rolex

[bubbles4920]

my brother has a rolex that keeps stopping, could it be the battery? it is a genuine one by the way. when he shakes it, it starts again and then doesnt stop for a while. i assume rolexes work on batteries, are they are also a certain type that only work when worn, a stab in the dark idea as we cant work it out. he hasnt had it checked yet, the last good watch he had, the back was almost ruined when the shop tried to get it off!

[rojash]

If it's a real one, it's an automatic. That's why it runs after he shakes it. He just needs to wind it up!

[buildersmate]

Correct. No real Rolex has a replaceable battery - they are either wind-up or work by the movement of the arm (what rojash describes as 'automatic').

[Fitzer]

Actually there are a variety of Rolexes that have replaceable batteries, the Oysterquartz range being the most common. If however it runs for a brief time it is most likely an automatic with a fault, any jeweller who manages to ruin a watch whilst attempting to get the back off should pay for restitution. The problem with mechanical watches is that they do require servicing every five years or so to prevent problems occuring, your brother just needs to find a decent jewellers/watchmaker to take a look at it.

[VHG]

You mean genuine like this

http://www.coolfunpic...uine_Fake_Watches.jpg

[rojash]

Fitzer's right, although the Oyster Quartz is pretty rare, and clearly badged Oysterquartz. They are no longer made, and prices for secondhand ones start at around 2,500 quid. As far as I know the only electronic model that Rolex make now is the Cellini Quartz. These are clearly badged Cellini. The word Quartz doesn't appear on the front, but it may be on the back.

[bubbles4920]

thanks for your answers, he cannot wind it up, the so called winder at the side only pulls out to adjust the time and the date. it has worked perfectly since he has been wearing it but not when he leaves it off. he thinks that it doesnt have a battery although it says oyster on the front, it actually reads oyster perpetual datejust
superlative chronometer officially certified. so does it have a battery or not after all that?!

[ChuckFickens]

they will only run for about 2 days max if not being worn.

http://www.europastar...watch_tech/automa.jsp

[rojash]

You should be able to wind it manually without pulling out the crown.

[buildersmate]

Geez, I knew some bright spark would make it more complicated than it needed to be.
There are two sorts of automatic watches - the ones that convert mechanical motion into stored energy in a mechanical spring, and the ones that convert mechnical motion of the arm into electrical energy that gets stored in a RECHARGEABLE battery. An electronic quartz-controlled circuit then drives the watch, providing the same level of accuracy as a normal cheapo watch which has a replacement button cell inside it.
Quality watch makers now probably only make the latter type because of their reliability and accuracy, but the storage battery is NOT a user-chargeable part - nor is it a part that normally needs charging - it will have to go back to a Rolex-authorised centre in the unlikely event that it ceases to be able to store charge any more.
I have such a similar type of watch (not a Rolex) and it has been working for 12 years without the thing ever being serviced.

[magicmerlin]

According to the Rolex website it is self-winding. To me that means it's mechanical (no battery).

http://www.rolex.com/...037/brochure/details/

[R1Geezer]

Although they did flirt with some quartz watches, proper rolex's are all known as "oyster Purpetual",they are mechanical automatic. They are wound by the movement of the wrist. This happenned to my submariner and it turns out that it needed a service, the winding mechanism was sticking. When they are working properly it should run purpetually. Sound's like it needs a service, take it to a proper watchmaker, probably the local rolex retailer would do it.