Just bought a brand new SS Sub Date. its gaining 18 sec per day!!

[snaggle]

Hey guys, I just bought myself a new 2011 SS sub date from my AD 1 week ago. I really really love this watch. every aspect of it, except how it keeps time. I mean, after all, i paid almost 8 grand for a Stainless steel watch, I mean, the very least it can do is keep time well!, I mean its a Rolex right? If it is +18 sec/24 hrs, that is really bad in my opinion, my old Certina watch was 18 times better than that, losing only about 1 sec per 24hrs.

I have done some research and many people say that you need to "break" in the watch. But for some reason I really do not feel it will get any better, as to be honest, when I bought it the first day it was like less than 10 sec advance after the first 24 hrs, and kept increasing untill today I checked it, and noticed it was 18 secs in advance after the last 24 hours.

Now I know many people will tell me "it doesnt matter" or something like that, but to me it is really important that the time is kept somewhat well. I would really prefer it would lose or gain maximum 1 sec per day, as I said, I paid big money for a watch that doesnt have any kind of precious or valuable metals such as gold, platinum, silver etc.. It should atleast keep the time well!

What do you guys suggest I do?

Thanks in advance :)

[HL65]

Go back to AD and have them regulate it and it will be fine.

[jimbones43]

If it's properly wound and worn 12 hours a day it should be plus or minus 4 to 6 seconds a day. It will not "break in"!
Did u wind it 30-40 times and are u wearing it 12 hours per day?

[psv]

Talk to the AD and voice your concern now, not later. Make the necessary arrangements. Keep it for a couple of weeks to see how it "settles in" and then have it regulated if need be.

[azguy]

It's a finely tuned machine, a regulation will fix the problem I was at the AD on Monday and left my sub for one.

The watchmaker put it on her machine and in 2-3 minutes told me it was running 12-15 seconds a fast, which I already knew but I was impressed she could tell so quickly.

They'll adjust it, no worries

[snaggle]

Originally Posted by jimbones43

If it's properly wound and worn 12 hours a day it should be plus or minus 4 to 6 seconds a day. It will not "break in"!
Did u wind it 30-40 times and are u wearing it 12 hours per day?

I wear it 15-24 hours a day. Depending on if i decide to sleep with it or not... LOL.

but minimum it is being worn 15 hours a day, and let me say, with ALOT of movement, as I wear it loose on my hand, so i am constantly shaking my hand ALOT to re adjust it on my hand. So it gets ALOT of movement, abit too much. Also, I did not wind it manually AT ALL. And since it was new it was started by just shaking it. Maybe I could let it run out of manual charge so I can wind it from scratch? would that do anything maybe? Also, I am in Bahrain now (island near Saudi Arabia), and i got it here, and the AD here does not have the mechanic as he is on holiday, and there is only one AD here, so I can't do anything till i go back to the US in just over 2 weeks, in which I will take it to some AD over there. Also, how long will it take for everything to be tested and re adjusted so the time will be in the range of -4/+6 (hopefully -1/+1)?

Thanks again in advance, I really appreciate the input, as I really love this watch and would be extremely overjoyed if it would be more accurate.

[GradyPhilpott]

One thing that's very important is that you time your watch to a reliable reference. Time.gov is a perfect example.

Next is that your watch is guaranteed to to run better than the COSC standard of +6/-4 sec./day, so since your Rolex is new, the regulation that can often be done while you wait will be done under warranty.

As for a break-in period, that is a controversial concept, but it is my experience that after a year of wear, my Explorer was running +13 sec. and my DJ was running +6.

Each was regulated at about one year and both have maintained acceptable (which is to say superb) accuracy since that time, two and a quarter years for the Explorer and one and a quarter years for the DJ.

So, I would reiterate what others have said and that is to not worry about it, but take it to the AD to have it regulated.

It's no big deal.

And relative to your post above, you should give your new watch 40 turns of the crown before wearing and periodically thereafter to keep it wound and to stabilize the timekeeping. An insufficiently wound watch will fun faster than a well-wound watch.

[Z-Sub]

Bring it back to the AD.

It happened to me a couple of times with my wife's DJ. It was sent back to RSC and came back both times "magnetized". It was running about what you're seeing and after it came back +1 per day.

Some how my wife gets the watch magnetized easily probably due to her magnetizing personality. She got my white Daytona magnetized a couple of times also.

For this reason, I bought a demagnetizer and that's been very helpful.

No worries, it can be corrected to your satisfaction.

[MoBe]

Try winding your watch 40+ turns and see what happens before you check the accuracy of your watch.

A new,out of the box,watch needs more than a few shakes to get it going properly.

[snaggle]

Originally Posted by MoBe

Try winding your watch 40+ turns and see what happens before you check the accuracy of your watch.

A new,out of the box,watch needs more than a few shakes to get it going properly.

I just wound it, around 40 times (just now before im about to go to bed). Im planning to take it off whilst i sleep, and when I wake up tomorrow Im gonna wind it 40 times again. BTW, winding it many times cannot hurt it right? like if i wind it alot it cant be bad right?

[JustABreathAway]

I agree about the full 40-turn wind to maximize the power reserve.

Also, my AD told me that the automatic movement in Rolex's were designed to be self-winding with the movements of your body when the watch is somewhat 'anchored' to your wrist. They specifically said that, while the watch should work in whatever way I wanted to wear it, it was not designed to be as loose as you describe. They said the movement might be thrown off by wearing the watch as a very loose bracelet. I'll let others on here chime in with more details than I can offer, but that is what the Rolex 'specialists' at my AD reported.

[Jetjock]

With a loose bracelet you will not get the definitive movement of the rotor. This is mentioned in the owners manual. You can not overwind your watch as there is a clutch mechanism. If it out of COSC, it will be fixed by an AD, no doubt. Hang in there.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Originally Posted by snaggle

I wear it 15-24 hours a day. Depending on if i decide to sleep with it or not... LOL.

but minimum it is being worn 15 hours a day, and let me say, with ALOT of movement, as I wear it loose on my hand, so i am constantly shaking my hand ALOT to re adjust it on my hand. So it gets ALOT of movement, abit too much. Also, I did not wind it manually AT ALL. And since it was new it was started by just shaking it. Maybe I could let it run out of manual charge so I can wind it from scratch? would that do anything maybe? Also, I am in Bahrain now (island near Saudi Arabia), and i got it here, and the AD here does not have the mechanic as he is on holiday, and there is only one AD here, so I can't do anything till i go back to the US in just over 2 weeks, in which I will take it to some AD over there. Also, how long will it take for everything to be tested and re adjusted so the time will be in the range of -4/+6 (hopefully -1/+1)?

Thanks again in advance, I really appreciate the input, as I really love this watch and would be extremely overjoyed if it would be more accurate.

You stated you did not manually wind it. Give it 40 full clockwise turns and see what happens.

[bayerische]

What have you checked the time against? There's several atomic watches on the net, set it to those. Don't set it to a phone or computer clock.

[johnbeth]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

Go back to AD and have them regulate it and it will be fine.

x2

[BogeyFree]

There is no "break-in " period on a new Rolex. Period. That is a myth that for some reason continues to circulate. Your watch needs and should be regulated to be within COSC specs. Your AD can take care of that and you will be fine.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Jetjock

With a loose bracelet you will not get the definitive movement of the rotor. This is mentioned in the owners manual. You can not overwind your watch as there is a clutch mechanism. If it out of COSC, it will be fixed by an AD, no doubt. Hang in there.

This depends on what you call loose. The way you describe it, it does sound as though you may be wearing it a bit too loose.

I like to be able to shove my little finger under the clasp like this:

[snaggle]

Here are the pics showing how lose it is, as you can see, it is tight enough so that the watch cannot turn upside down on my wrist as seen in the picture. Also, if i put my hand facing upwards, the watch only slides down about maybe 1 inch untill it becomes tight as my hand gets fatter (as seen on the photo #3).

[MonBK]

Bring it back.

[HL65]

I would also return it and see if they have a smaller one that fits as that one seems too loose.



*Sorry- couldn't help myself! I would tighten it up though but that is just me.

[FremStar]

that was a good morning laugh! Thanks for that Uncle Ken!

[dddrees]

It sounds as though it may need to go back to the AD for a simple regulation. However as stated by many a manual wind of 40 turns, setting it to a reliable time source, and a check at the end of week would be a good way to test it properly first.

Shaking it to get it going may just get it going but manualy winding it with 40 turns is the right way to do it. The watch will typically have a better chance of running better when the Power Reserve is closer to being topped off as it actually will tend to run faster when the Power Reserve or spring is not fully wound.

A test of one day will not give you such a good idea as to how it is actually running as an average over the course of a full week will.

This is a mechanical device with numerous parts and not a battery operated quartz watch. As such it is a marvel that it can be so accurate but certain procedures should be followed. Some people will actually give their watch 40 turns once a week as normal people often do not create enough movement to keep their automatic watch wound completely.

If it happens that your watch is still not within spec then a simple regulation should remedy this situation.

[godowning]

It is a mechanical watch and you seem to expect quartz accuracy. Work with your AD to get it within COSC standards and then just enjoy your watch.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by snaggle

I just wound it, around 40 times (just now before im about to go to bed). Im planning to take it off whilst i sleep, and when I wake up tomorrow Im gonna wind it 40 times again. BTW, winding it many times cannot hurt it right? like if i wind it alot it cant be bad right?

It is most important to remember that a "COSC certified chronometer" is not the Holy Grail of watchmaking. With the high quality of modern day robotised manufacturing, this test is not that important in reality. As today most any decent modern watches from all countries even some from China like the Seagull movements, when adequately adjusted and regulated, should be able to match the performance specified by the Swiss COSC.

A chronometer certificate is not a guarantee of future accuracy only a certification of the bare movement was tested at the COSC and passed said test. Watch movements that have been certified can get out of adjustment and perform quite poorly. Movements that were not certified could still exceed the COSC standards with just simple regulation.Many of the manufacturers may have simply chosen to bypass the expense of the certification process its quite expensive to test every single movement. But today the COSC is little more than a pure marketing tool and means little in actual performance only the fact the movement has been tested.

Many who buy new Rolex watches don't get told that they must first fully manual wind there watches.For movements like the cal 3135 40 full crown turns clockwise will do you will not harm watch in any way by winding it.Then to test the watches performance,set your watch with a reliable time sourse for this test a quartz watch will do.Synchronise both watches then wear your Rolex watch as normal.Check time daily with same setting source for 5 days then average out the loss or gain for a accurate result.If watch is then out of the COSC spec which is a AVERAGE of between -4 to + 6 seconds over any 24 hour period have it regulated a very simple task that takes around 30 minutes start to finish.But if they sent it back to the RSC expect 4-6 weeks before you get watch back.

[Casey VP-26]

Take it back and have them regulate it. Just for the record even 4-6 sec. a day would not make me a happy camper, I don't care if it is the standard.

[Arthur Daley]

It might be as simple as adjusting/replacing the hairspring. Not exactly sure what this little fella does, but I had a similar issue with my SD, and my AD fixed the issue in an instant. Not worth getting all hot and bothered about. Once its fixed, at the AD's expense, you won't care any more.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Arthur Daley

It might be as simple as adjusting/replacing the hairspring. Not exactly sure what this little fella does, but I had a similar issue with my SD, and my AD fixed the issue in an instant. Not worth getting all hot and bothered about. Once its fixed, at the AD's expense, you won't care any more.

It is not possible to replace just the hairspring on its own, as the balance wheel and hairspring are married/adjusted/then vibrated to suit each other.All that may be needed is very simple regulation,thats adjusting the beat rate.And how they do that they regulate and make fine ajustments to the beat rate timing is achieved by turning the Microstella adjustment screws and nuts on the balance wheel.The two smaller Microstella screws make adjustments of one second for each turn, and the larger Microstella screws, two seconds for one turn.

[snaggle]

Hey guys, thank you all for the replies, they really are of great help to me. LEt me start by saying, I wound it 40 times yesterday before I slept, and 40 times again after having it rest after I had woken up, and surprisingly it now runs only 12 sec in advance compared to the old 18 sec. This is really good news to me, but it is obviously still out of the COSC standards. As I said, I can only take it to the dealer after around 2 weeks, so I will just have to wait. Hopefully by then it would get better somehow after more usage and possibly more winding, and re-adjust itself. In any case, I will still give it to the AD, as I would like it as accurate as possible.

Other than that, I am extremely happy with the watch, I am still pretty young and have been in the watch addiction for quite a while. This is my first "expensive" and valuable, and beautiful watch I acquired, and it really keeps me having a big smile. No matter what, I will always love this watch, but by having it being accurate on top of all of this, would be just superbly amazing, and make my smile 10 times bigger. I really cannot imagine how happy I would be if it were to be only 0-1 sec delay per day, this would REALLY make me a happy camper!

Thanks again guys! Im really liking this forum and learning a lot about the beauty of Rolexes.

[MoBe]

Originally Posted by snaggle

Hey guys, thank you all for the replies, they really are of great help to me. LEt me start by saying, I wound it 40 times yesterday before I slept, and 40 times again after having it rest after I had woken up, and surprisingly it now runs only 12 sec in advance compared to the old 18 sec. This is really good news to me, but it is obviously still out of the COSC standards. As I said, I can only take it to the dealer after around 2 weeks, so I will just have to wait. Hopefully by then it would get better somehow after more usage and possibly more winding, and re-adjust itself. In any case, I will still give it to the AD, as I would like it as accurate as possible.

Other than that, I am extremely happy with the watch, I am still pretty young and have been in the watch addiction for quite a while. This is my first "expensive" and valuable, and beautiful watch I acquired, and it really keeps me having a big smile. No matter what, I will always love this watch, but by having it being accurate on top of all of this, would be just superbly amazing, and make my smile 10 times bigger. I really cannot imagine how happy I would be if it were to be only 0-1 sec delay per day, this would REALLY make me a happy camper!

Thanks again guys! Im really liking this forum and learning a lot about the beauty of Rolexes.

If you are active and wearing your watch all day,wait a few days and see what happens before running off to your AD for an adjustment.

[DDG]

As far as accuracy goes, don't expect much, but it should be less than 5 seconds a day + or-. ("Superlative"). I think you should adjust the bracelet a little, so it fits more snugly on your wrist. You don't it rolling around. It's obviously uncomfortable the way it is now, and the constant shaking & sliding will take a toll on the links & pins over time.