Big timing differences on wrist vs off: normal?

[the dark knight]

Something I just noticed recently on my Sub. On the wrist, the watch gains quite a bit. I'd say almost a full second/hour. Off the wrist, dial up, it almost seems to lose about the same rate.

Over a day, I'm split almost even on wrist/off, since I don't wear it to sleep, randomly take it off during day. So over 24 hours, seems to come in at about +5sec, which is within COSC specs and totally ok with me.

Doesn't bother me personally, but wondering if this is any kind of indication of an issue that might need servicing?

[watchwatcher]

No...I've never noticed that much difference with any of my watches.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by the dark knight

Something I just noticed recently on my Sub. On the wrist, the watch gains quite a bit. I'd say almost a full second/hour. Off the wrist, dial up, it almost seems to lose about the same rate.

Over a day, I'm split almost even on wrist/off, since I don't wear it to sleep, randomly take it off during day. So over 24 hours, seems to come in at about +5sec, which is within COSC specs and totally ok with me.

Doesn't bother me personally, but wondering if this is any kind of indication of an issue that might need servicing?

Afraid the only issue might be with yourself over thinking about your watch.Gravity affects mechanical watches the most thats why they are tested in 5 different positions.And in those different positions there will be slight deviations in the timekeeping.Remember this the escapement of a mechanical watch in 24 hours pushes the gears 432,000 times plus there are 86400 seconds in a day.On the wrist movement is constantly affected by the earth's gravity, metal expansion and contraction, temperature variations, subtle changes in lubrication and friction, shocks,mainspring power-reserve and so on.The fact is that no mechanical watch made will keep 100% perfect time, very close yes but perfect no.Have you ever given your watch a full manual wind say 40 full crown turn clock wise.?Because when wearing with low activity you are not winding your watch enough that could have a effect on overall timekeeping with the main-spring power-reserve.

[the dark knight]

Yep, seems like problem was power reserve. I had done the last test right before the watch stopped, and the timekeeping was getting super wonky.

I gave it a full wind, and after that it was pretty bang-on over 24 hours, gaining only about 2 seconds and very stable on or off wrist it seems.

EDIT: I had not really paid attention to the timekeeping until I noticed it gaining 1 sec/hour on the wrist, as even then overall it was only gaining maybe 5 secs/day so there was really no reason for me to think anything was off. I think the issue is I'm not active enough to keep the watch at full power, so I might need to give it a manual wind every couple of days. I'm very impressed it's only gaining 2 sec/24 hours with full power, considering I have not serviced it yet after almost 10 years of ownership. Think I'll try different positions off the wrist and see if I can get it to 0 sec/24 hours, haha.