Should my Rolex make any noise

[LilDavy]

I recently bought a pre-owned Rolex Ladies Datejust (SN circa 1987) for my wife's XMAS present. I know nothing about Rolex watches. The watch I bought did not come with any paperwork, nor do I know when (or if) it was last serviced. I do know it is real as I know the jeweler to be reputable (however, he typically specializes in high end, large diamonds and gems). The jeweler set the watch time and date for me last Saturday and I saw that the watch was keeping time. About 2 days later, I noticed the watch had "stopped". (The watch was just sitting in the box) and I noticed a slight, faint "grinding" or possibly "whizzing" or "whirring" type noise coming from it. I picked it up and shook it gently back and forth and the noise went away and the second hand started sweeping. Is this normal?

Since I don't have any paperwork, I don't have a manual. Does this watch need to be wound? If so, what is the correct way to do it?

TIA for any responses to my "newbie" questions.

[humvee]

Well the clasp is supposed to make noise when you open or close it

Everything you described is pretty normal except for "slight, faint "grinding" or possibly "whizzing" or "whirring" type noise ". That's suspicious.
The case must be silent. If you can hear the rotor whirring about, you must have superman ears ....Yes the case and components inside do make noise but not audible for 99.99% of human ears.

Post some pics of your watch from all angles. Take off the bracelet on both sides and show us the engravings. I have a nagging feeling you might have an ETA movement inside .... OUCH!!!

Most jewelers don't know jack about watches so they could be fooled easily. So next time, take someone with you. IF there is time for you to return the watch, then just go and get your $$ back -- just not worth dealing with your type of issues.

So lets verify your watch first and then go from there.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by LilDavy

I recently bought a pre-owned Rolex Ladies Datejust (SN circa 1987) for my wife's XMAS present. I know nothing about Rolex watches. The watch I bought did not come with any paperwork, nor do I know when (or if) it was last serviced. I do know it is real as I know the jeweler to be reputable (however, he typically specializes in high end, large diamonds and gems). The jeweler set the watch time and date for me last Saturday and I saw that the watch was keeping time. About 2 days later, I noticed the watch had "stopped". (The watch was just sitting in the box) and I noticed a slight, faint "grinding" or possibly "whizzing" or "whirring" type noise coming from it. I picked it up and shook it gently back and forth and the noise went away and the second hand started sweeping. Is this normal?

Since I don't have any paperwork, I don't have a manual. Does this watch need to be wound? If so, what is the correct way to do it?

TIA for any responses to my "newbie" questions.

What you can hear is the winding rotor weight pendulum swinging on its axle thats how it winds the watch while wearing.Now all Rolex should be fully wound from stopped around 40 full turns clockwise.Myself would always recommend a manual wind rather than shake the watch.But sometimes if watch has been stopped for quite some time if after a full wind second don't start then give it a gentle swirl.

[bayerische]

Sounds normal...

Sometimes a slight rotor noise can be heard.

Yes, if not used (on arm) it will not charge itself, and will need to be in a watch winder or manually wound. It has an aprox 40-48 hour power reserve.

An automatic watch uses kinetic energy transferred to the pendulum or rotor to automatically wind the watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by humvee

Well the clasp is supposed to make noise when you open or close it

The case must be silent. If you can hear the rotor whirring about, you must have superman ears ....

Post some pics of your watch from all angles. Take off the bracelet on both sides and show us the engravings. I have a nagging feeling you might have an ETA movement inside .... OUCH!!!

Most jewelers don't know jack about watches so they could be fooled easily.

So lets verify your watch first and then go from there.

And why would you expect its a ETA you must be super human if you can detect a ETA with just a post discription.

[humvee]

Originally Posted by padi56

And why would you expect its a ETA you must be super human if you can detect a ETA with just a post discription.

Well, I had an invcita 8926c = clone of the sub. I would just shake it to get started. It had an ETA movement inside. I could hear the sounds described by the op once I would stop shaking the watch. THe sounds would last for a second or two at most.

You remember these little cars that kids would play with - the back wheels had to be spun back to wind up the spring and then you let go of the car and
it would really fast forward? Well that type of sound would come from invicta...

But in my sub and SD, I can not hear any sound. Maybe 3135 movmement is quieter than what is inside a datejust?

[LilDavy]

OK, what is an ETA? Whats strange is that I only heard the noise when the second hand WAS NOT moving. Once I gave it a slight shaky-shaky, the second hand started sweeping and became quite.

What is the correct way to wind the watch?

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by humvee

Well, I had an invcita 8926c = clone of the sub. I would just shake it to get started. It had an ETA movement inside. I could hear the sounds descried the op once I would stop shaking the watch.

But in my sub and SD, I can not hear any sound. Maybe 3135 movmement is quieter than what is inside a datejust?

Does that make the spinning sounding rotor in my JLC Diving an ETA?

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by LilDavy

OK, what is an ETA? Whats strange is that I only heard the noise when the second hand WAS NOT moving. Once I gave it a slight shaky-shaky, the second hand started sweeping and became quite.

What is the correct way to wind the watch?

Could it have been the bracelet making the sound?

You wind your watch by unscrewing the crown, it pops out a bit to the first position, then you turn the crown about 40 revolutions clockwise or "forward", push it back in and close it by screwing it against the threads.

It don't always start even if fully wound, just as Padi says, you might need to swirl or shake the watch a bit gently to get the movement going again.

IMHO you have nothing to worry about, seems you are a newbie around mechanical automatic watches, that's all.

[humvee]

I have cheap ($100-- $300) watches that have ETA in them and they are all noisy. Just because your watch is noisy does not mean it has a cheap movement inside.

BUT I have never heard sounds coming out of the insides of a SUB, GMTII, SD or DEEPSEAor my wife's yachtmaster and datejust.

[bayerische]

Slightly worn rotor connection? Makes a bit of a blingy-blingy sound when it's being hit agains the case back or movement.

In my experience with ETA, in Fortis and Omega watches the rotor has a constant "wirring" sound when it moves around, not only at the beginning. Same in my JLC. (although NOT ETA movement. )

[Galaxy]

Well if a Rolex isn't worn it will stop because the movement of the wrist is what winds it. What concerns me is the slight whirlin sound you mention. My first brand new watch had this whirling sound and had to be sent back to Rolex where it was fixed it free of charge!

[LilDavy]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Could it have been the bracelet making the sound?

You wind your watch by unscrewing the crown, it pops out a bit to the first position, then you turn the crown about 40 revolutions clockwise or "forward", push it back in and close it by screwing it against the threads.

It don't always start even if fully wound, just as Padi says, you might need to swirl or shake the watch a bit gently to get the movement going again.

IMHO you have nothing to worry about, seems you are a newbie around mechanical automatic watches, that's all.

No. The initial whirring sound was heard with the watch at a standstill. When I shook it a bit, I think I did hear a different noise such as a slight click or similar. I assumed that was the pendulum (or whatever its called). It definitely was not the bracelet.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by LilDavy

OK, what is an ETA? Whats strange is that I only heard the noise when the second hand WAS NOT moving. Once I gave it a slight shaky-shaky, the second hand started sweeping and became quite.

What is the correct way to wind the watch?

Don't worry about anything ETA you bought from a reliable bricks and mortar store and IMHO you have nothing to worry about.But I will tell you about ETA now they are the largest maker of Swiss mechanical and quartz movements.And many a high end brand uses movements made by ETA Rolex Tudor for one, it is now part of the Swatch group.They make movements in 5 grades like say the ETA 2824 the top two grades are chronometer spec movements and are as accurate and long lasting as say a Rolex movement.And for the past 40 odd years there have been a part made by ETA Nivarox in every Rolex with the escapement hairspring, including most of the whole Swiss watch empire too.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by LilDavy

No. The initial whirring sound was heard with the watch at a standstill. When I shook it a bit, I think I did hear a different noise such as a slight click or similar. I assumed that was the pendulum (or whatever its called). It definitely was not the bracelet.

'The watch made a noise when stationary and stopped? Are you sure it wasn't something else than the watch you heard?

[LilDavy]

Originally Posted by bayerische

'The watch made a noise when stationary and stopped? Are you sure it wasn't something else than the watch you heard?

Absolutely positive.

Could it be that the watch did not have enough "power" to turn the internal mechanisms therefore causing it to make noise? Kind of like when a car's battery is low and can't turn the starter over...

[316lad]

It could be when you picked the watch up (either in it's case or not) the rotor swung a little on it's bearing.
I'm going for a worn rotor bearing where the thing is just slapping around in the case.
All in all - time to take it back and question the seller.

[rad87gn]

May not hurt to send it in for service since you don't know the service history. That way it's all like brand new for her to enjoy and you know it's authenticated with a 2 year warranty. None of my Rolex make any noise unless I put it right up to my ear.

[gqllc]

Originally Posted by humvee

Well, I had an invcita 8926c = clone of the sub. I would just shake it to get started. It had an ETA movement inside. I could hear the sounds described by the op once I would stop shaking the watch. THe sounds would last for a second or two at most.

You remember these little cars that kids would play with - the back wheels had to be spun back to wind up the spring and then you let go of the car and
it would really fast forward? Well that type of sound would come from invicta...

But in my sub and SD, I can not hear any sound. Maybe 3135 movmement is quieter than what is inside a datejust?

3135 is inside a mens datejust...not sure about ladies

[gqllc]

I had a gotten my fiance a TT Datejust 26mm ladies circa 1988-1989. Watch looked mint. I had nothing but problems with the date wheel and trying to wind the watch. I sent it back over 6 times to the seller who warranted it for me. We finally both agreed to let me trade it back in for full value spent. I had it over a year and half. Spent most of its time at the non ad dealers. He finally said he will not do any more with that model. Hopefully your outcome will be MUCH better than mine. I ended up getting a bnib new datejust for her instead circa 2011 and it has been flawless as it should be.