I hate this damn crown!!!

Ce sujet est tiré de l'excellent forum TURF (Cf liens) exclusivement dédié aux montres Rolex.
Il me fait rire aux larmes à chaque lecture.

Pour ceux qui ne connaissent rien aux montres (ce n'est pas une tare LOL), Rolex est la marque "de luxe" la plus connue.

Elle a ses détracteurs (montre de bourrins, tout pour la frime...) et ses défenseurs (montre quasi indestructible et d'une précision légendaire), qui se livrent une guerre sans merci par fora interposés.

Petit lexique:
TT: Two Tone pour 2 tons de bracelet en métal (or et acier)
Sub=submariner=modéle mythique de Rolex
Crown=couronne=petite molette qui sert à régler l'heure et la date (sur une rolex, on y voit le fameux petit logo de rolex-une petite couronne royale- qui va tout déclencher)
daytona=autre modéle mythique
SD= SeaDweller=un troisième modèle mythique
Green Hologram=étiquette de protection qui est colllée sur le fond de chaque Rolex vendue neuve, que l'acheteur s'empresse d'enlever de retour à la maison (un peu comme les étiquettes Microsoft qui ornent nos logiciels et nos PC). Rem: un autre grand sujet de discussion "anal" dans les forums américain est "faut-il enlever l'hologramme" (de peur de faire perdre de la valeur à la montre). C'est incroyable, mais ce sujet déclenche très réguliérement des débats passionnés (une autre version pourrait-être: "faut-il enlever l'emballage plastique qui protège ma toute nouvelle chaine Pioneer")

Tout collectionneur (de montre ou autre) est un névrosé obsessionnel (stade dit anal) en puissance.
La moindre rayure ou anomalie à la limite de résolution de l'oeil humain sur l'objet chéri déclenche invariablement une tempête sous le crâne dudit névrosé.
Voyons ce qui arrive à ce pauvre Stryke:


By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-05 08:19

Hi everyone,

The crown on my blue dial TT Sub is really starting to annoy me. At first I didn't pay any attention to the fact that the "rolex logo crown" on the crown of the watch is upside down when screwed in all the way. However, after looking at it for several weeks on a daily basis it is really bothering me for some reason. The other Rolexes I bought are not like that and I have tried to unscrew it and give it a half a turn before screwing it back in in an effort to perhaps have it face the right way. In any case, it did not work and it seems to always end up directly upside down when tightend all the way. Is there any way of having it face the right way, even taking it to a store and having them pull it out and realligning it properly? Any help is greatly appreciated.
-Stryke-

By Dennykgee On 2002-04-05 08:32
actually, the crown is supposed to do that, there is no correct position as crowns are replaceable consumables, you can have the crown replaced or get the tube turned a bit so that the crown aligns as you wish.

By davilo On 2002-04-05 20:01
Excellent level-headed and helpful response Denny! I guess short of selling or trading the watch, there's not much stryke can do.

I wonder....since Stryke seems to feel that this is a huge manufacturing flaw, if he'll sell me his watch for $2000 USD?

davilo

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-06 07:53
Hi, I just paid $6,000 for it several weeks ago so if anything, it is still under warranty.

By REORX (Moderator) On 2002-04-05 08:59
Stryke;


Take it back to the dealer where you bought it, throw it at him (or her), and DEMAND A REFUND!

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-05 09:21
Very funny REORX, in all seriousness though, how much would a new 18k crown go for in a store?

By REORX (Moderator) On 2002-04-05 09:43
The question is moot - the problem is not with the crown! The crown may be reallined by reorienting the threaded tube it screws onto OR just forget about it and enjoy your SUB - who looks at the crown end-on anyway?!

By Mike-16610 On 2002-04-05 09:49
I agree with Denny on this one. Short of machining the tube not much you can do. If you go down to the dealer and check all the crowns on all the Rolexes you will find that they are of random orientation. A new crown may not solve this problem. I have one watch with the crown facing the correct direction and two others that don't. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
Mike

By Ayjay (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-05 18:04
Stryke....you gotta learn to let go of this.

Who notices or cares? ....apart from yourself of course.

There is nothing wrong with your crown. There is no right or wrong way for it to sit.

Focus your energies on something else and relax.

By AdamB On 2002-04-05 18:27
Stryke....I can sympathise, every time I park, I notice some of my tyres say Michelin at the top, and others say it at the bottom.

I am thinking of changing cars

By Brad On 2002-04-05 18:36
OH I know, Iknow, I have exactly the same trouble when doing the washing up.
I have trouble with the bubbles not sitting right flat across the water.

Need Help Quick
Brad

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-06 07:55
I had the feeling a bunch of wise asses would comment on it, but it's ok. Bottom line is I always purchase the best of everything I buy so I expect everything I buy to fully satisfy me even if it seems like a minor flaw.

By PhilB On 2002-04-06 09:48
Gee Stryke, given the lack of concern for quality and workmanship in most things made today, you must live an interesting life.

Besides, I was finally getting over tearing the green stickers off my Rolexes and now I find that one of my watches has its crown upside down. (It is the SD so maybe that makes sense). Don't you folk have any pity?

By davilo On 2002-04-06 12:39
Stryke,

Seriously, if it bothers you that much, bring it back to dealer and ask for an exchange. A Rolex is a lot of money and you should expect only the best craftmanship and nothing less in a things you own. I imagine though, in a mass manufacturing process, you'd probably have a 1 in 12 chance of getting the crown near perfect.

davilo
By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-06 12:46
Speaking of mass manufacturing, brings me to another question. Are Rolex watches hand made or machine made? If they are machine made are they at least hand assembled?

By Ayjay (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-06 17:24
Machine made, with some hand-assembly.

By morgan On 2002-04-06 20:28
Stryke,

Have you ever bought Panerai. I think they might be something for you. Limited numbers, very high quality.

/morgan

By Dennykgee On 2002-04-06 20:47
Stryke, the crown is not defective it is supposed to be like that. remember back in the old days, people actually wind the crowns all day, they were not screw in types, the position is random and that's how they are made.

By rsl007 On 2002-04-06 21:03
Stryke:
You actually sound like a very interesting and fun guy, but a little obcessive/compulsive disorder is starting to show. Drop into my office at Bellevue for a little consultation during which I will flash a rolex crown in every position on the wall till you cry uncle....then we will have some 50 year-old cognac... and then check to see if the back of your rolex has the splines for opening the case oriented properly.
All in fun...
P.S. I don't know what kind of car you have, but you must be a terror in the service dept.
Richard

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-07 09:16
Hi Richard, I own an automotive parts and accessories distribution business so I don't go to the service department for parts. I am somewhat anal about alot of things, but only when I expect them to be top of the line and they disappoint me.

By Malcolm On 2002-04-06 23:51
Davilo, One in 360 chance.

By davilo On 2002-04-07 00:05
This is what I do to my Rolexes where the crown isn't aligned to the top. I take adjustable pliers, tighten it over the crown and twist it tight until the crown faces the upright position.

But somehow when I go into the pool, the crystal fogs up. Is this good or bad?

davilo

By rsl007 On 2002-04-07 01:26
It is good....showed the pliers worked.

By AdamB On 2002-04-07 02:13
Stryke..Wise ass here why not take the internet home with u so no one else can play with it?

Lighten up, if you think this is wise, try usenet!

By broadbill On 2002-04-10 15:47
take it back. You havent purchased a swatch... Demand that it is fixed or replaced. If they are a good dealer they will do everything in thier powers to help you.

By axcontrols On 2002-04-07 03:48
Hey, Stryke is perfectly normal.

Whenever I park my car I jack up each wheel and turn the little star in the centre of the wheel so it's straight up.

Something that really does bug me though is the Union Jack flag when it's upside down. You'd be surprised at how often the flag hangs upside down.

OK, how to spot an upside down UnionJack. Look at the white stripes on the bits that go into the corners (That BTW is the Cross of Saint Andrew of Scotland). The white bits are not dead centre. They're supposed to be offset upwards at the point where they attach to the flag pole. If they're offset downwards then the flag is upside down and somebody should go to the tower for a very long time. Or at least do a Bart Simpson and write, 1000 times "I shall not hang the UnionJack Upside down"........ And have his legs slapped jolly hard indeed.

By CfhCam On 2002-04-07 07:52
ok we get it.

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-07 09:45
Just got a new toy today (nice digital camera) so here is an image of my so-called dilema.

By davilo On 2002-04-10 19:21
What's that I see at the bottom of the picture? Is that the silhouette of a GREEN HOLOGRAM sticker?

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-11 02:46
A green hologram??? On my watch??? Where??? I don't see a green halogram...

By extreme On 2002-04-11 04:04
Please go back to your neighborhood Rolex dealer and request the Crown Adjustment Tool. He forgot to included it with the Green Hologram.

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-07 09:17
Anyone else for an uneven tire story???

By PhilB On 2002-04-07 10:21
Okay, I think we have an even bigger problem here. No only is the crown upside down, it's not even "correctly" upside down. I mean, it looks to be 5-10 degrees off upside down plumb. Where's that 50-year old scotch when you need it?

By Cholst7200 On 2002-04-07 11:29
I don't think that it's the crown that is off-center, I think that it is the main body of the watch that is off-center. What you have is a perfectly aligned crown and an off-center watch.

Just my expert opinion.

Cholst7200

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-07 11:37
I had a feeling that damn watch was made upside down when i noticed a green hologram on the crystal.

By rsl007 On 2002-04-07 12:10
Now you are talking more normal. Don't forget to turn you clock ahead.
Richard

By stilty On 2002-04-07 13:03
I'd be pissed off as well. You would think that if you spend that much money on a watch, and the claim that Rolex spends a year to make each piece that they would take the time to get it right. If I remember correctly, there once was a claim that every screw and part was created perfect. That would mean every screw on the bracelet would turn so many times and tighten up exact. You would think the same would hold true for the crown! Come on, anyone who accepts an imperfect watch is selling themselves short! For the amount of money that is spent on such a peice, you should expect perfection.

On my vintage sub, the crown tightens up nicely, my buddies vintageGMT tightens up nicely. I think Rolex is too mass produced and attention to detail is overlooked.

By Chris Perez On 2002-04-07 13:13
Gee thats terrible....Oh well, My vintage Sub 5512 Crown faces perfectly up.....oooohhhhh, that's nice!

By CfhCam On 2002-04-08 06:04
I do agree with stryke, you pay 4 grand for the little bastard and you have a flaw staring you in the face. My SD is the same way. I think it sucks and when I send it back to Rolex I will ask that it be aligned. I don't think everyone needs to be a prick about it. The guy voiced a concern and you all destroy him. Now if this was Denky then hell, say what you want. But I do think it was a valid point.

By Chris Perez On 2002-04-09 15:20
OK, but really, here's the bottom line: After owning more than ten different models of Rolex with several of them factory-serviced; I found that where the crown finally tightens up is a throw of the dice. You need only to go to your local Rolex dealer and look at the ones in the show case. Are they all facing up?

Mechanically, the tube is screwed into the case, then the crown is screwed down onto the tube. Between these two it's just about impossible for anyone to anticipate that the final tightening of both parts would leave the tightened crown face up. And, even if it came from the factory with the tightened crown facing up, over time it would change anyway....So therefore, enjoy your Rolex and don't worry about the crown position. Only that it tightens properly, that's what really matters.

By PhilB On 2002-04-08 08:58
Now what I want to know is if Stryke takes one of Ayjay's polishing cloths and rubs on the crown long enough, can he get it rotated in the right position?

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-08 09:40
I actually tried that Phil and all I got was a stupid geanie asking me to make three wishes (with exception of fixing the crown). I knew that it wouldn't work!

By axcontrols On 2002-04-09 04:18
Now I'm really confused. To prove a point I went outside to a car that some nob-end had parked blocking my drive and I let all his tires down. The wierd thing is that even though the text on the sidewall of each of the tires is in a different place, they're all flat in exactly the same place. Namely the bottom. Now that's wierd. if I can get all four tires to be flat in exactly the same place without even trying, you'd think that rolex could spend some of that year it takes to build a watch to get their crown the right way up......

By PhilB On 2002-04-09 09:12
I think they probably do and what you're seeing on the Rolexes is the result of inflation.

By andrew On 2002-04-09 10:50
Hi Ax,

So it was you who did that to my vehicle. Bloody inconsiderate of you really. I was only there for 30 mins and I know that I did park across the driveway but it was an emergency and I could only find that spot.

Luckily the spot was there otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get to the vet and save my gold fish and then it too would have been upside down

Andrew

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-09 11:31
A gold fish to match my crown. Interesting!

By andrew On 2002-04-09 19:37
Hi Stryke,

Don't take too much of the rough stuff to heart...you've been around the forum long enough to expect some cynical comments. I agree in that after the money spent and the quality paid for, some extra care to detail wouldn't go astray...yet I can also say that as long as it tells the right time, stays reasonably scratch free and provides self enjoyment then don't worry too much.

Andrew


By axcontrols On 2002-04-10 01:25
Andrew, that's what they all say. They park their 4 x 4's on my lawn and nip over the road to the fish n chip shop. When I catch them they claim they were taking the fish to the vets next door.

By axcontrols On 2002-04-10 01:31
I always thought that the crowns were reasonably straight on new watches. My new Daytona is as straight as it gets. But, coz the seals inside the crown are pliable and contact surfaces wear, and some plonkers screw it down so tight that you need a wrench to open it again. So, I'd expect the crown to screw just a fraction further each time it's screwed down too tight and over 10 years it might wear enough to be 180 degrees out. If it was serviced I'd expect rolex to fit a new tube, crown and make sure it's bloody straight or I'll be down there turning their lawn upside down with my 4 x 4.

By Stryke (Forum Administrator) On 2002-04-10 08:36
It looks like someone beat you to it on their last service when the crown came back upside down!