If you let your Rolex sit after wearing it....will the time slow or speed up?

[Kawirider]

Hi. My 1987 Rolex Datejust was just recently serviced by an independent watchmaker. The main spring was supposedly replaced as well. The watchmaker at the time said it’s going to keep perfect time. Well fast forward a few months to now, and it looks to be gaining like 30 seconds after I set it down for the night. I set it Saturday morning to near perfect to the iPhone clock. I wore it for half the day, and every time I looked at it the seconds were still dead on. So I set it down for the night. (No winder) and I just grabbed it now and it seems the seconds are off by roughly 30 seconds. Im an electrician so I don’t get to wear my watch much. Only weekends if I’m lucky. Am I screwing up my watch by wearing it and than letting it die for the week with no winder? It’s just weird how it stays dead on until I let it sit.


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[schoolboy]

I don’t think letting it wind down will mess it up.

I don’t have an answer for why it gains so much by itself vs when you’re wearing it though, that used to happen to a Seiko if mine and I could never figure out why.

[Saaci]

A balance spring will vary in timing based on the position it rests in. When your watchmaker regulates the balance he regulates it based on 6 positions... which is to say the goal is for it to keep excellent time on the wrist (when the position varies frequently). If left on the nightstand in one position the timing may not be as accurate.

Try changing the position you let it rest in. If you leave it face up, try crown up. If crown up then try crown down. You’ll find one that keeps it more accurate even as the mainspring winds down.


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[Kawirider]

I am mistaken. I believe it’s running slow. At the time of this posting I re adjust the time and wound it. Right now I’m looking and it’s already almost 1-2 seconds slow. And it’s been only about 2 hours


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[Rolexlover123]

Was the independent watchmaker that serviced your watch qualified? I hear that Rolexes are easy to service and isn't a big deal in that you don't need a RSC experienced technician. But I also hear that RSC have a dust free work zone versus the independent watch maker who may not be able to clean his work area daily. Any dust particles that made their way inside the watch may have an impact with performance?

[Kawirider]

Originally Posted by Rolexlover123

Was the independent watchmaker that serviced your watch qualified? I hear that Rolexes are easy to service and isn't a big deal in that you don't need a RSC experienced technician. But I also hear that RSC have a dust free work zone versus the independent watch maker who may not be able to clean his work area daily. Any dust particles that made their way inside the watch may have an impact with performance?

Apparently he “worked” for Rolex in the past. He’s an independent. I’m not sure if that makes him qualified or not. For future reference, what makes an independent watchmaker qualified in Rolex? I would imagine numerous watchmakers say they work on Rolex but that doesn’t mean much. And my watchmaker has very good reviews on the Internet. But I can tell you right now that his work station was not dust free lol. He had a lot going on at his station. Tons of watch parts everywhere etc


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[Kawirider]

I reset my watch when I posted this thread yesterday. Wore it the remainder of the evening, set it down for the night, returned from work at around 2 and I noticed this time around it was perfect. 1-2 secs slow is all. So now I’m lost.


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[csaltphoto]

If it was properly regulated it never should have left the shop with that positional variance. Just out of curiosity, where are you setting it down? Is it near something that could be affecting it? (Like a clock radio or something magnetic)

[Kawirider]

Originally Posted by csaltphoto

If it was properly regulated it never should have left the shop with that positional variance. Just out of curiosity, where are you setting it down? Is it near something that could be affecting it? (Like a clock radio or something magnetic)

I have a watch box sitting with on my dresser. There is electronics such as a PS4 and Nintendo gaming consoles right next to it. I’m not sure if that’s something that can mess with magnetizing the watch.


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[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by Kawirider

I have a watch box sitting with on my dresser. There is electronics such as a PS4 and Nintendo gaming consoles right next to it. I’m not sure if that’s something that can mess with magnetizing the watch.


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If you have an iPhone download an app called Tesla Meter. I will allow you to measure EMF with your phone. Or as an electrician you might already have a Gauss meter.

And electronics might not be magnetizing the watch so much as "pulling" on something and causing the poor timekeeping when kept there.