3235 break-in developments (new Sub Date)

[Guybrush]

Just figured I’d share something I’m noticing right now. Know there have been other threads that touch on similar things.

Have had my 126610 for a few weeks now, worn it literally every single day since then up until this past weekend.

So far it’s been consistently about 1.5 to 2 seconds slow, I’d say. Well within range of acceptability. I tend to give the watch a full wind once a week (maybe unnecessarily since I wear it daily and am fairly active), and I usually set it then too, just because.

This past weekend I went camping for two nights with my family and decided to leave the Rolex home and wear something I wouldn’t mind dirtying/scratching/losing. I gave it a full wind and set, excited to put the 72hr reserve stat to the test.

The watch was still ticking away when I checked back on Sunday—not quite 72 hours but > 60. But it was now running a bit on the fast side! Still, by my lights, within the +/-2 spec, so nothing that concerns me, just... interesting. Guess I can’t be surprised that its timekeeping is a little different when it’s just sitting in the box rather than getting worn, but what I think I’m noticing now, since wearing it again, is that it continues to gain now, rather than lose. As though that “weekend off” made some kind of lasting difference. Guess I’ll need a few more days to be sure, and honestly, for ease of setting, I think I’d prefer a watch that’s slightly fast to one that’s slightly slow—another well worn topic, I know. But just curious whether anyone else has had the same experience with a fresh 3235.

[JPMickB83]

I have a 126200 DJ36 and noticed almost the same behavior. The watch will be +/-2 seconds based on the orientation. If I leave it face up, it gains time; if it’s on a winder it loses time; and if I wear it it’s close to dead nuts accurate. It’s actually kind of nice to be able to manipulate the timekeeping like this.


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[owl.]

Originally Posted by JPMickB83

I have a 126200 DJ36 and noticed almost the same behavior. The watch will be +/-2 seconds based on the orientation. If I leave it face up, it gains time; if it’s on a winder it loses time; and if I wear it it’s close to dead nuts accurate. It’s actually kind of nice to be able to manipulate the timekeeping like this.


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Nailed it!

OP I would suggest to stop tracking it for a while. Supposedly the time-keeping of watches changes over time as they break in.

I would wear it for a few months maybe and then check the accuracy once in a while, not that often because it can become a bad habit lol

When I got into watches, I couldn't stand watches that didn't hack, because it made it hard to check the accuracy.

Now I wear a Hesalite Speedy daily (that doesn't hack) and haven't really bothered to check the accuracy.

[Kadhytia]

Same issue with mine.


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[EEpro]

I wore my DJ41 with 3235 for 6 months and it kept 0.3 seconds on average. Let it sleep for a month when I got a new watch. Next time I wore it it was losing 15 seconds per day. After running for 3 days it settled to -3 spd which is of course good enough. I think that movement has a lube issue as it took some time to distribute the oils and run well.

[brandog]

As someone else mentioned the orientation of the watch will alter the movements time keeping slightly. I typically keep my watch dial up flat on my desk and it only gains a few seconds a month.

That being said the movement is also brand spanking new and needs many months to break in still. The oils and springs definitely have a settling in period. My Hulk actually keeps better time now on a daily basis after 4 years of wear than it did the first year I owned the watch.

[TswaneNguni]

Question is still unanswered ....

Did Rolex make any small changes to the 3235 movements in the 2020 releases ?

[amanbra]

All of my watches run faster dial up resting vs me wearing them.

They all run slower when I rest them crown up or down. It is a useful way to regulate your watch overnight.


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[amanbra]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Question is still unanswered ....

Did Rolex make any small changes to the 3235 movements in the 2020 releases ?

No confirmation on this from searchart. I just got my dj36 from warranty service. I’ll report back if it goes back out of spec.


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[brucethemanlee]

My new Kermit on wrist runs about near 0 perhaps half second slow over 18 hrs on wrist

Put into box face up and by morning it will be -1 sec off in 24 hr period

So after 7 days I was slow -7 seconds. Not horrible considering it’s off 7 seconds over 604,800 seconds over that time span. 99.88% accurate per week :)

That said I can regulate watch and have it run 0.5 second fast by leaving in watch box dial side down

[jimcameron]

You guys lead exciting lives.

[boogiebot]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

You guys lead exciting lives.

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[alphadweller]

My Sub 126613lb started at -1.5 s/d and after a month and a half it's now running at +1.5 s/d.

[Eagles4133]

We all do the same thing when we get a new watch. Everyone checks to see how its running, most of us without a timegrapher and it drives us MAD! IMO, consistency is more important than straight up accuracy. I would rather have a watch consistently run 4-6 seconds fast then a watch that bounces around from +2, -1, +3, -2, etc.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

You guys lead exciting lives.

Have to agree and worrying over a second or so out of 86400 in a day defeats me. Yes I know Rolex tests in a controlled environment to this new average -2+2 spec. But on the wrist thats a totally different environment with many variables to overcome, such as gravity, mainspring power-reserve, shocks, plus many others.

[Guybrush]

Originally Posted by padi56

Have to agree and worrying over a second or so out of 86400 in a day defeats me. Yes I know Rolex tests in a controlled environment to this new average -2+2 spec. But on the wrist thats a totally different environment with many variables to overcome, such as gravity, mainspring power-reserve, shocks, plus many others.

Oh, I agree---my post was less "I'm worried" and more "I'm interested." The pandemic shut-in mind has less to occupy it than normal, I suppose. :)

I was just surprised as I've owned several automatic watches over the years and never noticed such a disparity, but then it occurred to me that all those watches have been vintage: this is my first-ever fresh-from-the-factory automatic, so I've never been through the break-in process. I can already feel myself relaxing, though, on the +/- thing; as long as the watch isn't off by a more-than-negligible amount of time, I'm probably going to stop re-setting it every week. Even working for the military (as I do), 30 seconds give or take doesn't (usually) matter. And most often, if I'm looking at my watch, it's not even to check the time. :)

[bmb15]

Originally Posted by TswaneNguni

Question is still unanswered ....

Did Rolex make any small changes to the 3235 movements in the 2020 releases ?

Exactly that's the question for the new 3235 (date) and the 3230 (no date) movements launched in 2020.

Especially taking into account that the early (year 2017) 126600 with 3235 (date) as well as the early (year 2018) GMT Master II with 3285 (date) had severe (!) movement problems. These early sold movements were a horror ....

A well justified reason not to buy a new Submariner now!

[Annan]

Originally Posted by amanbra

No confirmation on this from searchart. I just got my dj36 from warranty service. I’ll report back if it goes back out of spec.


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Bas has assured us that he will share any new information here on TRF. I've communicated with him directly on the subject. The last time was about a month ago and he had nothing yet.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by Kadhytia

Same issue with mine.


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What app is that

[southcarolina1801]

Originally Posted by bmb15

Exactly that's the question for the new 3235 (date) and the 3230 (no date) movements launched in 2020.

Especially taking into account that the early (year 2017) 126600 with 3235 (date) as well as the early (year 2018) GMT Master II with 3285 (date) had severe (!) movement problems. These early sold movements were a horror ....

A well justified reason not to buy a new Submariner now!

A horror? That's a little extreme.

The 3235 in my 2020 Sub has been spectacular. It's been well within +/- 2 sec a day since purchase. I keep my watch in a watch box at night and one week actually went an entire week with only 1 second gained.

A spectacular movement in my opinion. Maybe it's just my example, but this has been much more accurate than the 3130/3135 I've had in previous watches.

[bmb15]

Originally Posted by southcarolina1801

A horror? That's a little extreme.

You probably did not recognise what I carefully wrote, I repeat:

Especially taking into account that the early (year 2017) 126600 with 3235 (date) as well as the early (year 2018) GMT Master II with 3285 (date) had severe (!) movement problems. These early sold movements were a horror ....

But its good to hear that the 3235 in your 2020 Sub has been "spectacular" ... until now!
It sounds that Rolex have found and corrected their initial design problems.

Rolex specs for Ref. 124060 are:

CALIBRE: 3230, Manufacture Rolex
PRECISION -2/+2 sec/day, after casing

[garyk]

I find this interesting. 12 Rolexes since the 70s and I could not begin to tell you fast, slow, reserve, etc. instead, I can tell you I’ve never had one make me late or cause me to miss something I was watching the time for. I can also tell you how much I have enjoyed owning them and wearing them and I sincerely hope my two sons really appreciate their dads hobby when they inherit them...someday...

[padi56]

Originally Posted by southcarolina1801

A horror? That's a little extreme.

The 3235 in my 2020 Sub has been spectacular. It's been well within +/- 2 sec a day since purchase. I keep my watch in a watch box at night and one week actually went an entire week with only 1 second gained.

A spectacular movement in my opinion. Maybe it's just my example, but this has been much more accurate than the 3130/3135 I've had in previous watches.

No matter the movement or brand of watch the movement is only as good as what it was regulated too that matches the owners wearing habits. You could have two identical watches both timed on same machine to say +2 seconds. On one persons wrist it could match, but on the other persons wrist could differ slightly either way its because its mechanical with many variables to overcome on the wrist. Myself have been around Rolex watches for well over 50 years and when any new movement is released there are in most cases a few teething problems. It was the same for the 12 series,15 series,30 series, 31series and now the 32 series, they all had little problems when first introduced, but all rectified in the production years of each calibre.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

you guys lead exciting lives.

[bmb15]

Originally Posted by garyk

I find this interesting. 12 Rolexes since the 70s and I could not begin to tell you fast, slow, reserve, etc. instead, I can tell you I’ve never had one make me late or cause me to miss something I was watching the time for. I can also tell you how much I have enjoyed owning them and wearing them and I sincerely hope my two sons really appreciate their dads hobby when they inherit them...someday...

Absolutely correct, I share your view 100% for all my vintage watches.

But if you have watches such as 14060M, 5513, 1680… which run better than new and rather expensive watches equipped with 32xx movements from 2017 & 2018, then you get really annoyed, especially if you have more than 1 watch like this! Luckily they are all under 5 years warranty.

[puckybadger]

FWIT: 3230 in my 124060 has been remarkably accurate

[bmb15]

Originally Posted by padi56

No matter the movement or brand of watch the movement is only as good as what it was regulated too that matches the owners wearing habits. You could have two identical watches both timed on same machine to say +2 seconds. On one persons wrist it could match, but on the other persons wrist could differ slightly either way its because its mechanical with many variables to overcome on the wrist. Myself have been around Rolex watches for well over 50 years and when any new movement is released there are in most cases a few teething problems. It was the same for the 12 series,15 series,30 series, 31series and now the 32 series, they all had little problems when first introduced, but all rectified in the production years of each calibre.

Exactly, 100% correct.
In my view (and for my watches) the early 32xx movements had more severe issues than "a few teething problems". These were far far out of specs with amplitudes <200 degrees and -15 s/d after only 5 days (!) wearing a new 126711CHNR equipped with caliber 3285, bought in late 2018.

[garyk]

Originally Posted by bmb15

Absolutely correct, I share your view 100% for all my vintage watches.

But if you have watches such as 14060M, 5513, 1680… which run better than new and rather expensive watches equipped with 32xx movements from 2017 & 2018, then you get really annoyed, especially if you have more than 1 watch like this! Luckily they are all under 5 years warranty.

I do have the 116613LB I bought July 1. It’s kind of the same deal for me, I set it, wind it a little, put it on and wear it. I take your meaning, I would be highly annoyed if it had the wrong time next time I looked at it or heaven forbid, stopped altogether! I’ve just been lucky the past 40+ years

[dkg1616]

Here is a question: is there a "break in period"

When i first got my 116610 it was a little fast then a little slow sometimes - but no concerns. I would say after about 6 months it was within a second over a month period and is impressively accurate.

I'd let it break in for a bit

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by bmb15

Absolutely correct, I share your view 100% for all my vintage watches.

But if you have watches such as 14060M, 5513, 1680… which run better than new and rather expensive watches equipped with 32xx movements from 2017 & 2018, then you get really annoyed, especially if you have more than 1 watch like this! Luckily they are all under 5 years warranty.

I hear you

In twenty years time the only Rolex I have sent for regulation is a 3235 movement .
I own 6 with 3135s ,2007-2019 .All very accurate.

Like Padi says ,new movements may have niggles and will be sorted out .Therefore my question on the 3235s in the 2020 releases .Its a question out of interest ,not to condemn the movement as a lemon .

I do not like the gritty feel of the winding and setting the time in reverse on the 3235
I do like the clear indication of fully wound on the 3235.