Final Position of the winding crown

[topcat30093]

I apologise in advance if this topic has been discussed before.
Its just that no matter how I try, I can never get the crown to finish the right way up, when it has been fully screwed back in.
I have tried pulling it out moving the crown and then re tightening it, but to no avail.
I have owed several Rolex watches & apart from my GMT IIC - which does finish the right way up, all the others ended upside down.
Now I 'm not a perfectionist by any strench of the imagination & I don't loose any sleep over it. But is there a way to get the crown to face the right way up!!!

[frostie]

I can't get it right the way up either but i don't mind.

[JostheBoss]

The final resting position of the coronet once the crown is fully screwed down is a lucky draw unfortunately.

Few people are lucky enough to have their crown "standing up". It shouldn't matter cos you can't see it looking at the watch face on, but I understand your minor irritation...

Wait..no I don't. I just checked, mine stands up near perfect :P

[Remember2]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

But is there a way to get the crown to face the right way up!!!

No - not really. If it lines up in the first place it's coincidence. Rolex doesn't line them up initially.

To have it line up, you need to change the crown and crown tube. But, the crown doesn't have to be "tight" when screwed in, only "snug", as that is where the gaskets seal. So not havin to screw it tightly might give you 1/4 - ½ of a turn to play with - that might be enough to line it up either horisontally or vertical.

...but keep in mind, that the water seal, is more important than the cosmetic lineup. And don't(!) over-tighten it

[JostheBoss]

Don't try get it up the right way either, you'll strip the threads of the crown (inside the crown) if you force it. That's the way its machined, and is pretty permanent unless you want to try cross thread it or something.

Or rummage through a box of crowns...
Or buy a new watch.

[topcat30093]

Thanks for the input so far, at least I know that I 'm not the only one to of noticed this.
But I shall bear in mind about the over tighting of the crown.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I have only had ONE Rolex with a perfectly aligned winding crown (an SS Sub Date). All others had/have misaligned crowns.

That's 1 out of 22, or in percentage: 4,55 %.

[Atomant]

The crown on my SD lines up at 1 o'clock when screwed in. I've got no complains.

[Alcan]

The original crown on my TT Sub lined up at about 5:00. After a RSC overhaul including crown and tube replacement, the crown lines up at about 5:00.

[JostheBoss]

Originally Posted by Alcan

The original crown on my TT Sub lined up at about 5:00. After a RSC overhaul including crown and tube replacement, the crown lines up at about 5:00.

Classic!

[padi56]

Like all things in life some do and some don't,but as long as your watch functions and the time keeping as it should be all is well.

[DavidHasselhoff]

My crown lines up perfectly. I thought they all did.

[topcat30093]

Originally Posted by DavidHasselhoff

My crown lines up perfectly. I thought they all did.

They say that you learn something new everyday and you certainly do on his forum.

[entropydave]

Yeah, my crown lines up fine too (see my avatar) but it is luck of the draw. When I send my Rolly for a service that is one detail I will be pointing out to them and that I expect it to come back the same way!
Also, the gasket compresses slightly after a while so it can start off being slightly off then change as it flattens.
But, as stated earlier - don't over tighten it! If you compress the gasket too much it will not do what you want it to do ie keep water out! It needs to only be finger tight as the gasket will compress with water pressure

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by topcat30093

I apologise in advance if this topic has been discussed before.
Its just that no matter how I try, I can never get the crown to finish the right way up, when it has been fully screwed back in.
I have tried pulling it out moving the crown and then re tightening it, but to no avail.
I have owed several Rolex watches & apart from my GMT IIC - which does finish the right way up, all the others ended upside down.
Now I 'm not a perfectionist by any strench of the imagination & I don't loose any sleep over it. But is there a way to get the crown to face the right way up!!!

Absolute luck of the draw. Of my 22 Rollies, I had just 2 that had their crowns straight up.

My former Exp-II black dial...



And my first SD....

[Ed Rooney]

Both Subs and my SD line up perfectly upright. There's a margin of error, though, because of the gasket.

[BigDanC]

Originally Posted by entropydave

Yeah, my crown lines up fine too (see my avatar) but it is luck of the draw. When I send my Rolly for a service that is one detail I will be pointing out to them and that I expect it to come back the same way!
Also, the gasket compresses slightly after a while so it can start off being slightly off then change as it flattens.
But, as stated earlier - don't over tighten it! If you compress the gasket too much it will not do what you want it to do ie keep water out! It needs to only be finger tight as the gasket will compress with water pressure

Good luck with that one:P.

[Tools]

I can almost always get them to line up............Once...

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by entropydave

Yeah, my crown lines up fine too (see my avatar) but it is luck of the draw. When I send my Rolly for a service that is one detail I will be pointing out to them and that I expect it to come back the same way!
Also, the gasket compresses slightly after a while so it can start off being slightly off then change as it flattens.
But, as stated earlier - don't over tighten it! If you compress the gasket too much it will not do what you want it to do ie keep water out! It needs to only be finger tight as the gasket will compress with water pressure

That is why all of mine line up.

[gha]

As someone previously wrote, it's all dependant on the threads of the tube/crown, where they start & end. Doesn't matter what you do, the crown starts to thread onto the tube where the threads meet and match up, and you cannot change that. Same as a nut starts to thread onto a bolt, there is no choice, it's just where the 2 threads start up on one another. As also stated, you can tighten/back off a bit due to the gasket, but make sure that it's tight enough to be watertight, and loose enough that you aren't squishing the gasket flat, as you will wear it out/crack it, and then have potential leakage. You would think that Rolex, in striving for perfection, would put the tube into the case and adjust it to ensure that the crown tightens down at some point that is consistent, so the Logo on the crown always ends up in a similar position with all Rolexes. Someone here will certainly know what's involved with "moving or adjusting the tube". I am wondering if it is also threaded into the case, so that would compound the lining up of the crown. I'm sure someone here will have the answers....gha

[entropydave]

Originally Posted by gha

... You would think that Rolex, in striving for perfection, would put the tube into the case and adjust it to ensure that the crown tightens down at some point that is consistent, so the Logo on the crown always ends up in a similar position with all Rolexes.

Totally agree on that one - hardly an engineering conundrum!

[topcat30093]

Originally Posted by Tools

I can almost always get them to line up............Once...

Tools
I like your way of thinking

[topcat30093]

Originally Posted by entropydave

Totally agree on that one - hardly an engineering conundrum!

I echo those sentiments.

Thank you for all your answers and suggestions

[gha]

How come we always talk about this same stuff, but there is never any real diffinitive answers to any of this. Around and around we go, but how come there isn't anyone out there that "really knows". Some defector from Camp Rolex that still has their tongue left, that could actually fill us in on these huge mysteries. A company that, in theory, produces 1 mill. items per annum (very hard to believe) has never had any employee leave ? And it's not a massive secret anyways, we are just looking for some credible answers to some fairly obvious questions about a product and brand that we all love. It's not like anyone is trying to take the company out, or bad mouth them in any way. It seems that members are just trying to establish some facts, and history, but there is this cloak of secrecy involved. I just don't really understand it all. Seems like a huge excercise in frustration to me.....IMHO of course....gha

[topcat30093]

Gha,
I dont think that there is much more that can be added to your last post!!

Except to say - and if you have watched a TV programme called "Top Gear" you will know what I mean
"And on that bomb shell, goodnight"

[joieboie]

Mine Sub crown is perpectly upward (center) ...I don't want it to get over tight

[Leighton]

Originally Posted by gha

How come we always talk about this same stuff, but there is never any real diffinitive answers to any of this. Around and around we go, but how come there isn't anyone out there that "really knows". Some defector from Camp Rolex that still has their tongue left, that could actually fill us in on these huge mysteries. A company that, in theory, produces 1 mill. items per annum (very hard to believe) has never had any employee leave ? And it's not a massive secret anyways, we are just looking for some credible answers to some fairly obvious questions about a product and brand that we all love. It's not like anyone is trying to take the company out, or bad mouth them in any way. It seems that members are just trying to establish some facts, and history, but there is this cloak of secrecy involved. I just don't really understand it all. Seems like a huge excercise in frustration to me.....IMHO of course....gha

If they told us they would have to kill us.....

[CPCC]

Can be anywhere