Grand Seiko - 9S65 movement accuracy

[bcacncnc]

Hi guys

As some of you may know, I just got my new SBGR051 with the 9S65 movement last week. After a couple of days, it seemed to be running a little fast. So I decided to do a timing test.

On Friday 12 April I synchronised it to my computer time at 10:52:00 in the morning. Now three days later its running 35 seconds fast! Its been on my wrist all this time (even whilst sleeping), and kept away from magnets.

Anyone have any thing similar?

Its really annoying to think I might need to bring it into servicing and wait months for it to return - for a brand new watch.

[caryyee]

I don't have a GS, but new watches sometimes need a settling down period especially if they've been sitting inert in a store for a period of time. Perhaps wait another few days and re-do the test??

[bcacncnc]

Thanks Cary. I did a lot of googling over the weekend and found a few interesting articles. There was one comparing the GS automatic (not spring drive) movement with the Omega 8500 - with a rather rigid test. Then there was another article like you, suggesting that new watches need a break-in period. Ofcourse there was also a vocal chorus of ppl counter arguing this. What I don't get is that the GS movement is rated to -4/+5 and supposedly tested over 17 days... so in effect it has had a break-in period of sorts. THe other interesting thing is that those GS specs are for the movement ONLY - and they do say that the specs are up to +10sec/day once the movement are IN the watches. Surely +10 must be at the upper limits and with mine now running slightly over this, then I am somewhat concerned with the quality control. But I shall do some more testing and revert. Thanks.

[tigerpac]

Might have gotten magnetized before you got it... try to de-magnetize before anything else.

[sierra11b]

I wouldn't trust computer time. I always use the USNO Master Clock. Try timing off that before jumping to conclusions

[bcacncnc]

Thanks guys.

I just restarted the test again and following your advice synced it with the US naval observatory clock (never heard of that one before).

The watch is probably 90% fully wound after leaving it off the wrist whilst sleeping.

I push the crown in to restart at UTC 01:45:00 which is 09:45:00 HKG time in 16 April.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366076999.106750.jpg

Will check in again in the coming days. Thx again.

[Bangel]

I'm very interested to see how this works out.

I concur with what Cary said. It may take a while for your new watch to settle in. There was a thread in the general section recently where a member had their Rolex return from service and felt unhappy to find it running +6 seconds per day. Padi, one of our esteemed moderators advised to wait and see first and his advice proved correct. The timekeeping of the watch improved significantly with time.

This is the link to that thread:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...k+from+service

I also agree sierra11b. Make sure you use a reliable time source.

I'm hoping for the best for you.

[Psmith]

I would suggest winding it fully, setting it (as you've already done), then wear it for 5 - 7 days and rest it at night crown up if not wearing it when sleeping. Check timing after 5 - 7 days. I'm sure all will be fine after some regular wear

[bcacncnc]

Day 1.

Approximately 8 seconds fast after a little over 12 hours.
Watch has been on wrist all this time including whilst sleeping.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366165459.341334.jpg

[bcacncnc]

Correction to day 1. It should read 8 seconds fast after 24 hours - not 12 hours.

Day 2. Watch on wrist including whilst sleeping.

Day 1 +8
Day 2 +6
Aggregate: +14 seconds
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366245852.084684.jpg

Seems to have improved a little.

[Bangel]

I'll stay posted.

[bcacncnc]

Day 3 Update

Day 3: +6 (~25 hours since last measure)
Day 2: +6 (~22 hours since last measure)
Day 1: +8 (~25 hours since last measure)

Aggregate: +20

[bcacncnc]

Day 4 Update

Day 4: +5 (~25 hours since last measure)
Day 3: +6 (~25 hours since last measure)
Day 2: +6 (~22 hours since last measure)
Day 1: +8 (~25 hours since last measure)

Aggregate: +25

[Bangel]

Improving...... Keep us posted.

[bcacncnc]

Day 5 Update

Day 5: +3 (~21 hours since last measure). Off wrist for 5 hours dial up.
Day 4: +5 (~25 hours since last measure)
Day 3: +6 (~25 hours since last measure)
Day 2: +6 (~22 hours since last measure)
Day 1: +8 (~25 hours since last measure)

Aggregate: +28

[Bangel]

Interesting....

[Psmith]

So that would average out to within COSC spec, over 5 days
(unless my maths has failed me)

+28 after 5 days is an average of +5.6/day

If it settles at this, try resting it crown upwards at night to trim it down to around +3

[bcacncnc]

Day 6 Update

Day 6: +16 (~27 hours since last measure)
I can't explain the big deviation other than about 8 hours off wrist dial up. Perhaps also since I'm holidaying in Thailand the power reserve is down and or temperature here is hotter than in HK. Or I screwed up the last couple of measures, maybe because instead of timing it off my PC I did it off my blackberry???

Day 5: +3 (~21 hours since last measure). Off wrist for 5 hours dial up.
Day 4: +5 (~25 hours since last measure)
Day 3: +6 (~25 hours since last measure)
Day 2: +6 (~22 hours since last measure)
Day 1: +8 (~25 hours since last measure)

Aggregate: +44

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366598015.103377.jpg

[bcacncnc]

Thanks Julian and Clive. This is very strange and weird. The last few times where I haven't worn it whilst sleeping I've had it resting dial up - not crown up. Just to keep it consistent. Perhaps I will give crown up a try and see how that goes after a few more days. But I can't understand this huge variation other than my traveling, warm weather during the day, cold air con at night, mostly sitting on a plane/tour bus with the power reserve a little lower than usual. All I know for sure is that the aggregate is accurate. Having a good time here in Phuket btw. And will try a do a few more days of testing. Cheers from Sunny Thailand.

[Psmith]

Enjoy your holiday Bryan - Phuket is a nice place to be

Sounds as though a regulation may be in order, as the watch is running fast on average.
This should not take long. As your watch is under warranty, is there a GS dealer back in HK who can organise this? Sending the watch back to Japan for a regulation sounds rather excessive, but if it has to be this way under warranty at least your watch will (or should) receive an overall 'health check'

[And]

Stunning watch by the way.

I'd be a bit disappointed with that timekeeping if it was mine. It is better than my Speedmaster (although that doesn't bother me) but I'd expect it to be a lot better with a GS movement.

[applebook]

It's your computer that's running too slowly!

That's such a stunning watch that, personally I wouldn't bother with the slightly "meh" timekeeping for a GS.

[bcacncnc]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366708491.461269.jpg

Thx guys. Cheers all the way from Angsana hotel, in Phuket.

[bcacncnc]

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1366710008.599557.jpg

[Bangel]

Looking at your photos I forgot about the timekeeping issue for a moment! It's truly a great looking watch.

It would be interesting to see if day 6 could be accounted for by measurement error (not by you, but say perhaps Internet connection speed/delays).

Enjoy your trip and keep us posted when you can.

[bcacncnc]

Hi guys. Back from my vacation and logged into my Mac (at work) as I did when I started this test. The final result after 13 days of testing, with the watch worn on all days (except whilst sleeping on a few days - and rested dial up), +73 seconds, or an average of 5.6 seconds fast per day. Frankly - a little disappointing based on what I read about the GS standard. And I was surely thinking it would be (well?) within +5 seconds. Maybe I see how the next 13 days goes - and whether the mean or daily deviation goes down a little more.

[Bangel]

Yes, I completely understand the disappointment with the results so far.

The regulation route sounds more and more likely if the accuracy is to be improved. Still, if you're not in a hurry, give it another 13 days. Good luck.

[Psmith]

Well it seems to be consistent (despite some variations), which is good. It was +5.6 after 5 days, and still +5.6 after nearly 2 weeks. Obviously this is right at the upper limit of the COSC standard. Personally I would have it regulated, although perhaps not until I'd worn the watch for a month or so just in case it does settle further.

And such a great looking watch

[rulessapt]

Great looking watch Bryan, I hope that the holiday was more impressive than the performance overall of the Seiko.

Perhaps as has been suggested a regulation is in order should the accuracy not improve in the next few weeks.

I've owned a handful of new watches in the past few years and all have had better performance straight out of the box at similar price points to the GS.

All the best in having an accurate GS, I'm sure there is room for improvement.
Thanks for creating this thread to keep an accurate record.
Unfortunately, I'm obsessed with accuracy of timepieces.

cheers,
richard

PAM141 -2s after 7 days.

[Frogman4me]

Beautiful watch :)