Rolex Watch Not Winding?
Rolex Watch Not Winding? We specialise in Rolex servicing for just £395. Is your Rolex watch not running as it should or is over 10 years old? It is time for a service. Common symptoms include a much shorter power reserve than expected, often watches will stop overnight. In the case of a Rolex watch with broken mainspring, the watch may not tick at all. In a 3135 movement, this likely means a mainspring has snapped.
If the watch is running but stopping, often it is a sign that your winding assembly is not winding the watch correctly. If your Rolex watch is not winding it is time for a service.
A failing winding assembly in a 3135 movement which was stopping overnight.
In extreme cases you may be able to hear the winding rotor hitting the movement and the inside of the case back. This will cause damage as the rotor hits the movement resulting in a more costly repair.
A submariner movement with a missed service window
As you can see in the example above. Skipping service windows is a false economy. Rolex watches have been a rapidly increasing asset over the past few decades. On 3135 based movements we recommend a service window of 3 to 5 years. If we take and average service window of 4 years, our £395 service works out at under £100 per year. In the past decade the increase in value of the watches has far outweighed this cost so proper maintenance makes sound financial sense.
Genuine parts required to fix the 3135 movement above with missed service windows
The rapid increase in value of Rolex watches is also reflected in the cost of spare parts. Proper maintenance can reduce the need for expensive replacement parts.
Rolex watches are valuable so shipping your watch to the manufacturer for a service or repair is not always a simple process. Many independent UK based watchmakers are unfamiliar with Rolex watch movements and are reluctant to work on them. Many repairers who do work on them will use incorrect oils, poorly fitting seals and bad techniques.
As watch oils age they thicken, they also trap dirt. This means that a full movement service is important to protect every part in the watch from excessive wear. This affects all Rolex watches but If your watch is waterproof, as Rolex Oysters are, the seals also need to be replaced to prevent water ingress. We often see Rolex watches with water damage as a result of missed service windows. A movement service will often restore the watches functionality but without new seals in the case, the likelihood of water damage is greatly increased which will require a very expensive repair.
An Oyster Perpetual which was damaged by water ingress through the glass seal
Poor Quality Repairs
We often receive Rolex’s which have been badly serviced by another watchmaker without solving the initial problem. This happens for several reasons. Firstly, if you don't have the correct tools you can very easily damage the watch. Rolex watches need careful set up and handling by someone who is very familiar with the calibre. The micro-stellar regulation requires special tooling and expertise to adjust.
We very frequently see Rolex watches with missing screws after other repairers have lost them. Also incorrect screws or screws put back in the wrong part of the watch.
We also often see watches which are covered in very deep scratches to the movement. A good professional watch repairer will handle the movement carefully without damage but many do not. Without the correct tools and techniques you can easily put very deep scratches into the movement which will dramatically affect the value of the watch. We often regularly see damaged screw heads from incorrect handling.
The force required to open a properly sealed Oyster case means that an adjustable jaxa type hand wrench should not be used. It will very likely slip as you try to open the watch, the scratches which are caused by this are so deep they can't be removed without affecting the cases appearance.
If the watch is waterproof as Oysters are, the watch needs to be resealed tightly, with new gaskets when the repair is complete to ensure it remains waterproof. A pressure test is also required before use near water. This all requires specialist equipment which good watch repairers invest thousands of pounds in.
A bad repair can easily cost more than our professional service. Once new parts, damage to the watch, water damage after the repair and your time is factored in to the cost.
We repair Rolex watches all day, every day and have become very familiar with them. We back our Rolex servicing with a comprehensive 2 year warranty.
If you’d like to take advantage of this service, you can either submit an enquiry through our request an estimate page or simply post your watch to us. Please get in touch for the postal address details and always use a secure carrier.
Payment can be made by card over the phone. The cost is £395 for a service the process usually takes approximately 2-3 weeks from start to finish.
Please send all watches tracked and insured, as we can’t be held responsible for watches which don’t arrive. Please also remember to include your contact details. You will be contacted to let you know your watch has arrived safely and when it is ready for return.
Also please feel free to bring the watch to our shop in Nottingham City Centre in person to have a chat with us. We often have customers driving to us from all over the country. We will open the watch and examine it in front of you free of charge, to show you the condition inside with our microscope and testing machine.
Call us on 01159588327 to check our opening times and receive parking advice.
