New Sub No Date - Bezel Alignment Question

[shahuk]

Hi All - I was chuffed to receive my first Rolex today, a Sub No Date, brand new from an AD.

Now I'm not sure if my eyes are going wonky, or if I just don't understand how a divers watch works, but I have some questions on the bezel - It seems to me that when the 0 marker on the bezel lines up with the 12 O'clock on the dial, the 3,6,9s dont line up, and (obviously) when the 3,6,9, line up the 12 doesn't line up. I've posted some pictures below.

I'd love some advice as to whether if these 'issues' are in fact normal (if so, then great!) and if not, what I should ask AD to do.

Happy to post more pics if helpful. Thank you so much for your thoughts!

0 minute marker straight, 15/30/45 crooked?
IMG_5390.JPG

0 minute marker crooked, 15/30/45 straight?
IMG_5393.JPG

IMG_5394.JPG

[Gold Crown]

I have the exact same issue with my Sea Dweller 4000

[904VT]

Everything looks fine to me. I'd put it on and enjoy it. No watch will ever be perfect, since there still is a good amount done by hand. Clicks on bezel usually line that way for the 6 digit divers I've seen.

It's tough to tell in pics as well with normal photo distortion.

[morimotom]

That’s bizarre. I just checked my SD43 and the alignments are all good to my eyes.

That has to be a a badly milled out bezel. If that’s true, then there is a whole batch of them, and whole batch of Subs that are misaligned.

[run23]

Having trouble following what’s going on in the pics, but if it’s misaligned I’d take it back.

[Swiss Mad!]

If your really not happy then take it back.
Maybe ask if there's another Sub in there to compare it to?


Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[GBD]

The bezel alignment looks off to me. The first photo shows the pip to right of 12, the second photo shows it left. I would take it back to the AD have it re-aligned, which is something people have done in the past under warranty, so shouldn't be an issue to get it fixed (if it bothers you).

[jkim1027]

yeah its off. get it re-aligned

[TG3N]

Originally Posted by shahuk

0 minute marker straight, 15/30/45 crooked?
Attachment 934091

You might be able to get it closer than that - the bezel pip is not truly centred there, so the 15/30/45 looks out of line too.

Try and nudge the bezel clockwise very slightly, to the left - you may find you can take advantage of a little 'play' in the mechanism to centre it, and it stays there. DON'T go so far as the next 'click', as that will take you right past the 12 o'clock marker.

The SubC bezel rides on three spring-loaded ball-bearings, plus a spring-loaded click-stop, so it allows for a little play.

My SubC, and a lot of others I've read about, does the same. Some might say play in a bezel denotes poor quality, but I don't think so in this case - crucially, it's both very minimal & only in the clockwise direction. For obvious diving reasons it's sufficient that there is no play anti-clockwise whatsoever (you can't push back at all between clicks, only forward in a tiny, tiny amount).

In a lot of cases, it's not the bezel that's out - the dial locks onto the movement with two little dial feet (like little prongs), which have a minuscule amount of wiggle/play in the holes they enter, so if the dial is a tiny hair left or right, then the effect is magnified by the markers.

In any event, I can get my SubC dead centre, so I'm happy. A 120-click bezel means you'll never be too far away in any event.

The 12 o'clock alignment thing has been raised a lot. Some insist on it, some see it as unaffecting function. It usually incites, er...somewhat strong opinions.

[daytonastl]

Originally Posted by 904VT

Everything looks fine to me. I'd put it on and enjoy it. No watch will ever be perfect, since there still is a good amount done by hand. Clicks on bezel usually line that way for the 6 digit divers I've seen.

It's tough to tell in pics as well with normal photo distortion.

It doesn't look fine to me. It looks misaligned and I'm pretty sure Rolex would agree. Visit an AD.

[Roger Lococco]

Get it fixed for sure

[kauffee]

Looks totally normal. As mentioned, there is play between clicks due to the mechanism. Regarding certain markers looking aligned when others are not, I think you’re just seeing a bit of parallax.

[daytonastl]

Originally Posted by kauffee

Looks totally normal. As mentioned, there is play between clicks due to the mechanism. Regarding certain markers looking aligned when others are not, I think you’re just seeing a bit of parallax.

Take it to an AD or to a RSC. If Rolex says it is totally normal, you will know it is. Until then, it looks misaligned.

[kauffee]

Originally Posted by daytonastl

Take it to an AD or to a RSC. If Rolex says it is totally normal, you will know it is. Until then, it looks misaligned.

What looks misaligned? The printing on the bezel? Those are produced by a machine so that’s basically impossible.

Do you own a 6 digit sub? If so, you’d know that there’s a significant amount of play between clicks and that the bezel doesn’t “lock” into one position like a GMT bezel.

OP’s watch is normal.

[adg31]

Originally Posted by TG3N

In a lot of cases, it's not the bezel that's out - the dial locks onto the movement with two little dial feet (like little prongs), which have a minuscule amount of wiggle/play in the holes they enter, so if the dial is a tiny hair left or right, then the effect is magnified by the markers.

Looking at the engraving on the rehaut it seems to line up pretty well with the hour / minute markers - which is good news given some recent posts!
As such, I'd say that it's the bezel that's slightly offset.
If it bothers the OP take it back to your AD and get it replaced / realigned / refunded whilst it's new - it won't get better with time and you lose your initial consumer rights.
OP - If you do go for repair, please be sure to take some condition photographs of the watch first; this will protect you in case it incurs any damage whilst it's with RSC.

PS: Have you tried running a piece of cotton across the dial from say 50 on the bezel across to 20. It's then easy to see if it aligns with the minute markers and runs through the centre of the dial?
It's slightly more objective as it helps minimises parallax error.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[daytonastl]

Originally Posted by kauffee

What looks misaligned? The printing on the bezel? Those are produced by a machine so that’s basically impossible.

Do you own a 6 digit sub? If so, you’d know that there’s a significant amount of play between clicks and that the bezel doesn’t “lock” into one position like a GMT bezel.

OP’s watch is normal.

I find it so difficult to believe that you would have a need to insist that the OP is somehow 'wrong' in what he sees. Why is that so important to you? If it bothers him, Rolex has a fantastic system in place to give him peace of mind.

And by the way, neither of my 6 digit subs look like this at all. So, not 'normal.'

[RollieRoll]

OP...your rehaut appears perfect....do not listen to what others are saying. There is no misaligned issue. Your besel has some play. Turn it a bit and it won't click and it will be perfect ...all the subCs are like this.

[MHB]

Originally Posted by RollieRoll

OP...your rehaut appears perfect....do not listen to what others are saying. There is no misaligned issue. Your besel has some play. Turn it a bit and it won't click and it will be perfect ...all the subCs are like this.

This. The bezels have a little bit of play. Play with it.

[RollieRoll]

Yes. Here is a pick of subCs from various trusted sellers here. Go enjoy your sub. It's beautiful.

[DLRIDES]

The bezel marker spacing is off by approximately .4-.7 mm, report it to AD and have it replaced. You will always be bothered if you don’t.

[jabbawock545]

Mine was misaligned, took it back and they turned it round in 2 weeks. Got a nice service pouch to.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RollieRoll]

Originally Posted by DLRIDES

The bezel marker spacing is off by approximately .4-.7 mm, report it to AD and have it replaced. You will always be bothered if you don’t.

Do you own a 6 digit sub?

[rudestew]

My sd43 is a little out ( a bit to the left nano mm) my sub hits 3 of the 4 spots IE 12-3-6-but 9 is off and my dssd is great but I have to be carful as I can read a map and drive at the same time and my nick names woody 🤪

[DLRIDES]

Originally Posted by RollieRoll

Do you own a 6 digit sub?

Sub no, and that has no bearing on the matter.

Nor am I blind, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night !

[RollieRoll]

Originally Posted by DLRIDES

Sub no, and that has no bearing on the matter.

Nor am I blind, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night !

🤣🤣

[Bladeshot]

It is out of alignment. Happened to me on a sub date last month. I took to the local AD and they removed the ceramic insert and placed it back in, correctly aligned. It obviously bothered me enough to want to have it fixed and looks like it bothers you too. Same day repair. Charged me $80, because I did not purchase it from them. I was happy to pay, and it’s perfect now.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Old Expat Beast]

Happens a lot with Rolex. The insert needs to be removed and realigned within the insert. Doesn't seem to happen with the Tudor Black Bay, whose bezel clicks to a slight stop when the triangle hits the 12.

[Rashid.bk]

I put my glasses on and stared and stared, looks fine to me. The parallax effect can play tricks on you. But hey, go for what makes you happy. Good luck.

[brandrea]

In practice it is not a problem. Aesthetically, it looks a wee bit off.

[bp1000]

Some of mine are out too

But the angle also makes a difference. Yours isn’t too bad but you can always get it realigned

Not sure how easy a ceramic bezel is but rolex will sort it