“Batman” moisture under the crystal after Rolex service

[Mannymal]

I’ve had this GMT Master II Batman since 2020. It is still under warranty. Last year I brought it to Rolex in NYC because it’s amplitude was low and it was losing about 8 seconds a day. Rolex took it in and gave it back to me a month later in what seemed to be good working order.

I’ve worn the watch sporadically but it mostly sits in my box. I’m an airline pilot and alternate between this watch and a Pepsi when I go on a work trip. When I’m home I wear mostly my Daytona, or other brands. On this work trip the watch was working flawlessly for a week, but on Friday I had an early departure from a cold weather airport. I went from a hot car to the cold 30°F air, to a balmy airport warehouse. I walked across wearing my thick coat, so I sweat a bit. From there I did a walk around the airplane in the cold, then walked into the cockpit where it was hot again. When I look at the watch, it had condensation under the crystal. I thought it would go away, but it didn’t. It’s been there for a few days. The watch has not touched any water in recent memory, certainly not after Rolex had it. I don’t shower with it. I haven’t gone in a pool or any body of water. The crown is always locked tightly. It wear this watch just for traveling for work. It has never been dropped or banged.

I called Rolex today Monday morning, and they asked me to ship them the watch. Of course they asked me if I went into water with he crown fully open. I have opted instead to ship it to my AD this time, as they are an authorized service center for Rolex and I trust the watchmaker. I am shocked that this would happen to a Rolex. The brand has such a reputation for reliability that it’s just inconceivable that this is a problem. Not even my 1967 Navitimer has had an issue like this.

Just wanted to share this experience, to see if anyone else has had this issues, and to vent. My assumption is that something went wrong with the seal behind the crystal or the case back. Maybe it wasn’t sealed correctly when it was serviced last year and with the rapid changes in pressure altitude and temperature the seal failed and it absorbed my sweat.

Here is a picture of the watch immediately after I sat down and noticed the condensation. 3 days later it’s still there. Gonna overnight it to the watchmaker tomorrow. I’ll keep you guys updated.

[jgallego13]

I feel your pain. This happened to me over the weekend after attempting to clean my BLNR with soap and water (toddler got food on the watch). Crown was locked down tight. Didn’t notice a thing until later that evening stepping outside into “cold air” and noticing condensation under the crystal. Dropped it off at the AD yesterday to be sent to RSC.

It is also a 2020 126710.

[Onequik135i]

Damn, sorry to see and hear about your BLNR’s. I always rinse my watches w pump hand soap & warm water while at work. Excluding the speedy & pam111.

[Calatrava r]

Sorry to hear about this. Too many QC issues are never good for the prestige of a brand.

[Bakelite]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Sorry to hear about this. Too many QC issues are never good for the prestige of a brand.

That’s why Rolex enjoys such high prestige.

[Mystro]

Catastrophic gasket failure. Not common at all. But even if you did get it wet with the crown open, it wouldn’t get any water intrusion unless you were really diving.

[996marty]

Doesn’t look good especially on a watch so young. Hopefully you can get it sorted as soon as possible with your local AD and it’ll be interesting to hear what they make of it

[perpetualman88]

There are three points of failure. There is a plastic gasket sleeve that goes around the crystal there is the rubber caseback gasket and there are several rubber gaskets in the crown.

one of these or more have failed. This should have been an easy catch for Rolex after first vacuum test to a wet a deep pressure test moving to moisture evaporation test. This should never have happened after a service too bad to hear it. I would send it back and I would ask for new hands new date wheel and new dial as well as a full movement service

[Bakelite]

Pilots generally have exceptional attention to detail but the fact the post has been double posted leads me to wonder, was the crown, in fact, sealed? Surely even a cursory check would have revealed the sloppy posting?

[Tools]

If the watch was in good working order, the most likely point of failure would be the crystal to case gasket.

On occasion a hard knock can push the crystal and seal apart. Of course it could be other things, but this one would not be a warranty issue.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Bakelite

Pilots generally have exceptional attention to detail but the fact the post has been double posted leads me to wonder, was the crown, in fact, sealed? Surely even a cursory check would have revealed the sloppy posting?

Strange statement, on your part, but even if the crown was not sealed, this should not, and would not have happened, unless one of the gaskets failed.

Kat


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[Mannymal]

Sorry everyone about the double-post, I was posting from my phone browser on an airplane WiFi and it must have glitched out when I submitted. Looked fine on the preview, but maybe I did not zoom out enough. Too late to edit.

Originally Posted by Bakelite

Pilots generally have exceptional attention to detail but the fact the post has been double posted leads me to wonder, was the crown, in fact, sealed? Surely even a cursory check would have revealed the sloppy posting?

I hope you are joking? The statement about me lying about the crown being open because I double-posted is beyond asinine.

[Bakelite]

Originally Posted by Mannymal

Sorry everyone about the double-post, I was posting from my phone browser on an airplane WiFi and it must have glitched out when I submitted. Looked fine on the preview.




I hope you are joking? The post looked fine when I previewed it, then it was approved by moderators. I’m posting from a phone browser and an airplane WiFi (deadheading) so maybe it glitched out. The statement about me lying about the crown being open because I double-posted is asinine.

Ouch! You told me, or rather I had to tell you about your lack of attention to detail.

[Mannymal]

Originally Posted by Bakelite

Ouch! You told me, or rather I had to tell you about your lack of attention to detail.

That’s it, blocked.

[Bakelite]

Originally Posted by Mannymal

That’s it, blocked.

Let me know if you need help navigating the website settings.

[Mannymal]

Originally Posted by perpetualman88

There are three points of failure. There is a plastic gasket sleeve that goes around the crystal there is the rubber caseback gasket and there are several rubber gaskets in the crown.

one of these or more have failed. This should have been an easy catch for Rolex after first vacuum test to a wet a deep pressure test moving to moisture evaporation test. This should never have happened after a service too bad to hear it. I would send it back and I would ask for new hands new date wheel and new dial as well as a full movement service

Hopefully there is no permanent damage. The AD will receive it tomorrow morning and check. The hands being made of white gold, I imagine they will be unaffected? Not sure about the other components.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Bakelite

Pilots generally have exceptional attention to detail but the fact the post has been double posted leads me to wonder, was the crown, in fact, sealed? Surely even a cursory check would have revealed the sloppy posting?

Well that’s quite an introduction. Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better.

[Mannymal]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

Well that’s quite an introduction. Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better.

Just report him and add him to your ignore list.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Mannymal

Sorry everyone about the double-post, I was posting from my phone browser on an airplane WiFi and it must have glitched out when I submitted. Looked fine on the preview, but maybe I did not zoom out enough. Too late to edit.

Not a worry. Welcome to the forum.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by Mannymal

Just report him and add him to your ignore list.

Thank you but I don’t block. There are still lessons to be learned from people I disagree with.

[KatGirl]

Originally Posted by Mannymal

Just report him and add him to your ignore list.

No more worries. He’s gone! Hope you get your watch sorted out quickly.

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Mannymal]

Originally Posted by jgallego13

I feel your pain. This happened to me over the weekend after attempting to clean my BLNR with soap and water (toddler got food on the watch). Crown was locked down tight. Didn’t notice a thing until later that evening stepping outside into “cold air” and noticing condensation under the crystal. Dropped it off at the AD yesterday to be sent to RSC.

It is also a 2020 126710.

Sorry to see this. At least we can have the comfort of knowing we are not the one �� good luck!

Originally Posted by KatGirl

No more worries. He’s gone! Hope you get your watch sorted out quickly.

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Cheers! And I’ve read about the double gasket system on Rolex watches. Very cool design. I imagine the point of failure on mine is either the case back or the crystal gasket.

[Mannymal]

Originally Posted by Kevin of Larchmont

Thank you but I don’t block. There are still lessons to be learned from people I disagree with.

I respect that. I follow that rule in the “real world”, but with online trolls it’s best to nip them in the bud. They crave attention.


anyways we can go back to talking about watches :)

[racerx]

Originally Posted by Mannymal

Just report him and add him to your ignore list.

Appears to be banned now.

[Mannymal]

Originally Posted by racerx

Appears to be banned now.

I haven’t participated in an online forum like this in years. I gotta say, good moderation team on this one.

Thanks everyone, I will post a follow up once my AD gets the watch. I miss it already. But this is a good excuse to go buy a Casio or Timex to use for the rest of this trip :)

[physicist]

I have never seen a watch with, really, any level of condensation under the crystal. That is extreme and, in my opinion, something is definitely wrong.

[KatGirl]

Things happen. Both the same model, and age, so possibly a defective group of gaskets got through QC. They will get their Batman’s sorted out.

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Pepperjack]

Originally Posted by jgallego13

I feel your pain. This happened to me over the weekend after attempting to clean my BLNR with soap and water (toddler got food on the watch). Crown was locked down tight. Didn’t notice a thing until later that evening stepping outside into “cold air” and noticing condensation under the crystal. Dropped it off at the AD yesterday to be sent to RSC.

It is also a 2020 126710.

What is going on with your bezel around the 18 mark? The blue - black transition at the 6 is smooth, but the other side looks odd to me. Surely that isn't just the lighting?

[Mannymal]

Originally Posted by Pepperjack

What is going on with your bezel around the 18 mark? The blue - black transition at the 6 is smooth, but the other side looks odd to me. Surely that isn't just the lighting?

It's a reflection of the blue sky -- look at the trees above it. Neat play of light!

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Bakelite

Let me know if you need help navigating the website settings.