Broken(?) clasp on 116710N

[28mm]

I showed this to my cheerful SA yesterday and he told me the clasp was broken and he suggested how I might have done it...thinking back, I can see he's probably right. I have lived with it for so long that it's not really a problem but I got interested in what exactly is wrong with it last night.

Here's some not great pictures of it. It looks like there are two small metal clip like things that appear to have gotten disengaged probably long ago.

I doubt I'd be able to fix it but am curious if anyone else has experienced this and what they did to fix it. The AD thought I needed an entire new clasp but he didn't give it a close look.

My guess is that the two little clips in there can be re engaged but that's just a guess.

Any feedback on this is welcome!

PS I did a search on this and see it can be a defect from Rolex..Yet to my eyes (and without knowing) it sort of looks like the two metal 'spring-like' mechanisms are just disengaged.

While it looks like they can be reengaged, likely it's more than that..

[28mm]

Super nice guy at the AD but I did mention that I thought it was a design problem, which for a Rolex, it clearly is. No way should that part break even if I did something wrong, I didn't hit it with a hammer or anything!

(Yet)

[Onikage]

Twisted it maybe? An angry wife did it to a member's watch a while back. Similar damage.

[28mm]

Originally Posted by Onikage

Twisted it maybe? An angry wife did it to a member's watch a while back. Similar damage.

I got it in 2007 and I don't remember for sure but vaguely remember struggling with it a bit. I have a 116713, same watch Two tone and have no problem with the clasp.

If a wife is angry and takes it out on a Rolex, he got off lightly!

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by 28mm

If a wife is angry and takes it out on a Rolex, he got off lightly!

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[HogwldFLTR]

Your problem is that you wore it; it should be kept in a safe. Good luck getting it fixed. Did the AD give you a quote on getting it repaired?

[28mm]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Your problem is that you wore it; it should be kept in a safe. Good luck getting it fixed. Did the AD give you a quote on getting it repaired?

Funny and true, never really thought much about it even though I suspect it broke early on. It sounds stupid but ....I didn't think Rolex made some thing that can break this easily , so I figured I was doing it wrong "lol"

I could live with it since I have lived with it for 13 years but now that I know it's broken, hard to unknow!

Guess I'll as the SA who saw no problem from the clasp design and was convinced it was user error, he might be right but...I don't remember using a pair of needle nose pliers on it!

[28mm]

Spoke with my SA and he said that it's not covered under warranty, not that I expected that 13 years later.

I gave him the model number (and the serial number for kicks) and he will get a price from Rolex on the cost to repair.

Yet I bought my gf a Love Bracelet from Cartier and years later had a problem with the screw (2020) but it held fine

We brought it in for a polishing and got an email informing us that the clasp(screw) is defective and can we come in or do we want them to send A NEW ONE. We're talking about a $7000 item replaced with new. Without us even asking!

This is true story..bought second hand and Cartier gave us a brand new one that we didn't even request..not years ago but in February.

No, I don't expect Rolex to fix this for free but I feel they should!

[Jim Smyth]

If its a 2007/2008 model that is a random "M" serial number. They were known for breaking in that location years ago and Rolex fixed them for free even out of warranty. Do some searching and you should find more examples. There was a problem with that year time frame and Rolex knows it.

[28mm]

Originally Posted by Jim Smyth

If its a 2007/2008 model that is a random "M" serial number. They were known for breaking in that location years ago and Rolex fixed them for free even out of warranty. Do some searching and you should find more examples. There was a problem with that year time frame and Rolex knows it.

I'm certain you are right (and yes both my SS and Two Tone GMT's bought at the same time have M serial numbers) and I appreciate the post.

Unfortunately my two AD's are either gone or new owners and I am starting off from scratch.

The new AD I am trying to make inroads with simply told me it's not covered under warranty. He doesn't mean badly but I don't expect him to work that hard to even try (if that even matters?) to get it repaired at no charge.

I'd contact Rolex directly if that would help but not sure that's even possible..hmm...wondering lol

[envuks]

Originally Posted by Jim Smyth

If its a 2007/2008 model that is a random "M" serial number. They were known for breaking in that location years ago and Rolex fixed them for free even out of warranty. Do some searching and you should find more examples. There was a problem with that year time frame and Rolex knows it.

I recall this as well back many years ago. There was a lot of noise about it when it initially happened, but I haven’t heard anything on it in recent years. I had a m serial GMTc from 2008 to 2018 so I remember posts about the issue quite well


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[28mm]

Originally Posted by envuks

I recall this as well back many years ago. There was a lot of noise about it when it initially happened, but I haven’t heard anything on it in recent years. I had a m serial GMTc from 2008 to 2018 so I remember posts about the issue quite well


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Anybody care to guess what this will cost to fix? I am pretty sure they would replace the entire clasp..

[joli160]

Skip the AD and contact the RSC directly and remind them about the generally known problem.

[28mm]

Originally Posted by joli160

Skip the AD and contact the RSC directly and remind them about the generally known problem.

Thank you, I guess it can't hurt, although from the looks of their website, likely they will suggest contacting a dealer. I'll call anyways to confirm.

[envuks]

Originally Posted by 28mm

Anybody care to guess what this will cost to fix? I am pretty sure they would replace the entire clasp..

I’m going to guess a new clasp is ~$800. I don’t think they’d fix it, replace only


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[Onikage]

I remember the spot-weld thing but not this. Interesting.

[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by 28mm

Thank you, I guess it can't hurt, although from the looks of their website, likely they will suggest contacting a dealer. I'll call anyways to confirm.

RSC is the service center. They will deal directly with you. You literally just call and the person that answers the phone will take care of you.

[28mm]

Originally Posted by RJRJRJ

RSC is the service center. They will deal directly with you. You literally just call and the person that answers the phone will take care of you.

Thank you for clarifying that, I'll give them a call for sure!

[28mm]

Since I have the 116713, which i bought at the same time, also with an M serial number, it has the same clasp. I took off the bracelets and closely looked at the working and non working clasp and to me, nothing seems to be welded. It appears as though there are two small clips that allow the clasp to have a spring to it. On the non working one, it almost looks like it's a matter of further taking it apart (there's a pin) and re engaging the clips. Clearly there's no way I could do that without special tools and in truth I doubt I could do it even if I had them! Even though to my eyes it looks as if it can be done, I'd not be surprised if Rolex would just replace the entire assembly.

[Onikage]

Run a search for spot weld gmt clasp. You don't hear about it anymore. Rolex must have corrected it because it looks really bad.

[28mm]

Originally Posted by Onikage

Run a search for spot weld gmt clasp. You don't hear about it anymore. Rolex must have corrected it because it looks really bad.

Just did, whatever caused these 2 'clips' to no longer have the right amount of tension on them, I can't know. I also have no experience in identifying spot welding and perhaps that might be why they no longer function correctly..

That being said, by really getting in close and wasting 1/2 hour comparing the working and broken clasp, it appears to my novice eyes, that the clips came loose when I pressed down or manipulated the mechanism inadvertently early on when I got the watch. The whole way it closes, to me didn't make sense but that's because the darn thing was 'broken'.

If I wanted to live with it, it does work fine, i just have to tuck the clasp in first.

Of course, now that I finally know it actually is broken, it has to be fixed and from this thread, now I know RSC can be contacted and that should be interesting.

I'll post how it goes!

thanks for the posts!

[28mm]

Wanted to follow up on this thread I created about a month ago with a very odd turn of events.

I got a 124060 yesterday and it needed to be fitted. I have no gift for working on my watches but I finally after at least an hour, I got everything fitted nicely.

While I had the tools out, I decided to put the band back on the GMT (with the 'broken' clasp) back together.

I wish I could take credit for what I am going to share but the truth is, I have zero idea how when i got it all back together..the clasp works perfectly! I did a triple take and then checked to see if I had accidentally put a different band on the GMT but nope..It's perfect.

This is the weirdest thing...but I guess with the band off the watch and how i moved it around, I must have gotten the clasp into the correct position but honestly have no idea.

Anyway, nice to post a follow up and I wish i could have posted how I got the schematic and special tools and fixed it but...

This works for me!

[htc8p]

i also had a similar problem but my 2009 gmt2c had only 1 (but wider) folded spring like sheet.

it had also fallen apart from the locking part of the clasp and the main clasp.

i started when it was jamming, the locking part of the clasp was OVER the main clasp not under.

but with a precision screwdriver i was able to assemble them together

[28mm]

Originally Posted by htc8p

i also had a similar problem but my 2009 gmt2c had only 1 (but wider) folded spring like sheet.

it had also fallen apart from the locking part of the clasp and the main clasp.

i started when it was jamming, the locking part of the clasp was OVER the main clasp not under.

but with a precision screwdriver i was able to assemble them together

Yes, I remember way back when, when I first got it, I did exactly that, the clasp was over and not under. Since it was just about new, I guess that screwed it up, it always worked but it never stayed in the correct position and was kludgy and awkward to get the clasp closed correctly.

The clasp will probably go back to how it was but...maybe not! Now I just need to polish it.

[David Sindell]

hmm, looks twisted. hope you get it fixed soon.

[28mm]

Originally Posted by David Sindell

hmm, looks twisted. hope you get it fixed soon.

THank you...the Rolex fairies visited and it's fine now. IMG_0664.jpg

[28mm]

Fixed!