Started on Wednesday. Checked it today vs the stopwatch on my phone. Runs a minute in 55 seconds, or gains 1 minute every 12 minutes or 5 minutes every hour.

It's been well over 15 years since I have had it serviced. Guess it's time to do it again, but not sure any of the Rolex service centers can work on it due to its age (35 years old).

Never heard of a watch running fast.

Guess it's time to get my Timex out till I get it fixed.

Whenever my timex needs a battery, off to wally world I go, girls behind the counter are real nice, they install the battery and reset the time and date, on a side note, the only watch that will run properly on me is a timex, I have made other brands stop, run slow, fast and once one even ran backwards!

Get prepared to write a big check!
Sorry, Steve W.

Find a jeweler that is older and well established and I'll bet they can work on it. My Dad died in 1994 and had a Rolex since the mid '80s. He bought it at a local jeweler that was owned by a man who was the same age as my Paternal Grandmother, born in 1918. He is still alive, by the way, and is at the shop almost every day. After Dad died I had some minor work done on the Rolex, as well as the Hamilton Automatic that dates from 1956. The watchmaker was an older guy, but he did a great job. Chain stores may not have somebody who can work on the older stuff, but the older stores usually do.
Oh, one more thing, Dad always said his "Rolley" never did keep perfect time. I've found a cheap Timex is always more accurate. Go figure.
Jim

Yes, BOTH automatics and, (of course), quartz watches can run fast but something is VERY wrong with your Rolex.

I had a Rolex Submariner that I bought brand new in 1978 and I wore it every day for 25 years without a service. It kept excellent time but every once in awhile, (every few months), I would have to set it back a minute or so.

There is something DEFINITIVELY something wrong with your Rolex and it needs to be serviced.

Yes, your 35 year old Rolex can be serviced by any Rolex service center. I had a DateJust Jublie, and after at least 30 years (bought it used and wore it for 30 years) the estimate was $1,000 for bringing it up to snuff. The jewler I delt with I know well, and he took it in trade (even up) for a Tag Heuer, with 18K gold bezel which was priced at $1500. He stuck his dollars into it and then probably sold it for $2500. That was about 8 years ago, and the Tag Heuer is accurate to the second, and build like a tank just like a Rolex, waterproof to 200 meters. I've never been sorry.

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H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

Take it to a certified Rolex dealer. THey can send it to the Rolex service center. It should be serviced every five years and it will cost about $500 for the maintenance. They take it entirely to pieces and replace worn parts, re-assemble and re-regulate it. It's a mechanical device. It needs to be taken care of. You wouldn't think of running your car for that long without service (although I have seen the results of trying just that, it isn't pretty). Your Rolex should be within -3 +7 seconds per day.

Russ

Stevens is right be prepared to write a good sized check, I had my 1988 Submariner fixed about 4 years ago and it cost within 200 dollars of what I paid for it new in 88, now it lives in the gunsafe and I carry a Illinois pocket watch. Jeff

My 25 yr old Oyster Perpetual (non datejust) isn't the most accurate watch that I own. I don't expect the same kind of accuracy from a mechanical time-piece that I can get from my Eco-drive Citizen. BUT: my Rolex is a damn fine piece of machinery that gets regular use, has been all around the planet with me - sometimes under difficult conditions. In those twenty-five years, it's been back to the factory authorized service center once for service and updates. And yes, it's expensive. If you get away for less than 500 bucks, I'd be surprised. The replacement value for my watch has steadily grown over the years - and for good reason, the quality of materials, manufacturing workmanship, and relatively low production rate ensures it's market value. If I absolutely need to know what time it is, I'll check my cell phone.
XAVMECH

Looks like that Rolex came too close to a magnet. The mainspring is affected and needs to be demagnetized.

could try my man in newton MA who fixed a watch that never worked right for me and did it right for a good price, plus polsihing the crystal and got it back to me in about 2 weeks vs the 6 plus months the watch guy at the mall who delt with omegas and rolexs told me it would take to send it to them

buy Waltham watches at watertown watch & clock co.

and the watch in question was a 62' omega seamaster de ville my father bought new back then and stopped wearing because the damn thing never worked right, its now been about 2 1/2 years since he worked on it and its still working fine.

Mind you I'm in MA too so that would probably factor into the time it would take him to do it and the seamaster was one of omegas most popular models so there was alot of parts for it.

I've dealt with this company with good results.

Used Rolex Watch, Men's Rolex Submariner, Daytona, Women's Gold Rolex Watches for Sale

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God spelled backwards is dog.

+1 on the magnetized issue!

BUT, it's also well beyond the service interval, which is @ $600 from an authorized Rolex Service Center.

5 ~ 7 years is the suggested interval, but I've gone as many as 13.

Interesting fact, they speed up when the oils dry out and they need service, but a sudden overnight shift to 55 seconds/day sounds like you got too close to a powerful magnet.

Check your credit cards, if your watch got hit, no telling how your CC's got affected.

It isn't the "Bolex" you got in Olongapo, is it?

Go on the internet and get the mailing info to send it back. ONLY send it to New York or Dallas. Trust me on this one.
Rolex says to send them in every 3 years which is Great if you're Rolex. I sent mine in for service at 10 years because it just stopped. Mine gains about 1.5 minutes every week which Rolex says is spec ( I call BS on this but I figure that if I want more accurate time than that, I'll go with a Timex ). I'd rather have it gain than loose but face facts, a $15 automatic from China will keep better time than any Rolex .

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Forum consigliere

Love my GMT...

The last time I had it serviced it was about 500 bucks, not by Rolex, but a reputable local "old guy" that has his own shop after working for Rolex. He restored my dad's 1960 Omega Seamaster as well-it is flawless.

Like a poster above said: find an oldtimer that can do the job for less. Otherwise send to either San Francisco or New York for Rolex service and pay about 800 bucks.

I also forgot to mention something about the watertown MA guy.

he came up when I was talking to a bunch of old timers at a local gunshow one of which who noticed the old watch and asked about it and I told him about the issues with it and he also recommended that guy.

so that's two people who recommend that guy.

My Rolex is running fast....................

strap on your roller blades...you may be able to catch it.

Go to rolexforms.com and look up Steve Mulholland (sp?)

He sells and services vintage Rolex watches at a fair price, and has a solid reputation.

Just another option for you. Good luck with it.

I'll have to dig out the paperwork on my rolex that I bought about 1976-77. Once I figure out what it is. How do I get some idea of what its worth. Frank

I bought mine in 1971; it has been serviced at probably about 7 year intervals since, always at an authorized Rolex Service Location.
There used to be several around, but I think Rolex is discouraging Dealers to do rebuilds since the web site no longer lists other authorized repair shops.
The last time I had it done, it was local and ended up costing about $100 less than sending it to Rolex and I had issues, which are now (mostly) resolved.
Next time I will send it directly to Rolex NY or TX.

If you go to OFFICIAL ROLEX WEBSITE - Timeless Luxury Watches you can find the address and phone #.

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Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus

Have you stored it in a different manner? A rolex will either gain or lose tine depending on how it is stored. Mine will do the best in a "upright" manner but will lose if crown is down and will gain if crown is up.when you send it in for service they will utilize a counter that will help them regulate the watch in these positions, later you can take a "fast" watch and figure how it needs to be set down, this of course assumes the watch is removed at night. A rolex will keep as good time as any other watch, the advantage(IMO)is the consistency in which it will gain or lose. Once you know how many seconds per week it gains or loses you can set it accordingly.Of course, there is the old saying that a man who has to be on time wears a timex, a man who doesen't have to be on time will wear a Rolex!

I prefer my mechanicals to run fast, it makes reseting them to GMT easier. Just pull the crown and wait 10-20 seconds.

Yours sounds like it's way out of spec.
Time for an overhaul.

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Regards,
Guy-Harold Smith II

Sounds like the Harley-Davidson of watches: Looks good, expensive, doesn't perform as well as a cheaper import.

*Timeless Luxury Watches* - How appropriate a name is that?

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In dog years I'm dead.

Looks like it overhaul time.
Rolex it'self does it. Check their web site.
Or find and AUTHORIZED Rolex dealer.
Don't worry about the age. They do all rolexes.
Did my submariner last year $600

Do NOT let some "watch repair shop" get near it

AFS

If I'm 200 meters below the water line, I'm not worried about the time or my watch.

Pete

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Don't tread on me

This is bursting my future bubble. I'd like a GMT II or a Milgause, but if they don't keep good time, then why would I spend $6-$7K??? Guess I need to start a "Best Watch" thread in the lounge.

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Go big or stay home

They keep excellent time, they're certified chronometers for goodness sakes.

You have to have them calibrated, but few take the time to do that and then they gripe when the watch doesn't match a quartz.

Mine always run 2 ~ 3 seconds a day fast - all of them, even my Seikos. You have to go to the watchmaker and have them calibrate it.

Keep a log and determine how the watch is running, fast or slow and exactly how much for a 24 hour period. Set it on Sunday and then check it in a week and divide the error by the number of days since it was set - you've got the error. Tell the watchmaker, he'll dial it in.

How you wear it makes all the difference. Do you take it off at night or wear it 24/7? Are you active or sedentary? It all makes a difference.

well theres also a flip side, it keeps going up in value with the times and inflation unlike the cheap watch, plus if you can find an old guy who knows what he's doing who can keep it running locally it shouldnt cost an arm and a leg to get it tuned up once a decade.

plus I personally think my watch looks better than most modern expensive watches and cheap ones
http://forums.watchuseek.com/attachm...elp-watch1.jpg

and he probably thinks the same of his rolex and it wont even get accused of looking like some gaudy digital watch like bond wore in Live and let die that they still make nowadays I think.


yeah and some of the old ones like my omega only have about at tops 12 hours of non wearing time on them before they stop running so it may just be a matter of wearing it more.

Has it set any records yet?

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Incoming fire has right of way

Interesting thread and I've learned a lot about Rolex's. I can't escape drawing a comparison with our other hobby.

It appears that a Rolex and a pre-war Smith & Wesson Revolver bear remarkable similarities. Both are fine, and probably never to be reproduced, examples of handcrafted workmanship. But both need care and proper maintenance and if ignored, can get out of time.

At the other end of the scale we can compare the Timex and the Glock. Both are made by the mile and cut off on both ends with little thought to beauty. But, to use the old advertisement, "They take a licking and keep on ticking".

That is why some of us "collect" one and "use" the other.

Bob

Very well said!

Rolexes are a LOT like Smith & Wessons.

Both makers are well and properly renowned for being great innovators. First self winding, first date, first day of the week, first waterproof watch for Rolex. (Actually, among the first practical wristwatches worth buying.) S&W gave us the .22 rimfire, the first cartridge revolver... Anyone seeing any similarities?

Both are (or used to be) unafraid of making something a little innovative and a little different. Model 52's and 53's come to mind as well as the GMT Master, Seadweller, and Daytona. (That was a watch that was so cool, they named a race after it and then a town in Florida!)

Neither is the ultimate top of the line.... You need a Korth or Piaget or Patek Phillipe for that, but Rolex and Smith & Wesson are the best of breed for reliability, resale value, overall value, and satisfaction of ownership.

As long as we're doing a thread drift lets look at most things that were hand fitted after being "Machined".Yep,The good old days produced some great parts that had to be "Tuned".
I say this after looking at and loving the old ways.
Speaking of Watch makers from Switzerland,Did you guys know that Mitchel fishing reals from France were made by a swiss watch gear cutter?Hagstrom Guitars were mad by an accordian (sp) maker?The list goes on......

BTW.I don't own a Rolex but my wife has one and according to her fancy watch I'm late this week.

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Dum vivo cano