Gerlach watch issue

art · 12-07-2016 08:15PM #1

Just got a delivery of a Gerlach Submarine, brass, automatic using Seiko nh35a movement. I haven't posted photos because it seemed defective. I was surprised that my initial movements holding, checking it out etc, didn't kick the second hand off moving. I set the time and wound it for 10 turns and off it went. Then stopped. Rocked it a bit and started again. Then stopped at near enough the same place on the dial (just after the 6). Started again. Stopped. Roughly same place. Wound for 20 turns (manual says full wind is 35-40). Went for a few minutes, stopped. Kept picking it and putting it down, would start a bit then stop. Always around the six, though not at the exact same spot.

So raised a return request with Gerlach who so far haven't responded to. (Not impressed with that either for that matter).

This evening I picked it up, about an hour ago, and rocked it back and forth about ten times. Didn't touch the time. And it's still going.... Not sure what to think now. Perhaps setting the hands did something? There's a screw down crown which I'm not really used to. Or needs super charging at the start!? Anyway I'm going to leave as is just to see how long it runs for the moment. But has anyone had that movement and recognises irregularities like the above?

art · 12-07-2016 09:16PM

Stopped whilst on the wrist after about an hour and twenty. Left it on the wrist and even though I was gesticulating wildly over dinner, about how everyone I work for is an ass, and stuff like that (which admittedly is a bit tangential to the issue at hand), it stayed stuck.

goose banker · 12-07-2016 11:22PM

I had an issue a couple of years ago when I took delivery of a new Precista PRS-18-A with a Miyota 9015 movement inside. At first I swirled the watch around to wind it but it refused to tick. Then I hand wound it but no luck. Finally tried a few more shakes and off it ran before stopping exactly one minute later. A few more shakes and off it ran only to do the same thing again and stop in the same place.

I contacted the company and was told that "It occasionally happens that the watch takes a shock in shipping and the pallet fork gets stuck. Sometimes knocking the side of the watch against your hand can free it. Obviously if this doesn't work then it will have to be returned."

Timefactors were fantastic to deal with and a new watch was sent to me anyway before I even got back to them to say that tapping the side didn't resolve the issue. Hard to argue with that response.

Perhaps you have a similar problem with a stuck pallet fork?

art · 13-07-2016 10:06AM

Thanks for the reply. As it happens, the packaging wasn't great, the watch came on a leather roll (which is, in fact, absolutely lovely) but then a few bits of polystyrene balls and a hand grenade sized cardboard box that I could just see myself lobbing carelessly into the back of a van! No "fragile" type markings anywhere. So could have picked something up in transit alright.

No response still from Gerlach so I've tried rapping it a few times either side and setting it to twelve to see exactly how long it runs. Don't think I'll be buying watches from Gerlach again though at this rate, your response from Timefactors was far more encouraging.

blue5000 · 13-07-2016 11:44AM

It's possible that one of the hands is either slightly up or down and sticking with another hand. You say it stops at six. Try writing down the time it stops at, but I think it will need to be sent back.

art · 13-07-2016 02:33PM

Yeah, nuisance sending it back but I'm likely to lack confidence in it until it's been looked at properly. I've logged the issue twice with Gerlach now though and still no acknowledgement or reply, rubbish customer service really.

art · 13-07-2016 05:12PM

I posted on watchuseek and got an answer from Gerlach there; indeed, bash it about a bit is the instructions!

art · 13-07-2016 05:53PM

... all I've achieved is a sore hand unfortunately ...

blue5000 · 13-07-2016 07:24PM

I think the watch is supposed to be wound down for this to work, which is going to be hard for you if it keeps stopping. Have you a link to wus?

art · 13-07-2016 08:21PM

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f71/g-gerlach-thread-2014-thought-time-bronze-brass-980932-230.html

Acis over there.. forum name randomness on my part ...

art · 15-07-2016 10:10AM

Been trying to wind it down. Will occasionally run for around an hour. And always stops still around the six marker.

Five days since I contacted Gerlach, twice, and still no follow up, acknowledgement or reply... At this stage, I'd prefer a refund and never to shop there again! I paid with PayPal so perhaps if I open a dispute there, Gerlach will finally give me a response?

goose banker · 15-07-2016 12:29PM

You bought an item that doesn't perform as it's supposed to - I'd imagine you should be entitled to a repair or replacement. Poor show from the company - not a good advertisement for them IMO

art · 15-07-2016 04:54PM

You tipped them over the edge!

They've emailed me finally, I'm to post it off to their watch-maker. This is one of the drawbacks too of internet shopping, I now have to pay the reg post fees to get the thing back to them myself. Anyway, hopefully get it sorted soon.

goose banker · 15-07-2016 05:45PM

I bought a Tisell 40mm pilot watch with a Miyota 90S5 movement inside. I had a problem with the crown, it would wind the watch but it pulled straight out completely with the stem attached when you went to set the time. My emails were returned quickly, I think the only delay was caused by the time difference between here and Korea. They told me to send it back with a receipt for my cost for the return postage. I got a new watch and a postage refund more or less straight away considering I was dealing with the opposite side of the world. That's customer service as it should be and they deserve a mention for that. Gerlach needed a little "prod" and they've only made themselves look bad.

Gerlach watch issue

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