Pelagos bezel seizes up when wet

[c41006]

Anyone else have this problem?

The bezel on my Pelagos functions perfectly fine when the watch is dry but as soon as it gets wet the bezel action becomes very rough. It get so bad that it will get completely stuck at the 12 o’clock position.

I figured it was most likely due to dirt and grime under the bezel so I let it soak in some warm soapy water and then gave it a good scrubbing with a toothbrush but the problem remains.

[slus]

I got some dirt or sand stuck in mine one time. Rotating it under a stream of water freed it up.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by c41006

Anyone else have this problem?

The bezel on my Pelagos functions perfectly fine when the watch is dry but as soon as it gets wet the bezel action becomes very rough. It get so bad that it will get completely stuck at the 12 o’clock position.

I figured it was most likely due to dirt and grime under the bezel so I let it soak in some warm soapy water and then gave it a good scrubbing with a toothbrush but the problem remains.

Yes the tolerances are tight. What i do is push down as i turn the bezel and it helps. The 12 oclock on this model actually locks into position so that is the hardest point to move the bezel from to begin with. Not sure the science behind why but this has happened to me since day 1 on the watch brand new.

No issues with my black bay in this regard and the black bay bezel action is superior in my humble opinion.

[JSolution]

Seems like there’s a hell of a lot of problem with
This watch.

[japenney]

Did you know if you close your eyes and turn the pelagos bezel you can always tell when it is at the top. It sounds different when it hits the top. Personally I find that cool.

Just picture me sitting in the dark turning the bezel lmao

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Seems like there’s a hell of a lot of problem with
This watch.

Not really. But hey keep spreading rumors.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Seems like there’s a hell of a lot of problem with
This watch.

dP

[Director EDTF]

Originally Posted by japenney

Did you know if you close your eyes and turn the pelagos bezel you can always tell when it is at the top. It sounds different when it hits the top. Personally I find that cool.

Just picture me sitting in the dark turning the bezel lmao

LMAO! Just did it with my eyes closed and it worked!!

[japenney]

Originally Posted by Director EDTF

LMAO! Just did it with my eyes closed and it worked!!

I guess it's time to start posting on TRF again to spread all the useless watch facts in my head.

Sent from my CLT-L04 using Tapatalk

[c41006]

Originally Posted by Etschell

Yes the tolerances are tight. What i do is push down as i turn the bezel and it helps. The 12 oclock on this model actually locks into position so that is the hardest point to move the bezel from to begin with. Not sure the science behind why but this has happened to me since day 1 on the watch brand new.

No issues with my black bay in this regard and the black bay bezel action is superior in my humble opinion.

Have you been able to do anything to make it better?

Seems to me like a dive watch shouldn’t stop functioning properly when wet

I’m thinking maybe the tolerances are so tight that once stuff gets up under there it’s really hard to clean them out.

[htrap2294]

Originally Posted by c41006

Have you been able to do anything to make it better?

Seems to me like a dice watch shouldn’t stop functioning properly when wet

I’m thinking maybe the tolerances are so tight that once stuff gets up under there it’s really hard to clean them out.

I had the watch for a year and faced similar issues - one of the reasons why I sold it. The only way to combat it is to keep it clean and regularly flush it with water whilst putting downwards pressure on the bezel and turning it.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by japenney

Did you know if you close your eyes and turn the pelagos bezel you can always tell when it is at the top. It sounds different when it hits the top. Personally I find that cool.

Just picture me sitting in the dark turning the bezel lmao

That’s kind of neat

[JSolution]

Originally Posted by Etschell

Not really. But hey keep spreading rumors.

Pictures of the Lume falling off on a few posts.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Pictures of the Lume falling off on a few posts.

That's the problem w the internet. You see one or two watches with the issue and it's suddenly a huge problem.

What about rolex date mag issues that they never acknowledged. You have the same opinion naturally right?

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by c41006

Have you been able to do anything to make it better?

Seems to me like a dive watch shouldn’t stop functioning properly when wet

I’m thinking maybe the tolerances are so tight that once stuff gets up under there it’s really hard to clean them out.

Doubt there is much that can be done. I wouldnt want my bezel moving underwater though during dives.

Ive just gotten used to it. But yeah it can def be an issue.

[Bruce_Wayne]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Seems like there’s a hell of a lot of problem with
This watch.

I have only heard of the lume issue, everything else about this watch has glowing (pun intended) reviews.
Even if there is a bezel issue, that is usually an easy fix and non-intrusive.

[gnuyork]

I just tried on a (new) Pelagos yesterday... cool watch but the bezel was seizing up (not wet). Is this a known issue with the Pelagos?

I couldn't believe it.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by gnuyork

I just tried on a (new) Pelagos yesterday... cool watch but the bezel was seizing up (not wet). Is this a known issue with the Pelagos?

I couldn't believe it.

Never had an issue w/ mine, dry or wet. In fact, it has the best click feel of any watch I've owned.

It does have a somewhat unique builtin feature of extra tension at 12:00 that feels slightly harder, but not impossible, to turn compared to the rest of the click ring.
dP

[willywatch]

Amazing someone reads about a watch,that has got a single problem.Then some
clowns start rumors about a general problem with all the watches.The internet
is really a breeding ground for people who judge before thinking.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

dP

Have to agree Dan but as be all know with most of todays owners a tiny ding is often posted as a huge gauge.

[Bruce_Wayne]

Originally Posted by willywatch

Amazing someone reads about a watch,that has got a single problem.Then some
clowns start rumors about a general problem with all the watches.The internet
is really a breeding ground for people who judge before thinking.

This is the only thread I have seen on this “issue”. I see more complaints on the 32xx movements. Generally you will hear more people speak up about issues. Even if the failure mode does exist, I’m sure it is a very small population.


Sent from the Waitlist at 6 different ADs

[gnuyork]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Never had an issue w/ mine, dry or wet. In fact, it has the best click feel of any watch I've owned.

It does have a somewhat unique builtin feature of extra tension at 12:00 that feels slightly harder, but not impossible, to turn compared to the rest of the click ring.
dP

Ah maybe that was it, but it felt quite extreme, and maybe not so right. Either way, always liked the Pelagos but thought it may wear too large for me, first time trying it on (the blue one ), it seemed quite doable. It was a distraction though, I was actually looking for Speedmasters. And got one yesterday

[Kino888]

I’m having the same issue. Not cool.

[waterman1]

I’ve had 3 Pelagos starting with the first ETA version then 2 in-house. I found it to be a super accurate outstanding watch except for this one issue of bezel always jamming up when I was in the ocean. The last one took quite an effort to get it moving again. Warm water/liquid dishwashing detergent and just work it. Sold them all. Too much work for dive watch.

[Kino888]

My issue went away, btw.
The bezel stop turning, but fairly quickly started turning better than before I took it in the water.

[tymonster]

I had this problem with my Pelagos. I soaked it in some warm water with a little bit of dish soap and then rinsed thoroughly and it fixed it. For a while. Happened again later to the point where nothing worked. Brought it to my AD, they sent it out and it was fixed. Few months later, same thing. I sold it. It's the one watch I had for going anywhere and doing anything and not feeling bad about it (not gonna wear my SD4K in a lake or ocean unfortunately) and it failed me.