Settle in period....

[Hookie]

Just wondering how long does it take for a new Rolex to settle in? Since ive set the time last week its lost about 30 secs. Is this normal?

Cheerzz

[Hamilton Carvalho]

About 3 months. When exactly did you set the time?

Originally Posted by Hookie

Just wondering how long does it take for a new Rolex to settle in? Since ive set the time last week its lost about 30 secs. Is this normal?

Cheerzz

[Hookie]

Umm, last time i set the time it was a week today.

[Hamilton Carvalho]

It is loosing about 4.3 seconds per day, so, it is within the COSC specifications. In the first 30 days mine was gainning almost 4 seconds per day, after 30 days it was 2.3 seconds per day, now is about 1.6 seconds per day.

Originally Posted by Hookie

Umm, last time i set the time it was a week today.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Hamilton Carvalho

It is loosing about 4.3 seconds per day, so, it is within the COSC specifications. (...)

Well, strictly taken, it is indeed NOT within COSC specs. It is .3 secs. off specs since COSC specs are minus 4 to plus 6 secs./day.

About the "settling in" period: It's a matter of the watch adjusted to your personal wearing habits and not a question of the "oils being spread well" or "parts having to be broken in first" (and other myths like that).

Wear the watch for a month's time and see how the accuracy is after that. If the watch is consistantly losing or gaining too much (i.e.: beyond COSC specs), have it regulated to fit your wearing habits.

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

About the "settling in" period: It's a matter of the watch adjusted to your personal wearing habits and not a question of the "oils being spread well" or "parts having to be broken in first" (and other myths like that).

Wear the watch for a month's time and see how the accuracy is after that. If the watch is consistently losing or gaining too much (i.e.: beyond COSC specs), have it regulated to fit your wearing habits.

Thank you Bo for your confirmation and definition of the settling in period.

From this thread.

Originally Posted by Tools

And don't forget that raw machined pivot points and jewel bearings, pinions and gears need to 'wear-in' as they are mated surfaces..

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

I agree 100 % with every of your points! Those points are the exact reason as to there is indeed a settling in period. The most important point is "wearing habits", though, imho.

EDIT: Please note that the second quote from Bo is in relation to the OP in the above thread and not as a direct response to Tool's quote. I was merely attempting to show that two of the most respected members on the forum are in agreement.

[JPP]

Originally Posted by dkpw

Thank you Bo for your confirmation and definition of the settling in period.

From this thread.





EDIT: Please note that the second quote from Bo is in relation to the OP in the above thread and not as a direct response to Tool's quote. I was merely attempting to show that two of the most respected members on the forum are in agreement.

???

Don't both these posts you've quoted say that there IS a settling in period - one because of the gears etc and one with the proviso that wearing habits are a key factor...

And then the settling in period is denied in this thread...

No wonder there's so much confusion on the net! Even I'm confused.

Best piece of advice is - if the watch isn't telling the time to your satisfaction whether it's within COSC's specs or not then have it regulated. The only specs that matter are the ones you yourself set - you paid the moolah after all and it's your watch - you're the one who has to tell the time off of it. One man's specs is another man's missed train...hehehe

[Hamilton Carvalho]

Ok Bo, if that's important I should've been more specific with my comments on my reply to his post. I just felt it was unnecessary to panic him over - .3 seconds. Frankly, I believe - .3 is too little to worry about. My SD is currently 7 seconds ahead of time and the manager at the RSC in New York adviced me NOT to service the watch at this time. I think he should give sometime and give his watch a chance to work better.

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Well, strictly taken, it is indeed NOT within COSC specs. It is .3 secs. off specs since COSC specs are minus 4 to plus 6 secs./day.

About the "settling in" period: It's a matter of the watch adjusted to your personal wearing habits and not a question of the "oils being spread well" or "parts having to be broken in first" (and other myths like that).

Wear the watch for a month's time and see how the accuracy is after that. If the watch is consistantly losing or gaining too much (i.e.: beyond COSC specs), have it regulated to fit your wearing habits.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Agreed, Hamilton!

.3 secs. aren't really much. I cannot even see how much figures out that a watch is precisely "x.3" secs. slow or fast a day.

[Hookie]

Cool ! Thanks, should i set the correct time then keep an eye on it every week or so?

[Hamilton Carvalho]

Sure. You're much patiently than I; I used to check the accuracy everyday for the first 3 months.

Originally Posted by Hookie

Cool ! Thanks, should i set the correct time then keep an eye on it every week or so?

[ZROLEX]

All of my rolexes or other mechanics didn't have any settle in period. For example my GMT IIC is loosing 3.8 -4.0 secs in 24 hr. It was like that when it was brand new from the box and today it's almost three months old and it is absolutely the same. No deviation and difference from day one. My DJ was gaining 2,5 secs in 24 hours when it was brand new and for a year and a half it remained absolutely the same. Also same story with my my Seamaster and Raymond Weil. So my experience showed me that there is no settling in. My 2 sents.

[RolexNoob]

Originally Posted by Hamilton Carvalho

Sure. You're much patiently than I; I used to check the accuracy everyday for the first 3 months.

Come on Hamilton. You still check it everyday....

:ba nghead:

[Hamilton Carvalho]

And I'll make you do the same thing, give me time.

Originally Posted by RolexNoob

Come on Hamilton. You still check it everyday....

:ba nghead:

[dkpw]

James, Hamilton is correct. My Sub is three months old and the differences I've noticed after this time are that whereas I was gaining about two seconds a day, I'm now down to a gain of one second a day. I synchronise mine on Sunday and check it throughout the week. I can easily check the divergence without too much wear on the crown and tube.

The other thing I've noticed as part of the settling in period, is that the date changes over at about a minute past midnight. New, it would change over between 4 and 5 minutes past.

You'll be fine - enjoy your watch.

[Hamilton Carvalho]

Originally Posted by dkpw

The other thing I've noticed as part of the settling in period, is that the date changes over at about a minute past midnight. New, it would change over between 4 and 5 minutes past.

The same thing happened to mine David. Sometimes the date changes at exactly 12:00 AM.

[ZROLEX]

date changes at around 12:08 on my GMT. That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is -4 secs in 24hr. It should be much more accurate. Well, I'm wearing it 24 hours. If I put it face down at night that will reduce to about 2 seconds and if I shake the watch couple times it will gain another 2 seconds. That way I can self regulate it and be spot on all the time but I don't like taking it off my wrist. I guess I will re-regulate it after summer.

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by ZROLEX

date changes at around 12:08 on my GMT. That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is -4 secs in 24hr. It should be much more accurate. Well, I'm wearing it 24 hours. If I put it face down at night that will reduce to about 2 seconds and if I shake the watch couple times it will gain another 2 seconds. That way I can self regulate it and be spot on all the time but I don't like taking it off my wrist. I guess I will re-regulate it after summer.

Why not get it done now? It will cost next to nothing and take a short amount of time. -4 secs a day is at the edge of certification. You should not have to shake the watch to speed it up.

[Hookie]

Thanks all !

[skeen]

Why is it that Rolex's aren't more accurate? I've had my Seiko Premier for a week now, and it's almost losing a second; that's an $850 watch.

[ZROLEX]

Originally Posted by skeen

Why is it that Rolex's aren't more accurate? I've had my Seiko Premier for a week now, and it's almost losing a second; that's an $850 watch.

I believe it is the matter of regulation. Also what I noticed is that you have to regulate mechanical watch where you wearing it the most. For instance regulation done in Switserland not always good for watches going overseas. I noticed that last year while I was in Europe for holidays my Seamaster was losing seconds when in at home (DC) it gains seconds. But my DJ was running faster than usual. So go figure. I do not know if it is the same deal with watches with new parachrom-blue. I guess I'm gonna figure that out when I'll go to Europe in August with my GMTIIC. I'm not satisfied with regulation of it especially because it loses time not gains, but i'm gonna hold on to re-regulation and will see how it works in Europe....

[Hamilton Carvalho]

It's a pain to see that a much cheaper watch can keep better time. My first watch (Orient) gain less than one second per day for the last 32 years. It has never been serviced, still keeps great time.

Originally Posted by skeen

Why is it that Rolex's aren't more accurate? I've had my Seiko Premier for a week now, and it's almost losing a second; that's an $850 watch.

[shoppy]

Normal, but you can have it regulated.

[ZROLEX]

Originally Posted by dkpw

Why not get it done now? It will cost next to nothing and take a short amount of time. -4 secs a day is at the edge of certification. You should not have to shake the watch to speed it up.

Originally Posted by shoppy

Normal, but you can have it regulated.

Thanks for your advices guys. Yeah -4 secs in 24hrs is a lot. I live in DC so I probably will have to go to NYC to regulate it. I don't want to send my watch.

[JPP]

Originally Posted by ZROLEX

Thanks for your advices guys. Yeah -4 secs in 24hrs is a lot. I live in DC so I probably will have to go to NYC to regulate it. I don't want to send my watch.

Hey there

I would get it regulated. It's a beautiful watch and capable of much better accuracy - worth taking it in for sure. That's what upsets me - Rolexes are gorgeous watches and capable of telling the time pretty accurately so why settle for the outer limit of a spec that really is pretty wide ranging. I had my SD regulated and it's only a couple of seconds a month out.

Best

JP

[Haole]

As a new Submariner owner can you please tell me the best way to "synchronize" one's watch and how to go about this exactly (i.e. which benchmark time to synchronize with and where that is, etc.)? Thanks much and sorry if this is too newbie of me... ;)

[Hamilton Carvalho]

Welcome to the Forum! I use this site to synchronize http://www.time.gov/timezone.cgi?Eastern/d/-5/java

Originally Posted by Haole

As a new Submariner owner can you please tell me the best way to "synchronize" one's watch and how to go about this exactly (i.e. which benchmark time to synchronize with and where that is, etc.)? Thanks much and sorry if this is too newbie of me... ;)

[JPP]

There is no such thing as a settling in period. I must start a crusade to stop this nonsense being disseminated over the net - it is SO misleading.

There may be small irregularities depending upon how you wear the watch and if it's left to stop and then re-wound a lot but that's very different from a settling in period.

If your watch is that slow per week I'd have it regulated. COSC specs are so huge that I really wouldn't pay them much mind and get it regulated so it tells the time a bit more accurately. 30 seconds a week is a lot when you add that up over a month. COSC specs only really have meaning to watchmakers and give Rolex a great get out clause as they don't have to regulate watches under warranty that fall within these specs (but invariably they do.) And the specs are so huge that it's a total cop out if you ask me. Loads of mechanical watches tell the time perfectly well without a COSC certificate. And anyway COSC is practically owned by Rolex anyway. It may be "independent" but when a company gives you 99.9% of your business in my experience "independent" becomes a somewhat loose term.

COSC means nothing to me - it's marketing blurb, nothing more.

Anyway - they'll regulate it to perhaps +3 seconds and actually when you wear it even if regulated to that it might be just + or - 1 sec a day so it bears little relation to real world conditions...

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by JPP

There is no such thing as a settling in period. I must start a crusade to stop this nonsense being disseminated over the net - it is SO misleading.

There may be small irregularities depending upon how you wear the watch and if it's left to stop and then re-wound a lot but that's very different from a settling in period.

If your watch is that slow per week I'd have it regulated. COSC specs are so huge that I really wouldn't pay them much mind and get it regulated so it tells the time a bit more accurately. 30 seconds a week is a lot when you add that up over a month. COSC specs only really have meaning to watchmakers and give Rolex a great get out clause as they don't have to regulate watches under warranty that fall within these specs (but invariably they do.) And the specs are so huge that it's a total cop out if you ask me. Loads of mechanical watches tell the time perfectly well without a COSC certificate. And anyway COSC is practically owned by Rolex anyway. It may be "independent" but when a company gives you 99.9% of your business in my experience "independent" becomes a somewhat loose term.

COSC means nothing to me - it's marketing blurb, nothing more.

Anyway - they'll regulate it to perhaps +3 seconds and actually when you wear it even if regulated to that it might be just + or - 1 sec a day so it bears little relation to real world conditions...

I disagree with you. Not my experience and not the advice from some of the most experienced members here.

[Hamilton Carvalho]

X2

Originally Posted by dkpw

I disagree with you. Not my experience and not the advice from some of the most experienced members here.