I just inherited a few Oyster Perpetual Day-Date Watches

[A Man From Nantucket]

These watches have been sitting in a drawer for a few years and are not running. Research online leads me to believe these are "President"s. How can I determine when each was made? And how can I start them again? Will it work to wear each until it starts running ? I have no cases, manuals, warrantys, et al. Someone told me that they may be "too old" to fix. And that Rolex may have stopped making parts for my watches. Any knowledgeable advice is appreciated.

[Rockrolex]

Welcome to TRF.

First off, we would need more information, including pictures, and at least partial serial numbers (leftmost 3 digits should suffice). The Serial Number appears at the 6 o'clock position on the case (you need to remove the bracelet to read it). The watch should run by winding it - about 30-40 turns will give it a full wind.

If a watch is very old, Rolex may not make parts for it anymore.

Take it to an AD to be checked out. That's your best shot.

[Tools]

If they are indeed "Presidents", then they will have a day spelled out at the top of the dial, and say Day-Date on the dial.

The Day-Date was not in production until about 1956, so Rolex porobably can service almost any of them that are out there..

[A Man From Nantucket]

This is the first solid information I've received on these watches. I've been researching a number of resources for answers. I'm not very mobile, at the moment, and will seek out an Authorized Repair site as soon as I can get out and about, there are 3 close by. I'm really anxious to get them running.:chuckle:

[Z-Sub]

did you try to wind the watch manually for 20 times or shake the watch a few times? Older Rolex maynot have the safety clutch to prevent over winding by hand.

[A Man From Nantucket]

I've tried a lot of things to start one of them. I've worn the watch, off and on, for about a week in an effort to wind it. Didn't work. I've suspected that the lubrication has puddled up somewhere inside so I tried gently warming the watch to ~100 degrees F. in an effort to free up any that is inside the works, to no avail. And yes, I've tried manually winding the watch, with the crown/stem just unscrewed from the body of the watch, before pulling it to the first detente. There is no resistance when I turn the stem in either direction. I'm at the point where I'm ready to ask The Forum for reference to an exemplary Authorized Rolex Repair person/facility. Bearing in mind, please that I, too, am feeling the effects of the lousy situation of the American economy.

[osama shehab]

i'm facing a problem as i got my mothers white gold / diamond orchid watch with the no. 463501 assuming its of 1963 where i wish to have more details for it and best method to avaluate it

if you get any clue kindly me let me know at your earliest if possible

[Rikki]

Any automatic watch can be wound till the cows come home, because the mainspring is a slipping spring not a setting spring. It slips in the barrel so as not to break. A setting mainspring has a finite winding and will stop when fully wound ,because it is atached to the inner barrel wall. Now the slipping mainspring in an automatic has to slip or it would break under the gear ratio of the auto winding gears which would overpower the mainspring and break it. Rik the watchmaker