What's the most common mechanical failure with a Rolex?

[watch watcher]

So when these things do fail, or die, what is it that goes wrong most often? A broken mainspring?

Or does a Rolex never break down?

[Naples09]

The battery dies.

[kingwish]

people

[le_baroudeur]

The encounter with the kitchen floor.

[Rikki]

All of the above and a million other things

[Alcan]

"What's the most common mechanical failure with a Rolex?"

They develop a big hole in the owner's bank account.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by Rikki

All of the above and a million other things

I wish you would tell us about some of the unusual or crazy ones Rikki. I'm
sure you've seen it all....until the next one comes in.

[buke45]

Thats a good question

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by watch watcher

So when these things do fail, or die, what is it that goes wrong most often? A broken mainspring?

Or does a Rolex never break down?

In my experience it's broken mainsprings, worn out rotor bearings, crown and stem failure.

[Rikki]

I have seen 25 plus year old watches just needing service and 5 year old watches vibrated apart. I'm working on a D serial model and almost every screw was loose gears shredded reversers waisted you just never know till you open it, but for the most part very durable excellent running watches. These are delicate highly accurate watches that run continuously for years with little or no maitenance name another product that can to this I can't, that is this complicated truly a marvel of engineering. I have serviced in excess of 12,000 Rolex watches and twice that many other brands I have seen things that would make you cry and rejoice. Rikki

[DCgator]

Originally Posted by MonBK

In my experience it's broken mainsprings, worn out rotor bearings, crown and stem failure.

x2

[AJSM]

Crown, Tubes,Mspg, and Weight Axle's.

[Piazza]

I'd be interested to know how often a properly serviced Rolex just "breaks down"? (without owner error, that is). Exclude scenarios where watches aren't routinely serviced, and where owners subject the watch to stress outside the design parameters...then how much "common mechanical failure" exists?

[Rikki]

Probably very little if any and I would imagine the only way to test that theory would be to put a watch in a winder till it stopped. Most if not all human worn watches go through some trama sooner or later unless you're very careful of your surroundings. I have a customer I've had for 20 years and every year he has his watch serviced because he builds boats and beats the livin crap out of his watch it looks 10 years old after one year then you have the customer that never puts a scratch on their watch in 5 years so it all runs the gamut. Mainsprings ,axles, and a gear or 2 are the usual culprits along with gaskets and crystals in my experience. Rikki