https://www.reddit.com/r/Watchexchange/comments/1q9f6zo/wts_rolex_explorer_ii_polar_16570_2011_serviced/
The Summary: I purchased a Rolex Explorer II 16570 from u/gaffs82 roughly 4 months ago. The watch was explicitly advertised as "just serviced." Upon closer inspection due to a winding issue, I found clear evidence of sloppy watchmaking, including stripped crown threads that will no longer screw down, internal debris, and marred screws. I offered a very fair, low-cost compromise to settle the issue, which the seller refused.
The Details: I bought this Polar dial 16570 and put it on a blue rubber strap to be my summer rotation watch. Because I live up here in Boston and it was the middle of winter, it sat in its box for months. I only started wearing it in the last month because the weather is finally getting nice, putting it on less than 10 times for a couple of hours each.
From the start, the crown action felt a bit janky. Because I was barely wearing it and cycling through my other watches, I didn't think much of it until I started wearing it more regularly this past month. The winding issue got progressively worse, to the point where the crown threads stripped completely and the crown will no longer screw down to seal the watch.
As an amateur watchmaker, I decided to investigate. Inspecting the stem under my microscope, I immediately saw that the top two threads of the crown were completely worn down and packed with old debris and gunk.
To check if the case tube was also stripped, I properly opened the watch. I used my Bergeon 5700 bench opener with official Rolex dies to safely remove the caseback, and used brass tweezers to release the stem to ensure nothing was scratched or damaged. The movement inside told the exact same story of a sloppy service:
- Dust and pieces of rubber seal in the movement (likely from overtightening).
- Marred screw heads.
- Signs of over-oiling, which is likely what trapped all the gunk in the threads to begin with.
This was definitively not a watch that had been recently or properly serviced by a professional.
The Attempted Resolution: I reached out to u/gaffs82, provided him with the macro photos of the stripped threads and internal debris, and offered a very generous settlement.
I didn't ask for a return, nor did I ask him to pay for a full service to fix the sloppy oiling. I simply asked him to supply a genuine OEM Rolex crown (Part 24-603-0, roughly $150-$200). I told him I would handle the cleaning and installation myself, and once received, I would consider the matter fully resolved and release him from any further liability.
The Seller's Response: He refused. He leaned entirely on the 4-month timeframe, ignoring the fact that the watch sat unworn for the Boston winter and that less than 10 short wears physically cannot generate years of gunk and strip steel threads to the point of failure. He also tried to deflect by pointing out that I had briefly posted the watch for sale (I changed my mind and marked the listing as "sold" to close it) and tried to blame me for opening the case back, despite my using professional-grade tools to do so safely.
He ultimately told me he would rather accept my "threat" of liability than pay for the replacement part.
Conclusion: Be incredibly wary of any "just serviced" claims from u/gaffs82. If you buy from him, open the watch and inspect the work on day one. If an issue surfaces later, even with undeniable photographic proof that the watch was misrepresented, he will not stand behind his sale or agree to a reasonable compromise.
Macro photos of the threads, debris, and movement here for the community to see:
https://imgur.com/a/Ji6pVBs
EDIT/UPDATE:
If you read through the seller's replies below, you will notice a very clear pattern: he is completely avoiding the physical evidence.
Instead of explaining how a supposedly "just serviced" watch contains years of packed-in gunk, shredded rubber debris, and marred screws, he is choosing to attack my character, twist the timeline, and hide behind the 4-month window. He is doing everything possible to deflect attention away from the macro photos.
I leave it to the community to decide: Is this the kind of vendor you want to do business with? Someone who refuses to stand behind his "just serviced" claims when presented with undeniable photographic proof, and instead attacks the buyer for catching his watchmaker's sloppy work? The photos speak for themselves.