Too fast?

[Billywiz]

I know its a common ask but pkease indulge me...my GMT is running 15 seconds a day fast.
Should I be concerned?
Should I service it because of this?
Thanks everyone!

[kilyung]

If you're sure about the rate, get it regulated or checked out. That's too fast.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Billywiz

I know its a common ask but pkease indulge me...my GMT is running 15 seconds a day fast.
Should I be concerned?
Should I service it because of this?
Thanks everyone!

Well that depends on your testing method and on the state of the power reserve in the mainspring when time checked.How old is the watch in question have you ever given your watch a full manual wind.Now fully wind your watch first 40 full crown turns clockwise.Then sync your watch with a reliable time source for this test a quartz watch will do.Now wear your watch for around 8-10 hours a day,check time once a day with the setting source write it down daily over 5 full days.The average out the loss or gain over the 5 days for a accurate result.Then after test if watch is out of the COSC spec a AVERAGE of between -4 to +6 seconds over any 24 hour period get it regulated.Now regulation is a very simple task takes around 20-30 minutes start to finish,but if watch goes back to the RSC expect 4 weeks before you get watch back.

[Mystro]

If it were my watch and I properly tested it, I couldn't live with that. Honestly anything over 4 seconds a day would bother me. COSC is a pretty easy standard to meet. I can cut that in half with non COSC certified automatics. Would you be happy if your $150k Ferrari couldn't go faster than 100mph??

[Annan]

Was your watch previously running within specs and this gain just started? If so, there might be something going on that requires more than a regulation. Personally I would follow Padi's advice first because he is spot on. My DJ was consistently +6/day (consistency is good) but it still bothered me. A simple and very quick regulation brought it to +1/day and I couldn't be happier.

[Lion]

This question should probably become a "Sticky" since it is asked so often...this way it would be there for everyone to see and newer members would not have to ask this same question.....

There can be many reasons why a watch goes out of regulation with one of them being subjected to and becoming magnetized...but this would make your watch very erratic!!!

As for accuracy, there are 86,400 seconds in a day so if your watch is 4 seconds fast or 15 seconds fast it is still more than 99.9% accurate.....pretty good time keeping in my opinion. But if you want perfection buy a watch which sets itself to the Atomic Clock on a daily basis or if you need to every hour or so!!!

Take it easy and good luck.....Leo

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Billywiz

I know its a common ask but pkease indulge me...my GMT is running 15 seconds a day fast.
Should I be concerned?
Should I service it because of this?
Thanks everyone!

No need to panic.. Test properly as above. Once you have a good handle on it's true variance have it regulated.

If it's more than 5 years old then a service may be in order - that will give it a new lease on life.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by Tools

No need to panic.. Test properly as above. Once you have a good handle on it's true variance have it regulated.

If it's more than 5 years old then a service may be in order - that will give it a new lease on life.

This... good answer.

[77T]

You can take it to your watchmaker and have the rate and amplitude measured. If it shows excessive rate, s/he can regulate it.

Or you can try a couple of tricks Rolex suggests...

[chaisson]

My 1 1/2 year old Sub, 10 seconds fast per day, I just sent it in for service, I didn't spend Rolex money for a watch that doesn't meet the spec I paid for....really

[kieselguhr]

Originally Posted by 77T

You can take it to your watchmaker and have the rate and amplitude measured. If it shows excessive rate, s/he can regulate it.

Or you can try a couple of tricks Rolex suggests...

Winding button = crown?

[Andad]

Thats the one.

[travisb]

Follpw the above instructions.
If it's consistently staying around 15 seconds / day, I'd take it in for regulation.
An easy issue to resolve.

[PunkJr]

As stated above, test it yourself, and if you are still not happy, then your watch maker can adjust it back into spec, or regulate if necessary - two different things really.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by travisb

Follpw the above instructions.
If it's consistently staying around 15 seconds / day, I'd take it in for regulation.
An easy issue to resolve.

And that's the most important thing with any mechanical watch consistency even if a watch is 15 seconds fast or slow its still a very very accurate watch and all is needed is simple regulation.Today regulation is a very very simple task for any good watchmaker,its accomplished by turning the Microstella adjustment screws and nuts.The two smaller Microstella screws make adjustments of one second for each turn on the dial of the Microstella tool, and the larger Microstella, two seconds for one tool turn When making adjustments always turn the microstella nuts equally opposite each other to keep the balance wheel in balance. .But rate adjustment on the balance wheel its around a max of around 150 seconds either way.And you need a microstella special tool and a timing machine although its quite a easy job if not skilled best left to the professionals.