go wrong with a Sub they are so robust. My advice would be if the watch is likely to be sold in the future then it ought to go to Rolex as it would help the sale value enormously . If the watch is keeper then there are some top class independents Genisis being one Bill Rice another. Not any watch maker can repair it if it needs parts as they cannot get hold of them. Rolex only supply parts to registered partners.
apguy said:
So it's 6 years old, never serviced and I think I might have broken it
Left it on the bedside table overnight and it stopped at 06:15 this morning. Assumed the coil had wound down so gave it a shake and I got a slow whirring noise and it feels like a weight is moving around. It feels rather like one of those gyroscopic toys that you hold in your hand (if you see what I mean). I manually wound it and its running now but if I shake it, the same whirring noise and gyroscopic effect.
So I assume something on the auto-winder has broken?
I guess my second question would be, who to trust to repair it - or should it go straight back to Rolex?
Sounds like it is due a service as it's 6 years old!Left it on the bedside table overnight and it stopped at 06:15 this morning. Assumed the coil had wound down so gave it a shake and I got a slow whirring noise and it feels like a weight is moving around. It feels rather like one of those gyroscopic toys that you hold in your hand (if you see what I mean). I manually wound it and its running now but if I shake it, the same whirring noise and gyroscopic effect.
So I assume something on the auto-winder has broken?
I guess my second question would be, who to trust to repair it - or should it go straight back to Rolex?
Get it to Rolex, bite your tongue with the cost and live in the knowledge it will be good for years to come and have had a few quid added to its value
Loads of places to go for servicing - Rytetime in Tring being one, plus there are many others. It is not a dark art to service a Rolex, they are a standard ETA movement. Difficulty can arise if you need parts for it given that Rolex will not supply parts oustide their own network.
Reference your watch it is common to hear the gyro of the auto wind 'weight' spin in certain conditions. Did you notice this before?
Try and monitor replicating the same conditons to see if it stops at the same time etc.
My sub was last serviced in 1995 and still going continuously. Whilst I can't say it doesn't need a service, recent new Rolex purchases over the last 6-8yrs has not inspired me with confidence in relation to quality control etc.
If going to a RSC be prepared for a £400 bill (service only, repair will be extra) and a turnaround of a least 6-8 weeks.
Reference your watch it is common to hear the gyro of the auto wind 'weight' spin in certain conditions. Did you notice this before?
Try and monitor replicating the same conditons to see if it stops at the same time etc.
My sub was last serviced in 1995 and still going continuously. Whilst I can't say it doesn't need a service, recent new Rolex purchases over the last 6-8yrs has not inspired me with confidence in relation to quality control etc.
If going to a RSC be prepared for a £400 bill (service only, repair will be extra) and a turnaround of a least 6-8 weeks.
Zingari said:
Loads of places to go for servicing - Rytetime in Tring being one, plus there are many others. It is not a dark art to service a Rolex, they are a standard ETA movement. Difficulty can arise if you need parts for it given that Rolex will not supply parts oustide their own network.
Reference your watch it is common to hear the gyro of the auto wind 'weight' spin in certain conditions. Did you notice this before?
Try and monitor replicating the same conditons to see if it stops at the same time etc.
My sub was last serviced in 1995 and still going continuously. Whilst I can't say it doesn't need a service, recent new Rolex purchases over the last 6-8yrs has not inspired me with confidence in relation to quality control etc.
If going to a RSC be prepared for a £400 bill (service only, repair will be extra) and a turnaround of a least 6-8 weeks.
Really?Reference your watch it is common to hear the gyro of the auto wind 'weight' spin in certain conditions. Did you notice this before?
Try and monitor replicating the same conditons to see if it stops at the same time etc.
My sub was last serviced in 1995 and still going continuously. Whilst I can't say it doesn't need a service, recent new Rolex purchases over the last 6-8yrs has not inspired me with confidence in relation to quality control etc.
If going to a RSC be prepared for a £400 bill (service only, repair will be extra) and a turnaround of a least 6-8 weeks.
Zingari said:
Loads of places to go for servicing - Rytetime in Tring being one, plus there are many others. It is not a dark art to service a Rolex, they are a standard ETA movement.
If going to a RSC be prepared for a £400 bill (service only, repair will be extra) and a turnaround of a least 6-8 weeks.
Rolex do not, and have to best of my knowledge have never used ETA movements ! If going to a RSC be prepared for a £400 bill (service only, repair will be extra) and a turnaround of a least 6-8 weeks.
Apologies chaps I should have clarified ETA 'type' movement for clarity. The point I was making is it is not a complicated design so within the competencies of most watchsmiths.
IIRC they now make their own and, funny enough, the earlier Zenith movements appear more robust.
Personally I'd take it to someone competent rather than RSC. After all if you ever go on to sell it only the last service will count and you then might want to get a fancy guarantee card from Rolex after paying the privilege.
IIRC they now make their own and, funny enough, the earlier Zenith movements appear more robust.
Personally I'd take it to someone competent rather than RSC. After all if you ever go on to sell it only the last service will count and you then might want to get a fancy guarantee card from Rolex after paying the privilege.
Edited by Zingari on Friday 14th March 23:19
Zingari said:
Apologies chaps I should have clarified ETA 'type' movement for clarity. The point I was making is it is not a complicated design so within the competencies of most watchsmiths.
IIRC they now make their own and, funny enough, the earlier Zenith movements appear more robust.
Personally I'd take it to someone competent rather than RSC. After all if you ever go on to sell it only the last service will count and you then might want to get a fancy guarantee card from Rolex after paying the privilege.
All (ish) mechanical movements are ETA "type" IIRC they now make their own and, funny enough, the earlier Zenith movements appear more robust.
Personally I'd take it to someone competent rather than RSC. After all if you ever go on to sell it only the last service will count and you then might want to get a fancy guarantee card from Rolex after paying the privilege.
Edited by Zingari on Friday 14th March 23:19
michael gould said:
Zingari said:
Apologies chaps I should have clarified ETA 'type' movement for clarity. The point I was making is it is not a complicated design so within the competencies of most watchsmiths.
All (ish) mechanical movements are ETA "type" ETA (Swatch) are hardly world leaders in design or innovation, they just churn out ebaches and finished movements by the millions.
Servicing a Rolex is not hard, no - but unless you are a registered accredited 'partner' or whatever they call them, you can't get parts for them. If this is making a whizz-bang noise, it sounds like it needs something... Rolex rotors are silent (unlike ETA strangely enough
)The only thing that's heavy enough to give a "gyroscopic" effect in a watch is the auto weight. If it's spinning after you shake it (as opposed to spinning while you shake it then there's a fault with the mainspring click (the ratchet that holds the mainspring wound) and possibly the auto reverser wheels (that allow it to wind regardless of which direction the auto weight turns).
It may be as simple as the click retaining screw come loose, which would be a very quick and easy fix (on the spot job, payment by way of a coin in the RBL pot for us) but if the auto reversers are damaged then best to bite the bullet and send it back because of parts cost & (lack of) availability.
The best bet is to find a good local repairer to have a look at it, if it is the click screw then they should be able to tell you on the spot
It may be as simple as the click retaining screw come loose, which would be a very quick and easy fix (on the spot job, payment by way of a coin in the RBL pot for us) but if the auto reversers are damaged then best to bite the bullet and send it back because of parts cost & (lack of) availability.
The best bet is to find a good local repairer to have a look at it, if it is the click screw then they should be able to tell you on the spot
michael gould said:
So Tudor use modified ETA movements ........they certainly used to use Rolex movements ......times are a changing
Tudor have not used Rolex movements since the Rolex Cal59 of the 1940's. All the Tudor Subs of the 60's/70's/80's/90's used ETA movements.
Edited by Jollyclub on Saturday 15th March 15:15
My Submariner has actually developed a slight rotor noise recently, but since there's plenty of warranty left and I've been busy I haven't got round to having it checked out.
It surprised me, as I've never been able to detect a Rolex rotor by noise before. My 1988 Datejust may have a bracelet which is stretched to hell and the date change mechanism is being fixed now, but the rotor is still silent.
It surprised me, as I've never been able to detect a Rolex rotor by noise before. My 1988 Datejust may have a bracelet which is stretched to hell and the date change mechanism is being fixed now, but the rotor is still silent.
Zingari said:
IIRC they now make their own and, funny enough, the earlier Zenith movements appear more robust.
Sorry to keep chipping away at your post but where are you getting this information from..? 
Rolex used a Zenith El Primero based-ebauche in the Daytona after they went from the handwould Valjoux 72; they used it until about 2000. It was slowed to 28.8vph and they changed around 40% of the ebauche so there wasn't much 'Zenith' about it anymore. It was absolutely fine though, a great use of a great movement.
The chronograph movement Rolex built themselves, the 4130, is a masterpiece of sturdiness and reliability with a 72hr power reserve. So in what way do the old Zenith-based movements appear more robust? I'm guessing in no way whatsoever
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