Question for the experts

[cajun_one]

I know you guys have seen this before and I just want to verify the following. Got my new Sub on and was wondering in the world of Rolex what the desired performance should be out the box. I know all watches are different, but what is the satisfactory gain or loss in time with these watches in general. I am ignorant in this regard and would like a good answer. Thanks and have a good weekend to all!

[Tools]

You should expect around +2 seconds per day..

It may not be, but that is what you should expect..




I am not an expert...but I have stayed at a Holiday Inn..

[STEELINOX]

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[cajun_one]

Thanks Tools I saw you were on and figured you would be all over it.

[cajun_one]

Tools over time let's say five years is there generally much gain or loss in the watch or does it depend as well from watch to watch.

[MarJnK]

I'm no expert, but I've always understood that a new watch should run a tad fast, like the +2 to +6 suggested, but should not run slow. As I understand, as a watch settles in, it will slow slightly, therefore a watch that is slow out of the box will get worse over time. Am I mistaken?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by cajun_one

Tools over time let's say five years is there generally much gain or loss in the watch or does it depend as well from watch to watch.

Hmmmm... Let me dance...

A Rolex is a chronometer, so it has been tested to COSC Standards.. However, we have heard it from Watchmakers here that Rolex wants their watches to be timed to -1 (or 0) to no more than +5, so I like those numbers... now on to your question..

I have had over a dozen BNIB Rolex watches.....Almost all of them were a couple of seconds fast or slow out of the box with the worst performer about +3 1/2. It has been my experience that over time and before settling down, they gain from a half to a full second. I have had, on occasion, one that would suddenly start to gain more....well, actually only 1, an EXP II that after 4 years suddenly went from +1.5 to +10... I took it in for regulation and nothing was found wrong and it was reset to about the same as originally.. For this, I let him keep it for 5 days to check all positions and find the best average..not a quickie 30 minute re-time..

Now, used watches are a different bag all together...

Some folks on the Forums report much worse..and some much better, performance, so like any good scientist, I toss out the extreme bad data on either side, and still get what I see as a typical expectation....

[mike]

As Larry stated Rolex chronometers are tested to COSC standards. Noteworthy though is that this is the raw movement in a test case.

Truth be known most any good movement can be regulated to COSC standards.

We sometimes confuse accuracy and consistency in a given movement. If for example you watch consistently gains (or loses) 8 seconds a day you have a very accurate watch. Perhaps it might need a bit of regulation to bring it into specs, but accurate none the less. A given watch that gains or loses x numbers of seconds one day and a different amount the next may not be as accurate.

Whether they gain or lose my experience has been Rolex timepieces are amazingly consistent in their timekeeping regardless of position.

Other factors that affect timekeeping are the owner's habits--how active are you, how many hours a day do you wear the watch, state of wind, etc...

We talk about "breaking in" the movement, but I think it's more the movement "adapting" to you particular wearing habits.

Over the years I've had a couple ringers that were out of spec. right out of the shute. A simple regulation cured all ills. Again the key was a consistent gain/loss in time keeping.

I have a 43 year old GMT that runs -1 sec. a day and a RED 1680 that for what ever reason known only to the Rolex Gods runs as spot on as you can get. Both have been well cared for.

Interestingly, I have another GMT (or two) That run the gammit from -1 to +3. All however are wonderfully consistent.

[cajun_one]

Thanks Mike and Tools as usual very educational and informative. I have wanted a Rolex (Sub) since I was a kid staring in the jewelry cases with zero inkling of what was going on. I am truly becoming a TRF addict and love the information that is fed to me on this forum. Thank you guys and I promise I will have more and more questions for you until you tell me to shutup! I really enjoy this hobby and must admit it is one my wife actually finds equally interesting. Only problem is every time I get a new toy wifey has to get one next, but I guess that is how it works.