Anyone Regulate their AP?

[srvrf]

I'm not sure many here tinker with their APs, but thought I'd ask. I have an older 25860 that is losing 30 sec/day on a timegrapher (and on the wrist/winder). I've had watches with 7750 movements before and the regulation is a relatively simple task. Moving one arm adjusts the beat error and the other the rate. I think this is the same for the 2385 movement in my ROC (meaning Arm 1 in the picture adjusts beat error and Arm 2 the rate), but I haven't been able to get the two arms to move separately. Moving one moves the other. Has anyone done this?

I could obviously send it in to AP but the movement was serviced to fix the chronograph a couple of months ago although not by AP. And I am waiting for a response from the seller who had it serviced. But if it came down to a simple twist of a screw or movement of a lever, I'd prefer to do it myself at this point rather than send it off again. I don't get it wet since it has low WR, but will grease the gasket when done as well.

[ELITEVIDEOGAMES]

I would leave it to the pro's. If AP believes that a non-certified watchmaker tinkered with it they will charge you heavily.

[srvrf]

Well they definitely did because they wrote on the inside of the case. But do you think they would seriously up charge me for something that happened before I purchased the watch? If so am I stuck with non-AP service unless I want to pay more than normal?

[breitlingherst]

AP doesn't care who serviced the watch at what point in time. whether it was you or the previous owner, the fact of the matter is AP did NOT service the watch. so either pay AP handsomely and have it serviced by them or someone else. for something $$$$, i would go through AP. it's like buying a Porsche/Ferrari and having Jiffy Lube do the oil changes.

[srvrf]

Originally Posted by breitlingherst

AP doesn't care who serviced the watch at what point in time. whether it was you or the previous owner, the fact of the matter is AP did NOT service the watch. so either pay AP handsomely and have it serviced by them or someone else. for something $$$$, i would go through AP. it's like buying a Porsche/Ferrari and having Jiffy Lube do the oil changes.

I don't have a problem with paying to have it serviced by AP. What I do have a problem with is what sounds like punitive charges for something that happened before I took possession of the watch. That's the implication I get from the responses so that's why I questioned it.

[srvrf]

And to continue the car analogy, there are simple things and complex things. Changing wiper blades on a Ferrari doesn't require Ferrari technicians. Changing oil really amounts to opening the oil cap, changing the filter, replacing the cap, and adding oil. To say that Ferrari has a monopoly on how to change oil in their cars is a stretch. Now a Ferrari owner can afford to pay Ferrari to change their oil, and that's their prerogative, but some owners may be into cars and enjoy tinkering or just want to learn about it. It's not always about being too cheap to do something.

My ROC is about 15 years old so I am not worried about voiding a warranty. My watch will eventually be visiting Clearwater. But I live in a town of 30,000 so there are no AP boutiques and the nearest AD (and I'm not a fan) is an hour away. I've successfully regulated watches before. It is literally moving the correct arm and checking the results on a timegrapher. But every movement is different. And I know that others here are tinkerers and have popped their case open. That's why I'm asking.

[singe89]

I'm a car guy so I get your apology. I've done routine maintenance on my cars from maserati, to AMG mercedes to classic mustangs and even off-road race cars. That being said I only trust AP to do service or adjustments on my APs. They charge a very reasonable amount, offer a full factory warranty and have quick turnaround times. There really isn't a reason not to use them. As a note I get my rolex watches serviced by a local independent watch marker but I only trust my APs with Clearwater.

[Daytona4130]

I can and do do it frequently on less expensive pieces, but I would not attempt on an AP

[breitlingherst]

Originally Posted by srvrf

And to continue the car analogy, there are simple things and complex things. Changing wiper blades on a Ferrari doesn't require Ferrari technicians. Changing oil really amounts to opening the oil cap, changing the filter, replacing the cap, and adding oil. To say that Ferrari has a monopoly on how to change oil in their cars is a stretch. Now a Ferrari owner can afford to pay Ferrari to change their oil, and that's their prerogative, but some owners may be into cars and enjoy tinkering or just want to learn about it. It's not always about being too cheap to do something.

My ROC is about 15 years old so I am not worried about voiding a warranty. My watch will eventually be visiting Clearwater. But I live in a town of 30,000 so there are no AP boutiques and the nearest AD (and I'm not a fan) is an hour away. I've successfully regulated watches before. It is literally moving the correct arm and checking the results on a timegrapher. But every movement is different. And I know that others here are tinkerers and have popped their case open. That's why I'm asking.

why tinker with something that costs so much money, when you're not exactly sure how to regulate this movement? the repercussions can be significant if you don't know exactly what you're doing.

[srvrf]

Originally Posted by breitlingherst

why tinker with something that costs so much money, when you're not exactly sure how to regulate this movement? the repercussions can be significant if you don't know exactly what you're doing.

Since I've done it on other movements, it should literally be moving the regulator arm (arm 2 in the drawing) and then putting it back on the timegrapher. But when I moved the regulator arm, the stud (arm 1) moved with it which changed the beat error. I didn't want to get into a situation where I've got multiple instruments in the watch because one could slip and then I'd have real problems. But it was the possibility of say a ten minute "fix" versus a ten week wait at AP for non-warranty service. I wast too worried about screwing it up, and maybe I just know enough to be dangerous. But in the end, I decided to just send it in to AP and get the full, no holds and I'm sure no expense barred service. Ugh, that will probably be late September at the earliest.