How to Wind a Rolex

Co-authored by Bill Green

Last Updated: May 13, 2024 Approved

symbol, making it the largest single luxury watch brand worldwide. Many modern Rolex watches feature a self-winding mechanism that winds the mainspring to power the watch. As long as the watch is moving, it will have power. This is known as "perpetual movement." However, these "perpetual" watches can stop if they're left motionless for too long. If this happens to your Rolex, follow a few simple steps to wind it and reset the time and date.

Part 1

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Winding Your Rolex

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Rolex watches are expensive to replace and repair, so protect your watch by winding it on a stationary surface where it can't slip out of your hand.
The crown is located on the side of your watch by the 3 o'clock marking. Turn the crown counterclockwise until you feel it release from the last thread. It will pop out slightly from the side of the watch. ^{[1]
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Wind your Rolex. With your thumb and index finger, slowly turn the crown clockwise 360 degrees, or a full rotation, at least 30 to 40 times. This fully winds the watch. ^{[2]
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- If you only rotate the crown clockwise a few times then the watch will not be fully wound.
- Rolex designs its watches so it is impossible to over wind them. A device built into the watch will prevent you from over winding the Rolex.
Return the crown to its normal position by gently pushing the crown towards the watch and screwing it back on to the threads by turning it clockwise. Your Rolex watch is now wound.
If you've wound your watch and it doesn't immediately start working, leave it alone for a little while or rotate it back and forth on your wrist. It may take a little motion for the watch to be working properly.
A Rolex watch that stays motionless for approximately 24 hours will usually not wind itself and will need to be manually wound. Keep your Rolex on if you don't want to repeatedly wind it.
If your Rolex still doesn't work after winding it, you may have a more serious problem. Take your watch to a local certified and authorized dealer who can assess the watch. If it is broken, the dealer will ship your Rolex to a factory in Switzerland for repairs.

Part 2

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Setting the Date and Time

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Now that the Rolex is wound properly you will need to reset the date and time. Different models of Rolex have different methods for setting the date and time so it is important to use the appropriate method for your model. ^{[3]
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Set the time and date on non-quickset models. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. Slightly tug on the crown until it reaches the second position and set the date. You will tug out once more to reach the third position (when the crown is fully extended) to set the time.
- To set the date, from the second position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise past the midnight position twice and then continue winding until you reach the correct date. ^{[4]
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- To set the time, from the third position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise until you reach the appropriate time.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place. ^{[5]
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Set the time and date on quickset models. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. Slightly tug on the crown until it reaches the second position and set the date. You will tug out once more to reach the third position (when the crown is fully extended) to set the time.
- To set the date, from the second position, wind the crown until you reach the appropriate date. For a ladies watch you must wind the watch clockwise to set the date. For a man’s watch you must wind the watch counterclockwise to set the date.
- To set the time, from the third position, wind the crown either clockwise or counterclockwise until you reach the appropriate time.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place.
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Set the time on day-date non-quickset models. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. Slightly tug on the crown until it reaches the second position and set the date. You will tug out once more to reach the third position (when the crown is fully extended) to set the time.
- To set the date, from the second position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise past the midnight position twice and then set the correct date by continuing to wind in the same direction.
- To set the time, from the third position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise until you reach the appropriate time.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place.
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Set the time on day-date single quickset models. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. Slightly tug on the crown until it reaches the second position and set the date. You will tug out once more to reach the third position (when the crown is fully extended) to set the time and day.
- To set the date, from the second position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise until you find the appropriate date. ^{[6]
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- To set the day, from the third position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise past the midnight position twice and then continue turning the crown until you reach the correct day.
- To set the time, from the third position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise until you reach the appropriate time.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place.
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Set the time on day-date double quickset models. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. Slightly tug on the crown until it reaches the second position and set the date and day. You will tug out once more to reach the third position (when the crown is fully extended) to set the time.
- To set the day, from the second position, wind the crown counterclockwise.
- To set the date, from the second position, wind the crown clockwise.
- To set the time, from the third position, wind the crown clockwise or counterclockwise until you reach the appropriate time.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place.
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Set the time on an Oyster Perpetual, Submariner (no date), Cosmograph Daytona or Explorer (no date) model. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. The Oyster Perpetual, Cosmograph Daytona and some Submariner and Explorer models have no date. You will tug the crown out to reach the fully extended position to set the time.
- To set the time, from the fully extended position turn the crown either clockwise or counterclockwise until you reach the correct time. The second hand will stop and only start again once the crown is back in the second position.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place.
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Set the time on a Submariner date quickset, GMT-Master quickset or Yacht-Master model. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. Slightly tug on the crown until it reaches the second position and set the date. You will tug out once more to reach the third position (when the crown is fully extended) to set the time.
- To set the date, from the second position, turn the crown clockwise until you reach the correct date.
- To set the time, from the third position, turn the crown either clockwise or counterclockwise to set the correct time. The second hand will be stopped while you have the crown in third position but will start again when you push it back into the second position.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place.
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Set the time on a GMT-Master II quickset or Explorer II model. Unscrew the crown counterclockwise until it pops out from the side. Slightly tug on the crown until it reaches the second position and set the date. You will tug out once more to reach the third position (when the crown is fully extended) to set the time.
- To set the date, from the second position, move the hour hand past the midnight position twice in one hour jumps by turning the crown clockwise or counterclockwise.
- To set the hour hand, from the second position, move the crown clockwise or counterclockwise to move the hour hand in one hour jumps until you reach the correct hour. The watch will continue to run properly during this time.
- To set the time, from the third position, move the crown clockwise or counterclockwise until you reach the appropriate time. The second hand will stop automatically when the crown is in this position but will resume when it goes back to the second position.
- When finished setting the time and date, push the crown back in and screw clockwise tightly back into place.

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Question

When does the date change on a Rolex watch?

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The date changes between 12 and 3 A.M. The day and date do not change at the same time.

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I have had to return to my local Rolex dealer 5 times to repair a watch that will not wind properly. Can I return the watch to the manufacturer to be repaired? How would I do that?

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Find an authorized Rolex dealer in your area. Many places sell Rolex but there are very few authorized sellers. For instance in the Santa Cruz, California area, there is one in Carmel and one in San Jose but many jewelry stores sell Rolex watches. The authorized dealers can send it to Rolex rather than have their watchmaker attempt to repair your watch.

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I was recently given a Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch by a friend. They said it needed to be set because it had not been worn. I reset the time and date, and attempted to wind to get it going but it won't. What's wrong?

Community Answer

Simply moving the watch around should get it to tick for a little bit because they're automatic watches. If it ticks upon being shaken, but won't wind when twisting the crown, that tends to be the mainspring. These tend to be replaced by Rolex dealers preemptively upon regular service, so it's not a huge deal getting it replaced. If it won't even work after being shaken, there's a good chance the movement is bad. Replacement of a movement with OEM parts could easily total the value of the watch. The best thing would be to take it to an expert and them look at it. I would also make sure the watch is authentic before paying to repair it, in case your friend passed a replica off to you.

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Tips

If you don't wear your Rolex often, purchase an automatic winder, which is a device that you place your Rolex in when you're not wearing it. The automatic winder will gently shake the timepiece to simulate regular movement, eliminating the need to wind it.

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Warnings

Do not shake your Rolex watch as a means to get it working again.

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Only wind your Rolex watch when you are not wearing it.

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How to Wind a Rolex

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