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etp · 14 September 2018, 11:31 AM

For those that have bought vintage pieces (I think 20+ years counts?), what is the accuracy you are seeing?

My oldest piece is a Kermit and it still runs +4. As I look at older pieces, I'm wondering what accuracy you can expect. I saw a video on Youtube of a watchmaker claiming +-15 seconds a day on 50 years+ is acceptable.

Does that sound right?

037 · 14 September 2018, 11:34 AM

My 1984 GMT II is in need of service and still holds about +2 per day. It's not difficult to regulate it closer to zero. It just takes a little extra time and effort.

Newer movements aren't more accurate. They're simply regulated better from the factory than before. Many seem to conflate the two.

rollee1 · 14 September 2018, 12:07 PM

My 1997 16570 cal 3185 is +0.75s per day, self regulating on wrist +3 seconds in a month.
With care and a careful watchmaker, high accuracy is achievable.

tkc324 · 14 September 2018, 12:13 PM

1978 DJ +1 sec a day

05carbondrz · 14 September 2018, 12:17 PM

The older Rolex Movements are plenty accurate when it good repair.

Richard Carver · 14 September 2018, 01:23 PM

This 50 year old DJ does a minute a month fast. It was serviced in 2015 and rotates with my 16570 as a daily wearer.

1570 movement.

Old Expat Beast · 14 September 2018, 01:59 PM

I have a few 1960s and '70s Grand and King Seikos that still keep +/- 1 or 2 secs per day. In those days Seiko had a higher beat rate than Rolex though. Age doesn't really matter too much if the watch has been well looked after and the movement is good quality.

gates · 14 September 2018, 02:48 PM

1987.5 Fat Lady RSC serviced in 2005, +2sec/day

padi56 · 14 September 2018, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by etp

For those that have bought vintage pieces (I think 20+ years counts?), what is the accuracy you are seeing?

My oldest piece is a Kermit and it still runs +4. As I look at older pieces, I'm wondering what accuracy you can expect. I saw a video on Youtube of a watchmaker claiming +-15 seconds a day on 50 years+ is acceptable.

Does that sound right?

No matter the movement brand or age it's only as good as what its been regulated to match wearers wearing habits.And even if it was +-15 seconds hardly life threatening out of 86400 in a day.

ROLLiWORKS · 14 September 2018, 06:30 PM

Ummm +/- 15 secs/d seriously? I certainly hope not. We wouldnt allow a non chronometer cal 1520 leave our shop unless its between -4 to +6 secs/d and quite frankly 0 to +6 is truly what we would deem acceptable .

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

GradyPhilpott · 14 September 2018, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROLLiWORKS

Ummm +/- 15 secs/d seriously? I certainly hope not. We wouldnt allow a non chronometer cal 1520 leave our shop unless its between -4 to +6 secs/d and quite frankly 0 to +6 is truly what we would deem acceptable .

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

Peter is not speaking of watches that are newly regulated, I do believe.

I believe that he was speaking of watches in a collection whose precision falls outside COSC standards as not being detrimental of one's life and responsibilities.

I heartily agree with that position.

ROLLiWORKS · 14 September 2018, 07:24 PM

50+ years old is pre-1968. Perhaps 70+ years old +\- 10 secs/d

Not recently regulated and falling out spec = needs service = pivots dry grinding against jewels metal dust acting as abrasives accelerating damage exponentially

All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

roosvelt · 14 September 2018, 07:31 PM

1979 DD with 3055 last serviced 15 years ago plus 2.

Chester01 · 14 September 2018, 10:30 PM

My 16610 was bought in 1998 And was running about +4/5 before I got it serviced last year.

sillo · 15 September 2018, 12:19 AM

My N serial 16700 is ~+5 seconds/day last serviced in 2009
My 8.1 serial 16800 is ~+3 seconds/day unknown service history

TimelessQuality · 15 September 2018, 12:43 AM

My 1967 Oyster Perpetual (now sold) was running at a consistent -1spd.

It had been serviced about 6 months prior.

gt0279a · 15 September 2018, 12:45 AM

1977 1680:
+1 sec/day

R!$ · 15 September 2018, 03:52 AM

I do not test the accuracy on any of my vintage or modern Rolex

Nor with any of my haute horology timepieces

CPRWATCH · 15 September 2018, 05:24 AM

Got to be honest , the older the watch the more leeway I give it . As long as it's there or there abouts I'm happy

droptopman · 15 September 2018, 06:46 AM

I am sometimes amazed how well these watches hold up. A couple years ago I took a 1966 5513 Gilt Sub into my watchsmith and he tested it. He believes the watch had never been serviced and was still -2 secs per day. Same day he tested my 1970 1675 GMT and it was +1.5 per day. The GMT had been serviced so not as impressive but still pretty cool.

Hard to find other mechanical object that stand the test of time. One of the reasons I like Rolex so much.

14 September 2018, 11:31 AM	#1
etp "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2016 Real Name: E Location: Global Watch: Rolex 116500LN Posts: 270	Accuracy for 20+ year old watches For those that have bought vintage pieces (I think 20+ years counts?), what is the accuracy you are seeing? My oldest piece is a Kermit and it still runs +4. As I look at older pieces, I'm wondering what accuracy you can expect. I saw a video on Youtube of a watchmaker claiming +-15 seconds a day on 50 years+ is acceptable. Does that sound right?

14 September 2018, 12:07 PM	#3
rollee1 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Real Name: Rollee Location: Boston Watch: it watching me Posts: 1,945	My 1997 16570 cal 3185 is +0.75s per day, self regulating on wrist +3 seconds in a month. With care and a careful watchmaker, high accuracy is achievable. __________________ Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted

14 September 2018, 01:59 PM	#7
Old Expat Beast TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Adam Location: Far East Watch: Golden Tuna Posts: 28,826	I have a few 1960s and '70s Grand and King Seikos that still keep +/- 1 or 2 secs per day. In those days Seiko had a higher beat rate than Rolex though. Age doesn't really matter too much if the watch has been well looked after and the movement is good quality. __________________ _______________________

15 September 2018, 12:19 AM	#15
sillo "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Real Name: Sean Location: NY Watch: 5 Digit Posts: 2,840	My N serial 16700 is ~+5 seconds/day last serviced in 2009 My 8.1 serial 16800 is ~+3 seconds/day unknown service history __________________ 14060 \| 16570 \| 16600 \| 16700 \| 16800 \| 79260 @TheGMTHand

15 September 2018, 12:43 AM	#16
TimelessQuality "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Toronto Posts: 161	Accuracy for 20+ year old watches My 1967 Oyster Perpetual (now sold) was running at a consistent -1spd. It had been serviced about 6 months prior.

14 September 2018, 11:34 AM	#2
037 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: USA Posts: 6,173	My 1984 GMT II is in need of service and still holds about +2 per day. It's not difficult to regulate it closer to zero. It just takes a little extra time and effort. Newer movements aren't more accurate. They're simply regulated better from the factory than before. Many seem to conflate the two.

14 September 2018, 12:13 PM	#4
tkc324 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: Tom Location: Chi town Watch: Daytona AP DD Sub Posts: 3,717	1978 DJ +1 sec a day

14 September 2018, 12:17 PM	#5
05carbondrz Banned Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: USA Posts: 2,030	The older Rolex Movements are plenty accurate when it good repair.

14 September 2018, 01:23 PM	#6
Richard Carver "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: US Posts: 2,237	This 50 year old DJ does a minute a month fast. It was serviced in 2015 and rotates with my 16570 as a daily wearer. 1570 movement.

14 September 2018, 02:48 PM	#8
gates "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: az Watch: A few Posts: 242	1987.5 Fat Lady RSC serviced in 2005, +2sec/day

14 September 2018, 06:30 PM	#10
ROLLiWORKS "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Real Name: Michael H Posts: 964	Ummm +/- 15 secs/d seriously? I certainly hope not. We wouldnt allow a non chronometer cal 1520 leave our shop unless its between -4 to +6 secs/d and quite frankly 0 to +6 is truly what we would deem acceptable . All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

14 September 2018, 07:24 PM	#12
ROLLiWORKS "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Real Name: Michael H Posts: 964	50+ years old is pre-1968. Perhaps 70+ years old +\- 10 secs/d Not recently regulated and falling out spec = needs service = pivots dry grinding against jewels metal dust acting as abrasives accelerating damage exponentially All work done in the good ol’ U.S. of A.

14 September 2018, 07:31 PM	#13
roosvelt Banned Join Date: Aug 2018 Real Name: achille Location: Grosse Pointe Mi. Watch: 16613 serti 18078 Posts: 446	1979 DD with 3055 last serviced 15 years ago plus 2.

14 September 2018, 10:30 PM	#14
Chester01 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: East Coast Watch: 16610 Posts: 4,933	My 16610 was bought in 1998 And was running about +4/5 before I got it serviced last year.

15 September 2018, 12:45 AM	#17
gt0279a "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: Steve Location: Georgia Watch: All of them Posts: 579	1977 1680: +1 sec/day __________________ Current: Rolex Daytona 116500 \| Rolex Submariner 116610 \| Zenith El Primero 03.2150.400/69 Past: Rolex Sea Dweller 126600 \| Rolex Sea Dweller 116600 \| Rolex Sea Dweller 16600 \| Rolex Submariner 16610 \| Rolex Submariner 1680

15 September 2018, 03:52 AM	#18
R!$ Banned Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SoCal Posts: 2,405	I do not test the accuracy on any of my vintage or modern Rolex Nor with any of my haute horology timepieces

15 September 2018, 05:24 AM	#19
CPRWATCH "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2016 Real Name: Paul Location: Chester UK Watch: Rolex GMT Master Posts: 4,600	Got to be honest , the older the watch the more leeway I give it . As long as it's there or there abouts I'm happy Attached Images

15 September 2018, 06:46 AM	#20
droptopman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Real Name: Mark Location: Washington State Watch: SUBS and GMT's! Posts: 9,664	I am sometimes amazed how well these watches hold up. A couple years ago I took a 1966 5513 Gilt Sub into my watchsmith and he tested it. He believes the watch had never been serviced and was still -2 secs per day. Same day he tested my 1970 1675 GMT and it was +1.5 per day. The GMT had been serviced so not as impressive but still pretty cool. Hard to find other mechanical object that stand the test of time. One of the reasons I like Rolex so much. __________________ Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today? Ty: Oh, Judge, I don't keep score. Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers? Ty: By height.

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