Offshore accuracy

[Barry C]

This is my first post on this forum! I have just bought an AP Offshore Safari, and the watch is gaining 2 minutes a day. I would have thought it should be more like + or - 2 seconds a day! Is it easy enough to regulate the watch yourself? With post deliveries like it is I don’t really want to send it back to Watchfinder if I can avoid it. I love the watch, but if AP movements are not as accurate as watches like my Zenith, then it Will go straight back! Help and assistance from you guys in the know will be much appreciated. Thank you.

[Burlington]

Welcome to TRF and congratulations on the addition. I wouldn’t let anyone other than AP open & adjust the watch.

AP movements are very much capable of tight accuracies but need to be regulated well.

It should be running better than that out the box from watchfinder as I believe they are also an authorised AP service centre.

First port of call would be back with them and if not satisfied then a service with AP direct will have it running well again.

[AshAP]

Gaining 2 mins per day is unacceptable, Watchfinder are more expensive than anywhere else on the used market and they claim to be an AP authorised service centre but it seems that they need to step their game up.

From my experience of owning several APs over many years I think it’s normal to expect that over the course of a month the daily gains will amount to a total of 2-3 minutes.


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[EEpro]

Probably magnetized.

[SSCosmo]

Originally Posted by EEpro

Probably magnetized.

+1 It might have happened during shipping. Could be as simple as getting it demagnetized. My offshores are usually within +/- 5s per day. If you are near an AP boutique, they should be able to demagnetize the watch for you at no charge at the store and also check the rate to see if the movement is not running normally.

[Barry C]

Thanks for the advise; I’ll send it back to Watchfinder today. Having bought 6 watches from them in the past, I’m disappointed after the sales pitch about the watch having had a full service following being fitted with new AP alligator strap, bezel, pushers and winder. It does look indistinguishable from new.

[Barry C]

Oh, and one more query, if I may. When I set the time on the watch, I have to advance the minute hand by half a minute, because it doesn’t move for the first half minute of being set. In so doing, when the first minute has elapsed, the minute hand is correct. I have had this on cheaper watches, but an AP? Thanks for your quick responses guys.

[AshAP]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Oh, and one more query, if I may. When I set the time on the watch, I have to advance the minute hand by half a minute, because it doesn’t move for the first half minute of being set. In so doing, when the first minute has elapsed, the minute hand is correct. I have had this on cheaper watches, but an AP? Thanks for your quick responses guys.

That doesn’t sound normal.


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[P2725TMB]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Oh, and one more query, if I may. When I set the time on the watch, I have to advance the minute hand by half a minute, because it doesn’t move for the first half minute of being set. In so doing, when the first minute has elapsed, the minute hand is correct. I have had this on cheaper watches, but an AP? Thanks for your quick responses guys.

On both my RG44 and Summer Edition I have to do that.

[AshAP]

Originally Posted by P2725TMB

On both my RG44 and Summer Edition I have to do that.

Clearly I’m not paying enough attention when I set the time! I’ve never noticed that before.


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[gchee]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Oh, and one more query, if I may. When I set the time on the watch, I have to advance the minute hand by half a minute, because it doesn’t move for the first half minute of being set. In so doing, when the first minute has elapsed, the minute hand is correct. I have had this on cheaper watches, but an AP? Thanks for your quick responses guys.

Yes, mine does that too as I like to sync the seconds to the minute. At first I thought there is something wrong with mine. I think all ofshore are like that, not sure about the royal oak though.

Most people don't realize it because they don't sync the seconds to the minute. I am OCD and I do that with all my watches.

[P2725TMB]

Originally Posted by gchee

Yes, mine does that too as I like to sync the seconds to the minute. At first I thought there is something wrong with mine. I think all ofshore are like that, not sure about the royal oak though.

Most people don't realize it because they don't sync the seconds to the minute. I am OCD and I do that with all my watches.

Me too! I like the minute hand to be dead on the minute when the seconds goes through the 12. Mad!

[karasus]

Originally Posted by gchee

Yes, mine does that too as I like to sync the seconds to the minute. At first I thought there is something wrong with mine. I think all ofshore are like that, not sure about the royal oak though.

Most people don't realize it because they don't sync the seconds to the minute. I am OCD and I do that with all my watches.

My offshore syncs and so do my royal oaks. I would have the movement checked. But my offshores use JLC movements (25721ST and TI) don't have a modern AP inhouse offshore.

[SSCosmo]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Oh, and one more query, if I may. When I set the time on the watch, I have to advance the minute hand by half a minute, because it doesn’t move for the first half minute of being set. In so doing, when the first minute has elapsed, the minute hand is correct. I have had this on cheaper watches, but an AP? Thanks for your quick responses guys.

Yes, this is normal for the 3126 (ROO Chrono) and 2385 (ROC) movements. I spoke with one of the techs at the AP boutique about this once, and even he had not noticed this before. He later confirmed that this is true for those movements. I haven’t checked many other AP watches, but I do know that the 15500 doesn’t have this issue. I think very few watch owners are OCD enough to care like we do about this

[sgwatchguy]

Originally Posted by SSCosmo

Yes, this is normal for the 3126 (ROO Chrono) and 2385 (ROC) movements. I spoke with one of the techs at the AP boutique about this once, and even he had not noticed this before. He later confirmed that this is true for those movements. I haven’t checked many other AP watches, but I do know that the 15500 doesn’t have this issue. I think very few watch owners are OCD enough to care like we do about this

Missed reading this. I set my watches to the second, so the AP lack of hacking seconds I’m still getting used to... and now this.


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[sgwatchguy]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Oh, and one more query, if I may. When I set the time on the watch, I have to advance the minute hand by half a minute, because it doesn’t move for the first half minute of being set. In so doing, when the first minute has elapsed, the minute hand is correct. I have had this on cheaper watches, but an AP? Thanks for your quick responses guys.

I checked this today on my ROC. The minute hand lags 1 min after setting the time. It lost a minute within 5 mins of setting the time. I’d not worn this for the last 5 days.

That is strange and I’ve never seen or heard of this before. Is this expected?


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[Xerxes77]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Oh, and one more query, if I may. When I set the time on the watch, I have to advance the minute hand by half a minute, because it doesn’t move for the first half minute of being set. In so doing, when the first minute has elapsed, the minute hand is correct. I have had this on cheaper watches, but an AP? Thanks for your quick responses guys.

All ROO work like this

[Barry C]

Thanks guys, I won’t worry about it now. We ought to set up a separate Forum called OCD! Have a good weekend and stay safe all of you.

[P2725TMB]

Yes, just enjoy the watch! But if it does need attention in the future if I were you I'd be inclined to send it to AP rather than Watchfinder. You'll find the folks at AP London extremely helpful and once things are back to some sort of normality its worth just introducing yourself to them anyway.

[Barry C]

Thanks, will do.

[TankTom]

A problem with watchfinder? Never?! At least they’re not the most expensive in the game by a million miles and have great customer service I suppose...

[Barry C]

The latest on this saga is that Watchfinder will send me packaging and free post once their people have got back to work. They will then look at it ASAP.

I have done accurate monitoring and whilst the watch is not worn, it is accurate to the second. As soon as I wear it, it will gain on average 2 minutes a day. I put the watch on my Timegrapher, and the amplitude was between 290 and 326 depending upon position. Accuracy was not a problem, and was generally + or - 2 seconds a day, and up to + 5 seconds until it settled down. So why would the watch gain so much when on the wrist, and be 100% accurate when being static and not worn.

[Barry C]

Update! Watchfinder will sort my Safari out when their service guys get back to work. However, could anyone shed light on the fact that my watch is 100% accurate when it is not being worn and in its box. However, when worn it gains 2 minutes a day. Just seems a bit bizarre!

[leisen]

Originally Posted by Barry C

Update! Watchfinder will sort my Safari out when their service guys get back to work. However, could anyone shed light on the fact that my watch is 100% accurate when it is not being worn and in its box. However, when worn it gains 2 minutes a day. Just seems a bit bizarre!

Same thing happened to my RO15300 equipped with the same caliber 3120 (ROO has caliber 3126 based on 3120). Only when it was on my wrist gained a lot of time, much more than two minutes, up to half an hour or so. When it seated on the desk it stayed spot on.
I took it to AP Service Center and they told me that they had to change the balance wheel.