GMT Master II 116710, continued issues, is it me?

[TGRE]

I bought the watch new in 2009 from an AD. After 11-12 years it would stop overnight so I would charge it and continue wearing until a few months later it would do the same. It got to where I would charge it daily and wear it and the next morning it was stopped 3-4 hours prior.

It went to RSC via an AD in early 2022 and came back and was good until around 2 wks the same issue where it would be stopped at night. I'd charge it with 40 winds and the same issue after around 2-3 weeks. So the AD sent it back to RSC and it came back late summer.

Same issue after around 2 weeks. I had to ask myself if I was moving around enough to give it charge. I sit at a desk a lot and my schedule is random as some times I get called out into the field and then back to my desk. I even began wearninig it on dog walks and morning runs to see if that would help. It extended the life to around 2.5-3 wks.

Now AD is not so excited to see me and I understand they pay out of pocket for shipping is what they told me. Now they have had it on a winder set to 600 rotations in 24 hours. The 2 week mark has been today and they sent me this photo and said all is good. My issue is that its been on this winder non stop the last 14 days and so not really replicating my usage. This next week will be the tell tell time as this is typically when it stops.

AD said the 600 rotations is what would be considered normal wear and anything less is not normal. So my question is, could this be me and my lack of movement? Ive been at the same job since I bought this in 2009 and again for many years it ran like a champ and I never charged it just for the sake of charging it and wore it non stop daily. I have a panda and it does not have this issue, but my AD tells me it has a longer charge reserve.

Advice or opinions please. Thanks!

[Tools]

You are not active enough, or at least your wrist is not.

Every watch will run down to only the amount of wind that is put into it each day. Frequently, that residual wind is not enough to make it through the night, or, in some cases, it will stop on your wrist.

It takes around 600 winds/turns of the rotor inside just to keep it at a static state of wind. If movement equals less than that, it will slowly wind down.

The fix is to wind it once a week or so.

[Bxtek]

I don't know my movements very well, but IIRC, a 2009 is a 3186 with a 48 hour reserve? Would the correct test be to wind it 40 times and let it sit? It should last 48 hours? If it does, then the movement and mainspring are working perfectly? Is that what you're trying to determine.....whether the movement is all working as it's supposed to?

From what I understand, the automatic movement will never fully wind the mainspring from zero, but will only help "top off" power as the watch gets used during the day. So, without use it would definitely run on low power and stop overnight.

[ganagati]

Why not try winding it in the morning for a few weeks to see if that fixes it?

[TGRE]

Originally Posted by Tools

You are not active enough, or at least your wrist is not.

Every watch will run down to only the amount of wind that is put into it each day. Frequently, that residual wind is not enough to make it through the night, or, in some cases, it will stop on your wrist.

It takes around 600 winds/turns of the rotor inside just to keep it at a static state of wind. If movement equals less than that, it will slowly wind down.

The fix is to wind it once a week or so.

Ok this is helpful and must be the situation, but, what throws me is the last 2 weeks I went on long walks several times a week and 2 runs per week with he watch on and it seemed to hold the charge for a few more days but did eventually stop. Ive never had a Rolex that I had to wind as Maint. The only time I would wind was when I was changing the date due to a longer or shorter month. Thanks!

[TGRE]

Originally Posted by Bxtek

I don't know my movements very well, but IIRC, a 2009 is a 3186 with a 48 hour reserve? Would the correct test be to wind it 40 times and let it sit? It should last 48 hours? If it does, then the movement and mainspring are working perfectly? Is that what you're trying to determine.....whether the movement is all working as it's supposed to?

From what I understand, the automatic movement will never fully wind the mainspring from zero, but will only help "top off" power as the watch gets used during the day. So, without use it would definitely run on low power and stop overnight.

Good point. I thought it was a little less like 40-44 hour. Prior to sending back to RSC I did wind it 40 times and set it down and did not touch the watch. It stopped at just over 38 hours so short of the supposed reserve time. I did this as a test for myself. Since having it back I have not tried that again.

[TGRE]

Originally Posted by ganagati

Why not try winding it in the morning for a few weeks to see if that fixes it?

May have to try that. For now, it's at the AD on the winder getting 600 rotations per 24 hours. I'll leave it there another week or so and see if anything happens and then pick it up. Thanks!

[garyk]

Like Bob Marley says, “steer it up”…

[htc8p]

Some times you get watches that rotors are stiff and doesnt rotate easily. You have to swing arms more when walking or full wind every day.


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[TGRE]

Ok I'll take the above advice and be prepared that I'll need to wind this one up more than I had to in the first 10 years of ownership. I will also expect that next Monday will be the 3rd week on the 600 rotation winder and I'm sure my AD will send me yet another text with a photo letting me know it continues to keep great time and hence the issue is with the user and not the timepiece. Preparing now.... Thanks!