My Rolex Watch - Hands Do Not 'match' Help From A Watchmaker Please!

[moggie 939]

I have a 40 yr old Rolex whic has an 'automatic' winding ie when moving wrist and I think it says Swiss eta movement?

When I put it in recently to get the correct tyime I must have inadvertently moved the hands anticlockwise instead of clockwise and now when thw minute hand is say on 12 the hour hand is somewher in between 12 and 1.

This means that at every point they do not match and it is annoying. Is it something I did and how do I cure it? The watch keeps perfect time and the date shows correct - it is a Datejust mens 36mm dial

Thanks anyone

[Fitzer]

Almost all watch hands are 'friction fit' so it's probable that either one or both has loosened slightly and thus they are no longer in sync. Any decent watchmaker/jeweller should be able to reset them, the watch would probably benefit from a service as well as the lubricants dry up over time and there may be wear occurring in the movement which shouldn't be happening which will lead to poor timekeeping over time.

[moggie 939]

Thanks for that Fitzer!
Will take it in soonest to a repairer
Regards

[stuey]

Moggie, 939, I'd suggest that you take it to a qualified watch-maker and not the local High-Street jeweler The jewelers will tell you that they can get it fixed; however, they send the watch to a watch-maker, and then add their charges to the watch-makers charges. A watch that old definitely should have the movement cleaned and oiled by someone who knows what they are doing.

[Fitzer]

I frequent a few watch forums and these two have very good reputations although I have not used either of them (Oris, my make of choice, won't supply parts except to their authorised centres)
http://www.webwatchmaker.com/
http://www.genesiswatchmaking.co.uk/

[moggie 939]

Thanks both of you and I take your points! Have looked at your sites and they both specialise in Rolex so will use them.
Thanks.

[mikey4444]

Moggie....be prepared for a shock if you take this to a Rolex Dealer. They will just send it back to Rolex in Switzerland, and it will cost you a small fortune.

My advice is to find a good, reliable jeweller or watchmaker, one of the "old school" ....he should be able to do this himself and should be more reasonable than Rolex.

Let us know the outcome....we love feedback here on AB !

[stuey]

Mikey, authorized Rolex dealers do not send the watches back to Rolex; they do the work themselves. If your Rolls Royce break down, you don't send it back to the factory, you take it to an authorized dealer. The point is, the dealer has to be authorized. You're right though, the work is going to be expensive.

[mikey4444]

Stuey....on both occasions when my Rolex Explorer 2 needed to be serviced, the place I bought it form sent in back to Rolex.

By the way, that place was Harrods !

[stuey]

Mikey, Rolex don't even make the movement in their watches; very few, if any, branded watch companies do. Look up "ETA watch movements". They may have sent your watch somewhere but it certainly wasn't the Rolex establishment. Harrods is merely a retailer: They had to send your watch to a qualified Rolex repair person.

[stuey]

By the way, next time your watch "bungs-up" check out these people: https://www.rolex.com/rolex-dealers/dealer-locator/retailers-details/crouch.rswi_2616.cardiff.unitedkingdom.rolexdealers.com
I wonder how much Harrods charged you, on top of the repair person's charge, for sending your watch to get repaired?

[Khandro]

stuey; //Rolex don't even make the movement in their watches;/

Then who does?

[stuey]

Khandro, Google "eta watch movements".

[mikey4444]

Stuey....I have done a bit of ferreting around and I can't see any evidence that Rolex let anyone else make their movements, for watches sold under the Rolex brand.

However, here is a Wiki link for Tudor watches :::

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex#Brands

[stuey]

You know what, Mikey? I did a little ferreting around also; it seems that Rolex do make their own movements. I guess I had a bee in my bonnet and just wouldn't let it out. Sorry about that.

[mikey4444]

Stuey....no need of any apology whatsoever !

My old Dad inherited a Tudor watch, from an American uncle, when I was about 13, in 1966. I can recall him saying that the case was a Oyster case, made by Rolex, but the movement wasn't, in order to save money.

The Oyster case was the best that money could buy, in 1926.

By the way, I have found out today that Rolex was first started in London, not Geneva, in 1905 !

Makes you proud to be British !

[mikey4444]

Stuey....read the following link, regarding Rolex and British POWs in WW2.

Absolutely fascinating !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolex#Price

[mikey4444]

And here is a photo of Nuttings Rolex ::::

http://images.antiquorum.com/163/full/311.jpg

[aelmpvw]

i know nothing of watches but can't you set the crown to move the hands independently?

[stuey]

I read that article about the POWs a while back. Really interesting.

[moggie 939]

Thanks everyone for all this!
Have managed to find a local watchmaker of the 'old school' who does work for local Rolex retailers amongst others.
He says it is simple job to reset the hands and that I think he said movement is Rolex 3115 a Rolex modified ETA 2892 but better!
May have got the digits wrong but not worried as it will not cost too much.
Will keep this site informed.
Thanks again