What issues would cause the self winding to not function?

[kwinky]

Ladies watch, manually wound, will run for 40+ hours before stopping. Same watch, manually wound and worn continously, will stop in that same 40 hours, meaning self winding mechanism not functioning properly. What would be some of the causes?

[SearChart]

Worn reversers is what I think of, perhaps the rotor axle and driving wheel for ratched as well. Sounds like it is in desperate need for a service.

[kwinky]

Purchased pre owned with a one year warranty. Watch behaved as stated immediately. Took it back, seller sent to inhouse repair dept. Came back after a week, with a note of "possible user error". Second go around, documented the run periods and subsequent stopages. Back to retailer, out to their service dept., after 2 weeks this time with the story that they did an overhaul and replaced the hair spring. Watch immediately doing the same as before. Back again, waiting for repair dept reply this time. Assumption at this time is that repair didn't do a thorough complete overhaul. Maybe not capable. I would like a better understanding of what they come back with to assess if they were diligent in the service.

[J!m]

I'm not an actual watchmaker (but I do make watches), but the winding bridge mechanism is the easiest part to diagnose and fix on Eta as well as Rolex movements.

I suspect they did nothing at all. Hairspring? WTF for? See if you can go to someone competent and send the seller the repair bill at this point...

[MonBK]

Why not use RSC for a Rolex watch?

[moyski]

Originally Posted by kwinky

Ladies watch, manually wound, will run for 40+ hours before stopping. Same watch, manually wound and worn continously, will stop in that same 40 hours, meaning self winding mechanism not functioning properly. What would be some of the causes?

Trying to understand your post. Are you saying the watch stops running WHILE you are wearing it for both cases or after you've removed the watch and left it for observation?

[kwinky]

Watch runs 40 hours or so after a full wind whether it is being worn or not.

Seller warranties for 1 year, service thru them. I could send out to RSC but would be at my cost at this time. It's pretty well understood that this is the seller's last chance. Next step will be send to RDC at their expense or full refund to me.

[PolishMike]

Originally Posted by kwinky

Watch runs 40 hours or so after a full wind whether it is being worn or not.

So what is the problem?

[KarlS]

Is there the tiniest chance that's the springs power reserve?

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Why not use RSC for a Rolex watch?

Because the watch is under warranty with the retailer.

[estorlie]

Excessively worn automatic module components would do that. A sufficiently bad oiling job can reduce the efficiency of the automatic module, but I doubt that's the real issue. Sounds like the shop that's been working on your watch doesn't quite know what it's doing.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by T. Ferguson

Because the watch is under warranty with the retailer.

Thanks, I can read.

[unreformed66]

There are many things that could cause the watch to either not wind automatically or not wind enough automatically. I'd need a crystal ball to diagnose a watch that I can't look at though. It could be any of the things that previous posters have mentioned or it could be that the wearer isn't active enough to keep it wound. But like somebody else said if you're winding it manually enough for it to run 40 hours then it should do so whether the automatic winding is working at all or not at all. Even if the self winding mechanism was horribly worn and the rotor wasn't doing anything the mainspring can't wind itself back down once it's wound unless there's something wrong with the click on the ratchet wheel, the ratchet wheel itself, or the mainspring/bridle.

[kwinky]

Originally Posted by unreformed66

There are many things that could cause the watch to either not wind automatically or not wind enough automatically. I'd need a crystal ball to diagnose a watch that I can't look at though. It could be any of the things that previous posters have mentioned or it could be that the wearer isn't active enough to keep it wound. But like somebody else said if you're winding it manually enough for it to run 40 hours then it should do so whether the automatic winding is working at all or not at all. Even if the self winding mechanism was horribly worn and the rotor wasn't doing anything the mainspring can't wind itself back down once it's wound unless there's something wrong with the click on the ratchet wheel, the ratchet wheel itself, or the mainspring/bridle.

One of the things mentioned by the seller was that not everyone can wear a self winding watch. My wife is working in an office environment, which should keep a properly maintained watch wound. I've been wearing the same watch for over 30 years and haven't needed to wind it except for when returned from a sevice. How inactive would someone need to be to not self wind a Rolex?

[unreformed66]

Originally Posted by kwinky

One of the things mentioned by the seller was that not everyone can wear a self winding watch. My wife is working in an office environment, which should keep a properly maintained watch wound. I've been wearing the same watch for over 30 years and haven't needed to wind it except for when returned from a sevice. How inactive would someone need to be to not self wind a Rolex?

Actually if I'm not mistaken the ladies size movements actually require a little more motion than the mens to keep wound. Smaller weight, less intertia, etc. What does she do in the office? Is she up moving around doing different things or is she sitting with her arms resting on a desk typing all day? Office work is pretty sedentary, especially for clerk/typist/data entry type jobs.

[kwinky]

My final resolution is as follows: First service attempt, the watch came back with a note "possible user error" and a verdict of nothing wrong. Second service, came back with comments of "performed an overhaul, replaced the hair spring". Third service watch came back with comment "it just needed some fibe tuning and adjustments". When I went to pick up the watch after the 3rd service (4 weeks total. for repairs) I didn't even look at the watch. I told my contact that I didn't have any faith in their repair guy. They gave me a full refund which I then applied to a much newer ladies datejust. The new watch is running as it should be-no unexpected stoppages. Turns out my wife is actually moving enough to keep a self winding mechanism running.