Quote:
Originally Posted by Pinchy
Wow that was EXACTLY what I was after. I used search but yeah that gem is heavily burried.
What's the source of the procedure information? A former / current rolex tech? This seems very time consuming for an AD to be doing this?
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A few things you better know before you start measuring your watches with a timegrapher.
Timegraphers can not measure or detect the lift angles of mechanical movements.
Lift angles are a parameter that has to be selected in device settings. The selected lift angle is used to calculate the amplitudes of a caliber. A timegrapher only measures the rates.
Most watch brands do not provide the lift angles for their various movements. You need to find a reliable source.
It is possible to measure the lift angle of a caliber optically, it requires a (very) special instrument.
Most timegraphers determine the beat rate of a movement by themselves. This is reliable for all instruments I have used. Available timegraphers have the option to select the beat rate in their settings.
A wrong lift angle setting will not affect the reading of the movement rates (in s/d) but will result in incorrect amplitudes (in °). For a Rolex 3235 caliber, it is measured that there is a 5°
amplitude increase (decrease) per 1° higher (lower) lift angle. Measuring at 55° instead of the correct 53° overestimates the amplitudes by about 10°, see my post
4243.
If you intend to analyse Rolex watches with 32xx movements, the lift angle is 53° as specified in an official Rolex document. For 31xx movements, the lift angle is 52°.
Be careful with Omega co-axial movements, they need a timegrapher with a special mode to determine the amplitudes correctly, the rates are measured correctly with "cheap" timegraphers.
If you want to determine the condition of a caliber, you have to measure amplitudes, rates, beat errors in all positions. Rolex calibers are regulated for 5, not 6, positions. Other brands do better, they regulate all 6 positions, 12 up included. Measure first after full winding (t = 0) and 24 hours later. It is better to measure along the entire power reserve, e.g., every 12 hours, until the movement stops.
Feel free to join
this thread if you want to discuss your results for 32xx watches.
The procedure you asked about is my own, which I have discussed and checked with several watchmakers of various brands, including Rolex. The time it takes for an AD is of no interest to me. There is a lot of half-knowledge and nonsense on the internet.
Last but not least, install your watch correctly onto your timegrapher, see my post
5570.