Settling In Period?

[generic0]

I wanted to post about my YM (Platty)'s accuracy.

I got it December 26, 2008. It's an M serial, so I imagine it had been sitting at the AD for a good long while.

I didn't start wearing it daily til ~Jan. 12. After a few days, I synched with the time.gov site and checked back daily and noticed it was running fast.

I kept it well-wound and checked a few more times and it was consistently running at +12/13 seconds/day. I took it to an AD and they took a look and confirmed that it was +13 sec/day. They said they couldn't open the back and regulate it there without voiding the warranty, so if I wanted it regulated I'd have to pack it up and send it to RSC. I declined, because I wanted to be able to wear my new watch.

Didn't think about it for a while, then I re-set the time to time.gov on Jan. 27. 2 weeks later, and it's not quite 30 seconds fast...so now it's running at +2ish seconds/day!??

I'm very pleased and relieved that I dont' have to send it off...I hear that watches don't have settling-in periods anymore, but has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?

[sbakar]

Originally Posted by generic0

I wanted to post about my YM (Platty)'s accuracy.

I got it December 26, 2008. It's an M serial, so I imagine it had been sitting at the AD for a good long while.

I didn't start wearing it daily til ~Jan. 12. After a few days, I synched with the time.gov site and checked back daily and noticed it was running fast.

I kept it well-wound and checked a few more times and it was consistently running at +12/13 seconds/day. I took it to an AD and they took a look and confirmed that it was +13 sec/day. They said they couldn't open the back and regulate it there without voiding the warranty, so if I wanted it regulated I'd have to pack it up and send it to RSC. I declined, because I wanted to be able to wear my new watch.

Didn't think about it for a while, then I re-set the time to time.gov on Jan. 27. 2 weeks later, and it's not quite 30 seconds fast...so now it's running at +2ish seconds/day!??

I'm very pleased and relieved that I dont' have to send it off...I hear that watches don't have settling-in periods anymore, but has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?

I would suggest some 'WATCHful waiting'

Seriously, track it for the next few days and see if it really is at +2...g/l!

SNB

[yannis]

I asked a watchmaker once and he replied that i should give my watch 1-2 months to settle.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by yannis7777

I asked a watchmaker once and he replied that i should give my watch 1-2 months to settle.

About right.....6~8 weeks is normal settling down time.

JJ

[SLS]

The break in period, if there really is such a thing, on a modern fast beat movement is closer to 2-3 days. Wearing habits will often be the cause of most variances.
Scott

[padi56]

Originally Posted by generic0

I wanted to post about my YM (Platty)'s accuracy.

I got it December 26, 2008. It's an M serial, so I imagine it had been sitting at the AD for a good long while.

I didn't start wearing it daily til ~Jan. 12. After a few days, I synched with the time.gov site and checked back daily and noticed it was running fast.

I kept it well-wound and checked a few more times and it was consistently running at +12/13 seconds/day. I took it to an AD and they took a look and confirmed that it was +13 sec/day. They said they couldn't open the back and regulate it there without voiding the warranty, so if I wanted it regulated I'd have to pack it up and send it to RSC. I declined, because I wanted to be able to wear my new watch.

Didn't think about it for a while, then I re-set the time to time.gov on Jan. 27. 2 weeks later, and it's not quite 30 seconds fast...so now it's running at +2ish seconds/day!??

I'm very pleased and relieved that I dont' have to send it off...I hear that watches don't have settling-in periods anymore, but has anyone else experienced this kind of thing?

Just cannot understand if they could check your watch for accuracy they must have had a timing machine at AD.So they must have have a watchmaker in-house I must assume.To regulate a Rolex takes around 30 minutes only start to finish.Cannot understand by getting the back by a AD would void the warranty.Several ADs in the UK and the RSC London will regulate a watch while you wait its a very simple task
.

[generic0]

Originally Posted by padi56

Just cannot understand if they could check your watch for accuracy they must have had a timing machine at AD.So they must have have a watchmaker in-house I must assume.To regulate a Rolex takes around 30 minutes only start to finish.Cannot understand by getting the back by a AD would void the warranty.Several ADs in the UK and the RSC London will regulate a watch while you wait its a very simple task
.

Yes, I was very surprised by this statement as well. It's a very well-known jeweler in town and a longstanding Rolex AD, so I don't know why they would say this if it wasn't true. I was frustrated because on this forum, most people told me (correctly it seems) that near any AD could regulate my watch under warranty for free. Anyway, I haven't been back to that dealer since...I'm glad I don't need any work done on this YM!

[WatchSmith]

In some movements there is a break-in period, much like a new car, as parts wear-in and contact surfaces become burnished. I'm not sure if this is the case with Rolex as the parts are machined to extremely high tolerances.

As SLS said, wearing habits probably have more affect than anything since a watch movement on its side is subject to different gravitational effects that when it's laying on its back or face down. The gear train is not tight in a watch movement. There is 'end shake' on moving parts and when the movement is tilted these parts move a microscopic amount as well. As they move the timing can respond to + or - seconds per day, etc. The object is to have the movement running as accurately as possible in all positions.