The crown has 3 positions. First, you unscrew the crown and it will slightly pop out. Wind it in a clockwise direction about 40 turns. This will power it up. You can't overwind it. Then, pull it out slightly to adjust the date. Turn it clockwise and it should adjust the date. Pull it out fully and it will adjust the hands (for hours and minutes). If you are going to set it today, I would set it for the 18th and then advance the hands past midnight. This way, the date will turn and you can set it properly so the date changes at midnight. Some people don't do that and the date changes at noon and they get very confused. It's fairly delicate but it should easily pull out to do this.

 

Dear Golden Bear

Many thanks for your advice.

 

Dear Golden Bear

I have now tried to do as you have said on both watches but in neither case did it work. They are both quite old and therefore they may be in need of some maintenance. Nevertheless they keep time. I don't think the date changes any more, although it is less than 24 hours since I looked at them first. Sounds like a service/repair job unless you have any other suggestion. Also, having wound 40 + times, if I pulled the crown out any more, it just went on to change the hands. There did not seem to be any intermediate position.
Kind regards
Oykel

 

Possibly the watch isn't "quick set," meaning it doesn't have a separate position for setting the date. In that case, you just have to wind through the time until you get to the right date. At least that's my understanding.

Unless the date just isn't changing at all, no matter what you do. In that case, it sounds like a service issue.

 

Dear GinGinD

Thanks, I'll try your suggestion.

Kind regards

Oykel

 

I inherited a 1964 Rolex Oyster Date manual wind from my late father.

The date is not quick set in that model. You have to advance the hours to change the date.

 

Either way, you should bring it in (or send it in) to a Rolex Service Center and have it serviced. You should be good for another 5-7 years.

 

Hi guys,

Mine doesn't have quick set either.
I'd be interested in knowing when Rolex started adding a quick-set date to their Oyster Perpetual Dates (their isn't much info on the web about these watches.)

:thanks

 

actually I have another question:

is the hand wind bi-directional? Mine doesn't makes the same sound whether I wind it clockwise (weird swooshingsound) or counter clockwise (then I get the usual ticking sound of a watch being wound)

thx again