New Rolex owner needs advice on vintage piece

[pgarbig]

I bought a 1978 stainless steel optical lucite crystal, 28 jewel, cal 2030, serial number 5300367, design # 6916, oyster perpetual date watch. The watch looked to be in great shape, but because of age etc... I wanted to send it to a certified Rolex service watch repair person to get it serviced etc. The watch was mailed back and that day I wore it. It wouldn't keep time. It stopped after 3 hours. So I called the man who serviced it and he asked if I wound it. (now this is the first rolex I've owned so I didn't realize you had to wind it). The man explained how to do this. So I wound like he said, set the time and wore it and after 4 hours it stopped. So I called the clock place again and he said to send back. He said maybe the magnetic scanner during shipping may have cause something because he said it kept perfect time before sending back to me. Have anyone ever had this problem before? I called my local post office and they did not seem to agree that could happen. Since this is a Friday I figured I would send back on Monday and when I picked up the watch it was running. So I set time again and have been wearing it and it will run for an hour or 2 then stop again. It has been doing this for several hours. I'll look at the watch and the second hand is not moving, then half hour later look and its now running. But it will stop again. Now I paid $790.00 for the service and he guarantees his work for 1 year. However, I was wondering if anyone has had this problem before with a watch stopping and starting again. Also what about this deal with shipping the watch with the scanning of the package causing problems with the mechanisms of a watch??? I googled to see if this could be a problem and can find nothing. Any advice please??? The watch repair man is a reputable watch repair guy--I did my homework on this. And he said the watch I have is a very nice clean great condition watch. But what is to keep it from screwing up again in shipping back. My husband has several antique rolex watches ( much older watches) and he has had them serviced and mailed back and they keep perfect time afterwards. He said something is wrong and send it back. Any advice???

[Tools]

Advice?.. Yes, send it back to the watchmaker. If he is as reputable as you say, it will be made right.

[enginerd]

Never heard of a shipping scanner screwing up a movement. Just send it back and he'll find out what's wrong.

[pgarbig]

thanks for those who replied. I will send back, but I'm a little apprehensive about shipping again. I mail it registered thru USPS, but he uses UPS. Oh well, I have no choice but to send back. I wished he was closer and didn't have to put in mail service...

[Tools]

We know a few good watchmakers in FLA.

[Dan S]

We can't diagnose the problem over the internet, you just need to send it back and have it repaired under warranty. Since you have a one-year warranty, it should not be a problem. Damage can occur during shipping due to rough handling, but it has nothing to do with being scanned. Many of us ship watches frequently without any problems.

[SunTzu]

Yes, I had that problem with an old Omega Seamaster DeVille. My watchmaker said the same thing. It kept perfect time etc... I was able to document with video the problem. I would gently manipulate the crown and the watch would start ticking again and then stop a little bit later. Don't know if you can replicate that. But my watchmaker gladly took it back and said he would make it right on his dime including shipping. Turns out it was a bad friction spring that he replaced.