Rolex Service and Repair

      The Rolex watch is a beautiful machine comprised of hundreds of precision parts all working in unison to precisely measure the escapement of time.  Power delivered through the gear train by the mainspring is transmitted to the fast beating balance wheel, that due to its rapid arc of motion, is largely unaffected by external forces exerted upon it by the person wearing this fine tuned machine.©  Text from an article by Stan Hoffman. All rights reserved.

  As you can see from this animation of a Rolex Ref. 3135  movement, the balance wheel vibrates back and forth at a rate in excess of 28,800 beats per hour.  Other models have rates that range from 19,800 to 21,600 beats per hour.  The fine tuned balance is the heart of your Rolex.  When having your Rolex serviced or repaired, great attention must be paid to every detail of your watch to assure proper timekeeping.

These are actual pictures of the Rolex 3135 movement
 

Here is a close-up view of the precision Rolex balance wheel.  Here you can see the delicate hairspring that is laser welded onto the collet.  The hairspring allows the balance to vibrate at its astonishing rate.  You can also see two of the four MicroStella nuts that are used to make minor timing adjustments.  If they are moved towards the center of the balance wheel, the rate will speed up.  Moving them away from the center will slow the rate down.  These minor adjustments are accomplished using two different MicroStella wrenches.  Adjustments are verified using state-of-the-art electronic timing machines.

Here is a view of the Rolex MicroStella wrench that is used to adjust the rate of a Rolex watch.  These precision tools are filled with oil which allows the balance weight to float, providing a great accuracy in reading the graduations located on the index scale.  Adjustments can be made either with the movement inside or outside of the watch case.

Adjusting the rate of a Rolex while the movement in the case can be done in order to make minor wearing adjustments.  During the service process, these adjustments are usually performed with the movement removed from the Oyster case.  You should be aware that it is uncommon to make adjustments as the Rolex watch has been fine tuned and timed long before it left the factory.  Rolex watches undergo extreme testing during the manufacturing process.  They are again tested as a finished watch.  Upon completion of all testing they are Officially Certified as Rolex Chronometers.  The Rolex watch will provide many years of reliable service if properly maintained.

ANTIQUE TIME
Is your exclusive online source for
PROFESSIONAL ROLEX SERVICE & REPAIR

Rolex Customers Click To Call Us Toll Free Or Dial
888-ROLEX-01
(888-765-3901)

BUSINESS HOURS
MONDAY - FRIDAY
10:00AM TO 5:00PM

Pacific Standard Time

ANTIQUE TIME
Post Office Box 938
Medford, Oregon, 97501-0067

Please be sure to EMAIL YOUR ROLEX REPAIR REQUEST to us for prompt service and attention.  We look forward to taking care of your Rolex service and repair requirements.  As of April, 2005, any Rolex watch that is sent to our service facility for service or repair must be accompanied by a check in the amount of $125.00. This amount is applied to and deducted from the total cost of your service or repair when the work is performed.  Be sure to check the links below for details.

We also have some additional Rolex information on our message board about Rolex movements and caliber information.  We also have some shipping information for you to review prior to sending your Rolex to us for service or repair.  This information is available by using the following links.

Antique Time American Horologist Rolex Information.

Shipping Your Rolex To Us For Service Or Repair.

Rolex Watches Must Be Accompanied By A Service Deposit.

Again we look forward to taking care of your Rolex Service needs.

What's Under YOUR Rolex Bezel?

Equally as important as the precision Rolex movement in your watch is the precision case that protects the movement from outside elements such as water and dirt.  It is very important that you take the time to inspect your Rolex for any signs of potential problems.  If your rotating bezel does not operate and turn freely, it is a sign that excessive dirt has worked its way under the bezel which prevents it from turning as it should.  The four pictures above show a Rolex case where the bezel would no longer operate as designed.  The build-up of dirt virtually prevented its proper operation.

After the movement has been serviced, the case is refinished, polished and cleaned.  The parts of the rotating bezel are lubricated and then reinstalled onto the case.  The rotating bezel now functions as it should.  Making sure that your Rolex is clean will insure that your watch will provide many years of trouble free performance.

The Rolex watch has many safeguards that help prevent moisture and water from entering the case and damaging the precision Rolex movement.

For example, the typical Rolex watch will have a case back gasket, the nylon crystal gasket on watches supplied with sapphire crystals, and then the crown gaskets and case tube gaskets. Watches supplied with plastic crystals are secured using the outside bezel that presses into place and secures the crystal to the watch case.

     
Example Of Water Damaged Gents Rolex.  Ref. 3085

The above three pictures show another example of a Rolex 3135 movement
that has been damaged by water.  This resulted from gasket failure of the
case tube and crown.

It is VERY important that owners of Rolex watches have them serviced every 3 to 5 years to make sure that these gaskets are in good working condition. The replacement of gaskets is part of a regular service program. It is very IMPORTANT that if you see any signs of moisture forming on the inside of the crystal that you have the watch serviced. This is an indication that water has entered into the case.

This needs to be corrected before any serious damage takes place and a valuable Rolex movement has been destroyed.

Many times we get watches sent in for repair that has slight amounts of moisture within the case. Many times no serious damage has resulted. However, we also get many watches where the owner has left the crown out and massive amounts of water has entered the case causing damage that simply can't be repaired. For example, when water floods the inside of the case, many parts begin to rust immediately. The hairspring on the balance will rust, all of the steel pinions will rust, the polished steel screws will rust as well as all other steel parts within the Rolex movement. Many Rolex watches will also have dials and date rings that will become damaged with only minor amounts of moisture entering the case.

For these very reasons, it is very important that owners of Rolex watches keep them in good working condition and follow a regular maintenance schedule.

Antique Time is proud to announce that we are in no way affiliated with Rolex. We are equally proud of the fact that we are not an "authorized" Rolex repair facility. We are proud to maintain our independent status as jewelers and watchmakers free to service all makes of watches including Rolex.  Rolex is a trademark of Rolex USA.