Regulating a Rolex to near zero gain- voodoo or a simple mechanical procedure

[Brauner Hund]

Originally Posted by Rikki

When I regulate watches I shoot for about 2 secs a day fast. Occasionally they time out at 0.1 seconds a day but this is machine timing not real world wearing watch which will always vary the time keeping to some degree or other. COSC is typically -4 to + 6 secs a day Rolex wont let out the door I believe anything over 4.9 secs a day so I shoot for half that and for the most part have excellent results. Rikki

Rikki, I totally 'get' aiming for +2 sec per day mean gain when adjusting the watch at the theoretical (instrument measurement) level, and it's a laudable achievement, but what I had failed to understand (and it's the reason I started the thread) is why, if the 2 sec per day mean gain is subsequently empirically verified (ie by the watch being worn 24/7 for a couple of months), most people don't do a subsequent fine-tune to take account of the empirical data - to my way of thinking, it's a no-brainer.

I think what I've learnt here is that it is an empirically based fine-tune of mean gain is both possible and thoroughly achievable - several in the thread have done it - and that the reason it isn't widely done is about mindset/choice and is not about technical/mechanical constraints:

Those who don't chase it are happy with a single service-based highly skilled tune based on instrumental data,
whereas those who do, simply desire a subsequent fine-tune to take account of empirical (in daily use) data .

Horses for courses :) :)

[Brauner Hund]

Well, here's my update:

Against GPS time (atomic clocks, no internet latency):

Wed 16 Sep, set precisely to GPS at 0932hrs.

Sat 26 Sep, at 0900hrs, +1 second to GPS

Mean gain: 0.1 sec per day

Note: the watch is worn 24/7. The comparative measurements have been made at the same time of day.

Checks at other times have shown thru-the-day variance of around +/- 0.5 sec. (Judged by eye - remember, I'm judging the position of an analogue second hand against a gps clock that clicks on whole seconds only).

So much for mediocrity :)

Learning: If you have consistency; fine-tune accuracy is attainable.

I'll keep monitoring; when/if it wanders to +1 sec per day mean gain/loss I'll report back.

[Rebel]

This is personal advice not mechanical advice. Dont touch it. Leave it alone.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Brauner Hund

Well, here's my update:

Against GPS time (atomic clocks, no internet latency):

Wed 16 Sep, set precisely to GPS at 0932hrs.

Sat 26 Sep, at 0900hrs, +1 second to GPS

Mean gain: 0.1 sec per day

Note: the watch is worn 24/7. The comparative measurements have been made at the same time of day.

Checks at other times have shown thru-the-day variance of around +/- 0.5 sec. (Judged by eye - remember, I'm judging the position of an analogue second hand against a gps clock that clicks on whole seconds only).

So much for mediocrity :)

Learning: If you have consistency; fine-tune accuracy is attainable.

I'll keep monitoring; when/if it wanders to +1 sec per day mean gain/loss I'll report back.

Nice result. Glad you're happy.

Can you post your 30 day slip once you have it?

[Brauner Hund]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Nice result. Glad you're happy.

Can you post your 30 day slip once you have it?

Couldn't be happier - far better than I hoped.
Yes, it will be interesting to see how long this consistency and accuracy is maintained, I'll post when I have the data.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Brauner Hund

Couldn't be happier - far better than I hoped.
Yes, it will be interesting to see how long this consistency and accuracy is maintained, I'll post when I have the data.

The longer cycle will also minimize the error (+/- 0.5 variance) due to the eye judgment.

[perpetual92]

Originally Posted by Beak

I understand the OP's concern about accuracy. I have many watches, with varying levels of accuracy. My new Explorer has not changed from being 1second fast for the past 2 weeks. Not 1 sec/ day. One second fast over the first 2 weeks! I check it against my Watchville app, and against my IPhone time a couple times daily. I haven't reset it, only wound it and worn it. I take it off at night and place it upright with the crown on the right side.
Am I missing something? Or is my Explorer really, really accurate?

Its consistent, that's for sure.

Generally speaking, a watch with less complications--as with the Explorer-- have statistically significant outcomes of being a bit more consistent in how they run.

[steadyflow]

Originally Posted by Brauner Hund

Well, here's my update:

Against GPS time (atomic clocks, no internet latency):

Wed 16 Sep, set precisely to GPS at 0932hrs.

Sat 26 Sep, at 0900hrs, +1 second to GPS

Mean gain: 0.1 sec per day

Note: the watch is worn 24/7. The comparative measurements have been made at the same time of day.

Checks at other times have shown thru-the-day variance of around +/- 0.5 sec. (Judged by eye - remember, I'm judging the position of an analogue second hand against a gps clock that clicks on whole seconds only).

So much for mediocrity :)

Learning: If you have consistency; fine-tune accuracy is attainable.

I'll keep monitoring; when/if it wanders to +1 sec per day mean gain/loss I'll report back.

Did you do this yourself or get a company to do it? If so can you pass on their details please as I would be very interested. I am UK based. Cheers

[ming the merciless]

Mm, Engineers. Speaking as one I know plenty of tradesmen in other lines of work who really dislike working for us.

Old engineers saying -

On the old is the glass half full or half empty question. An engineer would say they made the glass the wrong size.