Rolex - losing time and stopping after winding

[g4ry13]

I bought a Rolex Datejust II about 7 years ago. I wore it on a daily basis and after about 2-3 years of owning it I noticed that it would lose up to a minute over the course of a day. After much frustration, I took it to a Watches of Switzerland and they confirmed it was running slow. So I dropped it off at Rolex and they repaired it under warranty - I believe they replaced a spring. Honestly can't say I was impressed with the Rolex ownership experience so far that it can't keep time and required a repair after a few years.

The repair from Rolex seemed to fix the issue. Although about a year or so later I noticed my watch was running slow again. I went into a Watches of Switzerland and was informed the amperage (I believe) was low and that it would be something for Rolex to sort out. Covid hit and as things locked down and I was working from home, I never dropped it into Rolex and my 5 year warranty expired.

I started wearing my watch less regularly and would leave it a day or two on the bedside table. It would inevitably stop and i'd have to wind it up. After doing this for the last few years I finally decided to buy a cheapo watch winder this one if of any interest. It's a Bi-Directional winder which I believe my watch needs.

I have left the watch in the winder for a day or two and can see the second hand moving. The odd thing is when I take the watch out the winder and put it on my wrist it seems to stop within a minute or two of wearing it. Why would it do this? If I give the watch a few winds it seems to be ok but it doesn't seem right at all that it just dies within a minute of taking it off the winder. Bad winder or most likely watch related?

Ultimately, I imagine the solution is to get the watch serviced. I see some people don't get their watch serviced for 10+ years and seem to be fine. Is a repair and service after ~7 years of ownership unusual?

[Mezzanine]

Hard to say if it’s normal as it depends entirely on how it has been used/abused. Could have been knocked or vibrated throughout its life on your wrist which would different to someone else’s experiences. They may have done something last time it was opened up that has caused another fault also.

It definitely needs to go for a service though.

[g4ry13]

I haven't knocked it / bashed it against any walls. I would say it has been cared for over its lifetime.

Is there any reason why the watch movement would keep functioning on my winder and then stop when it's put on my wrist?

A service does seem inevitable and i'm guessing like everything else that Rolex have hiked the prices for it.

[Trev450]

I too have been left somewhat unimpressed with Rolex timekeeping and reliability. GMT Master 11 and Datejust both during my ownership lost time and required repair work.

I'm not sure if Joe at Anglesea Watch ([e-mail]) is still accepting work but he serviced and fitted a new mainspring to my GMT Master for less cost than Rolex wanted to just examine it.

Edited by Trev450 on Thursday 8th December 09:06

Edited by Trev450 on Thursday 8th December 09:07

[Ninjin]

Doesn't sound like your watch is in the best of health. Regarding the use of the watch winder, it really only maintains power reserve and shouldn't add to it. Therefore the watch must be fully would before putting on the winder.

It's like a trickle charger for a rarely used car, not a full on 7amp battery charger to charge up a flat battery.

Edited by Ninjin on Thursday 8th December 09:20

[L1OFF]

Of my watches, I have a Rolex GMT2 and an Omega Speedy, my "accurate" watch is my "Ben Sherman" 20yrs old quartz and £15 . I have heard the expression "Lies like a cheap Watch" but really should be "Lies like an expensive watch".

[gregs656]

g4ry13 said:

I haven't knocked it / bashed it against any walls. I would say it has been cared for over its lifetime.

Is there any reason why the watch movement would keep functioning on my winder and then stop when it's put on my wrist?

A service does seem inevitable and i'm guessing like everything else that Rolex have hiked the prices for it.

It could be all kinds of things preventing it from running without constant input, the low amplitude you mentioned previously also.

It’s not like a car with a bunch of independent systems that doesn’t necessarily require all systems to be working. For a watch to work properly everything has to be right. One misaligned wheel, a damaged tooth, a weak spring and you will have issues.

[g4ry13]

Trev450 said:

I too have been left somewhat unimpressed with Rolex timekeeping and reliability. GMT Master 11 and Datejust both during my ownership lost time and required repair work.

I'm not sure if Joe at Anglesea Watch ([e-mail]) is still accepting work but he serviced and fitted a new mainspring to my GMT Master for less cost than Rolex wanted to just examine it.

As a watch: it's really not so great at keeping good time - cheaper alternatives certainly seem to do a better job! It essentially becomes a piece of jewellery which tells the time to some accuracy. I believe that shortly after I purchased my watch, Rolex improved the movement so the error 'should' be smaller over the course of a day.

Thanks for the recommendation of Joe. I would probably take it for a service first. I understand that comes with a 2 year warranty which seems like a pretty good incentive to shell out.

Ninjin said:

Doesn't sound like your watch is in the best of health. Regarding the use of the watch winder, it really only maintains power reserve and shouldn't add to it. Therefore the watch must be fully would before putting on the winder.

It's like a trickle charger for a rarely used car, not a full on 7amp battery charger to charge up a flat battery.

In terms of using my winder, how would this work in practise? Would you wear your watch for the day and then put it on the winder? Or would you first wind it up (after having worn it for the day) before putting on the winder?

I was informed the amplitude level was on the low side so that is something which will need to be addressed.

[Ninjin]

g4ry13 said:

In terms of using my winder, how would this work in practise? Would you wear your watch for the day and then put it on the winder? Or would you first wind it up (after having worn it for the day) before putting on the winder?

I was informed the amplitude level was on the low side so that is something which will need to be addressed.

The very first time your wear the watch after power reserve depletion, you should fully wind the watch up by hand. Don't expect the watch itself to charge up power reserve to max by itself over a days wear. If the watch is in perfect health, it should have maintained the power reserve during wearing over the day.

So (as an example) you have a watch you wear every 3 days but the power reserve only lasts 2 days. You use the watch winder to 'trickle' charge the watch during those 3 days on the winder. Therefore it will maintain the power reserve it had when put on the winder and you can just remove it and wear on day 3.

A good watch winder 'should' only maintain what power reserve the watch has and not add to it.

Edited by Ninjin on Friday 9th December 08:08