X1 Crown Position

[Ravager135]

Only my Explorer II happens to align perfectly. The fact that my others don't doesn't bother me anymore than the casual scratches they pick up.

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Just that, marketing. They show my M3 doing donuts in a parking lot and being raced at a track, yet if I damage something in the car while at a track, it voids the warranty.
Cereal is always crunchy on tv, and when you use AXE body spray, women come running at you to take them.

But we live in the real world. The crown looks good at 12 for advertising your brand, that simple.

So you freely admit its better aesthetics to have the crown correctly line up. lol. That's the whole point, a company that prides itself on aesthetics and precision can't correct a simple thing like that? Silly.

I see that its a rolexforum badge of honor to "not care" about the position of the crown, that somehow validates one as a superfan. lol.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Norbert

So you freely admit its better aesthetics to have the crown correctly line up. lol. That's the whole point, a company that prides itself on aesthetics and precision can't correct a simple thing like that? Silly.

I see that its a rolexforum badge of honor to "not care" about the position of the crown, that somehow validates one as a superfan. lol.

Admit, not admit...I'm not even sure what y'all want. This has been discussed and beaten to death since the five digit models. People confusing advertising with the real world.
Countless examples of marketing showing images that are not representative of real life. Women's makeup...does it make you look like that model, Red Bull, does it really give you wings. Should steering wheel logos remain upright at all times. Come on....

Everyone talks about dials, bezels, colors, shape, fit, practicality....all the tech and beauty we all talk about in every thread and every picture in the "WRYWT" threads for the past week shows every one photographing the dial, yet here we are, folks stressing about something that the majority of Rolex owners don't even know about. Only us nerds know about the crown alignment.

I don't think it's important and happy I don't care about it. If that single thing is so important, then buy a Skydweller. Forget all the other dials and functions, just buy that one watch so you can look at the crown.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Norbert

So you freely admit its better aesthetics to have the crown correctly line up. lol. That's the whole point, a company that prides itself on aesthetics and precision can't correct a simple thing like that? Silly.

I see that its a rolexforum badge of honor to "not care" about the position of the crown, that somehow validates one as a superfan. lol.

You make a false assumption when you say "correctly line up".

Why do you believe that there is a "correct" alignment position for a randomly threaded nut? Do you also believe that there is a proper alignment for the thread-bars on the bracelet?

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Tools

You make a false assumption when you say "correctly line up".

Why do you believe that there is a "correct" alignment position for a randomly threaded nut? Do you also believe that there is a proper alignment for the thread-bars on the bracelet?

Umm, because Rolex itself thinks so, its in all their adverts.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Tools

Do you also believe that there is a proper alignment for the thread-bars on the bracelet?

That would kill the whole crown seal changing the position argument (excuse)......being that there are no rubber seals behind those screws.

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Admit, not admit...I'm not even sure what y'all want. This has been discussed and beaten to death since the five digit models. People confusing advertising with the real world.
Countless examples of marketing showing images that are not representative of real life. Women's makeup...does it make you look like that model, Red Bull, does it really give you wings. Should steering wheel logos remain upright at all times. Come on....

Everyone talks about dials, bezels, colors, shape, fit, practicality....all the tech and beauty we all talk about in every thread and every picture in the "WRYWT" threads for the past week shows every one photographing the dial, yet here we are, folks stressing about something that the majority of Rolex owners don't even know about. Only us nerds know about the crown alignment.

I don't think it's important and happy I don't care about it. If that single thing is so important, then buy a Skydweller. Forget all the other dials and functions, just buy that one watch so you can look at the crown.

If it doesn't matter, why did Rolex do it for the Sky Dweller? Makes you wonder why they did it for a premium model. Rolex superfans will make excuses for Rolex until Rolex makes changes. Like the SEL, better bracelets, hairsprings, the ceramic bezel. Then they'll accept those changes and vehemently defend them. lol.

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

The crown looks good at 12 for advertising your brand, that simple.

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

Admit, not admit...I'm not even sure what y'all want.

Your words. Its OK, I'm sure everyone would agree that it looks better lined up, again, its just on rolexforum, you have to defend Rolex...until they change it!

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Norbert

If it doesn't matter, why did Rolex do it for the Sky Dweller? Makes you wonder why they did it for a premium model. Rolex superfans will make excuses for Rolex until Rolex makes changes. Like the SEL, better bracelets, hairsprings, the ceramic bezel. Then they'll accept those changes and vehemently defend them. lol.

What, are you saying people called for those changes....I never heard one person ever complain or say anything about a hairspring or bezel. Rolex made those changes because they were better materials.
You keep repeating the same phrase that Rolex cares...you are assuming they care about crown alignment, when in reality they only really care about representing the brand which is all a advert is. Just like the hands at 10 and 2. You ignore all represented logic on advertising.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by Norbert

Your words. Its OK, I'm sure everyone would agree that it looks better lined up, again, its just on rolexforum, you have to defend Rolex...until they change it!

No everyone won't agree, my words also. I don't care, so we all don't agree. My words were an assumption as to Rolex's need to show their product in a certain way for marketing.
Why did you not speak on the Red Bull drink advert. There has not been one documented case of it "giving you wings".

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by Norbert

Umm, because Rolex itself thinks so, its in all their adverts.

Apparently you do not understand marketing and advertising. Does the food on your restaurant plate or fast food bag EVER look as good as it does on a TV commercial? Absolutely not.

The way I see it you have 3 choices regarding your Rolex crown.

1. Accept it the way it is.
2. Take a Dremel with buffing pad and compound and buff off the coronet.
3. Sell your Rolex and be done with it, because your first world problems make life miserable.

[Bfd70]

Ummmm if #3 is to be taken seriously 43% of the posts on this part of TRF wouldn’t exist. Remove the “look at my new toy” posts any your down another 40%. That would leave only 17% fortech talk and historical musings.....wait, now that i think about it, good idea.

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

Apparently you do not understand marketing and advertising. Does the food on your restaurant plate or fast food bag EVER look as good as it does on a TV commercial? Absolutely not.

The way I see it you have 3 choices regarding your Rolex crown.

1. Accept it the way it is.
2. Take a Dremel with buffing pad and compound and buff off the coronet.
3. Sell your Rolex and be done with it, because your first world problems make life miserable.

4. I can complain about it on a public internet chat forum! lol. rolexforum; its serious business!

[Norbert]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

What, are you saying people called for those changes....I never heard one person ever complain or say anything about a hairspring or bezel. Rolex made those changes because they were better materials.
You keep repeating the same phrase that Rolex cares...you are assuming they care about crown alignment, when in reality they only really care about representing the brand which is all a advert is. Just like the hands at 10 and 2. You ignore all represented logic on advertising.

Who is calling for a change? We are just chatting here.

PS I don't know what sugar water has to do with a $9k+ watch, but if you can make that connection, you're a better man that I.

[joli160]

Originally Posted by kauffee

They solved it on the PM Sky-Dwellers with a patented mechanism. Apparently it wasn't worth it.

It's worth it:
The SkyD is beautifully engineered with a GMT function, very nicely executed Annual Calendar and the sharp looking ring command fluted bezel.
Icing on the cake is this additional mechanism for keeping the crown upright. A master piece with great care for detail which shows that Rolex can do more than build relatively simple watches.

[lord91]

Originally Posted by geome

Yes l am sorry to say you are completely insane

+1. There is nothing wrong with the crown position, it doesn't have to sit upright.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by lord91

+1. There is nothing wrong with the crown position, it doesn't have to sit upright.

So, IF GIVEN A CHOICE, you would not want the crown upright?

[lord91]

Originally Posted by pickettt

So, IF GIVEN A CHOICE, you would not want the crown upright?

No, i wouldn't. On my watch, the crown points at 2 o'clock when i look at it. This means that when i wear the watch and look at the crown, i actually see it upright, facing me. If it would be upright like some think it should be, pointing 9 o'clock, while wearing the watch and look at it, it would look laying down on the left, which i would find it even more bothering for you. Nevertheless, i wouldn't care how it would point, as it doesn't have to sit upright.

[Speedbird-1]

The crown's aligned ok, it's the watch that's on the p**s!


I just hope for your sanity, the 'H & C' inserts on your bathroom taps (faucets) are perfectly aligned!

[envuks]

I know I am in the minority here, but I do think that it would be nicer if Rolex picked a spot for the crown to align to and made it consistent on watches. They’ve shown they can do it on the skydwellers and for whatever reason they did it. I can only assume that since they put out the extra effort to do this on the sky dwellers that they view this as somehow a nicer touch (why take the extra effort to align it on the skydweller otherwise?).

I do have to say, that I think the only thing amazing about this thread is the shit reaction that many responders seem to have to this member's post about it. Some of y’all seem like jerks, just saying. Maybe check your tone. Just my $.02. Take it or leave it, but this thread has me questioning the community a bit on this board. Come on, we can do better

[op90no2]

Norbert and Pickett: Expecting the crown to line up when closed is as silly as expecting the emblems on your car wheels to line up when parked.

Go to the Mercedes-Benz website and notice that in all the car pictures the wheel emblems are perfectly aligned. Then go to the Mercedes-Benz dealership and look at the cars on the lot. Get back to us when you have returned and let us know what you find.

If you were engineers you would understand why the crown doesn't align, and why that is necessary and good.

FWIW, I just checked the crown on my watch for the very first time in eight years. It points down and to the right.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by op90no2

Norbert and Pickett: Expecting the crown to line up when closed is as silly as expecting the emblems on your car wheels to line up when parked.

Go to the Mercedes-Benz website and notice that in all the car pictures the wheel emblems are perfectly aligned. Then go to the Mercedes-Benz dealership and look at the cars on the lot. Get back to us when you have returned and let us know what you find.

If you were engineers you would understand why the crown doesn't align, and why that is necessary and good.

FWIW, I just checked the crown on my watch for the very first time in eight years. It points down and to the right.

That's a weak analogy at best. If you're an engineer, please elaborate as to why it is "necessary and good." I truly am interested.

[Nandor]

Originally Posted by op90no2

Norbert and Pickett: Expecting the crown to line up when closed is as silly as expecting the emblems on your car wheels to line up when parked.

Go to the Mercedes-Benz website and notice that in all the car pictures the wheel emblems are perfectly aligned. Then go to the Mercedes-Benz dealership and look at the cars on the lot. Get back to us when you have returned and let us know what you find.

If you were engineers you would understand why the crown doesn't align, and why that is necessary and good.

FWIW, I just checked the crown on my watch for the very first time in eight years. It points down and to the right.

High end car brands actually do align their logos on the wheels at all times.

https://newatlas.com/bentleys-self-l...-badges/13345/

:)

[envuks]

Originally Posted by Nandor

High end car brands actually do align their logos on the wheels at all times.



https://newatlas.com/bentleys-self-l...-badges/13345/



:)

Some actually have "floating" emblems on the wheels that don't spin with the wheel. They stay static while the wheel is spinning


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[op90no2]

Originally Posted by pickettt

That's a weak analogy at best. If you're an engineer, please elaborate as to why it is "necessary and good." I truly am interested.

Actually I thought it was a very clever analogy. Still do.

This doesn't really go into a lot of technical detail, but provides some perspective:

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/wh...in-watchmaking

Here's the somewhat longer answer. A screw is a type of "simple machine" (technical term, look it up) that converts modest twisting force (torque) into very high compressive force. In our case, with an easy turn of a screw-down crown you can apply a lot of pressure to the gasket under the crown, thereby rendering the winding tube water-proof.

The force multiplication works because you have to rotate the crown through a large angle to move it in and out a relatively small distance. Conversely, a relatively small change in the linear position of the crown is associated with a large change in its angle.

The pitch of the crown threads defines a fixed ratio, for instance in millimeters per turn, that determines how far in or out the crown moves for a given angle of rotation. For the crown to always point at the same angle when fully closed, it must therefore always stop at exactly the same distance from the case.

But the crown is squeezing down on a rubber gasket which, over time, gets squished and worn. This means as the gasket ages the crown has to travel further to achieve the same degree of compression (hence water-tightness). That translates to a gradually changing crown alignment.

The threads wear as well, slowly grinding away, not to the point of failure, but enough to change the fully-closed crown position.

Even an infinitesimal change in the tolerances of the crown and winding tube will result in a significant difference in the angular position of the crown. To solve this (non) problem the crown and tube would have to be cut to precisely the correct dimensions, the threads would have to start at exactly the right spot on both parts, for every single watch made. The degree of manufacturing precision required to make this happen, ignoring the problem of wear and tear, would be extraordinary. Of course it could be done, but it's just not worth the expense and bother for a result of truly limited value.

(Edit: Thinking this over, I suppose they could just mate the crown and tube before assembly, and then press the tube into the case while insuring proper alignment. It would still add cost and complexity to the manufacturing process and wouldn't solve the problem of change with time and wear.)

If Rolex actually promoted the alignment of the crown as a product feature then they would have to deal with customers returning watches where the crowns were off by just a degree or two. They would have to retool their production machinery and implement new maintenance procedures. It would be a nightmare and would probably double (or more) (Edit: Ok, with ingenuity, change that to "noticeably increase") the watch prices. All for virtually no benefit to the customer or the company.

The alternative would be to use a different mechanism entirely, or just not sign the crown. If it were a simple thing no doubt Rolex would have done it already. But it's not simple, and it's a little naive to think of organizing a campaign to get them to change without understanding the issues involved.

I think this is a satisfactory answer, so please don't expect me to reply to a pointlessly argumentative response.

(Edit: I suppose I didn't really explain why I said "necessary and good." Every engineering design decision is a tradeoff between cost and benefit, both to the customer and to the manufacturer. It is also a product of judgment and intuition. I will claim that someone who has worked with machines and machine tools for a long time has a kind of intimate feel for these things. Whenever you torque down a screw the parts stretch and wear. It is a dynamic system that changes each time you disassemble and reassemble it. To force a screw to stop at exactly the same angle every time is to make it do something that is contrary to its nature. It is better to understand the natural properties of these things and to take pleasure in them as they are than to go through contortions trying to make them behave in a manner for which they are fundamentally unsuited.)

[op90no2]

Originally Posted by Nandor

High end car brands actually do align their logos on the wheels at all times.

Yes, I thought of that. I've seen similar devices, I think on trucks, perhaps used to count wheel revolutions or something. When done for cosmetics only, it's a solution in search of a problem.

[Nandor]

Originally Posted by op90no2

Yes, I thought of that. I've seen similar devices, I think on trucks, perhaps used to count wheel revolutions or something. When done for cosmetics only, it's a solution in search of a problem.

I am that problem! :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TRM]

The crown will end up where it ends up and there's nothing you can do to to change it.

[Tools]

To make it work Rolex would have to index the lead thread on the case, on the tube bottom, the tube top, and the crown, then the emblem would have to be indexed to be in the right spot after all these parts are assembled - something that is not likely to happen soon.

Besides, if the crown was really "correct" if it was absolutely upright, can you imagine all of the threads we would have, along with enlarged images, showing crowns a hair off either way. And imagine the returns to RSC to correct all of those misaligned crowns..

[op90no2]

Originally Posted by Tools

To make it work Rolex would have to index the lead thread on the case, on the tube bottom, the tube top, and the crown, then the emblem would have to be indexed to be in the right spot after all these parts are assembled - something that is not likely to happen soon.

Besides, if the crown was really "correct" if it was absolutely upright, can you imagine all of the threads we would have, along with enlarged images, showing crowns a hair off either way. And imagine the returns to RSC to correct all of those misaligned crowns..

There's an easier solution. If you don't like where your crown sits, just get a Channellock and put the crown where you want it.

Ha ha.