Running fast, what to do?

[NYC6]

Bought a new Sub ND COSC about a year and a half ago from an AD in NY. When I first got it checked the accuracy and it was a little under 2 seconds a day fast. Checked it again about a year after purchase and it was a little over 4 seconds a day fast. I just checked it and since the first of July its now running 7.8 seconds fast per day! What the heck? Im not to happy about it. What should I do?

[ttomczak]

If its still under warranty you can ask to have it regulated...

Mechanical
Average daily rate: -4/+6
Mean variation in rates: 2
Greatest variation in rates: 5
Difference between rates in H & V positions: -6/+8
Largest variation in rates: 10
Thermal variation: ± 0.6
Rate resumption: ± 5

[ninja5000]

My Sub was running 13-15 seconds fast. Took it to a RSC and they de-magnitized it for free and now it is off only 2-3 seconds a day.

[Chipmunk]

Take it back to your AD and have it regulated.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Bought a new Sub ND COSC about a year and a half ago from an AD in NY. When I first got it checked the accuracy and it was a little under 2 seconds a day fast. Checked it again about a year after purchase and it was a little over 4 seconds a day fast. I just checked it and since the first of July its now running 7.8 seconds fast per day! What the heck? Im not to happy about it. What should I do?

Myself would not worry about it have you tried giving your watch a full manual wind say 40 full crown turns clockwise.Then reset your watch with a reliable time source,wear as normal.Then check watch daily with same setting source for 5 days then average the loss or gain.Your watch is just over the COSC spec of a AVERAGE of -4 to +6 seconds a day.You could try different resting positions when off wrist at night,try vertical crown up might loose a few seconds overnight.If you must get it regulated its a very simple job if your AD has watchmaker it takes around 30 minutes.And a Swiss Chronometer certificate is only the fact that the bare un-cased movement has passed the COSC test at that particular time.And no guarantee that it will perform like that for ever.But brands like Rolex will do there best to keep there watches running within the testing spec.Even a changes in temperature or wearing habits, will have a effect on all mechanical watches to a small degree.

[NYC6]

I'll try the manual wind, I havent done that as I wear the watch every day and it gets alot of movement. Thought I read somewhere to slow a watch overnite with crown down? I'll try it crown up and test it after a week or so. As it is almost 2 seconds outside the upper window of specs and Im not happy that a relatively new expensive Rolex cant stay within parameters set forth by COSC. I bought the watch from Torneau(I know, I got a deal so I went there anyway). Do you think they can and will regulate on premisis? Thanks for all advice given.

[padi56]

Crown down to loose a second crown up to loose a bit more but it don't always work with the more modern movement.Dont be in a hurry to get the back off for 1 or 2 seconds as long as watch is consistant its still a very accurate watch.And all that might be needed is a bit of very very simple regulation.

[NYC6]

Do they need to take the back off for a simple regulation? I dont want to jeopardize the integrity of the watch but at least want it to be as accurate as possible. And gaining 8 seconds a day isnt acceptable to me for a $5K "new" Rolex watch.

[Watch Professor]

I have the same situation and I plan to get my Sub Date regulated. The watch was bought new from an AD (V serial) in March, 2010 and I purchased it pre-owned two weeks ago. It's +9 sec. fast / 24 hours. I have no idea if the original owner had it regulated, but I assume he didn't. Will bring it into NY RSC this week.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Do they need to take the back off for a simple regulation? I don't want to jeopardize the integrity of the watch but at least want it to be as accurate as possible. And gaining 8 seconds a day isnt acceptable to me for a $5K "new" Rolex watch.

Yes it will take longer to get the back off and re-pressure check, than to regulate the watch. But try what I posted first just cannot see any point of getting the back off for less than 2 seconds.And even 8 seconds fast is still 99.992% accurate.And even if they do regulate it to say 2 seconds a day don't necessarily mean it will perform the same on your wrist as the timing machine.

[Jocke]

Once a day pull out the crown to the 3rd position and count slowly to 8 before you put it back.

What is that honk?

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by padi56

Yes it will take longer to get the back off and re-pressure check, than to regulate the watch. But try what I posted first just cannot see any point of getting the back off for less than 2 seconds.And even 8 seconds fast is still 99.992% accurate.And even if they do regulate it to say 2 seconds a day don't necessarily mean it will perform the same on your wrist as the timing machine.

I'll try what you said. Thank you.
Bad at math but what % of accuracy would 5 minutes fast a day be? Well into the 90's as well but not accurate enough for most of us I would think. COSC is a guarantee (if you will) that this watch will meet these requirements. What % is 1.8 seconds outside that guarantee? Quite a bit. And a 1 year old Rolex should not be ?% outside the COSC window. Im just not to happy that the watch I wanted for years is not performing like I thought it would.
Thanks again.

[tgoose1]

Personally, I don't put up with any Rolex of mine that is several seconds or more fast/slow, 99.992% accuracy does not impress me. I have not had much luck trying to positionally regulate a 3135 movement as many here have discussed in the past. You have an option of dealing with the NY service center(RSC), or establishing a local relationship with the most qualified technician at the AD where you purchased. A good tech can usually take a Rolex in excellent mechanical condition and adjust to perform within a couple seconds while blindfolded. For a watch still under warranty, this operation should be free of charge. Good luck, get regulated!

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by tgoose1

Personally, I don't put up with any Rolex of mine that is several seconds or more fast/slow, 99.992% accuracy does not impress me. I have not had much luck trying to positionally regulate a 3135 movement as many here have discussed in the past. You have an option of dealing with the NY service center(RSC), or establishing a local relationship with the most qualified technician at the AD where you purchased. A good tech can usually take a Rolex in excellent mechanical condition and adjust to perform within a couple seconds while blindfolded. For a watch still under warranty, this operation should be free of charge. Good luck, get regulated!

I'll try what Padi said for a couple of weeks, if that doesnt get it slowing down I'll take it to my AD. If they cant do it or if I dont have confidence in them I'll take a drive into NYC. Its only about a 45 min drive for me. Appreciate the advice, thanks.

[TheVTCGuy]

My Daytona was REALLY bad, from the day I picked it up at the AD it was oscillatiing between 6, 8, sometimes 10 or more seconds A DAY fast. It was regulated at the AD about 20 times by a really good watchmaker, but nothing seemed to help. Finally, he sent it to the Dallas RSC for a (in-warranty) overhaul. The thing is amazing now!!!! For the last four months, since I've had it back, it is losing seven or eight seconds A MONTH! I know people say they don't like their Rolexes running slow at all, but between one and two seconds a WEEK is well within my personal limits, especially for an automatic movement. I think you'll have excellent results with the RSC.

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

My Daytona was REALLY bad, from the day I picked it up at the AD it was oscillatiing between 6, 8, sometimes 10 or more seconds A DAY fast. It was regulated at the AD about 20 times by a really good watchmaker, but nothing seemed to help. Finally, he sent it to the Dallas RSC for a (in-warranty) overhaul. The thing is amazing now!!!! For the last four months, since I've had it back, it is losing seven or eight seconds A MONTH! I know people say they don't like their Rolexes running slow at all, but between one and two seconds a WEEK is well within my personal limits, especially for an automatic movement. I think you'll have excellent results with the RSC.

20 times! Between you and me..... He wasnt that good!

Hope my AD has better luck than that. I gladly take 7-8 a month slow in exchange for 8 a day fast. Ideally, I'd love to see it at where it was when I got it. 1.8 sec ahead a day.

How long did you have your watch before to sent it in to RSC?

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by Watch Professor

I have the same situation and I plan to get my Sub Date regulated. The watch was bought new from an AD (V serial) in March, 2010 and I purchased it pre-owned two weeks ago. It's +9 sec. fast / 24 hours. I have no idea if the original owner had it regulated, but I assume he didn't. Will bring it into NY RSC this week.

Update after you bring it to them, please. thanks

[tgoose1]

Do some research and interview a few Rolex techs to find a good one in your area. Someone else's experiences will not be yours until you find someone who is truly interested in customer service and proving what they can do. Also, it's advisable to take a good tech to lunch once in a while!

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by NYC6

20 times! Between you and me..... He wasnt that good!

Hope my AD has better luck than that. I gladly take 7-8 a month slow in exchange for 8 a day fast. Ideally, I'd love to see it at where it was when I got it. 1.8 sec ahead a day.

How long did you have your watch before to sent it in to RSC?

Yeah, good point on the watchmaker, although there were two... it WAS in there a lot and it seemed to work for a while, but the longer I had it out of the shop the worst it got, then it would go back in again.

The watch was over a year old when they sent it to Dallas, still in waranty, and Dallas had it about a month. I had the report somewhere but they changed a lot of things, including the balance wheel if I'm not mistaken. Whatever they did, since it's back, I can not be more satisfied with the results, roughly losing two seconds a WEEK! That is well within my personal limits!

[Lion]

Dennis, you can do what you want but a watch that is still over 99.99 accurate is pretty darn good for a mechanical watch...listen to Padi!!!

[Atl]

Originally Posted by NYC6

I'll try what you said. Thank you.
Bad at math but what % of accuracy would 5 minutes fast a day be? Well into the 90's as well but not accurate enough for most of us I would think. COSC is a guarantee (if you will) that this watch will meet these requirements. What % is 1.8 seconds outside that guarantee? Quite a bit. And a 1 year old Rolex should not be ?% outside the COSC window. Im just not to happy that the watch I wanted for years is not performing like I thought it would.
Thanks again.

I did not tolerate it either, send it to a RSC and get it regulated! I prefer Dallas myself, but any of them can do this. Ask them for the free shipping package to be sent to you.

[Atl]

Originally Posted by padi56

Yes it will take longer to get the back off and re-pressure check, than to regulate the watch. But try what I posted first just cannot see any point of getting the back off for less than 2 seconds.And even 8 seconds fast is still 99.992% accurate.And even if they do regulate it to say 2 seconds a day don't necessarily mean it will perform the same on your wrist as the timing machine.

8 seconds? Come on, you can't be serious. 8 seconds slow or fast would drive me nuts! A $6,000.00 + watch should be better. Period.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Atl

8 seconds? Come on, you can't be serious. 8 seconds slow or fast would drive me nuts! A $6,000.00 + watch should be better. Period.

I agree.......my oldest Rolex in my collection is the SS/Pt. YM and that only gains 1~2 seconds per day - the others are dead on with no fluctuation while on the wrist!!

[tgoose1]

Would anyone participating in this thread allow a high-performance engine of any kind, only to run on "some" of its' cylinders? Rolex movements are high performance engines and occasionally need adjustment by competent hands. In fact, if NASA had only 99.992% accuracy, the Apollo mission would have missed the moon by a million miles in 1969! Get it regulated.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by tgoose1

In fact, if NASA had only 99.992% accuracy, the Apollo mission would have missed the moon by a million miles in 1969! Get it regulated.

Maybe that would have been a good thing................Neil Armstrong would have then been the first man to step on Mars!!

[tgoose1]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Maybe that would have been a good thing................Neil Armstrong would have then been the first man to step on Mars!!

They did not pack enough "Tang" and "Cheerios" for a Mars mission!

[NYC6]

Originally Posted by Lion

Dennis, you can do what you want but a watch that is still over 99.99 accurate is pretty darn good for a mechanical watch...listen to Padi!!!

Thanks for the advice but my Rolex says COSC right on the dial. Thats their promise right there in white ink. I demand at least that from the best watch Company in the World.

I spoke to my AD today. They said bring it in with the warranty card and they will ship it RSC NY(insured) and I will get it back in short order, free of charge. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by NYC6

Thanks for the advice but my Rolex says COSC right on the dial. Thats their promise right there in white ink. I demand at least that from the best watch Company in the World.

I spoke to my AD today. They said bring it in with the warranty card and they will ship it RSC NY(insured) and I will get it back in short order, free of charge. Thanks for all the suggestions.

All the COSC test is the fact that the bare uncased movements has passed the test at that particular time.But most brands like to keep there watches to spec but there is no 100% guarantee.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by tgoose1

Would anyone participating in this thread allow a high-performance engine of any kind, only to run on "some" of its' cylinders? Rolex movements are high performance engines and occasionally need adjustment by competent hands. In fact, if NASA had only 99.992% accuracy, the Apollo mission would have missed the moon by a million miles in 1969! Get it regulated.

I would doubt that very much fact in todays mobile phones there are CPUs far more powerful that the ones that were used to go to the moon.