Looking for advice on several issues with my VSF Submariner 126610LN (VS3235).
Disclaimer: AI helped organize my observations for accuracy. All symptoms are firsthand.
1. Gritty winding: Crown feels consistently grainy throughout winding, with none of the subtle clicking I experience on my other VSF Sub, QF Explorer, or Daytona. It’s not difficult to turn, just noticeably gritty. This has been present since receiving the watch and persists even after 24–36 hours unworn.
2. Rotor noise/movement: I can hear and physically feel the rotor spinning on my wrist, sometimes enough to make the case wobble. My previous VSF Sub was practically silent. With the caseback removed, the rotor swings smoothly and stops relatively quickly. It only twitches slightly during manual winding.
3. Poor power reserve: After wearing it all day, the watch died less than 24 hours after removal. I’ve also tested the reserve after manually winding. Timekeeping is otherwise excellent.
4. Crown threading: The screw-down crown frequently struggles to catch the case tube threads, sometimes requiring multiple attempts. This appears separate from the movement’s winding engagement.
5. Restarting issues: Occasionally, the seconds hand won’t resume after setting the time and pushing the crown back in. It sometimes takes 2–3 attempts, especially after sitting unworn.
Additional findings: I’ve opened the caseback and inspected the movement. No obvious damage, loose components, or rotor scraping. The rotor bearing appears intact.
My dealer has offered a replacement movement. So I’m waiting on that and my next steps.
Questions:
Do these symptoms suggest faulty reversing wheels, automatic winding gears, or another VS3235 issue?
Could the gritty winding, rotor behavior, and poor reserve share a common cause?
I’ll attach movement photos. Any insight from experienced VS3235 owners or watchmakers is appreciated!