Rolex movement rattle when shaken, why?

[deskdiver]

I noticed this rattle and clicking noise in my 3 month SubC. Went to the AD, played with another Sub and heard the same noise. Now I can only hear the rattle when holding the watches right next to my ear. The noise is most prevalent when the watch is in vertical position and shaken sideways with short rapid strokes.

So since this rattle is normal and ruling out bracelet pins (had mine completely removed) and worn/loose rotor axle (brand new ones in AD does the same), which part of the watch movement is making this noise?




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[landroverking]

The only time I have heard a rattle in a Rolex it need service. Don't think its normal

[watchwatcher]

I don't think it is normal. I've never heard this noise on any sub I've ever had.

[subtona]

As it is a sub...never heard a rattle from a sub unless it needed service.

Current Daytona uses bearings to mount their rotor so there is some noise or rattle you can hear but sub uses no bearings and should not rattle?

Only other thing that comes to mind is the the bracelet rattle but you've ruled that out.

???

[aaronk]

It's likely just the rotor spinning as you're shaking it.

[Sublover2166]

Isn't there a term called "end shake" regarding a bit of play in the rotor and it's axle jewels? Could be that and completely normal.

[treblarefils]

Sometimes i can here the sound as if i were to wind the crown 1 click. Im sure that is normal because thats the sound of the wind. But i cannot feel the rotor move or anything just a barely audible click exactly the same noise as winding the crown manually 1 click.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by deskdiver

I noticed this rattle and clicking noise in my 3 month SubC. Went to the AD, played with another Sub and heard the same noise. Now I can only hear the rattle when holding the watches right next to my ear. The noise is most prevalent when the watch is in vertical position and shaken sideways with short rapid strokes.

So since this rattle is normal and ruling out bracelet pins (had mine completely removed) and worn/loose rotor axle (brand new ones in AD does the same), which part of the watch movement is making this noise?




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Its the winding pendulum swinging by gravity amplified by the case when close to your ear, simple answer stop putting it by your ear and shaking it problem solved.

[sco]

STOP shaking your watch, it's not good for any reason ever...

[deskdiver]

Thanks everyone for responding. I just dropped off my watch with RSC NY to have something else corrected (a mark on the seconds hand) and was told the sound I'm hearing is from the rotor and it is normal.


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[lmcgbaj]

Originally Posted by padi56

Its the winding pendulum swinging by gravity amplified by the case when close to your ear, simple answer stop putting it by your ear and shaking it problem solved.

+1

[Sub-Admiral]

A quick update from my perspective. My 1978 1680 sub was fully serviced in last summer. Its my daily watch and I am vary careful not to wear it in the shower. Thus, a few days ago it fell from my wrist on the bathroom floor (which is of course very concrete and solid). Of course, feared the worse and thought it broke. Up to this point I had never really put the watch close to my ear and shaken it in order to listen to the winding rotor. Naturally, a ticking sound was there (in my panic that was the proof of damage). I also read on the web many things about the axle or the distance to which a rolex rotor should or shouldn't make a sound (i.e. arm's length). I finally took it yesterday to my RAD and they accepted to run a test. It took them 15 minutes to test the performance of the watch to say that it is flawless and that it does not need to be opened. They indicated that the sound I was getting when shaking the watch close to my ear is entirely normal. The sound is like a subtle knock not a sharp or edgy one (obviously like another member pointed out due to the gravity)They said that if a part of the rotor is broken it shows instantly on the timing testing specs. I insisted and I think they were offended by my disbelief. Back to normal... See you in 5 years they told me!

[Jpccarguy]

Great story, and serves to illustrate to all of us how Rolex's are tougher than we think!

Thanks for the update-

[klenboy]

You sure it's not the bracelet that's rattling?

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by padi56

Its the winding pendulum swinging by gravity amplified by the case when close to your ear, simple answer stop putting it by your ear and shaking it problem solved.

Thanks Peter, very informative

[Sub-Admiral]

Originally Posted by klenboy

You sure it's not the bracelet that's rattling?

Initially that was my idea. But in order to eliminate it I took it off and wore it on my four fingers, like an iron fist, and then shake it. Then i got the rotor sound but only very close to the ear, when holding it at normal arm's length nothing.

[Sub-Admiral]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Thanks Peter, very informative

Another thing that intrigued me was the persistence of the RAD not to open the case and rely solely on the testing of time keeping and other indicators. Obviously they must have a policy not to open unless timing is faulty or evidently for authenticating or servicing purposes.

[Nunez. Jacob]

I heard that the new movement is louder than the old 5 digit and pre 2020

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Sub-Admiral

Another thing that intrigued me was the persistence of the RAD not to open the case and rely solely on the testing of time keeping and other indicators. Obviously they must have a policy not to open unless timing is faulty or evidently for authenticating or servicing purposes.

An AD isn't likely to want to open the watch unless they have a Rolex trained watch tech. That'd be a job for RSC IMO

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[Sub-Admiral]

Originally Posted by Nunez. Jacob

I heard that the new movement is louder than the old 5 digit and pre 2020

Do you mean the 16610 or the 14060, I never owned one but friends who owned them told me they are very very silent. About the newer ones I would not known. I also own a steinhart ocean gmt root beer (brand new) Compared to the Sub it is like the moon and the sun. The steinhart when shaken is audible from the other side of a room (say a 3x3 room). Close to the ear, the steinhart geives the impression of something loose inside. Rolexes are very tight

[Sub-Admiral]

Originally Posted by brandrea

An AD isn't likely to want to open the watch unless they have a Rolex trained watch tech. That'd be a job for RSC IMO

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Actually, this is my fault I did not specify. My AD provided the service and I took it to the same technician who serviced it so he knew the watch. But of course your are right, I imagine an official RSC would open it more easily.

[inadeje]

Autowind Pendulum impacting caseback and scraping on said case back. Usually this comes hand in hand with the watch stopping due to low power reserve and other erratic behavior.

Rolex pendulums run on ball bearings (or they did) and these bearings either wear away the race they run in or the race becomes damaged due to watch falls, causing the pendulum to acquire lateral/horizontal movement and this causes said rattling and scraping.

It’s happened to me twice. 1 x Daytona zenith and 1 x 16610 sub. The only remedy is a new pendulum, since the bearings are not serviceable. Both times mine were replaced free in the RSC service.

[JMGoodnight369]

The rotors on the new 32xx movements are a lot noisier than the later calibers. I don’t own the new 12 series sub but I have played with them and can hear the difference compared to my 114060. The noise you hear is totally normal for this reference

[Sub-Admiral]

Originally Posted by inadeje

Autowind Pendulum impacting caseback and scraping on said case back. Usually this comes hand in hand with the watch stopping due to low power reserve and other erratic behavior.

Rolex pendulums run on ball bearings (or they did) and these bearings either wear away the race they run in or the race becomes damaged due to watch falls, causing the pendulum to acquire lateral/horizontal movement and this causes said rattling and scraping.

It’s happened to me twice. 1 x Daytona zenith and 1 x 16610 sub. The only remedy is a new pendulum, since the bearings are not serviceable. Both times mine were replaced free in the RSC service.

Thank you so much for clarifying this. Therefore, I have the option of either having the watch checked in the official RSC or wait till the next service (in 4,5 years). I reckon at some point I will take it much much earlier to the RSC just to be sure

[SaintMickey]

Never felt or heard this from any "modern" Rolex movements. Maybe older bracelets LOL.

I use to tell myself that the "Valjoux wobble" was neat/cool/unique...now I just call it unacceptable. But that's just me.

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by JMGoodnight369

The rotors on the new 32xx movements are a lot noisier than the later calibers. I don’t own the new 12 series sub but I have played with them and can hear the difference compared to my 114060. The noise you hear is totally normal for this reference

Except he started his thread in 2015 when the sub still has a 3130/3135. Rattling noise from that ain't good.

[TunaTuna]

I have never put any of my watches up to my ear, so maybe they all sound that way... who knows...

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Sub-Admiral

Thank you so much for clarifying this. Therefore, I have the option of either having the watch checked in the official RSC or wait till the next service (in 4,5 years). I reckon at some point I will take it much much earlier to the RSC just to be sure

You’d have to consider the economics of both options. A check of the watch (which will reveal the perished pendulum bearings) could turn out more expensive, because they may charge for the part and fitting (they’re not cheap these pendulums, since I believe they’re assembled with a mixture of heat and cold to create a friction union). Whereas, a service will automatically include the replacement of this part and whatever else needs replacement. Only you know which is preferable, but if it were my watch I would send it for a service and bite the bullet.

A couple of unsavory things can happen if you leave this unattended. 1. The watch won’t autowind correctly, which will mean that it could stop from time to time, forcing manual winds. 2. There have been cases when the bearings are really shot and the wearer is very active that small fragments, shavings (from either caseback, pendulum or both) or even pieces of a perished bearing or bearing carrier/race can get into the movement causing even more damage. I’ve seen case backs pretty gouged with circular swirls caused by a loose pendulum, especially if the wearer was very active.

Pendulums are NOT serviceable. The probability that the central retainer comes lose is next to nill. 9.9 times out of 10 the watch has fallen onto a hard surface and GeForce has forced the bearing into the carrier or even irreparably damaged one or more bearings. As soon as there’s any play in this central axis the tight tolerance between caseback and pendulum cause them to make contact. Since the pendulum is mobile while the caseback is stationary, you get an abrasion effect of metal to metal, as such the clacking sound and weird scrapping noise.

PS - I didn’t see that this was a 6 year old thread when replying, however, I hope my answer was nonetheless helpful

[Malum]

I like hearing the rotor .

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by deskdiver

I noticed this rattle and clicking noise in my 3 month SubC.

Be thankful that you still have such acute hearing.