16700 GMT - Somethings gone wrong!

[lobsterlee]

My trusty old 16700 GMT has been running like a dream and keeps very good time… until yesterday.

Having not worn the watch for a few days I set the correct time & gave it the customary 30 - 40 or so winds before slipping it on my wrist and heading off out. To my surprise, a few hours later the time was all wrong… to the extent of when I set it a few hours previous. Strange, so I took it off and tried winding but heard no movement/resistance in the winder… the second hand refused to move and thats it! Minute, hour & date all change fine but its as if theres nothing going on with the winder… moving the watch also fails to get the second hand moving.

One alarming discovery is however when I put the watch to my ear and give it a gentle shake, it's like the whole insides are knocking against the case (never heard that before but then again, Ive never really listened for it).

Last full service was December 2009

Thanks for listening...

[bfinta]

i bought my wife a ladies datejust 2 years ago, when i received it i noticed it was making a similar knocking type noise inside the case. I took it to the watchmaker to have it looked at, to my surprise (well not really i guess), whatever was holding the rotor on had failed and it was loose inside the caseback and put some scratches on the inside of the watch... a rather expensive repair later, its all good now. Get that thing looked at, hopefully its not the rotor that fell off!

[lobsterlee]

Thanks for the info bfinta…

Oh well, just returned from my local AD and they have confirmed the bridge screw has sheared… saying I must have dropped the watch very hard!!! I honestly did not.

They also said the watch requires another service (4 years 4 months since the last one)…

They said their charge is £430 the same as Rolex themselves… however they confirmed their tech would try and removed and replace the broken screw. If they could not retrieve the screw then the charge for the bridge would be around £50. I was slightly annoyed when they said Rolex themselves would simply replace the Bridge and charge rather than try and get the screw out.

When I mentioned the images i've seen of a Rolex in house service resulted in the watch case and strap coming back looking like new, I was informed well it would be the same with our in house service… my previous service experience with this AD begs to differ.

So for the same money and about an extra two weeks without my watch I instructed the AD to send the watch to Rolex to be serviced. Having just spoke with Rolex in London they also confirm their service guarantee is for two years as opposed to the AD's one year. Just need to keep an eye on the extras bill (bridge etc.) to see if this is simply added on by the AD or indeed replaced by Rolex. Rolex have informed m to call them back next week to see if the watch has arrived so I can obtain the Service Notification Number.

The AD has a pretty good name locally so they should follow procedure… at least I have a contact at Rolex in London now to check on the progress.

[Old Expat Beast]

Sounds like you made the right choice. Good luck!

[lobsterlee]

Spoke with Rolex in London today... After a week the watch still hasn't arrived from the AD. London said they would expect the AD to have sent it to them by now and were disappointed with the service I have received. They will be speaking again with the AD in the morning and asking them why the delay!

[hdrazor251]

Originally Posted by lobsterlee

Spoke with Rolex in London today... After a week the watch still hasn't arrived from the AD. London said they would expect the AD to have sent it to them by now and were disappointed with the service I have received. They will be speaking again with the AD in the morning and asking them why the delay!

Hope they didn't keep it and start to do the service against your instructions.

[Harris1]

Which AD were you using, mine needs a service soon so I want to know who to avoid!

[lobsterlee]

Well… It's back!

Credit to the AD who did not charge a handling fee for returning the watch to Rolex (Rolex confirmed a handling fee may be applied by the AD).

Without wanting to beat the drum and harp on about the AD and the poor service received in the past, they were more than helpful when I went to collect… The AD also offered me a very good price on a trade up/straight sale should I wish.

In all fairness the AD told me to hang on to my watch as they believe the price would increase more sharply later this year when the new ceramic pepsi is launched… I saw some pics of it and although out of my range at present (£25k) it looks stunning and made me fall in love with my newly attached 'old' pepsi bezel having had the black one fitted since purchasing the watch six years ago.

Rolex really have worked wonders on my watch, replacing the broken bridge all within the £430 service charge… another nice touch from the Rolex service as opposed to the last AD service was the packaging… even down to the suede pouch, simple things etc.

Happy days again…

[rmfnla]

Looks great; glad it all got sorted out!