Reserve power on 1601 / 1603

[hunz]

What is the expected 'reserve power' on these models? ie. set watch down and wait for it to stop ticking

my 1601 which i was testing for seconds accuracy (in my other thread) just stop on the 5th day after only about 9 hours after I set it down.

Where as my old and never serviced 30+ year old 1603 is still going after the same testing regime (as I'm testing the two watches at the same time) even though it's like over a minute slower - but at least it's still going strong!

any ideas/advice?

[padi56]

On a full manual wind around 40 full crown turns clockwise expect anything from 39 to 42 hours plus.

[hunz]

after how many hours/days?

0/0?

also.. how long on average per day does one have to wear their OP's on their wrists to keep them 'going'?

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by hunz

after how many hours/days?

0/0?

also.. how long on average per day does one have to wear their OP's on their wrists to keep them 'going'?

Sorry I don't understand what you're after? As Padi said, a fully wound (40 turns of the crown) 1601 should tick away for between 39-42 hours. Mine stops at 42.

[hunz]

Sorry for the unclear post guys.

My understanding is that winding the crown 40 turns just gets the watch started with enough power. Ten I presume that by wearing the watch each day for a few hours it 'tops it up' due to the movement of one's wrist.

If this is the case,, my question is how long on average per day does one have to wear their watches on their wrists to keep them 'going'?

2, 4, 8, or 12 hours a day?

[adam78]

You misunderstand. Winding 40 times is akin to fully winding a manual wind watch with a certain power reserve. Wearing an automatic watch afterwards merely keeps the spring wound. After you take it off at any point, it should last 39-42 hours.

If, after doing this, it only runs for 9 hours, then there is something wrong with the way the mainspring is accumulating power, and it should be looked at by a watchmaker.

So are you winding it about 40 times before setting it down or wearing it?

[hunz]

I wound both watches 40 turns clockwise at the start of the 5 day test. Wore the watches each day for 2-5 hours then set down to dial up for the rest of the day/over night.

I never wound the the watches again after that.

Am I supposed to wind it before setting it down before going to bed each night? - that wasn't my understanding

Is merely picking up the watch each day and wearing for say 30 minutes to and hour enough to keep the spring wound?

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by hunz

I wound both watches 40 turns clockwise at the start of the 5 day test. Wore the watches each day for 2-5 hours then set down to dial up for the rest of the day/over night.

I never wound the the watches again after that.

Am I supposed to wind it before setting it down before going to bed each night? - that wasn't my understanding

Is merely picking up the watch each day and wearing for say 30 minutes to and hour enough to keep the spring wound?

No, that's not enough.

Most Rolex models requires approx. 650 turns per day which equals about 8 Hr's of normal wearing.

If she wears it less, you would have to manually wind it 20-30 turns every 3rd day or so.

Hope this helps.

[Kokyuryoku]

If you are trying to test the power reserve of your watches, simply wind each one 40 times and set it down. Make a note of the exact time and date. Don't pick them up until they have stopped.

[hunz]

Originally Posted by MonBK

No, that's not enough.

Most Rolex models requires approx. 650 turns per day which equals about 8 Hr's of normal wearing.

If she wears it less, you would have to manually wind it 20-30 turns every 3rd day or so.

Hope this helps.

Excellent. Thanks for the advice.

Seems like I didn't wear the watch long enough for the last few days and it stopped. I'll give it another test wearing for at least 8 hours+ a day this time

[hunz]

Originally Posted by Kokyuryoku

If you are trying to test the power reserve of your watches, simply wind each one 40 times and set it down. Make a note of the exact time and date. Don't pick them up until they have stopped.

ok, thanks. i'll test later on in the week