Accuracy of your Rolex if not worn

[Eppi]

I tried a test with my new OP. I left it still in my wardrobe facing upwards and i kept track of it.
I haven't worn it for 15 days.
Every day is 5 seconds fast, consistently.
I wind it fully almost every day but still is 5 seconds fast.

Has someone ever tried to see how his Rolex would perform in a still position?
Does it keep the performance as it was worn every day?

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Eppi

I haven't worn it for 15 days.
Every day is 5 seconds fast, consistently.
I wind it fully almost every day but still is 5 seconds fast.

OP - I’m not understanding your comment. No Rolex would function if unworn for 15 days. In fact, in most cases after max 3 days it would stop.

[Eppi]

Meaning I just left it in the closet but still wound it every evening 25 times

[Driver8]

If your watch does happen to keep exactly the same accuracy when left in one position as it does when being worn, then it's just pure luck. Watches are designed to be exposed to the effects of gravity from multiple angles while being worn and moved: that's why they're tested in 5 positions - to simulate real world use - and are adjusted accordingly to give the best mean result.

[amphr1]

5 second fast maybe outside of parameters. But between a watch that's slow vs fast I would always prefer a watch that's fast. That said, you should test it by wearing it. I bet it'll be dead-on or closer to 2 second a day fast.

[inadeje]

Originally Posted by Eppi

Meaning I just left it in the closet but still wound it every evening 25 times

That wasn’t in your original post. Now it’s clear. It’s common knowledge that when mechanical watches are left in different resting positions the movement will operate more or less efficiently. The outcome of this is losing or gaining time in most scenarios, depending upon a given position.

[Jackie Daytona]

That’s pretty good you didn’t wear it for 15 days, picked it back up and it was only 5 seconds off.

[Eppi]

Hah no, I wish!
It was 5 seconds fast EVERY day.
I was wondering... if I wind it 25 times every day... shouldn't it keep the time within specs regardless of if its use? (Worn or unworn)

[Tim Plains]

I know with Omega, it's an average of all positions tested, so a movement may be way out of spec in one position but it still gets METAS certification if the tests all average to between 0 - 5 seconds. Maybe Rolex is the same.

[HideMyWalletPlease]

If you are not wearing it then the accuracy does not matter.

If a tree falls on the forest, does it make a sound if no one is there to hear it?

Seriously though, if the watch were on a well designed winder it would remain accurate from the rotor moving.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Driver8

If your watch does happen to keep exactly the same accuracy when left in one position as it does when being worn, then it's just pure luck. Watches are designed to be exposed to the effects of gravity from multiple angles while being worn and moved: that's why they're tested in 5 positions - to simulate real world use - and are adjusted accordingly to give the best mean result.

Exactly that.

[simon101]

I find it does work even with a newer movement.

[OrangeSport]

Face up speeds 'em up

Also, if it's not fully wound (no idea what the PR is in that watch) it tends to run faster (in my experience)

[George58]

My 18078 is dead on plus2 know matter worn or not and any position My pp aqua runs all over runs differently wearing it and its influenced in how it's stored never worse than plus 10 I think because it beats a slower rate than modern movements now

[Tikandtokalot]

If people don't appreciate the mechanical marvel of the micro engineered timepiece then perhaps a mechanical watch is not for you.
I'm glad my life isn't timed to the second.

[Andad]

Originally Posted by padi56

Exactly that.

Do you get the feeling that we are all going backwards Peter.

Don’t most watches gain time dial up?

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Eppi

I tried a test with my new OP. I left it still in my wardrobe facing upwards and i kept track of it.
I haven't worn it for 15 days.
Every day is 5 seconds fast, consistently.
I wind it fully almost every day but still is 5 seconds fast.

Has someone ever tried to see how his Rolex would perform in a still position?
Does it keep the performance as it was worn every day?

Originally Posted by Andad

Do you get the feeling that we are all going backwards Peter.

Don’t most watches gain time dial up?

Yes and Yes.

But on or off the wrist there are many variables like friction, mainspring power-reserve, gravity resting position, different temperatures, subtle changes in oil lubrication and so on. But consistency is one of the most important things with mechanical watches, and no purely mechanical movement any price or brand will keep 100% perfect time. When resting off wrist flat dial up or dial down the balance staff runs on the ends of it's pivots very little or no added friction. Thus the balance wheel has a very slightly higher amplitude so will make movement run very slightly faster. When watch is off wrist vertical crown up or down or the balance staff pivots runs on the sides of the balance pivot causing a tiny more added friction this slows the amplitude so will run very slightly slower.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by padi56

… consistency is one of the most important things with mechanical watches …

Exactly

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Eppi

Hah no, I wish!
It was 5 seconds fast EVERY day.
I was wondering... if I wind it 25 times every day... shouldn't it keep the time within specs regardless of if its use? (Worn or unworn)

Read post 17 might explain how a mechanical movement works.

[SaintMickey]

Mine stops at 48 or 70 hours if not worn.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by padi56

Yes and Yes.

But on or off the wrist there are many variables like friction, mainspring power-reserve, gravity resting position, different temperatures, subtle changes in oil lubrication and so on. But consistency is one of the most important things with mechanical watches, and no purely mechanical movement any price or brand will keep 100% perfect time. When resting off wrist flat dial up or dial down the balance staff runs on the ends of it's pivots very little or no added friction. Thus the balance wheel has a very slightly higher amplitude so will make movement run very slightly faster. When watch is off wrist vertical crown up or down or the balance staff pivots runs on the sides of the balance pivot causing a tiny more added friction this slows the amplitude so will run very slightly slower.

Great explanation. Thanks.

[Eppi]

Originally Posted by padi56

Yes and Yes.

But on or off the wrist there are many variables like friction, mainspring power-reserve, gravity resting position, different temperatures, subtle changes in oil lubrication and so on. But consistency is one of the most important things with mechanical watches, and no purely mechanical movement any price or brand will keep 100% perfect time. When resting off wrist flat dial up or dial down the balance staff runs on the ends of it's pivots very little or no added friction. Thus the balance wheel has a very slightly higher amplitude so will make movement run very slightly faster. When watch is off wrist vertical crown up or down or the balance staff pivots runs on the sides of the balance pivot causing a tiny more added friction this slows the amplitude so will run very slightly slower.

Yes... I knew that... is it 5 seconds too much? Or is it inside the possibility of technical errors that you just described.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Eppi

Yes... I knew that... is it 5 seconds too much? Or is it inside the possibility of technical errors that you just described.

Well 5 seconds out of 86400 seconds in a day on or off the wrist would not concern me in the slightest, consistently is far more important. Even after this new precision Rolex test on a machine to -2+2 seconds test results below would still pass this new precision test. Your watch is fine just wear and enjoy it in good health now thats far more important.

Position Of Watch seconds Per Day
Dial Up +2
Dial Down -1
6 o’clock +3
9 o’clock -3
3 o’clock +5

[Eppi]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well 5 seconds out of 86400 seconds in a day on or off the wrist would not concern me in the slightest, consistently is far more important. Even after this new precision Rolex test on a machine to -2+2 seconds test results below would still pass this new precision test. Your watch is fine just wear and enjoy it in good health now thats far more important.

Position Of Watch seconds Per Day
Dial Up +2
Dial Down -1
6 o’clock +3
9 o’clock -3
3 o’clock +5

You seems to know a lot :) ... finally...
Final question for you.

Do you think replica rolex could perform inside COSC specifications?

Or they will always underperform

[Rocketman39]

If I were You, I would pitch it and buy a New one. They are easy to come by and Rolex makes almost a Million of them a Year!. Just saying, for a Friend ! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ! !

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Eppi

You seems to know a lot :) ... finally...
Final question for you.

Do you think replica rolex could perform inside COSC specifications?

Or they will always underperform

Well in the real world most movements today could match the Swiss COSC test of AVERAGE -4+6 seconds a day. Even some Chinese Seagull movements like the ST19 after very careful regulation can run to or inside the COSC spec. Cost of movement around now $70 but will have to have more regular regulation to keep it there. That's the secret of accuracy how well the movement is regulated that matches the owners wearing habits..

PS One thing we never talk about in the Rolex forum is replica anything.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Tikandtokalot

If people don't appreciate the mechanical marvel of the micro engineered timepiece then perhaps a mechanical watch is not for you.
I'm glad my life isn't timed to the second.

Have to agree.

[macrowatch]

It will be 100% accurate but only twice a day. Ha.

[Tanalasta]

Wear the watch for a week or two. Then determine if it is outside specs.

Watches do vary their regulation depending or use, state of wind, position. If it bothers you and is outside of spec in daily use you can get it regulated tighter. But i prefer fast than slow (easier to hack and resync to real time)

After a while, I suspect you’ll lose interest. Enjoy the watch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[DJ2020]

Originally Posted by Tanalasta

Wear the watch for a week or two. Then determine if it is outside specs.

Watches do vary their regulation depending or use, state of wind, position. If it bothers you and is outside of spec in daily use you can get it regulated tighter. But i prefer fast than slow (easier to hack and resync to real time)

After a while, I suspect you’ll lose interest. Enjoy the watch.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Exactly. I still after 45 years of owning/wearing watches tend to check the timing when I first get one. Wear it for a couple of weeks, then check the time and you can get a idea of the "average" time keeping. If it's not horrendous then forget about it and enjoy. After that I just look at the minute hand, If it's close it's doing it's job good enough. I don't worry about the seconds. Not important to me. Everyone wants to have a super accurate watch, But even "if" it is, It is just temporary. Sooner or later it will deviate from the norm. My accuracy standard for my watches from Omega, Rolex or any ETA movement is 1 to 2 minutes a month. That's close enough for me. Every time I correct the date I will reset if necessary. Other than that I just let them run.