This Is Why Rolex Stops Ticking (8 Reasons and How To Troubleshoot)


There are a plethora of reasons why your Rolex may stop ticking. Some common issues include water damage, a dead battery, and not wearing your watch daily. You can get a good service policy on your watch to troubleshoot these issues.

Rolex is a brand known for quality and excellence. Check out this article if you want to know eight possible reasons why your Rolex stopped ticking. 

8 Reasons Why Rolex Stops Ticking

When Rolex stops ticking, you may wonder why a luxury watch would do that. A Rolex is supposed to be high quality. Why would it malfunction on you? There are several possible reasons why your Rolex may have stopped ticking:

The Battery is Dead

One of the significant reasons why a watch stops working is that the battery is dead. Back in the late 1900s, Rolex made quartz timepieces but ultimately stopped soon after. A watch battery commonly dies every two years or so. The most common circumstances that affect the life of the battery:

  • The size of the battery
  • The functions of your watch
  • How often do you utilize functions
  • How often do you use the chronograph function

Another factor is if your watch has been in extreme temperatures for long periods. If you suspect the battery in your watch has died, take it in for repair. So if you have an old quartz Rolex from the 1900s, the reason why it may have stopped ticking is the battery.

Something Impeding the Watch’s Internal Structure

Dust, debris, or a loose screw could impede the watch’s internal structure. This situation typically occurs when a watch has not been serviced for a long time. Physical damage can range from everyday activities to something in the watch being broken due to repetitive movement. You could also accidentally drop your watch when you put it on or take it off.

Water Damage

Without checking first, you should never assume that a luxury watch is water resistant. If the movement of your watch stops, the person you take to service it will open the watch, inspect the dial for damage, and thoroughly strip or inspect the movement. Even if it only drizzles on a day when you are wearing your watch, it can cause your watch to corrode over time and stop running.

The crystal on your watch’s face can get water droplets, or dew can get on the inside, damaging the watch’s movement. Water can make the metal elements inside the watch get rusty. If the water is soapy, it could be even worse. If the hands-on your watch malfunction or stop, this indicates erratic movement, and you will need to take it to be serviced.

Faulty Manufacturing

When you peek inside a watch, you can see the intricate details that were involved in making it. Some tiny gears and pieces are necessary to render your watch useful. Sometimes the parts are not set up correctly.

Pieces may have become separated or misplaced, which causes the watch to stop working. This rarely occurs with a watch brand as reputable and trustworthy as Rolex, but it does happen. A manufacturer can help with this issue.

Not Wearing Your Watch Continuously

Rolex watches do not just stop working for no reason. There is a power reserve in Rolexes; if you take it off at night, it should continue to work. Rolexes will stop working if the power reserve is extremely low. It will stop ticking if the watch is not worn for forty or more hours.

A Rolex runs for this long until the main spring unwinds completely, and then they slow down and finally stop ticking. If you are not active or productive, the watch’s wrist rotation may not be enough to wind during the day. You will need to wind the watch manually; the Rolex will stop working if it has sat stationary for a long enough time. 

Extreme Hot or Cold

If the temperature is too intense, either hot or cold, it can affect the watch’s timekeeping and damage its internal mechanisms and other parts. Even if the watch is not damaged, it can affect its accuracy. The crystal inside a luxury quartz watch is made for room temperature. It can damage the watch if it shrinks or expands due to extreme hot or cold temperatures.

You Forgot to Close the Crown After Winding

You may have forgotten to close the crown when winding, which causes the watch to stop ticking. Most mechanical watches have a stop-hand function when the crown is taken out to set the time. During the process, the knob can become stuck, or you may have forgotten to close the knob, which causes the watch to cease proper functioning. 

Dry Oil in the Machine

When the lubricating oil in the machine is dry, it will cause the watch to slow down or stop functioning correctly. When the oil dries up, the parts will rub together and cause a dirt buildup. The result is a standing mechanical watch. You should get an exceptional warranty to have the oil in the watch cleaned every three years.

How Can I Troubleshoot These Problems?

The best way to troubleshoot difficulties with your Rolex is to get the full-service option. Rolex’s services include all the required servicing operations to keep it functioning correctly:

  • Parts are disassembled
  • Parts are cleaned
  • Each part is inspected
  • Old components are exchanged for new working parts

If a third party has serviced a Rolex, the Rolex Service Center can reject your request to service it. The watch parts are cleaned and evaluated when the Rolex movement is serviced. With Rolex full service, they will you will receive a major movement renovation, which includes the replacement of the mainspring.

When receiving Rolex full service, Rolex timekeepers ensure precise timekeeping. Watchmakers adjust the balance wheel and test it for accuracy. The Rolex is tested to make sure that the timing standards are appropriate. The watch must meet Rolex’s specifications.

When the Rolex is serviced, all the pieces are replaced to guarantee moisture resistance and proper functioning. Quality checks are completed all during the service. Once the Rolex has been fully serviced, it is covered by a two-year warranty.  

Conclusion

There are many possible reasons why your Rolex stops ticking. The best way to troubleshoot these issues is to take your watch in for service and have a professional ensure it is in top-notch condition.

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