Question from a longtime lurker

[dnick16]

Hi all,

I have enjoyed reading the various posts and looking at pictures of everyone's watches for a few years now, but this is my first post.

My love of watches started early in life, and I have followed a similar path that many of you have. First wearing cheap quartz fossil watches in my teens, then seiko, hamilton, microbrands, and eventually moving on to Rolex. I have been fortunate enough to have bought 3 rolex watches in the last five years. However, I have a very limited understanding of how the movements actually work.

Anyway, my question is about my 36 mm datejust that I purchased from my local AD in February of this year. When I adjust the time manually, the date changes at exactly midnight. When the watch is running, the date doesn't actually change until about 7 minutes after midnght. I am wondering why the movement works this way. Not really concerned about this as I am rarely awake after midnight lol. The watch is keeping great time, just curious in general if anyone knows the answer.

Thanks you!

[Hardtimes]

Welcome, and good question..Look forward to the answer from the experts

[padi56]

Originally Posted by dnick16

Hi all,

I have enjoyed reading the various posts and looking at pictures of everyone's watches for a few years now, but this is my first post.

My love of watches started early in life, and I have followed a similar path that many of you have. First wearing cheap quartz fossil watches in my teens, then seiko, hamilton, microbrands, and eventually moving on to Rolex. I have been fortunate enough to have bought 3 rolex watches in the last five years. However, I have a very limited understanding of how the movements actually work.

Anyway, my question is about my 36 mm datejust that I purchased from my local AD in February of this year. When I adjust the time manually, the date changes at exactly midnight. When the watch is running, the date doesn't actually change until about 7 minutes after midnght. I am wondering why the movement works this way. Not really concerned about this as I am rarely awake after midnight lol. The watch is keeping great time, just curious in general if anyone knows the answer.

Thanks you!

Rolex uses a cam system for the date change so they could change a few minutes past midnight.Or possible the hands need taking of the hand stack and need re-setting,but as long as it changed when you wake up in the morning it's not a problem.

[Mr Ben]

I had the same question before and got some good answers on the link below. The bit I don’t understand (which is also in your question) is why the change during manual winding might be different to the change during automatic movement - mine is the same as yours but changes at 00.06.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=887173

[KatGirl]

I think that when you are manually changing the date, which you do rather quickly, it seems like it’s flipping exactly at midnight, but it’s probably not. If you are awake and see it flip, in real time, it’s almost always a few minutes after midnight. Better after, than before, in my opinion. Your watch is working as it should.

Kat


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Harry-57]

All my Rolex watches with a date complication change date instantaneously between 4 and 12 minutes past midnight.

[ChuMpion3]

Lurking since May 2020. Thanks for finally posting.

[dnick16]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate the feedback!

[Watchdog]

Originally Posted by padi56

Rolex uses a cam system for the date change so they could change a few minutes past midnight.Or possible the hands need taking of the hand stack and need re-setting,but as long as it changed when you wake up in the morning it's not a problem.

Interesting and thank you!