Almost lost another Rolex!!

[Brich436]

I use vibratite vc-3 which is easy to remove and prevents the screw from backing out. Loc tite is another option and is what Rolex uses from the factory.


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[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

Went to look at the cherry blossoms. Then I go out to eat last night.


As I’m in the elevator going down from the restaurant I feel something in my sleeve at the elbow. I go to pull up my suit and shirt sleeve and look at my wrist.


My brand new Mint Green Dial Datejust 41 is gone!!!!!

But again I feel something in my sleeve. There it is. Fortunately it went into my sleeve and not down. I grab it. The bracelet is not connected. I look down and see the spring bar is on the elevator floor. The metal is completely broken on one side.

Fortunately I must have had my hand upwards when it broke so it went into my sleeve.

I’ve never seen anything like it. Clean uneven break of the steel.

I took it to the dealer today and of course they replaced it free of charge and were very apologetic,

Pic below. Sorry for the quality. I
had to resize it.

Uff closed one but you managed to pull it through!






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[tifosi]

Originally Posted by Gaijin

The screw head is missing. Completely snapped off. Probably on the floor of the elevator still.

There are no "screw heads" on link screws. That screw looks complete to me...just backed out.

[rmwill]

Strange post. Its not a spring bar. Its a link screw.

[ZOOK]

Dodged one there my friend. I would not have noticed until hours later. Glad you got it taken care of.

[Tomas Eriksson]

Screw looks full length so my guess is loctite wasn't used at all or properly after sizing.

[omar10213245]

Originally Posted by Tomas Eriksson

Screw looks full length so my guess is loctite wasn't used at all or properly after sizing.

either loctite wasn't used, or the screw wasn't screwed all the way down when the bracelet was originally resized.

[Calatrava r]

A close-up photo of the screw, or what remains of it, would be very helpful. Glad it all worked out well for you.

[Laostuh]

Happened to me on my couple month old GMT when I first got it. Didn't break it was just a loose screw. Luckily I just sitting at my desk. Took it to my AD who rescrewed it in with loctite and hasn't happened since.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

A close-up photo of the screw, or what remains of it, would be very helpful. Glad it all worked out well for you.

Sadly it’s long gone. In the rubbish.

[Dynamin]

Losing my Rolex is the stuff of nightmares

[Devildog]

Tom,

Your image appears to show the threaded part of the screw still attached to the screw?

If so, the bracelet could not physically detach as shown unless the screw just backed out

If the screw broke at the threaded part, the threaded part would still be in the outer part of the link on the clasp side and most likely need to be drilled out.

Rolex bracelet screws don't have screw "heads"

Just curious as to what happened. Delighted for you of course that you caught it in time

[SS Oyster]

Spring at or screw broke?


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[enjoythemusic]

Luck is smiling on you OP. Would love see some cherry blossom pics.

[GRabens]

Close call! Actually too close! Glad it worked out in your favor! I'm glad I have mine insured when I hear stories like this one.

[subtona]

Originally Posted by Moondoggy

I hope they used Loctite

For a spring bar?


… after reading additional comments appears to be a screw bar… I have seen this happen many times Rolex, AP and panerai.
A macro shot of the screw bar slotted end would have provided some insight.

Does look like a simple case of no loctite.

Note Impossible to occur on nautilus bracelet with push pins/collars and sleeves. Assembles much like the heavy duty shelving sold and used by Costco or Home Depot. Durable and idiot proof.


Alls well that ends well.

[EmpireCity]

Glad you didn't lose it! On the other hand if I were to lose a watch I would prefer it happen in Japan-- you could retrace your steps and probably find it sitting on the floor of the elevator or turned in!

[Dynamin]

Originally Posted by EmpireCity

Glad you didn't lose it! On the other hand if I were to lose a watch I would prefer it happen in Japan-- you could retrace your steps and probably find it sitting on the floor of the elevator or turned in!

Dubai too

[Mike G]

I had the same issue over a year ago but happened to my Tudor pepsi and I caught it before it hits the ground.
I wonder what’s going on

[TickTockChuck]

Sorry that happened, but glad you caught it in time...whewww!! Maybe when it was sized something wasn't handled properly? Love your Mint Dial DJ41, one of my favorite DJ dials. Wear it safely in good health, although I'm sure you'll be a bit apprehensive for awhile. Cheers!

[Steverin06]

You came out without a scratch, you couldn’t be luckier.

[Kenny G]

As others have said this isn’t a spring bar, it’s just a bracelet screw.

It’s always a good idea to do a quick visual check each morning to make sure none of the screws are backing out when you put it on….this is usually preventable because they usually start poking out from the bracelet for a day or more before they actually back out completely.

Glad you caught it in time!

[Gaijin]

Thank you all for your comments. As I said looking at the location repaired it definitely wasn’t a springbar. It was a screw. When I picked it up off the elevator floor and inspected it the steel was severed completely at a broken type texture.

As to what happened to cause this. I have no idea. Just a normal peaceful day.

I watched them repair it and they used locktite.

[jelmedia]

Glad you got it fixed. A friend of mine had such experience but could not recover the screw he later got it fixed at a service center.