Does your watch date flip over exactly at midnight?

[dchernikoff]

On New Years Eve a few days ago -- my first one where I owned a Rolex -- I was excitedly watching my GMT II as the hour of midnight approached. Expecting to see the number flip from 31 to 1 right as the clock struck midnight and everyone else was kissing their significant other. But NO! It didn't flip! in fact it didn't flip to 1 until like 10 minutes past midnight. I was SO upset -- even more upset than my wife who was mad that I was staring at my watch instead of kissing her at midnight.

So is this normal? It's a K-series GMT II that I bought from a seller on here a few months ago, and it's in perfect condition. Right after I bought it I took it in to get regulated by the local Rolex service center since it was about 15 seconds/day fast, and they said it looked fine and didn't need any work done other than the regulating.

I don't think I'm going to do anything about it, but I'm just curious if this means if it's not set up properly. Or if this kind of variation not uncommon?

Thanks for any info!

-Dan

[DIVER4USN]

Dan, some experts will soon chime in. I will say that my SD4000 switches over at +:02.

I think your within acceptable range, but standby for the pros!

[c.capt]

Variation is common.

Out of my 30+ watches, only one or two flip over between 12:00AM and 12:01AM and even then, not exactly at 12:00:00AM.

It could be worse though, a lot of my Omegas slowly roll over between 11:00PM and 2:00AM. Not that I really need to know the date usually at those hours, but a jump date is nice to have.

[Sublover2166]

My Hulk which I bought brand new last April does not flip date until 6 minutes past midnight. So obviously there are variations among watches with this.

[Invictus Maneo]

My 16610 flips over at about :06 past midnight. Always has, always will!

[Frosty]

I would not worry about it!

[Alcan]

My Sub switches over at about 40 seconds past noon.

[dchernikoff]

Thanks for the reassurances, everyone! I guess I thought with the COSC accuracy claims (mine is now gaining 1.4 s/day ) that it would click over EXACTLY at midnight. But as c.capt says, knowing the date at those hours of the morning is not exactly a high priority for me!

-Dan

[rmfnla]

This come up regularly; yes, it's normal...

[Andad]

When setting the hands a watchmaker would advance the movement until the date snapped over then set the hands to midnight.

The accuracy of this excercise would depend on whether the watchmaker had been celebrating New Year or not.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by dchernikoff

Thanks for the reassurances, everyone! I guess I thought with the COSC accuracy claims (mine is now gaining 1.4 s/day ) that it would click over EXACTLY at midnight. But as c.capt says, knowing the date at those hours of the morning is not exactly a high priority for me!

-Dan

The hands on the dial have little to do with what's going on inside except as a visual reference for time...

A mechanical watch will never click over at exactly midnight except by rare chance.. Most mechanical movements take 3 or 4 hours to change...

As mentioned, the watchmaker manually applies the hands to a finished watch movement as the last thing he does; they can get close, but a couple minutes either way is all you can hope for..

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by Tools

The hands on the dial have little to do with what's going on inside except as a visual reference for time...

A mechanical watch will never click over at exactly midnight except by rare chance.. Most mechanical movements take 3 or 4 hours to change...

As mentioned, the watchmaker manually applies the hands to a finished watch movement as the last thing he does; they can get close, but a couple minutes either way is all you can hope for..

Yeah that's what I figured. It's just kind of ironic that Rolex brags about how the numbers flip over "in milliseconds" according to their marketing blurbs, but yet this instantaneous flipover isn't guaranteed to happen anytime near midnight! Kind of negates the point of that feature.

-Dan

[rmfnla]

All I care about is it has changed by morning and that I wake up to see it...

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by dchernikoff

On New Years Eve a few days ago -- my first one where I owned a Rolex -- I was excitedly watching my GMT II as the hour of midnight approached. Expecting to see the number flip from 31 to 1 right as the clock struck midnight and everyone else was kissing their significant other. But NO! It didn't flip! in fact it didn't flip to 1 until like 10 minutes past midnight. I was SO upset -- even more upset than my wife who was mad that I was staring at my watch instead of kissing her at midnight.
So is this normal? It's a K-series GMT II that I bought from a seller on here a few months ago, and it's in perfect condition. Right after I bought it I took it in to get regulated by the local Rolex service center since it was about 15 seconds/day fast, and they said it looked fine and didn't need any work done other than the regulating.

I don't think I'm going to do anything about it, but I'm just curious if this means if it's not set up properly. Or if this kind of variation not uncommon?

Thanks for any info!

-Dan

Normal for a WIS...

[THC]

My day date is frightening accurate in switching both the day and the date.. I rarely stay up till midnight but about every 2 months is do and I sit there in my bed like a goof and wait... Sure enough, they both change in one click right at midnight

[Josh36912]

I had the same disappointment with a few vintage Rolexs.
Although they were nothing compared to a very old Ulysses I had which started turning at 22:00 and finished at 02:00!

[ralpie]

You should have just kissed her!

[dchernikoff]

Originally Posted by ralpie

You should have just kissed her!

Yes, in hindsight I think that's the correct answer!

-Dan

[IT Nerd]

My date snaps over at 2m34s past midnight on my 216570.

[ctang]

Sorry to thread jack but I figure I have an audience of all those paying attention to date changes so it’s the right people.

A Rolex boutique manager told me that with their modern movements there is no longer the worry about adjusting the date while the time is near midnight. I had never heard this before. Does anyone here know whether this claim is true or not?

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by ctang

Sorry to thread jack but I figure I have an audience of all those paying attention to date changes so it’s the right people.

A Rolex boutique manager told me that with their modern movements there is no longer the worry about adjusting the date while the time is near midnight. I had never heard this before. Does anyone here know whether this claim is true or not?

Yes.
This is true for your typical modern Rolex movement with a Quick set date mechanism which has been around for many many years now.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by ctang

Sorry to thread jack but I figure I have an audience of all those paying attention to date changes so it’s the right people.

A Rolex boutique manager told me that with their modern movements there is no longer the worry about adjusting the date while the time is near midnight. I had never heard this before. Does anyone here know whether this claim is true or not?

True on all modern Rolex made in the 30 years no problem as they use cam slide date change system.

[brandrea]

Im too old to be up at that hour.

[ctang]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Im too old to be up at that hour.

The PR ran out just before midnight the last time I wore it. I was a dummy for not adjusting the time first and did the date, and only realized just after going to set the time that it was around midnight when I set the date. First time ever doing this mistake! Seems to be totally fine though.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by ctang

The PR ran out just before midnight the last time I wore it. I was a dummy for not adjusting the time first and did the date, and only realized just after going to set the time that it was around midnight when I set the date. First time ever doing this mistake! Seems to be totally fine though.

Glad you got it sorted

I’m in the habit of winding and setting my watches when I wake up.

I like to do this with a coffee and while I’m reading … often it’s this very forum. Creature of habit I guess


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[Rolex1982]

Mine switches aprox 10 past midnight. Never bothered me.

[Dan Pierce]

Yes it does but I'll be damned if I can catch it w/ a camera.
dP

[Aviela.W]

Never thought to check the accuracy of the switch...lol.

[nissath]

My antique DJ is fair close never paid exact attention

[painexpert]

Originally Posted by dchernikoff

On New Years Eve a few days ago -- my first one where I owned a Rolex -- I was excitedly watching my GMT II as the hour of midnight approached. Expecting to see the number flip from 31 to 1 right as the clock struck midnight and everyone else was kissing their significant other. But NO! It didn't flip! in fact it didn't flip to 1 until like 10 minutes past midnight. I was SO upset -- even more upset than my wife who was mad that I was staring at my watch instead of kissing her at midnight.

So is this normal? It's a K-series GMT II that I bought from a seller on here a few months ago, and it's in perfect condition. Right after I bought it I took it in to get regulated by the local Rolex service center since it was about 15 seconds/day fast, and they said it looked fine and didn't need any work done other than the regulating.

I don't think I'm going to do anything about it, but I'm just curious if this means if it's not set up properly. Or if this kind of variation not uncommon?

Thanks for any info!

-Dan

This is normal. My Rolex watches turn the date around 6-8 minutes after 12 midnight. If you wind the watch by hand then the date should switch over immediately at midnight.