Watch running fast when worn

[dpkong]

What causes a 3126/3840 movement to run faster when worn?

From my timing, I found that my ROO gained 94s when worn between 9am till 6.45pm. When left off the wrist, it gained about 14s between 6.45pm to 9am the next morning.

Is this the 'rebanking' issue that some have spoken about? Is it a simple case of minor adjustment needed or is a major service required?

The watch is about 1.5 years old and still under warranty but the nearest APSC is Singapore.

Thanks all!

[texex91]

Try keeping it on until 7pm. Ok just kidding--6:45, that's pretty specific .

However, yes I would just have it looked at and get your 3rd year warranty at the same time.

[diver2012]

Send it back in - that's not normal.

[theseire]

it may take 8 weeks after you send it in to get it back, sigh...

[kilyung]

Send it in. It's not operating properly.

[TSW]

It clearly need some adjusting.

[Watchguy69]

I've compared 5 APs recently:

ROO 42mm Navy
ROO 44mm FC Chrono
ROO 44mm Ti Schumi
ROO 42mm FC Diver
RO 39mm 15202

All were purchased new. All watches were kept in watch winders, using the optimum settings found on the Internet.

A few days after setting the correct time, the FC Chrono, Navy, and Diver run fast. However, the Schumi does not, which is surprising since I thought it uses the same movement as the FC Chrono. The 15202 also keeps accurate time, not a surprise given its different movement.

This tendency to run fast seems common with AP ROO new out of the box, as I've also read in several posts. It also seems easily remedied if you're fortunate to live close to an AP dealer. But at this price range, I'm a bit disappointed by their accuracy even when new. In comparison, watches from Rolex, Patek, and Panerai run more accurately out of the box.

Anyone else have the same experience?

[singe89]

After wearing my diver on my honeymoon daily for 3 weeks I noticed it was gaining 30 to 45 seconds per day. I decided to do some testing....

1st Test -I wound the diver every morning (6am)for a period of 5 days but did not wear it. After 5 days it was spot on according to time.gov.

2nd Test - I let the watch run out of power reserve until it stopped. I then gave the crown 5 turns and set the time again to time.gov (6am). The watch remained spot on until about 2pm when it started gaining time again. Finished the 1st day at +12 seconds. The next 4 days the watch gained about 30-40 sec per day.

3rd Test- fully wound the watch (40 turns) each morning at 6 am so the mainspring was fully wound everytime I put it on. Over a 5 day period it gained about 45 seconds per day.

This goes along with what FightonSC was experiencing with rebanking. If the mainspring is too strong when the watch is fully wound and worn during activity it can cause it to run fast.

I also had my watch maker demagnetize the watch and also check the beat rate. All looked good to him and he works on many APs and even has a parts account.

I also tested this with my RO 41mm (also 3120) and my new 44mm (3126) and neither experiencced a similar issue. The 3rd year of my warranty is up in December so Ill send it back to APSC before then.

[dpkong]

Originally Posted by kilyung

Send it in. It's not operating properly.

Originally Posted by TSW

It clearly need some adjusting.

Does it need an adjustment or is there something wrong with the movement? From the replies, it appears this is not an isolated case. The case serial is G9xxxx and papers were dated in November 2011.

I have been reading about problems with AP movements but the enabling from TSW was just too much

The watch in question and enjoying it despite this issue and the one occurrence of the date not flipping completely.

[retrodrive]

My new 15400 runs up 1.5min ahead of the benchimark in a 24hour period. Definitely not normal.

[VICI]

My 15400 was running fast, just got off the phone with AP in Clearwater - they ordered parts and it is going to be delivered back in a few weeks.

There is no reason not to have it checked out.

What's the point of having it then? Wrist jewelry??

[dpkong]

Originally Posted by Alex_NYC

My 15400 was running fast, just got off the phone with AP in Clearwater - they ordered parts and it is going to be delivered back in a few weeks.

There is no reason not to have it checked out.

What's the point of having it then? Wrist jewelry??

Well, the nearest APSC is in Singapore, which is a different country, so will need to plan a trip there to send it in. Posting it would have insurance/duty issues which will be a headache.

Most members here seem to have multiple AP watches and/or don't use it as a daily watch, so might not notice the watch is actually running fast on the wrist.

Actually, I read the posts about the 'rebanking' issue again and I suppose this watch is banking. The question is how exactly does using a weaker spring help? Won't that make the watch run slow when not worn? Or have a lower power reserve?

Hopefully, the tech department at Singapore's APSC knows about this issue and is familiar with what needs fixing.

[Samma]

that might be magnetise also!

[dpkong]

Originally Posted by Samma

that might be magnetise also!

If it were magnetised, wouldn't it run erratically or consistently fast? In my case, it only runs very fast when worn and slightly fast when not moving.

Doesn't the ROO with the soft iron core reduced the possibility of the movement getting magnetised?

[jojosnr]

I hav the same prob. running at +25 on the first wk. APSC adjusted it, now at +6. still not up to mark in my opinion. quite disappointing actually to have a new watch sent in after one wk and getting it back three wks later. and dont get me started on the probs caused by the handling in between.

my DSSD and PO are consistently at +3 whether its worn all day or on the winder all day. took them off the shops and no probs from day one.

[texex91]

Originally Posted by jojosnr

I hav the same prob. running at +25 on the first wk. APSC adjusted it, now at +6. still not up to mark in my opinion. quite disappointing actually to have a new watch sent in after one wk and getting it back three wks later. and dont get me started on the probs caused by the handling in between.

my DSSD and PO are consistently at +3 whether its worn all day or on the winder all day. took them off the shops and no probs from day one.

Hmmm. This running fast issue seems to keep popping up. I have had a 44mm run very fast as well. Then again I have had a problem with a Sub LV as well, so I guess every brand can have issues.

[descartes]

My 15300 runs VERY fast... about 45 secs per day.

[texex91]

Originally Posted by descartes

My 15300 runs VERY fast... about 45 secs per day.

That's really not good. Almost 30 minutes fast in a month! AP needs to look at this running fast issue, as it seems to be across multiple models.

As a huge AP fan and owner, I'm discouraged to keep hearing this.

[jojosnr]

Another user posted this. The article says its +3.5. I hope to be able to experience it.

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Old Yesterday, 12:00 AM #1
simongpaez
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For those in love with 3120
http://www.watchtime.com/featured/concept-caliber/
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[SMD]

Looks like I can add another to the mix. My Diver used to be about 6 seconds fast per day, and then last night, in less than 10 hours, it ran 2 minutes fast. Now in the last two hours it is 20 seconds fast. Not good -- I am two for two on my APs so far, first was sent back in the first week because the date set did not work and now my Diver. Grrr. I love my APs, but compared to my other watches, they definitely have a QC problem. Anecdotal, yes but there are starting to be a lot of anecdotes about this issue.

[AK797]

Yes this and other QC fails are occurring too frequently for my liking...

[diver2012]

Originally Posted by AK797

Yes this and other QC fails are occurring too frequently for my liking...

I think Patek have sent in a saboteur!

[benlee]

I have been wearing my RO15400 for 10 days continuously now and although I did not time it exactly, I think it has gained about 2 mins so far. This is the first time I am wearing my RO as a daily watch and also the first time I notice this.

[jojosnr]

i hope folks at labrassus are reading this.

[Samma]

i am not sure if this can apply on watches.
from years of collecting cameras
i learn something.
leica tend to use a stronger spring for their camera to ensure under low temp, they will work fine.
to use the camera in hk, u can ask technician to loose the spring in order to keep the shutter quite and prolong its life.

is that most of us are living in rather hot area, and the watch is preset to 'colder' area, thats y its easily go faster and faster, even more serious when u bring it the sunshine and outdoor activities.

just my guessing dont know if that making any senseXD

btw ap hk cs told me.... my diver running 10s+ per day is normal. they wont fix that.5 minutes fast per month, anything beyond that they will consider to repair...

cheers
sam

[dpkong]

Originally Posted by Samma

...

leica tend to use a stronger spring for their camera to ensure under low temp, they will work fine.

...

is that most of us are living in rather hot area, and the watch is preset to 'colder' area, thats y its easily go faster and faster, even more serious when u bring it the sunshine and outdoor activities.

...

btw ap hk cs told me.... my diver running 10s+ per day is normal. they wont fix that.5 minutes fast per month, anything beyond that they will consider to repair...

cheers
sam

The idea about a watch running faster due to temperature sounds plausible but only AP can confirm if this is true. The origin for my ROO Navy is Netherlands and it's now in a tropical climate. However, shouldn't a good movement be able to tolerate wide extremes of temperature?

A watch running at +10s per day is out of COSC specifications. Aren't the ROO and Diver COSC certified?

Originally Posted by benlee

I have been wearing my RO15400 for 10 days continuously now and although I did not time it exactly, I think it has gained about 2 mins so far. This is the first time I am wearing my RO as a daily watch and also the first time I notice this.

Maybe more owners need to wear their watches over longer periods to determine if it's a 3120/3126 movement issue and also post the first one or two digits of the serial to see if this is a batch problem. My ROO Navy is a G9xxxx and the movement serial is 78xxxx

Let's hope we can pin down this issue.

[Jim12345]

Sorry to hear some of the running fast issues some of you have been having. Some of the timings reported are so far out something can't be right, I would get them checked out.
I have been wearing my Diver daily, give or take a few days here and there, for at least the last two months and it gains aprox 2 seconds per day, I'm very impressed with the 3120 movement. I rest it at night on its side with the AP crown down. Different resting positions seem to give different results. I did all my time checks at about the same time each day after work. It's an H4xxxx number if that is of any help.

[Watchguy69]

Originally Posted by Watchguy69

I've compared 5 APs recently:

ROO 42mm Navy
ROO 44mm FC Chrono
ROO 44mm Ti Schumi
ROO 42mm FC Diver
RO 39mm 15202

All were purchased new. All watches were kept in watch winders, using the optimum settings found on the Internet.

A few days after setting the correct time, the FC Chrono, Navy, and Diver run fast. However, the Schumi does not, which is surprising since I thought it uses the same movement as the FC Chrono. The 15202 also keeps accurate time, not a surprise given its different movement.

This tendency to run fast seems common with AP ROO new out of the box, as I've also read in several posts. It also seems easily remedied if you're fortunate to live close to an AP dealer. But at this price range, I'm a bit disappointed by their accuracy even when new. In comparison, watches from Rolex, Patek, and Panerai run more accurately out of the box.

Anyone else have the same experience?

I'm posting a follow up to my initial post back in July 2. Since then, I've taken the 3 fast-running APs off their winders. They've been stored in a watch box, where I've allowed them to wind down completely. When I wear each watch nowadays, I wind it to full power, set the date and time, and wear it for the entire day.

Maintained this way, the watches are now running accurately at least through the day. It's a bit of a hassle not being able to sustain them on winders, but seeing them run fast bothers me more. I have enough watches in rotation so that all 3 watches wind down completely before being worn again.

I have a working theory to offer those who've had similar experiences. It's quite possible that a newly purchased watch has a mainspring/regulator system that needs to be broken in. That is, I think the watch settles into a more accurate timekeeping state once it has undergone several cycles between full power and complete wind down. At this point, this is purely conjecture based on simple observations, and only time will tell if I'm correct. However, I'm posting these findings and theory for anyone planning to send their watch off to service. Rather than losing your watch for a few weeks and having a weaker mainspring installed, it may be worth your trouble to break in your watch instead and let it naturally settle into a more accurate condition.

On a separate note, the other 2 APs that were running accurately before (the 15202 and Schumi) continue to do so flawlessly, while being sustained on winders. I'm still clueless as to why the Schumi doesn't run fast like the others, since I assume it uses the same movement; perhaps AP uses a different QC system for limited edition pieces.

I will continue to monitor the 3 watches, and will post my findings again in a few weeks.

[jojosnr]

the fact that 2 of your five behave differently somewhat challenged your hunch. for a watch at this price range, it should not have to be babyed like that. i seriously think they have serious issues, well at least my own experience tells me they do.

Originally Posted by Watchguy69

I'm posting a follow up to my initial post back in July 2. Since then, I've taken the 3 fast-running APs off their winders. They've been stored in a watch box, where I've allowed them to wind down completely. When I wear each watch nowadays, I wind it to full power, set the date and time, and wear it for the entire day.

Maintained this way, the watches are now running accurately at least through the day. It's a bit of a hassle not being able to sustain them on winders, but seeing them run fast bothers me more. I have enough watches in rotation so that all 3 watches wind down completely before being worn again.

I have a working theory to offer those who've had similar experiences. It's quite possible that a newly purchased watch has a mainspring/regulator system that needs to be broken in. That is, I think the watch settles into a more accurate timekeeping state once it has undergone several cycles between full power and complete wind down. At this point, this is purely conjecture based on simple observations, and only time will tell if I'm correct. However, I'm posting these findings and theory for anyone planning to send their watch off to service. Rather than losing your watch for a few weeks and having a weaker mainspring installed, it may be worth your trouble to break in your watch instead and let it naturally settle into a more accurate condition.

On a separate note, the other 2 APs that were running accurately before (the 15202 and Schumi) continue to do so flawlessly, while being sustained on winders. I'm still clueless as to why the Schumi doesn't run fast like the others, since I assume it uses the same movement; perhaps AP uses a different QC system for limited edition pieces.

I will continue to monitor the 3 watches, and will post my findings again in a few weeks.

[elevensheep]

Hope AP resolves this quickly, this is worrying, and I question whether my next purchase should be another AP