Sea-dweller question

[BH]

Hello everyone,

I am new to this board and I have a quick question that maybe you guys can help. I have a Seamaster (automatic) and a Sea-dweller . On my Seamaster, if I set the watch to exactly 12:00, then pressed in the crown, the time will be exactly 12:01 after the second hand completed one round. Whereas on my Sea-dweller, after the second hand completed one round, the minute hand will either be pointing between 12:00 and 12:01 or between 12:01 and 12:02 but never exactly 12:01. What I notice is the crown of my Seamaster is more precise, meaning the hour/minute hand will move immediately when I turn the crown. Whereas the crown on the Sea-dweller has more tolerance, meaning the hands does not move until I turn the crown a little bit. And because of that, it is difficult for me to set time correctly on the Sea-dweller. I can set the time to 5:00, but once I push in the crown, the minute hand will move a little bit. I am not sure if what I wrote is making sense but hopefully someone has some insights to my little “observation”<br>
By the ways, I was in Singapore last month and I took the Sea-dweller to the service center. After examination by the technician, was told my watch is working perfectly.

Thanks,
BH

[MikeS]

i usually have to fiddle with it a bit to get it exact! Maybe someone will know the technical answer!

[clepsydra]

Rolex is famous (infamous?) for the 'slop' in their keyless works....though this isn't by any means a design flaw.

Sometimes you'll notice (particularly with a GMT or Exp II) that all of the hands will move a bit - like the whole movement is loose inside the case - when setting the time...this is often called the 'Rolex Rumba' . :-)

Anyway, when you pull out the stem to the winding position, the clutch wheel disengages from the crown wheel and engages the intermediate wheel along with the stop-seconds lever (which stops the balance) and the it's the way that the gear teeth are cut, configured, and meshed that allows for the 'slop' that you experience when turning the crown and setting the time.

Rolex keyless works are pretty robust - more so than many other watches - as the keyless works are the only part of a watch's mechanism that's subject to human intervention along with our attendant ham-fistedness and careless handling.

Re setting the time: Rather than pushing the crown in with one finger or thumb, gently hold the crown between thumb and forefinger and gently and slowly push the crown straight into the tube when starting the watch again....this'll greatly mitigate the slight movement of the minute hand that you're experiencing.

[JBHII]

clepsydra said:

Rolex is famous (infamous?) for the 'slop' in their keyless works....though this isn't by any means a design flaw.

Sometimes you'll notice (particularly with a GMT or Exp II) that all of the hands will move a bit - like the whole movement is loose inside the case - when setting the time...this is often called the 'Rolex Rumba' . :-)

Anyway, when you pull out the stem to the winding position, the clutch wheel disengages from the crown wheel and engages the intermediate wheel along with the stop-seconds lever (which stops the balance) and the it's the way that the gear teeth are cut, configured, and meshed that allows for the 'slop' that you experience when turning the crown and setting the time.

Rolex keyless works are pretty robust - more so than many other watches - as the keyless works are the only part of a watch's mechanism that's subject to human intervention along with our attendant ham-fistedness and careless handling.

Re setting the time: Rather than pushing the crown in with one finger or thumb, gently hold the crown between thumb and forefinger and gently and slowly push the crown straight into the tube when starting the watch again....this'll greatly mitigate the slight movement of the minute hand that you're experiencing.

What a great response! Every time clepsydra posts, it's an education process for me. Thanks again for your continued pressence!

...Rolex Rumba...<snicker>... ;D

John

[MikeS]

Moderator!

[BH]

clepsydra,

Thanks for the info. I am so glad I found this forum