something loose inside my EXPII??

[kdub]

I was just shaking my ExpII earlier and I can hear what sounds like a small metal bit inside the watch moving loosely. At first I thought it was the made by the bracelet, but when I grab tightly onto the bracelet I could still hear the sound.
Is this normal? I have had various automatic watches in the past and I know the sound of the rotor when it swings, but this is different.

The watch is running perfectly and the arms can be turned smoothly. Someone please tell me this bit of sound is normal.

Ken

[Tools]

Kind of hard to tell from here..

Stick it out the window and give it a good shake.....


Seriously, you can hear the self-winding rotor in a Rolex if you are shaking it close to your ear, and it does sound like a bit of something loose.

At this point, I'm not sure you have an issue..

Still, it is hard do diagnose noises on the internet....

[kdub]

I have uploaded a video of me shaking the watch. You can distinctly hear a rattling sound. The sound it for sure not from the bracelet as I have held very tight onto it. I even tried pulling on it with both hands to make sure it isn't the bracelet.

Anyway, I hope someone can shake their ExpII and see if they get the same noise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSN0lMRjMmI

Thanks

Ken

[colemanitis]

You should remove the bracelet just to be sure. It's the only way to be 100% sure it's not the bracelet.

[frostie]

I think that the sound is coming from the bracelet. If you are 100% sure that the sound is not coming from the bracelet then indeed there is a problem with your watch cause rolex watches should not make this kind of sound when somebody is shaking the watch

The best thing to do as Jeff said is to remove the bracelet if that's possible and make another video

[robbyrolex]

If it's not an sel bracelet I bet it is the rolex rattle, at least I hope it is.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by kdub

I was just shaking my ExpII earlier and I can hear what sounds like a small metal bit inside the watch moving loosely. At first I thought it was the made by the bracelet, but when I grab tightly onto the bracelet I could still hear the sound.
Is this normal? I have had various automatic watches in the past and I know the sound of the rotor when it swings, but this is different.

The watch is running perfectly and the arms can be turned smoothly. Someone please tell me this bit of sound is normal.

Ken

Nothing to worry about. It's NOT from the watch....but from the bracelet pins.

It's the sleeve in the pin of the SEL link that has a bit of play and clicks when the watch is shaken.

Take off the bracelet, shake the watch by itself.....and PRESTO....no more clicking sound.

Cheers - JJ

[abigsecret]

Move your watch front to back instead of left to right (and hold the bracelet very tightly together with the case), if the sound gets louder, it's your rotor axle that's broken....
Complete service required....

[sleedawg]

Ken,

How old is the watch? I have a similar noise, just not as loud. I just dropped off my 6 year old sub at the RSC here in SF and when I talked to the watchmaker there he said that noise is usually a sign that the oils are drying up. He also said showed me the ratcheting mechanism in the watch that also can make that noise. He said it gets a little louder as it gets older. Servicing will quiet that noise down a little. He assured me that there's absolutely nothing wrong. I'd suggest stopping off at a qualified watchmaker and have him/her take a quick look.

Steve

[kdub]

Thank you everyone for your inputs and advises.

I think that noise is most probably the bracelet itself. If i pull really firm on it and shake, the noise is lessen but not completely eliminated. Without the lug holes, taking the bracelet off is very difficult and I don't want to risk scratching the watch. I had taken the bracelet off after I got it to verify the serial number and that was difficult. I don't want to go thru that again especially for both sides.

The watch is an F series so I reckon it was made in 2003 or 2004. The watch was originally sold to the first owner in Feb of 2005. So the watch is 5 years old from year of manufacture or 3 from the initial purchase. I am planning to send the watch to the RSC in Toronto in 2010. The watch is running perfectly so I figure there really isn't anything wrong and I am just being to sensitive to the noise. If something that loose was inside the watch, the watch wouldn't be running properly right?

I'll just keep wearing the watch for now and monitor further. If anything funny start to happen, I will send it to RSC immediately.

[dmalka]

Hey,
Dont worry like JJ said it could be the noise from the Bracelets Pins. Also you should know thats its not recommended to shake the watch that way, You always have to move it in a circular way.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Ken, try reading this thread of mine I made a while back when I had the same issue with an SD.

[BiG JeEzY]

I saw your video and youtube and I think that is coming for the bracelet pins as well. That kind of noise would usually not be made by the movement.

Usually if you can hear the rotor spinning while shaking the watch, that is sound that is coming from the movement, never a rattle like what I hear on your video. Plus since your watch is running well, I doubt the sound has anything to do with the movement.

Other then that, your Expy looks great in the video!

[kdub]

Bo thank you for your link. Your description is pretty much what I am experiencing with the watch. It was nice to read your persistence in finding out the cause of the noise with other members. I feel more at ease now

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Glad to hear that, Ken!

Now enjoy your Expy II in good health!

[atldavek]

My sub with SELs makes the same sound, your fine, glad all is ok.