Okay, so, I’ve been meaning to get into this for a while, and today I finally did it – messing around with my Rolex, specifically the black dial one. I’ve always loved how these watches look, but I gotta say, taking them apart is a whole other level of fun.
First off, I got all my tools ready. You can’t just go at this with any old screwdriver. I laid out my tiny screwdrivers, tweezers, that little rubber thingy that helps you grip stuff, and a soft cloth to keep things clean. I even wore those little finger cots so I didn’t smudge up the watch parts with my greasy fingers.
Getting Started
I started by taking off the bracelet. This wasn’t too bad, just had to push in those spring bars and wiggle it loose. It is really tricky. I felt really nervous to do this part. Then came the tricky part – opening the case back. Rolexes are sealed tighter than a drum, so I used my case back opener tool. It’s like this wrench thing with adjustable pins. Took a few tries to get a good grip, but eventually, I heard that satisfying click.
Inside the Watch
With the case back off, I was staring at the movement. It’s crazy how many tiny parts are in there, all working together. I didn’t want to mess with anything too delicate, so I mostly just looked around. I did carefully remove the rotor – that’s the part that spins around when you move your wrist and winds the watch. It was pretty cool to see it up close.
The Dial
Now, onto the main event – the black dial. This is what I was really excited about. To get to it, I had to take off the hands. Man, those things are tiny! I used my hand remover tool, which is basically like a miniature crowbar. You gotta be super gentle, or you’ll bend the hands. I successfully took off the second hand, the minute hand, and finally the hour hand. It was a bit of a nail-biter, but I managed to do it without messing anything up.
With the hands off, I could finally lift out the dial. It’s held in place by a couple of screws, which were easy enough to remove. Holding the black dial in my hand, I could really appreciate the craftsmanship. The way the light hits those hour markers, the finish on the dial itself – it’s just beautiful.
Putting it Back Together
After admiring the dial for a bit, it was time to put everything back together. This was basically the reverse of taking it apart, but even trickier. Getting those tiny hands back on their posts was a real test of patience. I used my tweezers and a lot of deep breaths. It takes time to put it back.
- First, I put the dial back in its place and screwed it in.
- Then, I started with the hour hand, then the minute hand, and finally the second hand. I had to make sure they were all lined up perfectly at 12 o’clock before pressing them down.
- Once the hands were on, I put the rotor back on the movement.
- Finally, I carefully placed the movement back in the case and used my case back opener to close it up.
- Then put the bracelet on and it was done.
All in all, it was a really fun and rewarding experience. I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone – you definitely need a steady hand and a lot of patience. But if you’re into watches and you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty, it’s a great way to learn more about how these amazing machines work. Now, I feel like I have a whole new appreciation for my Rolex, knowing I was able to take it apart and put it back together myself. I wore it immediately after I put it back. It’s an amazing feeling.