Rate Results????

[T-Rip]

Im a bit new to the fine watch collecting game, I have a question...

I dont understand what the "rate result" means?..And more importantly what is the significance of the rate result?

Example:

Dial up +1
Dial down +2


HUH???

[GoldenBear]

I believe it refers to the ability to speed up or slow down the rate that the watch beats by positioning it a certain way (face up, face down or sideways).

[T-Rip]

I see

[Megalobyte]

If you've ever heard the phrase, adjusted in 5 positions, that means the watch was adjusted in each of the 5 main positions to allow as little spread, and as much consistency between them. A well adjusted watch is adjusted so the totality of gains/losses between positions ends up a small number of seconds, with minor positional variations cancelling each other out for the most part. Then as long as the rate has been regulated well the watch should be very accurate and consistent, with position having minimal effect. It's my understanding that Rolex's free sprung balance reduces positional variation a bit to begin with.

A watch that strays no more than a second or 2 either way in 24 hrs regardless of position is likely a well adjusted watch. I've read rate results in watch mags for some pretty high end watches, like Patek, Lange, and I've been shocked at some of them, swings of 5-10 seconds per day between positions. My Sub C seems to deviate no more than a second or 2 across all 4 positions I rested it in. While I'm wearing it it seems to stay accurate to approx a second a day or less. Can't complain. :)

The neat thing about finding out what your watch gains/loses when it's resting in different positions, like say overnight while you sleep, is that for example, your watch tends to lose a second a day while you wear it, if you find a position that causes it to gain a second or even half a second, you can in effect, make the watch stay more accurate against whatever time reference you're using.

I have a Panerai that consistently gains half a second a day, I discovered the only nightly resting position it lost time in was dial up, so, I rest it dial up overnight and it basically loses back that half second gain by the time I wake up, it allows me to keep the watch very close to perfect time as long as I'm paying attention to it, which I often don't. I have an IWC, loses half a day, gains half dial down overnight, works out very well.

[T-Rip]

Originally Posted by Megalobyte

If you've ever heard the phrase, adjusted in 5 positions, that means the watch was adjusted in each of the 5 main positions to allow as little spread, and as much consistency between them. A well adjusted watch is adjusted so the totality of gains/losses between positions ends up a small number of seconds, with minor positional variations cancelling each other out for the most part. Then as long as the rate has been regulated well the watch should be very accurate and consistent, with position having minimal effect. It's my understanding that Rolex's free sprung balance reduces positional variation a bit to begin with.

A watch that strays no more than a second or 2 either way in 24 hrs regardless of position is likely a well adjusted watch. I've read rate results in watch mags for some pretty high end watches, like Patek, Lange, and I've been shocked at some of them, swings of 5-10 seconds per day between positions. My Sub C seems to deviate no more than a second or 2 across all 4 positions I rested it in. While I'm wearing it it seems to stay accurate to approx a second a day or less. Can't complain. :)

Thank you...According to Watch Time (december 2010) my Breitling superocean 44 has the following rates:

Dial Down +1
Dial up +2
Crown up +2
Crown Down +3
Crown Left +2
Crown Right +1
Greatest Rate deviation 2
Average deviation +1.8


Is that good?... Thanks again..

[Megalobyte]

Originally Posted by haydendillon

Thank you...According to Watch Time (december 2010) my Breitling superocean 44 has the following rates:

Dial Down +1
Dial up +2
Crown up +2
Crown Down +3
Crown Left +2
Crown Right +1
Greatest Rate deviation 2
Average deviation +1.8


Is that good?... Thanks again..

I'm not an expert, just an enthusiast, but that seems like very good adjustment to me. Perhaps remarkable. However keep in mind, that's for that exact watch, not every watch will be adjusted the same. It's apparently a fairly complex process.

For your watch, if accuracy and precision interest you, see what it's daily loss/gain is over 24 hours and also see what it does dial/crown/up/down. (4 positions)

In the end, if it seems to stay within -4 to +6 a day the watch is pretty good, and working well. Of course we all like it to be better but -4 to +6 is good. Also keep in mind, depending on position on a given day, temperature, state of wind and movement/activity, a watch can show some slight deviation from it's typical daily loss/gain. Some days the watch might gain 2 but gain 3 on another day, it's apparently not realistic to expect a watch to, for example, gain exactly .75 of a second a day, every single day.

[T-Rip]

Ill have to youtube or google on how to do that...thanks Ari..

[Megalobyte]

Set the watch to atomic time, www.time.gov works well, and check it maybe in 72 hours, see the total loss/gain, divide by 3. Then rest it for 8 hours overnight in various positions, check time before and after, multiply by 3 to get a 24 hour reading, you'll see what approx. effect positions have. Not hard, just takes time.... So to speak. :)