⌚️ I Thought My Rolex Was Broken

ModernTouch

Let me set the scene:

I’d just bought my first Rolex Datejust. Pre-owned. Full set. Blue dial. Oyster bracelet. I was feeling myself.

Then it started happening.

The watch would stop. Randomly.
Sometimes overnight. Sometimes on my wrist.

I had a $9,000 Rolex that ran worse than my buddy’s Casio.

😠 The Problem: It Just. Kept. Stopping.
At first, I thought maybe I wasn’t wearing it enough.
Then I started noticing it would lose time even during the day.

I’d check my wrist at 3 PM and it would still say 10:42.
The second hand? Dead still.

For a week, I was convinced I’d bought a lemon.

🧪 What I Tried (and Why I Felt Dumb)
I did what any new WIS (watch idiot savant) would do: I panicked.

I shook the watch like a maniac

I wound it 20, then 30, then 50 times

I tried wearing it nonstop

I Googled “Rolex stopping” so many times I think Google assumed I was trolling

I even considered sending it in for a $750 service 😅

Still — every few days — it stopped again.

✅ What Finally Solved It: I Learned How to Wear a Mechanical Watch
It turns out the issue wasn’t the movement.
It wasn’t the rotor.
It wasn’t the watch.

It was me.

Specifically:

I wasn’t moving enough for the rotor to wind consistently — and I hadn’t wound the watch properly since buying it.

I was treating a Rolex like a quartz — put it on, forget it.
But mechanicals (even Rolex) need manual winding, especially when coming off a weekend or if you’re not super active.

Once I gave it 30 full turns, it stayed running perfectly.

💡 What I Learned (and What You Should Know)
If you’re new to automatics:

Always manually wind a watch when you first put it on, especially after it’s been sitting

Most automatic movements have a ₄₀ hour power reserve — weekend = dead watch

Your desk job might not generate enough motion to keep it powered

A winder isn’t always necessary — but winding manually is a must

Don’t panic — and don’t send your watch in for service until you’ve ruled out human error 😅

🎯 Bottom Line
Your Rolex isn’t broken. You just forgot to wind it.

Simple as that.

🔗 Join the Discussion
If you’ve ever been embarrassed by a watch mistake — or learned something the hard way — come share your story at luxurywatches.forum.

We talk honest horology — not just flexing grails.

Because even collectors have to wind up sometimes.

Collector42

I’ve been there—thought my automatic was busted until I learned the same trick. A little extra winding goes a long way. Great reminder that our watches need attention, not just our wrists. Cheers to learning and keeping our timepieces ticking!

StrapSwapSteve

I’ve been there too. Just a heads-up—if you tend to sit for long hours, it might be worth investing in a mechanical watch winder for idle periods. Though manual winding is simple, a winder can be a lifesaver if your routine keeps your rotor underactive. It’s all about finding that balance.