So how do I go about this??........

[stockjock1975]

Hello all! I hate to admit it, but the inaccuracy of my SS Rolex Sub Date is starting to wear on me a little bit..... well, o.k., a LOT. After reading so many posts here and hearing many of you talk about how your Rollies are either spot on, or off just a second per day, I have decided I would like to send mine in to the RSD for an adjustment.

My Sub in about 10 months old and is amazingly CONSISTENT..... gaining 4.8 seconds per day (when stored in the crown up position at night). It gets a little worse (5.6/day) when stored crown down. All of these measurements were taken over a 7 day period and divided to get the appropriate "per day" gain rate.

So, here are my questions to all of you:

1. Am I just nuts to mess with this with these gain rates? I know, I know.... it's a mechanical piece and there are a lot of moving parts and to be off less than 5 secs per day is amazing when you think about it. That's all fine and good except that after reading these posts, better accuracy is obtainable, so why shouldn't I seek that out, right?!?!?

2. What would be involved with having this adjustment made? Is it something that requires the RSD to do, or can my local AD make an adjustment like this?

3. Finally, will I be charged for it since my watch is technically within COSC specifications? Or will this be covered under my warranty since the watch is new? If I have to pay, how much will it cost?

Thanks again everyone! I know posts of this nature have been covered Ad Nosium, but I appreciate your thoughts as it pertains to my situation.

Brian

[SLS]

You are within COSC specs (-4 +6), I would just leave it alone.
~Scott

[taylor]

I would leave it alone as well. I doubt most of these watches gain or lose 1sec/day.

[boa2]

Originally Posted by SLS

You are within COSC specs (-4 +6), I would just leave it alone.
~Scott

Ditto. If it's within COSC specs, I certainly wouldn't pay to have it regulated. As ChrisB stated, unless I'm late because of my watch, its accuracy isn't an issue.

[MikeV]

Some people would have it regulated but I agree with the comments above, to leave it alone. Someone told me that anytime you have a watch opened for any reason you always run the risk of things not being the same. Yeah I know, it's being done by RSC and they are trained professionals who have been doing this for years, but still there's a chance and can you say that all service technicians are the same...if I am looking at small parts all day every day once in awhile I just may get tired and not be as particular about certain things. If your watch was really keeping bad time or needed service then its worth it...in the mean time try to self regulate or even better don't keep track of the time too often.

[DaveInLA]

I'm in a similar boat. My Explorer I gains an average of 4-5 sec/day over the course of a week or so. I've laid it flat (dial up) during this time. While I understand 5 sec/day isn't that much in the grand scheme of things, I paid a lot of money for my Rolex, and I expect a top-notch movement inside that is much more accurate than, say, my <$200 Seikos.

[karmatp]

That is the beauty of a mechanical watch, I would be happy with it as long as it stays within COSC specs. Funny thing is, I don't even care about stuff like that, I set it and go, I have never been 5 seconds late for a meeting or appointment. Obviously quartz watches are more accurate, but they have no soul. Hopefully your feeling will pass and you will learn to be happy with a very accurate watch like you have, good luck.

[Art161]

If you bought the watch from a local AD and they have a Rolex trained tech on site, I would bring it back to them. You can ask if they charge. I don't think they should. A job taking a couple of minutes should be no charge if you bought the watch from them.

I would not be inclined to go to an AD with a new watch that I bought elsewhere.

You could telephone RSC and ask if this would be a warranty matter, no charge as customer goodwill, or what the charge would be.

I think a new Rolex should keep better time that what yours is doing. It should be off by no more than 2-3 seconds per day IMO.

Sometimes I forget how fortunate I am. I am within walking distance of three ADs and one RSC.

[SLS]

Originally Posted by DaveInLA

I'm in a similar boat. My Explorer I gains an average of 4-5 sec/day over the course of a week or so. I've laid it flat (dial up) during this time. While I understand 5 sec/day isn't that much in the grand scheme of things, I paid a lot of money for my Rolex, and I expect a top-notch movement inside that is much more accurate than, say, my <$200 Seikos.

But again, you are within COSC specs, no one ever said that a Rolex is going to perform better than a battery operated watch. JMHO
~Scott

[Chris B]

I used to be paranoid over any gain or loss but I tend not to worry these days, as long as I don't miss an appointment, plane or train its fine

[rob]

Sometimes they enemy of good is better!

[beamon]

Originally Posted by rob

Sometimes they enemy of good is better!

And, when you reach "better" there's 'best' looming on the horizon.

[codymac]

That's three minutes over the course of a month.

If my life ever gets to the point where I'm managing my time that granularly, I'm going to take a lot longer than three minutes and reevaluate my priorities.

[f16570]

I had an issue with my Exp II and after I had it regulated by the AD in JUly06 the watch has consitently gained 1 second a day, so get it regulated and all will be well.
These watches are capable of amazing accuarcy, so why not have it that way?

[spogehead]

If it bothers you and you can afford to send it in then do it.

I wouldn't touch it personally as its within spec and I'm not that bothered about extreme accuracy.......... 10 seconds or less I can cope with

[sombunya]

My 3 month old DJ runs 8-9 seconds fast per day. I sleep with it on.

RSC in Beverly Hills says it will take 2-3 weeks to correct it. Still debating on if I should drop it off.

[f16570]

Originally Posted by sombunya

My 3 month old DJ runs 8-9 seconds fast per day. I sleep with it on.

RSC in Beverly Hills says it will take 2-3 weeks to correct it. Still debating on if I should drop it off.

2-3 weeks, at best a few hours at worst a day or so, tell them to get their finger out and sort it

[Tools]

Brian,

If it's bothering you, get it regulated.. It is capable of better performance..

Any AD with a watchmaker on staff should be able to take care of it in an hour or so.. However, it is still under warranty so some may refuse to open it and will send it to the RSC.. That's fine, if it's as far out as you say (and I might tell them it's running more than 6 seconds fast per day), they will regulate it to their standard...


On the other hand, you might be obsessing a bit too much about this.. Most people do not check their watches very often and never know if it's off by a few minutes or not...

[flatpat]

My brand new ss sub runs exactly at that same rate. I would be inclined to send it in. Although the reasoning never being sent away form a flight or appointment for only being 5 seconds late is true, you still need to reset the watch every couple of weeks or so. Opening the crown to adjust that much lets in small amounts of moisture and dust over time as well as unnecessary wear on the keyless works. So yes! I would definitely send it to a rsc.

[flatpat]

http://www.rolexreferencepage.com/articles/19.html

^^^
Sorry for no h-link but this is definitely answers you question :)

[marshallr47]

Over time it will be less bothersome. At least it was for me. Have it regulated when you get it serviced. It's still within the COSC standard.

[Andad]

It would be nice to think that this experience (Flatpat's link) would be had by all Rolex owners who send a Rolex to an RSC for adjustment. Perhaps we mostly hear about the nightmares.
IMO Rolex RSC will not adjust a Rolex (under warranty) if it is within COSC specs even if their own internal timing standards are better than COSC - however - just because it runs to COSC on their timing equipment doesn't mean it will run at that rate on YOUR wrist. That is also noticable in your link as Rolex would normally set a Rolex to run slightly + rather than - hence they were disappointed that it was running slow.
IMO opening a Rolex, even at a RSC should only be done if a service or a repair is required and the timing would also be adjusted. Any other requirements that might be required could be done then (dial changes etc.).
I would not have it adjusted under these circumstances but it is your decision.

[flatpat]

Adding to that I would caution against opening the crown and constantly setting to exact time. This is the most overlooked method of causing moisture to enter and wear and tear on a fine watch. Just set it about three minutes back when you do and dont mess with it much more than the manual date change.

[buz-lh]

Does anyone have knowledge as to whether the twinlock or triplock crowns will actually allow dust or moisture into the watch when unscrewed. It seems I have read where this is not the case unless a seal is bad. Does excessive unscrewing, winding, resetting of a Rolex subject the seals to excessive wear?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by buz-lh

Does anyone have knowledge as to whether the twinlock or triplock crowns will actually allow dust or moisture into the watch when unscrewed. It seems I have read where this is not the case unless a seal is bad. Does excessive unscrewing, winding, resetting of a Rolex subject the seals to excessive wear?

Buz,

We have had several posts on here lately where owners were concerned, or flatly said that they don't open their crown except in controlled areas..

This may lead to mis-understanding..

The Oyster case is always waterproof and dust-proof, even with the crown unscrewed, just not to the maximum depths.

Both types of crowns have seals around the stem where it enters the case, inside the crown tube. So long as these "O" ring seals are intact, dust and moisture will not enter.

Excessive opening and closing of the crown may have some affect but the major culprits of seal damage are temperature/humidity changes and age deterioration.. Modern seal materials are vastly superior to earlier compounds...

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by Tools

Buz,

We have had several posts on here lately where owners were concerned, or flatly said that they don't open their crown except in controlled areas..

This may lead to mis-understanding..

The Oyster case is always waterproof and dust-proof, even with the crown unscrewed, just not to the maximum depths.

Both types of crowns have seals around the stem where it enters the case, inside the crown tube. So long as these "O" ring seals are intact, dust and moisture will not enter.

Excessive opening and closing of the crown may have some affect but the major culprits of seal damage are temperature/humidity changes and age deterioration.. Modern seal materials are vastly superior to earlier compounds...

Thank you Larry for clearing up the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) that is sometimes posted around here by people with little experience or common sense.

I think the OP may have unrealistic expectations of mechanical watch accuracy, as consistency is just as important as accuracy. If I were him, and it was annoying me as much as it seems to, I would see if I could get a warranty regulation.

Mine's at +1.8 seconds a day, and I time sync it once a week, then give it a bath.

[sfrolex]

Originally Posted by stockjock1975

Hello all! I hate to admit it, but the inaccuracy of my SS Rolex Sub Date is starting to wear on me a little bit..... well, o.k., a LOT. After reading so many posts here and hearing many of you talk about how your Rollies are either spot on, or off just a second per day, I have decided I would like to send mine in to the RSD for an adjustment.

My Sub in about 10 months old and is amazingly CONSISTENT..... gaining 4.8 seconds per day (when stored in the crown up position at night). It gets a little worse (5.6/day) when stored crown down. All of these measurements were taken over a 7 day period and divided to get the appropriate "per day" gain rate.

So, here are my questions to all of you:

1. Am I just nuts to mess with this with these gain rates? I know, I know.... it's a mechanical piece and there are a lot of moving parts and to be off less than 5 secs per day is amazing when you think about it. That's all fine and good except that after reading these posts, better accuracy is obtainable, so why shouldn't I seek that out, right?!?!?

Brian

I might do it. But one positive aspect is that at least the watch is a bit fast rather than a bit slow. To synch it up with the real time requires that you only pull the crown out and wait a bit for the real time to catch up, then push the crown in and you're done (assuming pulling the crown out is not a cause of moisture concern). OTOH if your watch was slow, synching it to the real time would be more time-consuming. Also, you will have a tendency to be early with your watch rather than a tendency to be late if the watch was slow. I'm not sure which is worse...a watch 5 seconds fast, or one that is 3 seconds slow?

What if you get it back and see that the adjustment overcompensates too much and makes the watch a bit slow instead? I guess I would consider all these factors before I took it in for adjustment.