Do Rolex movements speed up with age?

[rkammer]

I visited a local Rolex AD today to take a look at the new ceramic Sub (more on that in a different thread) and the watchmaker offered to pressure test my Sea Dweller watch for free. Of course I accepted.

During conversation he mentioned that the 3135 movement will speed up with age and any time I notice this I should consider having it serviced. I thought movements slow down as they get closer to needing service. Mine is currently running about 6 seconds a day fast which is right against the upper COSC limit. (it's only 3 years old) I'm not so much of an accuracy nut that I'm bothered by this but, is it an indicator of the movement needing service?

[The GMT Kid]

My GMTII went from +3 to +10. That's when I knew it was time for the RSC.



That was after 9 years.

[rkammer]

Nt

[The GMT Kid]

Originally Posted by rkammer

Other opinions, please?

I have no other opinions.

[rkammer]

Originally Posted by The GMT Kid

I have no other opinions.

[Deyn Man]

read a thread here about regulating our rolex... dunno though if this holds true for all rolex models (rolex gurus, please correct me if i am wrong)...
at night, remove your watch and:
1. to gain a few seconds: lay watch flat w/ the dial facing up
2. to lose a few seconds: lay the watch vertical with the crown facing downwards
3. to lose even more seconds: lay watch vertical with the crown facing up
again, dunno if this is true for all rolex models... worth a shot though...
let's wait for the other gurus to comment... :)

[Andad]

Nice to know my 3135 is speeding up with age as I slow down.

[mcjp6]

Originally Posted by directioneng

Nice to know my 3135 is speeding up with age as I slow down.

I know the feeling....

[rkb]

After 35 years my Tudor 7928 with the caliber 390 movement slowed but a easy adjustment made it more accurate than my contemporary Datejust that I had at the time.

[rkammer]

Originally Posted by Deyn Man

read a thread here about regulating our rolex... dunno though if this holds true for all rolex models (rolex gurus, please correct me if i am wrong)...
at night, remove your watch and:
1. to gain a few seconds: lay watch flat w/ the dial facing up
2. to lose a few seconds: lay the watch vertical with the crown facing downwards
3. to lose even more seconds: lay watch vertical with the crown facing up
again, dunno if this is true for all rolex models... worth a shot though...
let's wait for the other gurus to comment... :)

Yes, I've read this thread also. My watch doesn't change much with position. It's very consistant at about 6-7 sec a day fast.

So, again, is this a sign of my 3 year old watch needing a service or should I just have it regulated?

[rkammer]

Originally Posted by rkb

After 35 years my Tudor 7928 with the caliber 390 movement slowed but a easy adjustment made it more accurate than my contemporary Datejust that I had at the time.

I also had a 7928 from 1963 with the 390 movement and it also slowed down with age. But, I've heard that the newer Rolex 3135 does the opposite which is what I'm trying to determine. Thanks for your input.

[mcubed]

We have watchmakers who will know more, but i would guess what a watch does as it ages depends upon which parts start to wear out, and that effect on the overall watch. I read somewhere that if there is wear at the balance wheel, and it no longer makes it's full swing, that can speed the watch up since it is traveling a shorter distance and thus the oscillation is actually faster. I have NO idea if this is actually true.....

[1Gunner]

FWIW.....My TT Sub is ~6 months old and has been at +6-7seconds per day since new.

[PHPuser]

hmmmm my 56 yr new Oysterdate is 1 sec fast. I guess I'll have to wait till it gets older

[tszyu#1]

I think mine does, its 93 or '94, and when I leave off for wkend, usually about a minute fast

[looking to buy]

My 2 year old sub came to me at 6 seconds fast per day. After a year it went to 9 seconds fast. At 18 months I sent it to the RSC for regulation. It now runs 1 second fast per day.

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by rkammer

During conversation he mentioned that the 3135 movement will speed up with age and any time I notice this I should consider having it serviced. I thought movements slow down as they get closer to needing service. Mine is currently running about 6 seconds a day fast which is right against the upper COSC limit. (it's only 3 years old) I'm not so much of an accuracy nut that I'm bothered by this but, is it an indicator of the movement needing service?

You probably should have posted this in the tech section. The watchmakers hang out there more often. I would think they would tell you that a number of things can happen to a movement over time that could impact the rate keeping of the movement in either direction.

[Lol-x]

One would think that as the lubricants dry out, that the movement would slow down.
However, maybe it does get faster as the degrees of rotation of the balance wheel becomes less over time.
Just my somewhat uneducated, and personal anecdotal experience/opinion.

[rkammer]

Originally Posted by BigHat

You probably should have posted this in the tech section. The watchmakers hang out there more often. I would think they would tell you that a number of things can happen to a movement over time that could impact the rate keeping of the movement in either direction.

Good point. I think I'll do that.

[Rikki]

Howdy as has been said as the oils dry out the balance will lose amplitude and go back and forth in a shorter interval thus speeding up your watch.So here we go again about every 5 years or so it;s time for service and regulating. Rik the Watchmaker

[Andad]

That makes sense Rik.

Eddie the watchwearer.