Improved accuracy under possible magnetization

[benjaminchia]

Quick question:

I travel a lot and I sometimes go through metal detectors without taking off my watches (my bad). And my office somehow tends to magnetize watches as well( maybe because of my laptop or where I sit). My sub 16610 has been magnetized many times before.

My DSSD has been running steadily on -2 sec since I got it in January. Recently I have noticed it is starting to run acurratly towards perfect 0 second everyday.

My question is, should I feel happy that maybe magnetization is improving accuracy to my DSSD, or should I be alert about the fact that the watch is potentially being once again magnetized?

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

[postiff]

What the heck do you do?

I guess I could see the lap top but what else is in your office?

I guess now that it is running accurately you should stop wearing it to work.

Danny


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[landroverking]

I have worked in an RF field for over 30 years wearing Rolex and other Quailty watches and have never heard of or had this problem.

[benjaminchia]

Originally Posted by postiff

What the heck do you do?

I guess I could see the lap top but what else is in your office?

I guess now that it is running accurately you should stop wearing it to work.

Danny


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Originally Posted by landroverking

I have worked in an RF field for over 30 years wearing Rolex and other Quailty watches and have never heard of or had this problem.

I am very puzzled myself. I just work in a regular studio office, sitting in front of laptop all day. Right behind me is the switcher box for the office and above me is AC. Can these be the problem? I have an IBM thinkpad t60p if this helps explaining my situation.

[KKB]

How can you tell that the watch has actually been magnetized?

[benjaminchia]

Originally Posted by KKB

How can you tell that the watch has actually been magnetized?

Last few years while I was wearing my 16610 and 1675, they just got faster every few months. EveryLtime I go back to AD or RSC they just demagnetized for me. So I guesstimate that somewhere within my routine daily environment I must have a chronic issue with magnetization.

This leads me to suppose that my DSSD may now too be magnetized because now it is getting close to +/- 0 from -2.

I just dont know what to think of this, positively or negatively?

[Bisquitlips]

I don't think it is magnetism.

Sometimes the movements just take time to truly break in.

[KKB]

Originally Posted by benjaminchia

Last few years while I was wearing my 16610 and 1675, they just got faster every few months. EveryLtime I go back to AD or RSC they just demagnetized for me. So I guesstimate that somewhere within my routine daily environment I must have a chronic issue with magnetization.

This leads me to suppose that my DSSD may now too be magnetized because now it is getting close to +/- 0 from -2.

I just dont know what to think of this, positively or negatively?

After they demagnetize the watches for you, do they go back to keeping time the way they did before they were magnetized?

[benjaminchia]

Originally Posted by KKB

After they demagnetize the watches for you, do they go back to keeping time the way they did before they were magnetized?

Last few times my sub went from 10+ seconds to +4...

[benjaminchia]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

I don't think it is magnetism.

Sometimes the movements just take time to truly break in.

How long does this usually take, and is being slightly unstable normal for a new watch?

[watchmaker]

The fact you work next to two sources with high voltages would suggest that they are likely to cause your watches to magnetize.

Normally, the effect of magnetism on a watch would cause it to behave erratically. It is unlikely to cause a watch to run on time.

If your watch us running on time, with no other issues, I can't see a problem with it.

[KKB]

Originally Posted by benjaminchia

Last few times my sub went from 10+ seconds to +4...

Well then if the only thing that was done to the watch was demagnetization it does sound like your watch is being affected by magnetization.

I will avoid metal detectors in the future . . .

[benjaminchia]

should i get it demagnetized so it goes back to -2?

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by benjaminchia

I am very puzzled myself. I just work in a regular studio office, sitting in front of laptop all day. Right behind me is the switcher box for the office and above me is AC. Can these be the problem? I have an IBM thinkpad t60p if this helps explaining my situation.

Got it! If your T60p is running ANY form of Windoze - the inanities of that operating system will have magnetized your watch. The only cure is a switch to Linux. This will not only lessen the chances of viruses and crashes, it will also speed up your laptop - oh yes and improve the accuracy of your Rolex.

Trust me. I'm in IT.

[watchmaker]

If it settles at +-0 seconds, leave it.
If it is magnitized, it should not remain constant. It will gain and lose as it pleases. If it gets a strong dose, it can stop the balance from oscillating.

Ask yourself, never mind the watch, is sitting under all those volts good for you?

[benjaminchia]

Originally Posted by watchmaker

If it settles at +-0 seconds, leave it.
If it is magnitized, it should not remain constant. It will gain and lose as it pleases. If it gets a strong dose, it can stop the balance from oscillating.

Ask yourself, never mind the watch, is sitting under all those volts good for you?

........ I have been worrying about this too..........

[benjaminchia]

Originally Posted by dkpw

Got it! If your T60p is running ANY form of Windoze - the inanities of that operating system will have magnetized your watch. The only cure is a switch to Linux. This will not only lessen the chances of viruses and crashes, it will also speed up your laptop - oh yes and improve the accuracy of your Rolex.

Trust me. I'm in IT.

too funny!

[Colnago]

It might sound crazy but bear with me......during the time that this has happened to your watches have you changed your car?.....audio speakers (depending on size) can have very powerful magnets inside, if your car has a speaker mounted in a location which your watch moves past during normal driving it could be that causing the problem....I am assuming you wear your watch on your left wrist and of course you drive on the left, therefore your wrist is next to your door, speakers can be mounted there or just forward of the door's leading edge....the reason I say this is that I have worried about the same thing....I live in the UK and I wear my watch on my right wrist (long story), of course we drive on the other side so my watch is close to speakers......I go through metal detectors a fair bit too and they haven't affected any of my watches......I have heard more than once that speaker magnets are bad boys when it comes to hairspring magnetising......

[benjaminchia]

Originally Posted by Colnago

It might sound crazy but bear with me......during the time that this has happened to your watches have you changed your car?.....audio speakers (depending on size) can have very powerful magnets inside, if your car has a speaker mounted in a location which your watch moves past during normal driving it could be that causing the problem....I am assuming you wear your watch on your left wrist and of course you drive on the left, therefore your wrist is next to your door, speakers can be mounted there or just forward of the door's leading edge....the reason I say this is that I have worried about the same thing....I live in the UK and I wear my watch on my right wrist (long story), of course we drive on the other side so my watch is close to speakers......I go through metal detectors a fair bit too and they haven't affected any of my watches......I have heard more than once that speaker magnets are bad boys when it comes to hairspring magnetising......

Good point. There is a tweeter near the left mirror. I will take caution.

[diablojota]

Usually there is a 'break-in' period for your watch. With the DSSD, I would be surprised if there was a lot of magnetism affecting it considering it uses the new non-magnetic spring, etc. My guess is that you've gone through the break-in period for that watch and it is pretty darn accurate.

[Colnago]

Agreed on the Parachrom point there....obviously my suggested possible reason applies only to the other two models mentioned.....16610 and 1675

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

I don't think it is magnetism.

Sometimes the movements just take time to truly break in.

If 'the movements take time to truely break in' how can Rolex manage to have the movements COSC certified when new?

I am sure that any watch will settle in to a 'time' pattern and this will reflect the wearers habits but 'truely break in'?

[WatchSmith]

Good lord, anything + or - a few seconds is wonderfully consistent for a mechanical watch. If I'm not mistaken, + or - 6 seconds is something like 99.9% accuracy.

It's been my experience in my hobby watchmaking that magnetism causes extremely wild swings in accuracy, far in excess of 2 seconds a day.