32xx movement problem poll and data thread

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

I’ll go in to the AD this week, I am sure someone there can help me by just putting in on the machine. I’ll post as soon as I get them.

Ask your AD for such a timegrapher printout summarising all the results.

Your 3235 movement has a beat rate of 4 Hz (28800 bph), 53° lift angle, is regulated and to be measured in 5 positions, not 6 as shown below, i.e., the watchmaker should not use 12H for measurement and the calculation of X and D.

[TheVTCGuy]

Well Saxo… You said you were glad I was back! I went to the AD today, Ben Bridge Jewlers. They still don’t have a watchmaker by the way, anyone interested? Anyway… I asked about putting my Sub on the timegrapher, they all looked like I was asking them for a Martian blood sample. They said they could put it on, but didn’t know how to run it and were not comfortable for me back there (not that I would know much better). Soooo….. There is a renowned watchmaker in Downtown, Tom, his shop is called Ds and very popular amongst vintage collectors. I will get down there as soon as I can and get all the info from him. I’ll post it here. Unless you want to lend me yours?

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Well Saxo… You said you were glad I was back!

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Well Saxo… You said you were glad I was back! I went to the AD today, Ben Bridge Jewlers … I asked about putting my Sub on the timegrapher, they all looked like I was asking them for a Martian blood sample. They said they could put it on, but didn’t know how to run it …

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

… There is a renowned watchmaker in Downtown, Tom, his shop is called Ds and very popular amongst vintage collectors. I will get down there as soon as I can and get all the info from him. I’ll post it here.

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Unless you want to lend me yours?

Did you finish your timegrapher course with Charles?

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Unless you want to lend me yours?

Paul, As Saxo3 said you first need to enrol in my “How to use a Timegrapher” course before we can even contemplate your using such technically complex and brilliant fun eguipment as a TimeGrapher.

I offer 2 courses ..
1) How to use a TimeGrapher
20 How to use a TimeGrapher and share sensible results on this forum.

the 1st. course is only a Zillion US Monopoly $

The 2nd. is much more reasonable, The purchase price of the TimeGrapher you are about to purchase (You are aren’t you !!! and NO is NOT an option here) gives you access to all the support you could possibly need.

Please try and go to Sixth Avenue soon. The results are more than eagerly awaited.

[rmagoo57]

Don't have a Timegrapher. Noticed my BLNR, purchased in Feb 2021, running slow so I observed it for a few days. It's running 10-11 seconds slow per day. Always ran a couple seconds slow but I wear it in a rotation, so it never bothered me. Time to send it in under warranty, I guess.

[7enderbender]

Apologies if this has already been asked and answered here or in another thread (can’t seem to find it):
Since the problems with the 3235 movements have become known has there been any change to the movement implemented by Rolex? Either during the production run or when watches go to service? Any variance in parts etc?

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by 7enderbender

Any variance in parts etc?

Rolex are astonishingly good at keeping secrets and keeping things secret.

Rolex have known,or at least must have known, by the number of watches taken in for “Regulation", that there are problems with the 32xx movements, but they would and will not admit to it.

They possibly (Probably) have made some slight changes to what’s inside a caliber 32xx movement but they never do and will not reveal what, if any, the changes are.

Several people on this forum have mentioned that various things have been changed, but, the end outcome still does not fix the problems as some people have said the problem returns after a service etc.

Rolex have launched a new model of watch and it has a new movement … The Landdweller which has a 7135 movement.

So far I have not managed, and others here with Timegraphers, have not managed to get one to put on a timer. The day will come and then "Let the games begin”.

[CharlesN]

Originally Posted by rmagoo57

Don't have a Timegrapher. . Time to send it in under warranty, I guess.

Please try, and before you send your watch off to the big service centre, to get a printout from your AD on how the watch is running before it is sent away and then on its return get another printout.

Please share this with us all.

The other alternative is for you to buy your own Timegrapher, they are readily available on that big well known website called Amazon … Search for the wording “Weishi 1000” or better still "Weishi 1900”. Dont worry, they dont cost a lot and are well worth having.

[enjoythemusic]

194 pages, surely we got to the bottom of this.

[saxo3]

To the 133 guests currently reading this thread, see post 4774:

"This is the guy that tapered a piece of cardboard around the microphone, inserted the watch backwards on the microphone carrier, tested his watch in "many" positions, claimed the 32xx was a non-problem until he sent it to RSC for repair, didn't remember if he participated in the poll. Now he claims, because his watch is "fixed", the problem isn't around any longer and the thread you stop? I can help others, but I can't fix ..."

[Toad_99]

My 2021 Sub was sent in for being off by ~3.5s. I just received it back and had asked the work they did -- something regarding a balance wheel adjustment. Below are my timings before the watch was sent in (unfortunately I don't have a timegrapher, so can't test myself now, outside of comparing against atomic clock):

Timegrapher data before sent to RSC:
Full wind (75 winds)
CH: -1.1 s/d, 0.2ms, 249amp
CB: -3.7 s/d, 0.2ms, 249amp
9H: -4.4 s/d, 0.3ms, 213amp
6H: -3.4 s/d, 0.3ms, 213amp
3H: -5.5 s/d, 0.0ms, 212amp
X: -3.6 s/d, 0.2ms, 227amp
D. 4.4 s/d, 0.3, 37amp

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by Toad_99

…Timegrapher data before sent to RSC…

Can you also get timegrapher data after RSC service?

[Toad_99]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Can you also get timegrapher data after RSC service?

I'd have to go back to the Rolex AD. I might be able to get the timergrapher data in a week or 2. Currently, resting dial-up (off-wrist) over night and compared against the atomic clock, i have a slight variation of `1-1.5s ahead of atomic`which is in-line with COSC specs.

When I had taken the watch into RSC, I did the same comparison against atomic clock, prior to RSC, I did notice it being slow and running 2.8-3.5s behind. You can see in the initial timegrapher data, my own timing vs. their data was fairly close. So I would also say the post-RSC atomic data I am timing against is also close to what a timegrapher may report.

I hope this is helpful!

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by Toad_99

… So I would also say the post-RSC atomic data I am timing against is also close to what a timegrapher may report.

After RSC service in 2025, I would be much more interested in the amplitudes than the accuracy. Finally, it's up to you whether you want to put in more effort or not.

Others made promises, but as the saying goes "You can take a donkey to the water, but you cannot force it to drink!"

Good luck!

[Toad_99]

Originally Posted by saxo3

After RSC service in 2025, I would be much more interested in the amplitudes than the accuracy. Finally, it's up to you whether you want to put in more effort or not. Good luck.

Not a problem, I'll get the timegrapher data. However, a quick test using the watch accuracy android app, shows amplitute (dial up/dial down) to be roughly an average of ~250-255

[Toad_99]

Originally Posted by saxo3

After RSC service in 2025, I would be much more interested in the amplitudes than the accuracy. Finally, it's up to you whether you want to put in more effort or not.

Others made promises, but as the saying goes "You can take a donkey to the water, but you cannot force it to drink!"

Good luck!

Might be a double post, not sure why my first one didn't go through...

Using the Watch Accuracy App on Android, it reports my amplitude average (dial up/down) is roughly ~250ish after a conducting 5-6 tests.

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by Toad_99

Not a problem, I'll get the timegrapher data.

Ask your AD for a timegrapher printout summarising all the results, see post #5791.

[saxo3]

Another unsuspecting buyer; the advertisement carefully avoids mentioning the 3235 caliber from 2017, which is out of Rolex guarantee.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showpost...76&postcount=1

[JeanGenie]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Another unsuspecting buyer; the advertisement carefully avoids mentioning the 3235 caliber from 2017, which is out of Rolex guarantee.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showpost...76&postcount=1

Shouldnt an 8 year-old watch that has sat unworn (assuming we believe the claim that it's "NOS") and theoretically not running most of that time be sent in for a service as a matter of course?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by JeanGenie

Shouldnt an 8 year-old watch that has sat unworn (assuming we believe the claim that it's "NOS") and theoretically not running most of that time be sent in for a service as a matter of course?

On balance.
In theory and in practice i imagine with regard to a genuinely NOS watch would have little to no value in having a service.
Unless it displays symptoms of being defective in some way.
It would be most interesting to see the timegrapher readings on that one given what has been observed with the calibre in question

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by JeanGenie

Shouldnt an 8 year-old watch that has sat unworn (assuming we believe the claim that it's "NOS") and theoretically not running most of that time be sent in for a service as a matter of course?

Not necessarily. For Rolex it depends on the movement (31xx or 32xx).

Originally Posted by Dirt

In theory and in practice i imagine with regard to a genuinely NOS watch would have little to no value in having a service.

True for a 3135, not true for a 32xx.

Originally Posted by Dirt

Unless it displays symptoms of being defective in some way.

Of course.

Originally Posted by Dirt

It would be most interesting to see the timegrapher readings on that one...

100 % my wording.

[JeanGenie]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Not necessarily. For Rolex it depends on the movement (31xx or 32xx).

True for a 3135, not true for a 32xx.

Of course.

100 % my wording.

Both movements have lubricants, right? Those can dry up over time.

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by JeanGenie

Both movements have lubricants, right? Those can dry up over time.

Right? Yes and No. Nowadays, with the use of synthetic oils, that is much less of an issue than it was a long time ago.

I could show you timegrapher data from a 2008 Sea-Deeller (3135) - bought unworn in 2021 and not serviced until today - which are much better than 32xx watches bought new in 2024/25.

If possible, I would replace all 32xx movements in my watches with 31xx movements.

[JeanGenie]

Originally Posted by saxo3

Right? Yes and No. Nowadays, with the use of synthetic oils, that is much less of an issue than it was a long time ago.

I could show you timegrapher data from a 2008 Sea-Deeller (3135) - bought unworn in 2021 and not serviced until today - which are much better than 32xx watches bought new in 2024/25.

If possible, I would replace all 32xx movements in my watches with 31xx movements.

How many more years do you think Rolex will continue to service the 31xx movements?

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by JeanGenie

How many more years do you think Rolex will continue to service the 31xx movements?

Many

[JeanGenie]

Originally Posted by Easy E

Many

Define "many."

[theshrike]

Supposedly Rolex services movements up to 35 years after the movement's discontinuation. I don't think this was as much of an issue in the past due to ready availability of parts for independents. But circa 2019 Rolex pretty much stopped independents' parts accounts, so may be a bigger deal for the 32xx series and subsequent movements.

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by JeanGenie

Define "many."

2<X<100

I have no way to know for sure. I also recall hearing something about 35 yrs after discontinuation as the above post mentions. There are millions of 31s on the streets. I am betting parts and service know how will be with us for a very long time.

[saxo3]

Originally Posted by JeanGenie

How many more years do you think Rolex will continue to service the 31xx movements?

That's a very good question. I don't have a concrete date, but we can elaborate it together.

The 3135 movement was introduced around 1988 and remained the company's flagship movement for more than 30 years.

In 2015, the 3135 was replaced by the 3235, which was first installed in the Pearlmaster 39.
Also in 2015, Rolex launched the first 3255 movement in the Day-Date model. The 3285 followed in 2018, and the 3230 in 2020.

There is indeed a very long list of Rolex watches that used the 3135. Among the latest watches to contain the 3135 movement are the Submariner (Ref. 116610LN), which was discontinued in 2020, and the Oyster Perpetual Date (Ref. 115200), which was discontinued in 2021.

I read somewhere that Rolex produces spare parts for (at least) 30 years after a caliber is discontinued. This would bring us to the year 2051 (2021 + 30).

I own vintage watches with a 1570/75 caliber. The 1575 production period was around 1965 to 1980. In 2020, 40 years after production ended, my watch movements were serviced by RSC. This is 10 years longer than the assumed 30 years.

In conclusion, the 3135 may well be serviced from its discontinuation in 2021 until 2061, but this date is not confirmed!