J serial Diver runs fast on wrist, is it normal?

[fonglik]

Hi all,

I'm new to AP and just got my 15710 Diver recently.

I've tested it for few days and found that if I let it rest on the table with the crown down position, its accuracy is almost spot on; once I put it on my wrist, it ran fast and gained about 1 second every two hours.

My question is, is it normal for the calibre 3120? Does it sound like a re-banking issue?

Many thanks
Li

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by fonglik

Hi all,

I'm new to AP and just got my 15710 Diver recently.

I've tested it for few days and found that if I let it rest on the table with the crown down position, its accuracy is almost spot on; once I put it on my wrist, it ran fast and gained about 1 second every two hours.

My question is, is it normal for the calibre 3120? Does it sound like a re-banking issue?

Many thanks
Li

in my experience, yes they seem to run fast when you first get them. I have a 15400 which also uses a 3120 and it ran fast for a few months it seemed like, but now its spot on. I recently acquired a New Diver as well and it ran fast +11 right off the bat but settled down to +2 after about 2 weeks.

You can't test accuracy based on how it is running after a two hour period though. You need to note the time after at least a 24 hour period and track it that way for a period of several days in order to know how fast or slow it is running.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

in my experience, yes they seem to run fast when you first get them. I have a 15400 which also uses a 3120 and it ran fast for a few months it seemed like, but now its spot on. I recently acquired a New Diver as well and it ran fast +11 right off the bat but settled down to +2 after about 2 weeks.

You can't test accuracy based on how it is running after a two hour period though. You need to note the time after at least a 24 hour period and track it that way for a period of several days in order to know how fast or slow it is running.

Hi Tyler first of all thank you very much for your prompt reply, much appreciated!

Secondly, you read my mind, I just wanted to ask about whether there's break-in period of this calibre and according to your experiences it seems it has. I'll try to overcome my OCD and enjoy wearing this gorgeous piece for longer time to see how it performs after a period of time.

Finally I would like to say the Diver is absolutely stunning when you see it in person, hope its reliability can match its value as well.

P.s. Apologize for my poor English.

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

You can't test accuracy based on how it is running after a two hour period though.

Indeed, but then again you shouldn’t be able to see a 1 second increase every couple of hours.

Aside from any likelihood of being magnetised, I’d give it a good 2 weeks for all the components to bed in, although it shouldn’t be necessary.
At that point, rest the watch overnight in different positions (crown up, dial up, dial down, crown down, 6 high, 12 high) and note the variance.
Make sure the movement is fully wound when you take it off.
From that, you can determine if one position will negate the gain whilst worn, to give an acceptable net rate or whether you’ll need to visit/send the watch to the regional APSC for tighter regulation.

[MichaelFlash]

Runs fast. When I had my diver I had to send it in, ran fine afterwards but was never my most accurate movement for sure.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by PJ S

Indeed, but then again you shouldn’t be able to see a 1 second increase every couple of hours.

Thanks for your reply and suggestion mate.

My further question is, why shouldn’t be able to see a 1 second increase every couple of hours? Assuming the watch(on wrist all the time) gains 12 seconds per day which is within the range of what AP advises, it means it gains 1 second every 2 hours averagely, doesn't it?

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by MichaelFlash

Runs fast. When I had my diver I had to send it in, ran fine afterwards but was never my most accurate movement for sure.

How fast exactly? By my first few days experiences, I worn it few hours and let it rest in the case crown down, it was like +6s per day, averagely.

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by fonglik

Thanks for your reply and suggestion mate.

My further question is, why shouldn’t be able to see a 1 second increase every couple of hours? Assuming the watch(on wrist all the time) gains 12 seconds per day which is within the range of what AP advises, it means it gains 1 second every 2 hours averagely, doesn't it?

Actually, the specs for the 3120 is -2/+10, but my point was that rate variation isn’t linear, since your arm won’t be in the same position the whole time.
Nonetheless, quite worrying about it for the meantime, then as I’ve suggested, record the divergence once a reasonable amount of time has passed having allowed for the components and oils to settle down.

[eal15]

I was told this "Please note that the tolerance for this timepiece is up to +12 seconds. " from AP. Long story, my 15710 ran about -5 per day and then one day I noticed it was +8. I sent it in. Turns out the change was due to it getting magnetized. They also did the b1 service and regulated the watch to my suggested +2 - -1. The watch came back within that standard and on when I test it via wearing it all day and then on s wonder at night it's perfect each time.


Thanks,
Everett
AP 15710 Diver
Sent from my iPhone

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by PJ S

Actually, the specs for the 3120 is -2/+10, but my point was that rate variation isn’t linear, since your arm won’t be in the same position the whole time.
Nonetheless, quite worrying about it for the meantime, then as I’ve suggested, record the divergence once a reasonable amount of time has passed having allowed for the components and oils to settle down.

Thanks Sir for your replies, I'll certainly give it time to break-in and to see how it performs after at least weeks.

From my short period of time of observation, it seems like when the watch sat still (no winding action) its accuracy was spot on; when it's on wrist (rotor winding constantly) regardless of my arm's position, it gained about 1 sec every two hours (almost the same for every time I tested it). It leads me to think if it's something wrong with the winding mechanism causing the calibre runs fast.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by eal15

I was told this "Please note that the tolerance for this timepiece is up to +12 seconds. " from AP. Long story, my 15710 ran about -5 per day and then one day I noticed it was +8. I sent it in. Turns out the change was due to it getting magnetized. They also did the b1 service and regulated the watch to my suggested +2 - -1. The watch came back within that standard and on when I test it via wearing it all day and then on s wonder at night it's perfect each time.


Thanks,
Everett
AP 15710 Diver
Sent from my iPhone

Thanks for sharing your experience.

My diver isn't acting like yours before de-magnetizing and regulating, it's either spot on or running fast on wrist so I think it shouldn't be magnetized.

Anyway, nice to know APSC has done a good job on yours and it's performing great. I'm just not sure I'll be willing to leave it to APSC for more than a month after just owning it for a week ;(

[eal15]

I would suggest testing it while on a rotor. I'm a little obsessive about a reasonable rate of accuracy. They test the watch to five positions. It should be relatively accurate in all but theoretically it can vary wildly and still maintain a decent overall rate. So take that out of the occasion and test it in constant motion. Put it on a wonder half left rotation and half right rotation.


Thanks,
Everett
AP 15710 Diver
Sent from my iPhone

[ec00421]

My 15400 used to gain a bit as well.

Took it to APSC for adjustment, and it runs very very accurate now.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by ejsc421

My 15400 used to gain a bit as well.

Took it to APSC for adjustment, and it runs very very accurate now.

Did you take it to APSC solely for the regulation or along with the service? And how long did it take? Many thanks.

[eal15]

I was able. To take send it due to the accuracy but I didn't want to be without the watch. After the magnetism I sent it in and they took care of both with 3 weeks.


Thanks,
Everett
AP 15710 Diver
Sent from my iPhone

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by eal15

I was able. To take send it due to the accuracy but I didn't want to be without the watch. After the magnetism I sent it in and they took care of both with 3 weeks.


Thanks,
Everett
AP 15710 Diver
Sent from my iPhone

3 weeks were quite acceptable and efficient

[ec00421]

Originally Posted by fonglik

Did you take it to APSC solely for the regulation or along with the service? And how long did it take? Many thanks.

Yes, it was just for the regulation.

It took me around 2 weeks I think.

The adjustment itself should be a fast job, provided there is no major problem with parts (worn out etc), but they take some time to actually test the watch afterwards, which generally takes 2-3 weeks.

The service was completely free

[exxondus]

Wow i dint know the crystal and cyclops were that reflective on the diver!

[Royalex]

My 15400 gains 8 sec per day.

[speedmaster73]

Originally Posted by Royalex

My 15400 gains 8 sec per day.

my AP diver picked up just before christmas has been running +5 per day...

[uri40]

my new AP diver and I series is running 15+ seconds a day. :-( should I send it in?

[PJ S]

^
How new is it?
Read posts number 4 & 8 again.

[fonglik]

The accuracy aside, I just found out my diver's power reserve is actually more than 60 hrs.

I fully wound it at the 9th 00:00, it stopped at the 11th 19:00. 67hours PR, that's pretty impressive!

What's yours actual PR?

[uri40]

Its 3 weeks since I purchased it.

[smeowly]

believe me you'd rather have a watch that runs a few seconds faster or slower than one that keeps stopping, insufficient power reserve and stuck date wheel like mine!

[PJ S]

Originally Posted by uri40

Its 3 weeks since I purchased it.

Okay, but have you been wearing it for 3 weeks solid, or has it had maybe 6-7 days of use, including running down and stopping?
If it’s been running for 3 weeks constantly, then yes, you should contact APSC with a request to adjust the regulation to something much tighter and befitting of a watch costing as much.

In my book, they should not be leaving the factory as loose as +10 secs/day – that’s just laziness and profit maximising in the extreme.
If Seiko can meet a -3/+5 spec on a $5K regular and hi-beat Grand Seiko, then you really have to question just what does AP do to justify their price tag?

[uri40]

I had it for 3 weeks, with only 2 days of no use. I take it off only for showering.

[PJ S]

^
Well then, you now know what needs to be done.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by uri40

I had it for 3 weeks, with only 2 days of no use. I take it off only for showering.

Let's do a test shall we?

Try to take it off and rest it Crown Down position when you're at home or when you sleep, then to see how many seconds it will gain per day, averagely.

Mine runs fast when it's worn and runs almost spot on when it's not.

[fonglik]

Originally Posted by Royalex

My 15400 gains 8 sec per day.

Thanks for sharing. Are you ok with that or it will be taken to APSC for regulation?