New rolex running VERY fast

[ted maran]

Hello all,

I am writing in response to the post by bmendick1 regarding his new Sub running 10 seconds fast per day. I know it's probably way past a time when my 2 cents will matter, but maybe it will help someone who stumbles across it in the future.

In 1958, my grandfather (A merchant marine captain) bought a Rolex. A plain, simple Oyster Perpetual. For the following 35 years he sent it back to Rolex, in Switzerland, for cleaning, lubrication, etc. EVERY 4 years. T was supposed to go to me on his passing, but it was stolen before he passed away. For 35 years, that watch ran 4 minutes a week fast. That's a bit over 34 seconds a day. He told me that it was fine, as long as it ran exactly the same amount fast every day (that way you could just take the error into account when doing navigation calculations). The watch was magnificent.

Today, I really can't afford a Rolex. I have an Omega Seamaster Professional Quartz. (A 20th anniversary gift from my wife.) That watch is 8 years old now, and still keeps within 2 seconds per month.

Recently, I saw an Invicta Pro Diver 8928 OB (a close copy of the Submariner, with gold trim and a blue dial and bezel.) Despite Invicta's spotty reputation, this watch has one of the rather new Seiko movements (the NH35a), and looks absolutely great! With great trepidation, I bought it. (It is a very inexpensive watch.)

I set it to the Official US Time web site, and I am stunned to tell you that this cheap watch (automatic, not the quartz model) has been keeping to within 4 seconds a week fast.

So, to all you folks who own Rolex watches that run 10 seconds or more fast per day, I have a question for you......Wanna trade?

If you really think that split second accuracy is that important, I'll send you my cheap Invicta, and you can send me your Rolex. Any takers?