What's the acceptable timekeeping rule for an older 5 digit reference?

[LPan]

I have a 2002 SD 16600 and it is going fast by over 10 seconds a day. Is that acceptable for a 16yr old Rolex??

[MJ8]

Seems to be outside of range to be honest. I have a 2006, 14000M, Rolex Air King which is +2-+3 seconds per day.

[joli160]

Would not bother me at all

[padi56]

Originally Posted by LPan

I have a 2002 SD 16600 and it is going fast by over 10 seconds a day. Is that acceptable for a 16yr old Rolex??

Depends on how and what your testing method was.

[juktagt]

I haven’t got round to checking mine, but it’s on my to do very soon! I’ll report back.

[LPan]

Originally Posted by padi56

Depends on how and what your testing method was.

Its just something I noticed whilst wearing it the last few days. I would have thought irrespective of age, as long as its been serviced it should be within just a few seconds each day?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by LPan

Its just something I noticed whilst wearing it the last few days. I would have thought irrespective of age, as long as its been serviced it should be within just a few seconds each day?

Remember this the escapement of a mechanical watch in 24 hours pushes the gears 432,000 times. Since a day has 86,400 seconds, even a watch that runs five minutes fast or slow each day has an accuracy of over 99.6 percent! A finer mechanical watch that gains or loses about six to nine seconds a day or about a minute a week has a breathtaking precision of over 99.99 per cent. This is very high precision, given the fact that the movement is constantly affected by the earth's gravity, metal expansion and contraction, temperature variations,mainspring power-reserve subtle changes in lubrication and friction, shocks, and so on.The fact is that no mechanical watch made will keep perfect time, very close yes but perfect no.The COSC spec is a average of -4 to +6 over 24 hours..So most Rolex are 99.994% accurate what more could anyone ask from a mechanical watch.Have you ever given your watch a full manual wind say 40 full crown turn clock wise.?

The correct way to check any watch for accuracy first give your watch a full manual wind thats 40 full crown turns clockwise only.Then set your watch with a reliable time source for this test any quartz watch/clock will do thats accurate enough.Wear your watch for 8 hours plus a day with reasonable wrist activity to wind it and keep power reserve at peak, check time once only every 24 hours with same setting source, write down the lose or gain do this for 7 complete days.Then average out the lose or gain over those 7 days for a accurate result.If watch is then showing poor accuracy over the COSC spec get it regulated .

[037]

My 1984 3085 movement is currently doing +2 per day.

Age is irrelevant. Condition and regulation are what matters.

If your 16600 hasn't been serviced in 16 years then it's certainly time. Running +10 per day says it needs it.

[Timhierie]

Nice! Thanks for the tips, fellas! Will take note of those.

[LPan]

Yep its going in for a service next week to check everything over. Thanks

[sensui]

Assuming it's running strong and regulated, COSC IMO.

[04jtb]

For what it’s worth my 1986 sub keeps better time than that but fluctuates slightly

[R!$]

Originally Posted by joli160

Would not bother me at all

[mikkoi]

Originally Posted by padi56

Remember this the escapement of a mechanical watch in 24 hours pushes the gears 432,000 times. Since a day has 86,400 seconds, even a watch that runs five minutes fast or slow each day has an accuracy of over 99.6 percent! A finer mechanical watch that gains or loses about six to nine seconds a day or about a minute a week has a breathtaking precision of over 99.99 per cent. This is very high precision, given the fact that the movement is constantly affected by the earth's gravity, metal expansion and contraction, temperature variations,mainspring power-reserve subtle changes in lubrication and friction, shocks, and so on.The fact is that no mechanical watch made will keep perfect time, very close yes but perfect no.The COSC spec is a average of -4 to +6 over 24 hours..So most Rolex are 99.994% accurate what more could anyone ask from a mechanical watch.Have you ever given your watch a full manual wind say 40 full crown turn clock wise.?



The correct way to check any watch for accuracy first give your watch a full manual wind thats 40 full crown turns clockwise only.Then set your watch with a reliable time source for this test any quartz watch/clock will do thats accurate enough.Wear your watch for 8 hours plus a day with reasonable wrist activity to wind it and keep power reserve at peak, check time once only every 24 hours with same setting source, write down the lose or gain do this for 7 complete days.Then average out the lose or gain over those 7 days for a accurate result.If watch is then showing poor accuracy over the COSC spec get it regulated .

This was great! Thanks


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