Degenerate accuracy - problem with my sub!

[vrolok]

hi folks,

I have been continuously wearing my new 16610 for a couple of months already. The watch is a great all-arounder (dont certainly need to tell you this here ) and it did work flawlessy... so far. Now I've got an accuracy problem.

Well... it has been running within COSC, since its accuracy was +4''/day. However it drastically changed out of the blue. From one day to another, without experiencing any shock at all, its pace speeded up well over + half a minute per day!!!!!! Why?? Do you find it normal? Sooner as I can, I bring it to my watchmaker or to a Rolex AD (under guarantee of course), but in the meantime I'd like to hear your opinion You think it can be anything serious? Is there any reason for such a change? Any info appreciated

[Letsgodiving]

Well over a 1/2 a minute a day requires an expert asap. It appears to have had an internal combustion infarction promted by an terminal bifurcated rotornal movemental displacement. Good luck! We are all pulling for you!

[Jedi]

I think a simpler explanation could be magnetization.

Have you left your watch near a strong magnetic field, like next to a cell phone, or on top of a TV set, DVD player... etc etc?

That can cause a watch to speed up dramatically, but +30/day is kinda severe. My 16610 used to run +5 minutes after setting and then settling down after a day. Magnet was the cause and after service, it now sets and then goeds -2 and then stays there without changing day after day... it's precise now.

[vrolok]

Originally Posted by JediSubExII

I think a simpler explanation could be magnetization.

Have you left your watch near a strong magnetic field, like next to a cell phone, or on top of a TV set, DVD player... etc etc?

That can cause a watch to speed up dramatically, but +30/day is kinda severe. My 16610 used to run +5 minutes after setting and then settling down after a day. Magnet was the cause and after service, it now sets and then goeds -2 and then stays there without changing day after day... it's precise now.

Yes yes yes. Thanks Jedi you are certainly right, bravo! I now remember! (been thinking hard on what I did in the hours before I noticed it speeded up)

I am planning on buying a new cell phone and therefore I went to a local store. There, all phones are exhibited on a panel, and you are free to take and play with them (they all are secured by a hard cable). Well... fact is they are held on the panel by magnets!! and very strong ones! I remember I grasped two phones and even thought "what a strong magnet". I used my left hand (bad luck because the sub is on the left wirst and I normally am a right handed).

QUESTION: May I expect the watch to settle in by itself, will it self-demagnetize (in a reasonable time)? Or should I go to the watchmaker anyway? It's now gaining about 1 sec every hour. If it gets demagnetized by the watchmaker, will it get back to the former accuracy or need extra regulation?

cheers

[vrolok]

yes... maybe it got magnetized. good point! although i cant remember I left it next to any possible source. Cant really find a reason...
On monday I'll pay visit to my local watchmaker. hope he will sort it out.

[Jedi]

Hmmm... i'm no expert Marco, but that short exposure shouldn't do that much towards speeding up your watch.

However, if you had one of the magnets really close to your watch then it might effect it.

Take it to the watchmaker, preferably a rolex qualified one and ask them to check the movement thoroughly.

If the watch is still under warranty (should be right, only a couple of months old) then take it back to where you bought it.

Incidentally, where in Italy are you??

[jimbo1mcm]

Get it to an RSC and let them figure it out. An ordinary watchmaker, even a good one, unless he is really up on Rolex stuff, and can get Rolex parts( now very hard to do), just can't do the job.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by vrolok

Is there any reason for such a change? Any info appreciated

Maybe you just forgot to screw in the winding crown (as per the pic??) and moisture went inside the case??

(<<< last two smileys mean "JUST KIDDING!" )

Well, to be serious now, magnetism seems to be a good explanation. A sudden deviation like this is certainly NOT normal, so have your Sub Date inspected by your Rolex-trained watch maker.

Good luck!

[vrolok]

thanks guys. Just an update: I took a needle compass and definetely YES... by moving the watch all around the compass, the needle spins indeed. And of course I have checked my other watches as well... and surprise surprise my 12-years-old moonwatch is like a magnet (!), bit less but also got a Ttouch magnetized. Luckily all others (new and vintages one) are completely diamagnetic.

[Tools]

Here's what happens Marco.

The hairspring, which is a very thin coiled wire, gets magnetized (or a part in close proximity).

The hairspring coils are very close together. When magnetized, or influenced by a magnet, they start sticking to themselves.... This effectively "shortens" the hairspring causing it to vibrate faster.. Vibrating faster means more "tics" per hour..

It's a pretty easy fix for any competent watchmaker...

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by vrolok

thanks guys. Just an update: I took a needle compass and definetely YES... by moving the watch all around the compass, the needle spins indeed. And of course I have checked my other watches as well... and surprise surprise my 12-years-old moonwatch is like a magnet (!), bit less but also got a Ttouch magnetized. Luckily all others (new and vintages one) are completely diamagnetic.

Interesting!

So now you MUST find the SOURCE of magnetism and avoid letting your watches near it, or else you would run into the same problem again!

[daunwaun]

very interesting problem and some great solutions indeed!!! Take it to RSC asap