Need some help, what do these parts do (oscillating weight, auto bridge)

[TOB7Y]

Hi Guys,

I am wondering if any of the watch experts out there could give me some information/ guidance regarding what a couple of the components within the movement do. I am a big Rolex fan although only in the very early stages of understanding all the details behind the movement etc.

The watch is a GMT Master 2 (2011) and it is in for service at the moment. I have been told that the following needs replacing;

• Oscillating Weight
• Auto Bridge
• Crown

I am really interested to know what each of the parts does and also what could cause them to need replacing?

Thanks in advance for your help.

[dom_]

What did you do to it!
The oscillating weight is the weight that winds the watch as you move your wrist. Unlikely to ever need replacing and usually it is the weights axle that gets replaced as this is a perishable part.

The automatic bridge is the plate that holds the weight and the reversing wheels to allow your watch again to wind up by wrist power.

Crown is the part you use to wind the watch.

My best guess to needing both the bridge and weight replacing is a loose screw that got wedged under the rotor (weight) and it marked the bridge badly. Seen it a few times, but it isn't common. This is just a guess though.

Other than that bridges don't usually need to get replaced, it is not a common service part, unlike the crown can often be replaced.

[TOB7Y]

dom_

Thanks for the response and detail on what each part does. I had a brief look in to the parts and they didn't look like standard service parts.

I purchased the watch from a non-AD. It came with a warranty, it wasn't holding charge so had to return it. The non-AD said that the issue was the hairspring had wound up tight. The watch then came back from the non-AD worse than it went. There was a really loose/ knocking sound inside - I presume the loose bridge and weight.

As there was a small dent on the watch they refused to do anything else and said my only option was to send back to Rolex at my cost.

Rest assured when the watch comes back from Rolex I will write a full post on this and name the company who originally sold me the watch with their "warranty".

The items certainly do not sound like parts that you could miss if they had an issue ??

[fisherman79]

Originally Posted by dom_

What did you do to it!
The oscillating weight is the weight that winds the watch as you move your wrist. Unlikely to ever need replacing and usually it is the weights axle that gets replaced as this is a perishable part.

The automatic bridge is the plate that holds the weight and the reversing wheels to allow your watch again to wind up by wrist power.

Crown is the part you use to wind the watch.

My best guess to needing both the bridge and weight replacing is a loose screw that got wedged under the rotor (weight) and it marked the bridge badly. Seen it a few times, but it isn't common. This is just a guess though.

Other than that bridges don't usually need to get replaced, it is not a common service part, unlike the crown can often be replaced.

I thoughy it was only possible to replace the rotor axle about 3 times before the hole of the axle is too loose and you will have some play if you use it again.

[dom_]

Originally Posted by TOB7Y

dom_

Thanks for the response and detail on what each part does. I had a brief look in to the parts and they didn't look like standard service parts.

I purchased the watch from a non-AD. It came with a warranty, it wasn't holding charge so had to return it. The non-AD said that the issue was the hairspring had wound up tight. The watch then came back from the non-AD worse than it went. There was a really loose/ knocking sound inside - I presume the loose bridge and weight.

As there was a small dent on the watch they refused to do anything else and said my only option was to send back to Rolex at my cost.

Rest assured when the watch comes back from Rolex I will write a full post on this and name the company who originally sold me the watch with their "warranty".

The items certainly do not sound like parts that you could miss if they had an issue ??

I would not go back there in a hurry.
No idea what they mean by the hairspring being wound up tight, this means nothing.

Glad you are getting it sorted though.

[dom_]

Originally Posted by fisherman79

I thoughy it was only possible to replace the rotor axle about 3 times before the hole of the axle is too loose and you will have some play if you use it again.

How can you tell how many times a rotor has been re axled?
I think I have only had to replace a few rotors from the holes being too big and they where early watches 1570 etc. It is not a common problem to the watches I get in.

[fisherman79]

Originally Posted by dom_

How can you tell how many times a rotor has been re axled?
I think I have only had to replace a few rotors from the holes being too big and they where early watches 1570 etc. It is not a common problem to the watches I get in.

I know you can't see how many times a new axle has been put in the rotor, but the fact remains every time you do that, a little bit of metal is pushed out and so after a couple of times, the hole gets too big.

I you get it serviced at the right time, the axle will not have to be replaced too often.

[dom_]

Indeed but I do an axle maybe one in three of the watches I see. It is a common item to replace, most people don't look after their watches like most of this forum.

Plus you can close the hole down if the rotor is completely unavailable.

[dom_]

Originally Posted by dom_

Indeed but I do an axle maybe one in three of the watches I see. It is a common item to replace, most people don't look after their watches like most of this forum.

Plus you can close the hole down if the rotor is completely unavailable.

I meant unlike people on this forum, who do look after their watches!