Who here accepts factory flaws on your Rolex?

[dooder202]

I've been seeing a few threads over the last few days about people whose Rolexes are a bit 'flawed' or 'defective' from the factory (Purchased new).

1.) Who here notices any flaws on their Rolex?

2.) Do you just accept the flaws?

3.) Do you think it is right for a watch of this price/caliber/reputation to have even the most minor flaws on your watch?


I'll go first.

On my current Rolexes, I cannot see any of the slightest flaws with the naked eye. I do not have a loupe, so I cannot see any 'microscopic' flaws on the dial, etc.

I have seen in the past here of course on the forum and in person - some pretty obvious flaws on some Rolex watches that I do not think are too kosher.

Examples of these flaws include:
-Crooked or lob-sided cyclops; this I see the most common.
-Dust under the crystal, or small lint or 'fibers' under the crystal.
-The much debated 'uneven bezel alignment' which I have seen on this forum and in person with submariners at different AD's.
-Dial markers not lining up with the laser-etched crown and ROLEXROLEXROLEX on inner rehaut - this seems to be the most common second to the uneven cyclops.
-Other various flaws on clasp, bracelet, hands, etc....

Personally, I feel that on watches of this expense, simple to spot/fix flaws like this should not be present on any of their watches. Like another member said before, "there is not THAT much real-estate on a watch" so flaws like this definitely stand out.

How do all you feel about this? Can any of you share any experiences or flaws of your own?

[azguy]

Thank God that I don't look that closely at my watches but for what they cost they should be perfect and I mean perfect

[dooder202]

Originally Posted by azguy

Thank God that I don't look that closely at my watches but for what they cost they should be perfect and I mean perfect

Yes. Totally agree.

[Annan]

I don't have a loupe but with my eyes only, do not see any factory flaws on my TT DJ. At the price I paid, no, I would not expect nor would I accept any flaws.

[sea-dweller]

I usually don't examine my watches that closely.

[Chris B]

Nothing in this world is perfect,

Persian carpet makers include a deliberate mistake in their work in deference to & a reminder of this, think of it as something along those lines

[jacobl@]

I was recently viewing a pre-loved 179160 for the Mrs (c2007), and the cyclop was crooked on it...when I pointed it out to the seller he simply said "oh, I've not noticed that at all", which to me was kind of hard to believe since his job was/is buying selling watches, i.e I thought he should have an eye for details, no?

Anyhow, given his reaction I walked off without the watch, after all, I simply could not get my head around the fact that Rolex would let simple flaws like that out the front door on their products. (the day after I got an e-mail saying it was sold...)

So, for me obvious flaws like this matter and should definately not be there on high end products. I mean, just compare it to a new car purchase where you'd probably not accept many(any?) visual flaws, even on cheaper brands, or would you?

[jimbones43]

I dont look that close!

[masterserg]

^^ Funny you mention cars ... I have bigger finishing flaws on both my BMWs ... it happens. It is called mass production. As mentioned above, nothing is perfect.

[Keeperoftime]

I had an issue with my GMTIIC that led to a rust issue . That's right the R word. Good news is Rolex did a 100% service on that piece and replaced the dial.



OH, ALL FOR FREE.

[jacobl@]

Originally Posted by masterserg

^^ Funny you mention cars ... I have bigger finishing flaws on both my BMWs ... it happens. It is called mass production.

[paracord]

Some customers are the type that notice details. Some aren't.

Some QA techs are the type that notice details. Some aren't.

[T-Rip]

I have a GMTIIC that has a hair or fiber on the dial...for a $6000+ watch I expect perfection...

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=203672

Sorry but its not a cheap pharmacy purchased watch..its a ROLEX.. it should be perfect..

[jacobl@]

Originally Posted by haydendillon

I have a GMTIIC that has a hair or fiber on the dial...for a $6000+ watch I expect perfection...

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=203672

Sorry but its not a cheap pharmacy purchased watch..its a ROLEX.. it should be perfect..

Here here!

[RBR76]

1.) Who here notices any flaws on their Rolex?
Yes, that was more than 1 year ago when i got the 16610. I noticed some unpolished marks on the clasp area above the Rolex logo. I can see them under light because the steel is brushed and the unpolished marks stand out. They are not scatches, the surface area is still smooth. I am not sure how this can happen.

2.) Do you just accept the flaws?
No. I went straight to RSC. The technician shook his head and said it was impossible. I have learnt a lesson that when buying a new watch, you need to check the bracelet as well, not just the casing and crystal.

3.) Do you think it is right for a watch of this price/caliber/reputation to have even the most minor flaws on your watch?
I am not sure. Back then, i was quite mad because i had to polish a new watch but that was more than 1 year ago now. Since then, I have read more horror stories about other brands. In particular, problems with the movement.

[Speed]

If I found a factory flaw...it would get sorted. Period. The end.

[smallcandle]

Like a few others, I don't look that closely. It would have to be a pretty major and obvious flaw for me to come uncorked.

[dooder202]

Originally Posted by smallcandle

Like a few others, I don't look that closely. It would have to be a pretty major and obvious flaw for me to come uncorked.

Well I'm not talking mior specs of dirt/dust/lint on the hands - that you would need a loupe for.

But uneven bezel alignment, crooked cylcops, lume, etc. are all pretty obvious.

[dooder202]

Originally Posted by paracord

Some customers are the type that notice details. Some aren't.

Some QA techs are the type that notice details. Some aren't.

If your a QA tech, you shouldn't be hired unless you have an eye for detail. Period.

I bet every 10 or 50 Rolexes get a hand inspection. Even though I have seen videos that each and every one is put together by hand except of course when the machines are polishing and making the case, bracelet, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ArSjYlJ9Y

[Lion]

Remember there is no such thing as perfection.....

[JesusSandals]

A hair or lint or anything under the glass would drive me insane. I used to hate it when mobile phones suffered from this so on my DSSD I would send it to rolex even if I had to pay

[handsfull]

Originally Posted by Lion

Remember there is no such thing as perfection.....

I beg to differ....Have you seen Sophia Vergara?




I don't 'accept' flaws....I only tolerate them. Yeah, I know....its not fun being a perfectionist. I would actually like to be able to overlook things like others can, it would make life ALOT easier!

[steebee2]

Any flaw is unacceptable. Period. I just spent a good chunk of change on my TT DJ and if it had a flaw, it would bother me 24/7. It would go back to be taken care of.

[steebee2]

[QUOTE=handsfull;2924858]I beg to differ....Have you seen Sophia Vergara? ]

X2

[dooder202]

Originally Posted by handsfull

I beg to differ....Have you seen Sophia Vergara?




I don't 'accept' flaws....I only tolerate them. Yeah, I know....its not fun being a perfectionist. I would actually like to be able to overlook things like others can, it would make life ALOT easier!

[RyanJames]

I can relate to this topic!

My 3 month old 214270 Exp 1 has been back to have the very poorly applied lume at the 12 o'clock corrected and during inspection after this I noticed that my rehaut is slightly misaligned with the markers which has sent me on a hunt to a couple of local A.D's and so far I have seen 9 brand new watches with the rehaut issue and one was an 18k blue submariner which was horrifically out of line...

[P2725TMB]

Originally Posted by RyanJames

I can relate to this topic!

My 3 month old 214270 Exp 1 has been back to have the very poorly applied lume at the 12 o'clock corrected and during inspection after this I noticed that my rehaut is slightly misaligned with the markers which has sent me on a hunt to a couple of local A.D's and so far I have seen 9 brand new watches with the rehaut issue and one was an 18k blue submariner which was horrifically out of line...

These faults in such an expensive luxury goods product (which a Rolex watch is) is totally unacceptable. Looks like Rolex desperately need to replace their quality control team!

[dooder202]

Originally Posted by RyanJames

I can relate to this topic!

My 3 month old 214270 Exp 1 has been back to have the very poorly applied lume at the 12 o'clock corrected and during inspection after this I noticed that my rehaut is slightly misaligned with the markers which has sent me on a hunt to a couple of local A.D's and so far I have seen 9 brand new watches with the rehaut issue and one was an 18k blue submariner which was horrifically out of line...

Yeah I have seen many that the rehaut engraving isn't in line with the dial markers.... It isn't a functionality issue but I am wondering where the inconsistency lies with this? Is it the engraving that is off from watch to watch? Is it the dial that is turned a hair different from watch to watch? Or is it maybe the dial printing???

But I agree on watches of this caliber the rehaut engraving should be dead on, on every watch.

[rolepam312]

Simple, rolex while I love them, its overpriced ...the slight flaws are expected..they churn out tons of watches...its just law of average....you can't make that many without some flaws...just a realist...

[P2725TMB]

Originally Posted by rolepam312

Simple, rolex while I love them, its overpriced ...the slight flaws are expected..they churn out tons of watches...its just law of average....you can't make that many without some flaws...just a realist...

Yes, but for the high price such flaws are not, and should not, be acceptasble, surely. If they can't churn them out in volume and maintain standard they should either lower volume or lower the price to match standard, otherwise they risk damaging the brand.