Brand New Explorer II losing 2.2+ secs a day. Concerned?

[AshM]

Hi
I'm new to this forum and grateful for it.
I just brought my first Rolex on Tuesday from Tourneau in NYC - a brand new Explorer II Polar - and have until Monday to return it for store credit. According to the Twixt app on my iPhone it's losing 2.2 secs a day. I understand that this is a mechanical watch - not the atomic Casio I had be wearing that resets every night - but I was wondering if this is normal for a new Rolex Superlative Chronometer?
Why do I care? It's not the end of the world, but I walk to the train every day to commute and my watch tells my whether I can keep walking or need to start running. 15 seconds a week wont make or break, but 13 minutes a year would. Maybe I just need to get used to a mechanical watch? Do you think it deteriorate further? I think I read somewhere that watches tend to get slower as they age - like the rest of us.
Thanks for your expert opinion.

[padi56]

All Swiss movements of Rolex size are tested to the Swiss COSC standard which is the the movement should perform to a AVERAGE of between -4 to +6 seconds over any 24 hour period.And don't read to much in the the wording "Superlative" in front of the official designation of Chronometer,as today IMHO its merely a Rolex marketing ploy to give it a more distinguished sound to the chronometer status of their products. Any words added before or after the official designation of Chronometer are merely purely marketing,likewise the wording Certified Chronometer,is a redundant phrase word, since getting the Chronometer status is the certification,but the certification is only at the time of testing the bare un-cased movement.And all chronometers of the same size as Rolex movements are tested to exactly the same standard as any other certified movement of the same size as Rolex.

Now your watch is running well inside the COSC standard,now have you given your watch a full manual wind if not do so 40 full crown turns clockwise only.Now in general as the movement beds in to your wearing habits over a few weeks or so they speed up slightly. But even now your watch is showing over 99.997% accuracy remember there are 86400 seconds in a day.And no purely mechanical watch any brand at any price will keep perfect time close yes but perfect no.So just enjoy your watch and don't worry about a second or so out of the 86400 in a day as its very easy to reset the time say once a week even then it will be just 16 seconds slow. .

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by AshM

I was wondering if this is normal for a new Rolex Superlative Chronometer?

Yes

[supernova]

Lose 13 mins a year? Do you realize how accurate that is? There's alot of minutes in a year!

[Cc1966]

Use time.gov to test accuracy (or a similar site)

[TempoKing]

Originally Posted by supernova

Lose 13 mins a year? Do you realize how accurate that is? There's alot of minutes in a year!

13 minutes seems high...more like... less than 3 minutes perhaps

[adsusanto]

You kidding me right... That is still bloody accurate for a mechanical. Surely you not expecting it to beat a quartz?? I think any mechanical working around +_ 5 is damn good....I will only worry if it goes to 10 or more....But it's no big deal, you can always regulate them.

[Annan]

You will receive lots of comments as to accuracy, some as to how to check it and some as to whether to worry about it at all. For what it's worth, here are my thoughts:

Rolex specs (COSC) are -4 to plus 6 seconds/day so at -2.2 secs/day you are within specs. Therefore, no concerns as far as you know at this point.

You can do one of two things to truly assess the accuracy: (1) take it to an AD or a reputable watchmaker (Rolex certified is best) and have them use a special instrument to take a read of the accuracy. If not good have them regulate your watch. (2) check the accuracy yourself. Once again, you will get tons of advice but here's what I do:

1. Use a reputable reference source such as time.gov or time.is
2. Make sure your watch is fully wound, giving it about 40 turns once a week.
3. Wear it 24/7
4. Each day, for at least 10 days, compare it to your reference source at the same time each day and note the difference. Do not make any changes.
5. At the end of 10 days note the total variance and divide by 10. That gives you the average gain/loss per day.
6. If the average is outside the COSC specs or simply not good enough for you, have your watch regulated. It's your watch and you should be happy.

I recently did the above on my DJ and determined it was +6 secs/day. I took it to a certified Rolex watchmaker who checked it on an instrument and he verified I was correct. He regulated my DJ and it's now +1 sec/day.

Just yesterday I got a brand new 216570 myself and started the above process today. Good luck!

[Sous]

I'm not going to pile on with everyone questioning your concern about accuracy, AshM.

When I bought my 116200 Datejust in April this year, it was gaining 3.5 seconds per day. As of this past Sunday, it's down to +1.4 seconds per day. And as I understand it, that might change again, as the movement settles into my wearing habits, which is only about 12--14 hours per day.

Watch your watch, and I'm fairly certain that it too will settle into your wearing habits, and you'll see a change in accuracy.

I'll repeat what Padi56 has stated in the past--as long as your watch is consistent, meaning it consistently gains or loses the same amount daily, you've got an accurate movement.

[toshman]

My watch is over a week old and is running +2/day... Not very concerned... if anything I'm playing around with overnight positioning of the watch to see if it will self regulate.

[Rabbithitthetree]

I have been wearing my new GMT 116710BLNR for about 2 months already. Wear it everyday and since unbox till now it is showing about -2/day. Pretty consistent, but no sign of it "settling into my wearing habit"....

[DCheeta]

13 minutes a year? Why wouldn't you re-set it weekly or monthly?

Enjoy your polar 216570! I love mine.

[bondtoys]

Give your watch around 6 weeks to 'break' in.
If it's still running slow, go to a good AD and ask them to regulate it to the plus side.
Always better having a watch running too fast than too slow.

[Presa canary]

Just wear it and enjoy it. There's nothing wrong with it. How about throwing up a pic or two of that thing? By the way, welcome

[Lgear080]

You purchased what many consider to be an amazing watch from arguably
The most highly regarded brand in the world. Please do not focus on the
Minutiae. Your watch is running incredibly well. I have a feeling you actually
Regret the expenditure itself, so you're finding reasons to justify a return.

For that, you'll have to look elsewhere.

[BlueHeron]

Don't feel badly about your question. I recently went through the entire education myself regarding mechanical watches, and had the same reaction you did upon wearing my Submariner for a few days and seeing too much gain in 24 hours -- I freaked out, proving what a novice I was and still am. As many have said in this thread, these watches actually do break in, and mine is now about +3 and trending in the right direction.

When you consider that the power supply in automatic / mechanical watches is nothing more than the movement of one's wrist throughout the day, and that a mechanical watch has hundreds of very small component parts, the achievement of the -4/+6 standard is almost spiritual...

[Brandon(phila)]

How the heck are you people figuring our 2.2 ...1.4...etc

Depending how you rest the watch at night may change it to speed up or slow down...face up, face down, crown up...or maybe you wear it sleeping.

As time goes on...weeks...months...or years from now it will change all the time with a mechanical watch...a year from now it may be running 3 sec fast

At 2.2 your watch is extremely accurate, so every other month when you are advancing the date - just set it 1 min fast...then you won't miss that train

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by Brandon(phila)

How the heck are you people figuring our 2.2 ...1.4...etc

OP stated using the "Twixt app".

[AshM]

Thanks I appreciate the replies, very helpful. Good to know about the variability, what qualifies as a chronometer, other folks' experience with the same watch, that new watches take time to settle, and that I should give it a wind.
I really like the watch. They have a huge variety at the Rolex branded Tourneau NYC store (Madison & 53rd if you ever get the chance) and I tried on a ton. Before going in I thought I would likely go for a Sub, maybe a Date Just II, but I travel for work and was then leaning to the GMT II. I tried on the Polar Explorer II as a lark and couldn't believe how much I liked it, and I don't really need three time zones so . . .
I also really liked the White Gold President II 218239 with the Silver Stick Dial (the understated elegance and the President bracelet, wow) but will have to save that for another time . . . hopefully.
On an interesting note, this is U.N. week in NY. One of the biggest volume weeks at the Rolex store. Why? Some of the diplomatic corps get a visa to bring over another diplomat (i.e. "personal shopper") who goes around to stores with a list and a briefcase full of cash to buy whatever they fancy. The Rolex store is ha prime destination and lots of "diplomats" have been in this week buying. So if there was ever a concern about the global appeal of a Rolex or the power of the brand . . . there are no worries on that front.

[Rebel]

I have a Casio that is spot on with the Atomic Clock, sundial in the backyard and weather channel. However, I prefer my Tudor Submariner even though it runs a little fast. I'm just ribbing you the OP a bit. Enjoy your new watch and wear it in health!

[Grey.Coupe]

Set it two minutes fast once a month, or send it to me...

[ecsub44]

Originally Posted by Grey.Coupe

Set it two minutes fast once a month, or send it to me...

Actually, set it 1 minute fast once a month...then you'll be 1 minute behind at the end of the month. Never more than +/- 1 minute.

[TimeOnMyHands]

Welcome!

And as far as being concerned, I am concerned that you are concerned...

[crowncollection]

Seems fine to me


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[simongpaez]

If less than 3 seconds a day is an issue , I don't know any mechanical watch that will do it, I wouldn't worry about it.

[Steve748]

I have had two GMT2c and both of them were losing a second or two a day and they had not been serviced.
My current one is an '07 and I have just had it serviced and on my wrist it loses about half a second a day.
But when I lay it flat, face up overnight it gains about a second so I have managed to keep it -/+ a second a day by taking it off every other night or every 2nd night.

[Andad]

All my Rolex watches keep exact time to the second.
I have noticed that they are more accurate that some of the atomic clocks I have checked.

[OrangeSport]

Originally Posted by directioneng

All my Rolex watches keep exact time to the second.
I have noticed that they are more accurate that some of the atomic clocks I have checked.

[Nidal]

COSC is -4, +6 seconds a day. you are within norm. You have a perfect watch

[djays]

If 2.2 seconds really bothers you that much... I am sorry to tell you that... mechanical watch is simply not your cup of tea!