Diagnosing an unopened watch... (Rolex 2135)

[Knebo]

12 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

12 hours ago, Knebo said:

210-220 (this is after 20h of running perfectly fine).

the amplitude would be fine as long as you're in the right position the image you showed way up above look like it was dial down that is not the right position

This was in a vertical position. Like in the short gif video. Amplitude is fine across all positions, at full wind and after 24h. I could post tons of pictures, but please take my word for it. 

 

12 hours ago, JohnR725 said:

On 2/21/2024 at 8:49 PM, Knebo said:

my friend may return it to the seller if I can't fix it.

this is a interesting remark? In other words your friend is buying a defective watch and hoping you will fix it? So why exactly is the watch being sold in what condition is it being advertised in? One of the problems with Rolex and other high-end watches is people often times past their problems on to unsuspecting buyers. There is a series a Rolex watches where the base caliber  runs at one frequency but the others run at different frequencies and often times we get these watches with awed timing stuff because someone did a mixing and matching of components to make a watch and then pass it off as it has a minor issue. So where is buying this should get some sort a guarantee that the watch is actually an perfect running condition which it's not if you're looking at it as somebody may be just passing problems on to the next person which is why you're having a problem

It was advertised as running fine and my friend was surprised that it didn't. The seller has a very good reputation on Chrono24, so I doubt that it's an intentional pass-on of problems. He responded quickly offering to take it back (and paying for all shipping) or reimburse 300Eur for a local service.

If the problem is what I/we think it is, then the latter is a good offer for ~1h of work and a 50-100 Eur spare part. 

 

 

UPDATE: so finally, it stops every 12h. Always somewhere between 3 and 3.30. Not a precise time. 

Shaking it a bit, will get it running again. 

Edited February 23, 2024 by Knebo

[eccentric59]

7 hours ago, Knebo said:

UPDATE: so finally, it stops every 12h. Always somewhere between 3 and 3.30. Not a precise time. 

Given that it's repeatable every 12 hours I'd look at the hour wheel or hour hand. It could be a bent or dirty tooth on the wheel, or the hand is touching the date window enough to stop it. Until you get it open, you can't be sure.

[Knebo]

Thanks a lot everyone! 

I'll update you as soon as a final decision has been made by my friend (and depending on her decision, what I may find inside). 

[JohnR725]

6 hours ago, Knebo said:

I'll update you as soon as a final decision has been made by my friend (and depending on her decision, what I may find inside).

I have a minor confusion here? The choices were send it back and get all your money back or get some money and have it fixed? Then the wording of the original title was we do diagnostics by crystal ball of not opening the watch up but now you're going to open up the watch to investigate?

[Knebo]

14 minutes ago, JohnR725 said:

I have a minor confusion here? The choices were send it back and get all your money back or get some money and have it fixed? Then the wording of the original title was we do diagnostics by crystal ball of not opening the watch up but now you're going to open up the watch to investigate?

No no, your initial understanding is correct. 

I've advised my friend on the situation: possibly an easy fix, maybe a bigger issue. 

IF she decides to keep it and take the partial reimbursement THEN I'll open it and let you all know. 

[Knebo]

Hello! 

An update! So my friend got 350 EUR from the seller and gave it to me for a look (if I can fix, we'll share the spoils). 

And well, look at that picture. You see it? 

 

[Bonefixer]

Two worn teeth in the SE position?

Is that the hour wheel?

Edited February 27, 2024 by Bonefixer

[Knebo]

1 minute ago, Bonefixer said:

Two worn teeth in the SE position?

Is that the hour wheel?

Yes and yes

Quite astonishing that this damage would stop the watch completely. It's possible, though, that there was some of the debris also stuck.

 

[eccentric59]

2 hours ago, Knebo said:

Quite astonishing that this damage would stop the watch completely.

Not really. That damage came from somewhere and indicates they were in contact with another part. It takes very little resistance to stop a watch. 

[Knebo]

Hello all,

just to give you a final conclusion to this topic:

I got myself a new hour wheel and changed it without servicing the whole watch. Unfortunately, this problem persisted and I assumed that maybe some debris from the damaged hour wheel continued to cause issues.

So I did a full service.

Now it runs perfectly. Quite impressively actually: average of 0sec/day across 5 positions at full wind AND after 24h -- with a delta of only 4seconds).

Thanks everyone for helping me pinpoint the problem. My friend is very happy now.