Rolex GMT-II magnetized then fixed

[tuna_gmt]

Hi all,

I just wanted to report my experience here in case it's helpful to anyone else in the same situation.

I bought a GMT-Master II ref. 16710 (circa 2003) from a dealer in Japan about a month ago. The first couple weeks it ran about +2-2.5 s/d, which I'm totally happy with.

Then one day it started running about +15 s/d. (I used the iPhone app "WatchTracker" for this which worked well for me.)

After some reading, I started to wonder if it had become magnetized. Many posts on this topic say that if a watch is magnetized it will run fast by several minutes (or even an hour or more) per day, and that running fast by 15-30 seconds is unlikely to be magnetism.

On the contrary I found this exactly to be what I experienced with my GMT-Master II.

I found an iPhone app called "Tesla Recorder" that lets you use the built-in magnetometer (for compass app) to measure magnetization of objects. I noticed that the watch when held about 1 cm away from the most sensitive area of the phone moved the meter about +/- 20 "units" on the app from it's typical neutral state of about 40 on my phone.

I was not sure what to do with this information, and seeing that the watch continued to run +15 s/d (actually +15.3 s/d, then +14.2 s/d), I took it to a Rolex AD here in Los Angeles and all they could do was suggest I do the full service overhaul, and they told me that they didn't have technicians at the store.

After 3 days and a little online research I ordered the "blue box" demagnetizer on Amazon for about $10.

I used the demagnetizer on the watch by plugging it in, putting the watch over it so case back was in direct contact, pushing the demagnetizer's button down to turn it on and keeping it held, then moving the watch around a little then pulling it away to an arm's length before turning off the demagnetizer.

After doing this demagentization I checked the Tesla Recorder app and found +/- about 1 unit when moving the watch super close.

That was about 2 weeks ago, and since then it has run consistently at +1.8-2.8 s/d over several 2-3 day timing runs with the WatchTracker app.

Hopefully this is useful to someone down the road. I still have no idea what caused the magnetization, but it hasn't happened again. I would be curious to hear if anyone else has experienced the same situation.

[Rrpdc]

Works great.

[peterpl]

question i would be asking is what have you been doing to get it magnetized in the first place

[Z-Sub]

good to hear.

Got one myself and used it a few times too

[tuna_gmt]

Originally Posted by peterpl

question i would be asking is what have you been doing to get it magnetized in the first place

Yeah, it only happened that one time, but I have no idea what caused it. The only thing unusual that day was taking my car for service and picking up a loaner. Other than that I couldn’t figure out what might have caused it. Fortunately it hasn’t happened again.

[HK_Expat]

Interesting info...thanks for sharing

[Rolex.c6]

Interesting indeed

[Speedbird-1]

Very interesting.
The Watch Tracker app assessment is amazing!

You haven't been in any Gov't 'establishments',have you?
You could've been 'zapped' by them damned Rooshians!

[Onequik135i]

Interesting read, I’m not familiar with the whole magnetization watch issues I have heard about but good to see it could be fixed by purchasing such an inexpensive item from Amazon. My 16710 was originally an Asain watch too (Taiwan) purchased from a US AD & has typically run +6 per day just within factory spec of -4/+6 using Watch Tracker App as well. Glad your 16710 is all fine now. How does a watch get Magnetized in the first place ?

[tuna_gmt]

Originally Posted by Onequik135i

Interesting read, I’m not familiar with the whole magnetization watch issues I have heard about but good to see it could be fixed by purchasing such an inexpensive item from Amazon. My 16710 was originally an Asain watch too (Taiwan) purchased from a US AD & has typically run +6 per day just within factory spec of -4/+6 using Watch Tracker App as well. Glad your 16710 is all fine now. How does a watch get Magnetized in the first place ?

I have read that speakers with powerful magnets and sometimes other electronic equipment can cause it. I had a couple things I hadn't noticed--some extra of the little window sensor parts for our alarm system (which are magnetic) and two little magnetic screwdrivers (lol)--on the counter near my keys and stuff where I was keeping my watch at night. I didn't think they were that close, and I see no explanation why it suddenly happened, but that could have been it. Of course I have moved them since.

[Onequik135i]

Good to know, I will be more cautious as to anything that could be magnetic to stay away from. Doesn’t hurt to prob just order the same gizmo from Amazon to keep around just in case.

[JohnAcosta]

Originally Posted by tuna_gmt

I still have no idea what caused the magnetization, but it hasn't happened again.

Do you have a cover on a tablet or phone that uses magnets to stay shut? Those magnets are surpisingly powerful and I unknowingly magenetized my Speedmaster Pro. As others have said it could be been in alarms sensors, speakers, or even something as simple as something in your house/work that you aren't even aware has been magnetized.

Glad to hear you got it all sorted out though.

[Mystro]

That’s what I use. Little blue box works perfect. My newer watches don’t seem to get into magnetized trouble but my older automatics can. Rotten IPad covers are what does it to them.

[Utomow]

Interesting info, thanks for sharing

[Ravager135]

Interesting story. Good to hear you were able to remedy the situation "in house." Your assumptions are correct regarding magnetized watches. I had a Panerai Luminor Submersible that was magnetized and the best way I could describe the timekeeping was "erratic." Anything is possible though as it clearly seems you corrected the issue and in doing so proved the source of the malfunction. When my Submersible was magnetized, it would keep time perfectly and then at completely irregular times lose significant portions of time. It would be functioning perfectly, then a few hours later I'd look at the time and noticed it off by 30-40 minutes.

[BobDyl]

Good post, and nice job diagnosing the problem. Similar thing happened to me with a Daytona (calibre 4130). I somehow magnetized it. Independent Rolex Service in SF demagnetized it in about a minute and fixed the problem. Very rare I guess but it happens.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by BobDyl

Good post, and nice job diagnosing the problem. Similar thing happened to me with a Daytona (calibre 4130). I somehow magnetized it. Independent Rolex Service in SF demagnetized it in about a minute and fixed the problem. Very rare I guess but it happens.

Although other things can get magnetised in a movement the main culprit in the hairspring.And seeing the Daytona was the first Rolex watch to have way back in 2000 the parachrom hairspring, that according to Rolex impossible to magnetise.And in general when a movement gets magnetised in general they speed up and run very very erratic or even stop and refuse to start.

[Onequik135i]

A lot to learn in this thread, how about scanners/metal detectors at airports ?

[BobDyl]

Originally Posted by padi56

Although other things can get magnetised in a movement the main culprit in the hairspring.And seeing the Daytona was the first Rolex watch to have way back in 2000 the parachrom hairspring, that according to Rolex impossible to magnetise.And in general when a movement gets magnetised in general they speed up and run very very erratic or even stop and refuse to start.

Yeah it was the strangest thing. I mean, I was just hanging out at work ... and my watch went crazy!

[kilyung]

Well done. I have the same demagnetizer.

[Boaters]

Awesome info never had that issue but good to know .. Thanks for sharing!

[toxicavenger]

You can also run your watch over a demagnetize in a clothing store that uses them to remove security tags. It works great.

[4BostonB]

Originally Posted by peterpl

question i would be asking is what have you been doing to get it magnetized in the first place

I think this is easier than you expect. I've magnetized watches with an iPad cover, and my work bag has a pocket with a magnetic closure that I suspect has also played tricks with them.

[RolexWombat]

Yup classic signs of magnetization (in my experience it’s sudden change to somewhere between +15 to +30 per day rather than « minutes »). Cheap blue de-magnetizer from Amazon works just fine every time.

As others said it’s mainly the balance spring that gets affected so watches with silicon springs ought to be more resistant to it.

[The Libertine]

Thanks for the post - good to know!

[Roll the Lex]

Originally Posted by 4BostonB

I think this is easier than you expect. I've magnetized watches with an iPad cover, and my work bag has a pocket with a magnetic closure that I suspect has also played tricks with them.

My kid had a Thomas the train with magnets to connect other trains to. Walked right up to me to show me something else and tapped the magnet right on the watch. Sapphire was ok. Still runs fine.

Thank god I had the milgauss on.


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[fskywalker]

Nicely done, have same de-mag as well!


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[schoolboy]

That’s crazy. Good information on here.

Thanks for sharing.


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[AJM914]

Good to hear it worked out!