Rolex GMT Randomly Stopping

[TKav3]

For some context, I have a Rolex GMT BLRO (2020) that I essentially wear daily. At the end of the day I take it off, 10-12 hours later I put it back on, and it consistently keeps perfect time.

However, if for whatever reason I take the watch off for 48-60 hours, then go to put it back on (it's still running), about 5-10 minutes later the watch will stop for about 20-25 minutes. For example, I take the watch off on Friday evening, then on Monday morning when I put it back on (still running), I'll notice in about 40 mins that the time is 20-25 minutes slow.

In the year that I've had this watch this has happened 3 times. It is not too bothersome since it's an easy fix and doesn't happen often, but is it normal for the movement to basically freeze for 20-25 minutes if I put it back on toward the end of the power reserve? In these instances would it make sense to manually wind it before putting back on? Would I already need a servicing for a watch that was manufactured less than 4 years ago? Would warranty cover this?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

[omar-rye]

It seems to me that the most likely reason is that you're not active enough to keep the watch fully wound with your hand movements before setting it down at night. Hence, a 70 hour power reserve movement is on its last leg of energy 48 to 60 hours later on Monday morning.

[SS Oyster]

Wind it each time you put it on. Turn it 40 times before wearing, even if running.


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[77T]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

Wind it each time you put it on. Turn it 40 times before wearing, even if running.


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Agree

Even if the symptom doesn't present itself during the week, the mainspring is in "power debt". That is, never wound to its full power reserve by the rotor's action during the day. By the weekend following some weeks that had below average wrist activity, it might be depleted enough to exhibit those symptoms on Monday.

If you don't want to wind the watch every day, then at least do it on Friday evening. That should remedy the situation.

Or a watch winder for Fathers Day.


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[996marty]

Originally Posted by SS Oyster

Wind it each time you put it on. Turn it 40 times before wearing, even if running.


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This will surely do the trick

[Nairn1980]

Originally Posted by omar-rye

It seems to me that the most likely reason is that you're not active enough to keep the watch fully wound with your hand movements before setting it down at night. Hence, a 70 hour power reserve movement is on its last leg of energy 48 to 60 hours later on Monday morning.

This

[sleddog]

The big misconception here is that you are winding the watch up to max capacity while wearing.
In truth, you are only actually keeping the watch wound at its current level while wearing..
It takes actual active movement to keep a watch wound, and siting at a desk, or being idle, isn’t keeping any reserve stored.
As others have suggested, wind your watch a full 40 turns of the crown everythime you place the watch back on your wrist, especially after leaving it sit over the weekend unworn. I doubt you’d have any further issue if you did.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by TKav3

For some context, I have a Rolex GMT BLRO (2020) that I essentially wear daily. At the end of the day I take it off, 10-12 hours later I put it back on, and it consistently keeps perfect time.

However, if for whatever reason I take the watch off for 48-60 hours, then go to put it back on (it's still running), about 5-10 minutes later the watch will stop for about 20-25 minutes. For example, I take the watch off on Friday evening, then on Monday morning when I put it back on (still running), I'll notice in about 40 mins that the time is 20-25 minutes slow.

In the year that I've had this watch this has happened 3 times. It is not too bothersome since it's an easy fix and doesn't happen often, but is it normal for the movement to basically freeze for 20-25 minutes if I put it back on toward the end of the power reserve? In these instances would it make sense to manually wind it before putting back on? Would I already need a servicing for a watch that was manufactured less than 4 years ago? Would warranty cover this?

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Wearing the watch don't wind the watch, its wrist activity that winds the watch, even when warn will do no harm whatsoever to give a manual wind once a week or so to keep mainspring at peak power-reserve.

[TKav3]

Appreciate the help and advice everyone!

[Tools]

It is always good to fully wind your watch when you have had it off for as long as you say. A watch likes to operate in the upper half of its bandwidth for best accuracy and optimal drivetrain operation.

I agree that your watch is simply running out of mainspring wind while inactive. Putting it back on isn't going to suddenly give it a rush of extra power, and perhaps less than is necessary to keep it from continuing to lose more power and stopping.

[brandrea]

Welcome to the forum. Great advice here