Rolex oysterdate

[Daisy]

Hi. Thanks for letting me join.

I have a small collection of classic watches. One of them is a rolex oysterdate which I have owned from new purchased 36 years ago! I had it serviced last year and since then the second hand has "skipped". I was told it was due to a spring which was incorrectly tensioned. I returned it to the repairer but it has not been fixed. I would appreciate any advice re. Repair.

Thanks.

[Knebo]

Hi Daisy, 

The diagnosis is most likely correct: there's a spring that puts a tiny bit of tension on the seconds pinion (which holds the seconds hand). 

If that spring is too loose, badly placed, or even missing, the second hand will skip. 

A skilled watchmaker should be able to fix this easily. 

Cheers

PS: See picture. This is a Rolex calibre 1225, you may have this or a similar movement in your Oysterdate. The spring is surrounded in green, the red arrow points at seconds pinion. 

Edited July 18, 2024 by Knebo

[Neverenoughwatches]

18 minutes ago, Daisy said:

Hi. Thanks for letting me join.

I have a small collection of classic watches. One of them is a rolex oysterdate which I have owned from new purchased 36 years ago! I had it serviced last year and since then the second hand has "skipped". I was told it was due to a spring which was incorrectly tensioned. I returned it to the repairer but it has not been fixed. I would appreciate any advice re. Repair.

Thanks.

Hi Daisy welcome, with the information you've provided from the previous repair guy this sounds very much like the short flat spring that keeps the sweep seconds pinion engaged with the indirect sweep wheel.  Without the correct spring tension the second hand can stutter, the arbor that the hand connects to has too much free play so the pinion leaves and wheel teeth do no remain constantly meshed.

Haha you beat me to it matey and with a picture

Ps just be careful with your outlining in future if that spring had 2 fixing locations then............i need say no more

[Nucejoe]

Does it also skip in dial down position ?

 

Welcome to the WRT forum.

 

 

Edited July 18, 2024 by Nucejoe

[Daisy]

On 7/18/2024 at 8:55 PM, Nucejoe said:

Does it also skip in dial down position ?

 

Welcome to the WRT forum.

 

 

To be honest I have never looked

[Daisy]

Thanks for the advice re oysterdate tension spring.

Regards

Daisy

[Nucejoe]

56 minutes ago, Daisy said:

To be honest I have never looked

Skip indicates the minute drive wheel and sweep pinion's  failure to engage. 

 Providing other involved parts are undamaged, tension spring  ( if intact) is a easy and inexpensive fix, so I wonder, repair might  have been labour extensive which can explain why the  repairman decided to return your watch unrepaired. 

We need to see a pic ( focused on centre)  of the movement , like the one knebo showed above, then a few simple  tests that  you can do, helps decide if  you should  personally attempt the repair.

Rgds 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2024 by Nucejoe
correction

[Daisy]

On 7/20/2024 at 6:02 PM, Nucejoe said:

Skip indicates the minute drive wheel and sweep pinion's  failure to engage. 

 Providing other involved parts are undamaged, tension spring  ( if intact) is a easy and inexpensive fix, so I wonder, repair might  have been labour extensive which can explain why the  repairman decided to return your watch unrepaired. 

We need to see a pic ( focused on centre)  of the movement , like the one knebo showed above, then a few simple  tests that  you can do, helps decide if  you should  personally attempt the repair.

Rgds 

 

 

 

[Daisy]

Hi. Thanks for getting back to me. As someone advised I turned the watch face down and the second hand doesn't stutter in that position! I guess that's a sign that it is insufficient tension on the pinion. I am waiting for a case opening tool (rubber ball) to arrive in order to have a look. 

Thanks again.

[Daisy]

On 7/18/2024 at 8:55 PM, Nucejoe said:

Does it also skip in dial down position ?

 

Welcome to the WRT forum.

 

 

I JUST CHECKED IT AND THE SECOND HAND DOES NOT STUTTER IN THE FACE DOWN POSITION! I GUESS IT IS THE SPRING. THANKS FOR THE ADVICE.

[Nucejoe]

4 hours ago, Daisy said:

I JUST CHECKED IT AND THE SECOND HAND DOES NOT STUTTER IN THE FACE DOWN POSITION! I GUESS IT IS THE SPRING. THANKS FOR THE ADVICE.

So, in all likelihood its an issue with tension spring on sweep pinion, inexpensive  easy fix.  

Rgds

 

[Knebo]

@Daisy, if you intend to fix this yourself, just be very careful and make sure you have a screwdriver that properly fits the screw. You can use sand paper to sharpen or broaden the tip. If it's not a perfect fit, you are likely to slip. And if you slip, your screwdriver can easily end up in the balance. Then you could be looking at hundreds of dollars for a replacement.

 

[Kalanag]

On 7/24/2024 at 1:30 PM, Daisy said:

…I am waiting for a case opening tool (rubber ball) to arrive in order to have a look…

Don‘t be too disappointed if the rubber ball does not work. You will most likely need the proper wrench for your specific Rolex in order to apply enough torque.

[Daisy]

On 7/20/2024 at 4:05 PM, Daisy said:

To be honest I have never looked

I am pleased to say that thanks to the help from this group and a new spring I have managed to fix my Rolex.

[Daisy]

On 7/25/2024 at 6:37 PM, Kalanag said:

Don‘t be too disappointed if the rubber ball does not work. You will most likely need the proper wrench for your specific Rolex in order to apply enough torque.

Pleased to say the rubber ball worked and I have fixed my watch.

[Neverenoughwatches]

25 minutes ago, Daisy said:

Pleased to say the rubber ball worked and I have fixed my watch.

Well done Daisy,  first repair under your belt ?

[Daisy]

13 minutes ago, Neverenoughwatches said:

Well done Daisy,  first repair under your belt ?

Yes and it was a bit nerve wracking!

[Neverenoughwatches]

5 minutes ago, Daisy said:

Yes and it was a bit nerve wracking!

But you did it and the watch survived so that's a win

[clockboy]

Sorry I have just picked up on this post. The watch should be returned to the repairer to rectify the fault.  Opening the watch again will nullify any warranty offered by the repairer.