Submariner 126610 Issue - Needs Warranty Service

[pamountainbiker]

Have a 2020 Sub, original owner, bought from AD; this is my daily wearer. Still under warranty until Dec 2025. Over the past few months the watch has been running erratically. At times losing over 5 minutes per hour or more, having very little power reserve (12 hours despite being wound). It also has periods where it runs normally and accurately.

Bringing it in for service, but any ideas why? Also, the AD I'm bringing it to (which I have to travel to because my AD just lost its status; recently posted on this) has an inhouse Rolex certified tech. They offered to either do it in house or have it sent to RSC in NY. I'm going to choose RSC in NY...never used this AD before and don't know them and they're a new AD, just became one in Dec.

Finally, since my watch is going to NY RSC, I do have a tiny dent out of the 10 o'clock lug, I'm going to have them laser weld that - which I'm happy to pay for when it's there. My assumption is they do this work? I've never sent any Rolex back for warranty service. All my watches are serviced by a local company that does work on par or better than RSC and is a lot more easy to deal with. Never had a warranty claim before.

[subcsteve]

it sounds like the usual low amplitude issue, same with 2 of mine (including the 12 series sub)...I would opt for the RSC option (I am 6 months post return and fine so far).

[askdanny]

Any reason to believe it was magnetized?

—Danny

[georgekart]

Originally Posted by pamountainbiker

My assumption is they do this work?... All my watches are serviced by a local company that does work on par or better than RSC and is a lot more easy to deal with. Never had a warranty claim before.

I don't know whether NYC RSC does laser welding, some RSCs do, some don't. I think they do, but don't quote me on that. And since you have a local company, how about you take the watch there, fully wind it manually, put it on the timegrapher, check what the amplitude and the rate, ideally have them store it (so you don't wind it) and check it 24 hours later. Could be that it's running fine, you just don't wind it enough naturally by moving.

[georgekart]

Originally Posted by askdanny

Any reason to believe it was magnetized?

—Danny

Wouldn't it be running faster, not slower?

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by pamountainbiker

Have a 2020 Sub, original owner, bought from AD; this is my daily wearer. Still under warranty until Dec 2025. Over the past few months the watch has been running erratically. At times losing over 5 minutes per hour or more, having very little power reserve (12 hours despite being wound). It also has periods where it runs normally and accurately.

Bringing it in for service, but any ideas why? Also, the AD I'm bringing it to (which I have to travel to because my AD just lost its status; recently posted on this) has an inhouse Rolex certified tech. They offered to either do it in house or have it sent to RSC in NY. I'm going to choose RSC in NY...never used this AD before and don't know them and they're a new AD, just became one in Dec.

Finally, since my watch is going to NY RSC, I do have a tiny dent out of the 10 o'clock lug, I'm going to have them laser weld that - which I'm happy to pay for when it's there. My assumption is they do this work? I've never sent any Rolex back for warranty service. All my watches are serviced by a local company that does work on par or better than RSC and is a lot more easy to deal with. Never had a warranty claim before.

^^^FYI: This is the lead story and requires no more speculation. Send it in to RSC Dallas.

[brandrea]

I hope you get it back sooner than later.

I’m not certain if RSC NY does laser welding.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by pamountainbiker

. . .

Finally, since my watch is going to NY RSC, I do have a tiny dent out of the 10 o'clock lug, I'm going to have them laser weld that - which I'm happy to pay for when it's there. My assumption is they do this work? I've never sent any Rolex back for warranty service. All my watches are serviced by a local company that does work on par or better than RSC and is a lot more easy to deal with. Never had a warranty claim before.

RSC is not going to laser weld your lug, especially not when its in for warranty work.

If you want laser work, find a reputable company that will do the job and include a service with it. Laser welding is not a gentle process. The watch is taken down to its basic parts, the case is welded, depositing a blob of molten steel at the spots needed, then it is ground down and reshaped. This takes time and talent - find somebody with a good reputation and sample work.

[pamountainbiker]

Originally Posted by askdanny

Any reason to believe it was magnetized?

—Danny

No, I don't think so, if it did get magnetized I'd have no idea how.

[pamountainbiker]

Originally Posted by Tools

RSC is not going to laser weld your lug, especially not when its in for warranty work.

If you want laser work, find a reputable company that will do the job and include a service with it. Laser welding is not a gentle process. The watch is taken down to its basic parts, the case is welded, depositing a blob of molten steel at the spots needed, then it is ground down and reshaped. This takes time and talent - find somebody with a good reputation and sample work.

Good to know, my basic thought was that if it was in for warranty work I'd check into. But since it's technically still under warranty I'd hold until it was out to have that done unless Rolex was doing. Now, two years from now I'd consider having Zimmerman do it along with a general refresh.

[pamountainbiker]

Originally Posted by Mystro

^^^FYI: This is the lead story and requires no more speculation. Send it in to RSC Dallas.

Ah, thanks for the tip on Dallas

[ChronoZach]

Yes, definitely needs a service , the reasons why could be many things, bridges, mainspring or a combination of other parts. Nothing too complicated to fix. I would ask about the laser welding first and be sure before you send it out to RSC. Laser welding is an art and it needs someone who has experience to do right.

I would agree to send it out once and get everything done.

Cheers,

[RichM]

My advice, leave the AD out of the picture. Call Rolex tomorrow and they will email you the instructions for mailing it in. Do it yourself. You deal directly with Rolex.

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by Mystro

^^^FYI: This is the lead story and requires no more speculation. Send it in to RSC Dallas.

Originally Posted by pamountainbiker

Ah, thanks for the tip on Dallas

The last time I asked RUSA I was told 32 series warranty work is done at the LI facility. Even if you send it to Dallas, they send it to LI. This was a little over a year ago and I confirmed this with another forum member that sent his to TX, but the return label came from NY

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by richm

my advice, leave the ad out of the picture. Call rolex tomorrow and they will email you the instructions for mailing it in. Do it yourself. You deal directly with rolex.

+1

[502 to Right]

I guarantee the AD watchmaker is plenty trained to deal with this problem. I'm not sure why people here think AD watchmakers are village idiots and the RSC's are geniuses. When an AD watchmaker services a watch it comes with a 2 year Rolex warranty just like the RSC's. The difference is that you actually get to talk to him about what the issues are what he did to fix them.

I had a 126200 Datejust with the 32XX low amplitude problem. I had my AD watchmaker perform the warranty work and everything was good to go.

But if you want your watch shipped to and from Dallas, that's your business.

[geoach]

from I know an AD watchmaker has the same level same kind of training that a tech would have at a RSC.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by 502 to Right

I guarantee the AD watchmaker is plenty trained to deal with this problem. I'm not sure why people here think AD watchmakers are village idiots and the RSC's are geniuses. When an AD watchmaker services a watch it comes with a 2 year Rolex warranty just like the RSC's. The difference is that you actually get to talk to him about what the issues are what he did to fix them.

I had a 126200 Datejust with the 32XX low amplitude problem. I had my AD watchmaker perform the warranty work and everything was good to go.

But if you want your watch shipped to and from Dallas, that's your business.

Perhaps poor experience ?
AD watchmaker butchered (dented) a bracelet of mine, ruined screw pins.
Not a big deal if they admit but they let me pay for the replacement as well.
Just as your experience is anecdotal so is mine.
For me never again I let any AD touch my watch. RSC only, after all servicing is their core business and not a side hustle.

[cascadez71]

Send it in. They will perform "check movement" service. It will be returned (typically) tuned to run a little fast which obviously is preferable to slow. Who knows what repairs/replacements are made. RSC turned mine around in 4 days after receipt. Warranty repairs are pushed to the front of the line over other services. Just send a copy of your warranty card, though technically they don't even need that.

I did eventually trade my 126610LV for an 116610LN.

Check the big thread in WatchTech subforum for 32xx issues.

[MRBolton]

It doesn't need to go to Dallas. All warranty work goes to NY now.

[cascadez71]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

It doesn't need to go to Dallas. All warranty work goes to NY now.

Incorrect at this time. Call RSC and ask. I sent mine to Dallas (per their instructions) in Nov 2024 and was repaired and returned from there.

[thesharkfactor]

I don't think RSC will weld a lug, they are more likely to offer to polish it out if anything.. and you won't want that.

[MRBolton]

Originally Posted by cascadez71

Incorrect at this time. Call RSC and ask. I sent mine to Dallas (per their instructions) in Nov 2024 and was repaired and returned from there.

In August/September 2024, I was told by RSC that NY service center handled all warranty work. I wanted to send my watch to Dallas but was told that wasn't an option if under warranty. I'm surprised that has changed so quickly.

[cascadez71]

Originally Posted by MRBolton

In August/September 2024, I was told by RSC that NY service center handled all warranty work. I wanted to send my watch to Dallas but was told that wasn't an option if under warranty. I'm surprised that has changed so quickly.

Interesting - also did not realize that policy changed in such a short time!

[MRBolton]

Originally Posted by cascadez71

Interesting - also did not realize that policy changed in such a short time!

Perhaps it was just because it was a Daytona, but I think they said it's all models now.

I had a terrible experience with NY, so I would great avoid sending back to them if I can help it. They were incompetent and scratched my watch.

[worldofoyster]

RSC will polish your watch for a fee, but no laser welding even if you are willing to pay for it

[502 to Right]

Originally Posted by joli160

Perhaps poor experience ?
AD watchmaker butchered (dented) a bracelet of mine, ruined screw pins.
Not a big deal if they admit but they let me pay for the replacement as well.
Just as your experience is anecdotal so is mine.
For me never again I let any AD touch my watch. RSC only, after all servicing is their core business and not a side hustle.

The foibles of the various RSC's are legion.

The fact is that watchmakers from both camps are highly trained by Rolex. And either one can screw something up. But if there is a screw up at least I know with an AD watchmaker I can talk to the person face-to-face to get the issue corrected.

And side hustle? Do you think AD watchmakers come in off the street in between their stints driving for Uber and Lyft? Good grief.

[S.Explorer]

I wonder if accredited Rolex watchmakers are authorised for warranty work. Some do laser welding too. I've had issues with both RSC and AD watchmakers unfortunately.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by RichM

My advice, leave the AD out of the picture. Call Rolex tomorrow and they will email you the instructions for mailing it in. Do it yourself. You deal directly with Rolex.

Good advice.

[ArtNouveau]

At around two years, late 2020, my BLRO had similar symptoms, erratic timekeeping mostly slow. My AD has a tech but said since it was warranty it needed to go to RSC, at that time Dallas. Got it back in just three weeks and still working great.
Not sure if RolexUSA offers laser welding at all but I know for a warranty case they just fix the problem.