Date Change Question

[ClamBake]

Should the date on my new 16610 change exactly at midnight, or a couple of minutes after?

I thought that when setting it at the AD last week the samesman made a point of telling me that it was exactly at midnight, but I have happened to be up past midnight the last couple of nights and it's taken two or three minutes after midnight until the date switched.

Thanks.

[Tools]

A couple of minutes after is normal...

However, when it changes it should "snap" over

[SPACE-DWELLER]

The date changing a couple of minutes, typically 3 minutes past is VERY typical with Rolex.

You see, Rolex makes a "mistake" (sorry to say it!) by making sure that the date changes EXACTLY at midnight, but ONLY when you advance the hands MANUALLY via the winding crown!

And since there seeems to be a DELAY of the date shift when the hands are moving the normal way (NOT manually turned forwards!), the date would change about 3 minutes past.

If Rolex adjusted the date mechanism to change at 3 minutes BEFORE midnight when you advance the hands MANUALLY, the date would shift pretty much spot on when the hands are moving the normal way.

I had one of my previous Rolex watches adjusted this way (to have the date shift at 3 minutes BEFORE 12 when you advance the hands MANUALLY, and it worked great: The date shifted 10 seconds past midnight when the watch was going the normal way.

But I advice you to NOT have it fixed, since this is actually one of the more "complicated operations", and as long as the date changes within +/- say 7 minutes, there is absolutely NO reason to "fix" it. Better wait and have it corrected when the Rolex needs service altogether after about 5 years after purchase (or 5 years after its LAST service!).

[ClamBake]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

The date changing a couple of minutes, typically 3 minutes past is VERY typical with Rolex.

You see, Rolex makes a "mistake" (sorry to say it!) by making sure that the date changes EXACTLY at midnight, but ONLY when you advance the hands MANUALLY via the winding crown!

And since there seeems to be a DELAY of the date shift when the hands are moving the normal way (NOT manually turned forwards!), the date would change about 3 minutes past.

If Rolex adjusted the date mechanism to change at 3 minutes BEFORE midnight when you advance the hands MANUALLY, the date would shift pretty much spot on when the hands are moving the normal way.

I had one of my previous Rolex watches adjusted this way (to have the date shift at 3 minutes BEFORE 12 when you advance the hands MANUALLY, and it worked great: The date shifted 10 seconds past midnight when the watch was going the normal way.

But I advice you to NOT have it fixed, since this is actually one of the more "complicated operations", and as long as the date changes within +/- say 7 minutes, there is absolutely NO reason to "fix" it. Better wait and have it corrected when the Rolex needs service altogether after about 5 years after purchase (or 5 years after its LAST service!).

Thanks for the explanation Bo. Now the only thing I am currently obsessing over is that my bezel pearl appears to have a "pit" dead center that only is visible in closeup pictures. Any thoughts?

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by ClamBake

Thanks for the explanation Bo. Now the only thing I am currently obsessing over is that my bezel pearl appears to have a "pit" dead center that only is visible in closeup pictures. Any thoughts?

Yes, I remember that someone asked you about that!

Well, some pearls aren't perfect! I had an SS Sub Date once (well, I have had a couple, to express it mildly) that has a crack in the pearl from start on!

I did not see the crack upon inspection of the watch at my AD, but later I saw it since a reflection of light sort of "divided the pearl into two halfs" (difficult to express in writing!). But there was a shade running exactly throught the middle of the pearl so that you got one half white and one half "greyish".

Anyway, what I did was simply to go to my AD, and he exchanged the whole bezel INSERT, under guarantee!

So if you have ANY worries, or if you are not satisfied with the look of YOUR pearl, I suggest you simply go to your AD asap and have it fixed. After all, you did not buy a Casio, did you, but a ROLEX, and at a pretty solid price, too boot, so it would better be perfect!

Keep us updated on this "issue", please!

[ClamBake]

Originally Posted by Spacedweller

Yes, I remember that someone asked you about that!

Well, some pearls aren't perfect! I had an SS Sub Date once (well, I have had a couple, to express it mildly) that has a crack in the pearl from start on!

I did not see the crack upon inspection of the watch at my AD, but later I saw it since a reflection of light sort of "divided the pearl into two halfs" (difficult to express in writing!). But there was a shade running exactly throught the middle of the pearl so that you got one half white and one half "greyish".

Anyway, what I did was simply to go to my AD, and he exchanged the whole bezel INSERT, under guarantee!

So if you have ANY worries, or if you are not satisfied with the look of YOUR pearl, I suggest you simply go to your AD asap and have it fixed. After all, you did not buy a Casio, did you, but a ROLEX, and at a pretty solid price, too boot, so it would better be perfect!

Keep us updated on this "issue", please!

again, solid advice Bo. I'll keep you posted.