A Few Questions about a Speedmaster from a Paranoid (New) Owner

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Hi all,

After a deal on a Moonwatch sprung up (specifically a 3572.50), I ended up ditching my 3594.50 project and sold the watch and the accessories. The sale for the 3572.50 fell through, so I took the advice from a few members and purchased a 3570.50. The watch was recently serviced (three weeks ago), and with the sale came paperwork from the watchmaker who serviced it. I decided to go through with the purchase. After paying very close attention to it, I have noticed the following:

1) The light "refinish" the watchmaker did is not so much of a refinish as it is an overall light polish. For example, the 1998 bracelet was not well done (though, to be fair, I don't know if that was worked on). The case (in the brushed areas specifically) was not a very high-quality finish, either. The brushed finishes were not properly restored, and in some places were not restored at all.

After playing with some masking tape, green Scotch Brite pads, and a few hours of my time, I was able to restore a very good finish to the bracelet and sides of the case (much better than before, at least).

2) The watch has consistently lost 10 seconds per 24 hours for the last 48 hours (so -10/day). My thoughts are that either (a) the watch is magnetized, (b) the regulation was thrown off, or (c) a mix of both of these. I know magnetization and deregulation can occur during shipments quite regularly. The watch is under warranty for a year from the maker who serviced it, so I could send it in. The person who sold it to me last claimed it was running between -6/+6 seconds per day.

3) When engaging the chronograph, the chrono second hand "jumps" forward about 1/2 second about every third or fourth time I engage the chronograph from a stopped position. I have looked into this phenomenon and have realized that opinions on it tend to be very split: some say, "don't worry", and others say "get this fixed ASAP!". Here is a video that perfectly demonstrates what I am talking about.

As said in the title, I am being quite paranoid. I know a Speedmaster is the Omega I want to own and keep until I can afford to build and sustain a nice collection, so I want to ensure that I can get it set up as well as possible so that it can serve as a reliable daily-wearer without being super fragile.

Any thoughts, advice, and critiques are greatly appreciated. I'll be giving the watchmaker a call this Tuesday to ask about the slow timekeeping, but other than that, I will not be making any big moves. I wanted to say what the Speedy experts had to say first! 😀

Thanks guys,

Jeff
Both of my Speedys jump that 1/2 sec. Both were recently serviced by omega and an ad
 
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I'll just go ahead and say what we're probably all thinking; when you place this one for sale please please please fully disclose the whole scotch Brite polishing, time loosing/gaining.adjusting back and forth by an AD and eventually by you It's perfectly OK to play doctor with your watch, it's your watch after all, but don't pass the final bill to a random buyer.
 
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Called them this morning - the gal was super nice, but said they don't do any movement work in the store. She said they would have to send it off. They were my first thought as well!

@chickenman26 I went to Hinrichsen Jewelers today. He did a quick adjustment, I ran some errands, it was +2 seconds in 2 hours, so I drove it back on the way home. After 5.5 hours, it is now ~+1 second, so much better! It still could be backed off just a touch more, though.

I'm fairly confident I can open the caseback and adjust the regulator myself, but we shall see. I'm more afraid to get dust/a hair in the movement than anything.

To clarify, I don't live in Phoenix. I am visiting for a few weeks 😀

See, this is the wrong way to do it. You're chasing small changes over the course of a couple of hours, and yes, it might gain when you're mostly dial-up typing on your computer, but what about the rest of the day?

Set it, record the variance, and ignore it for a week. At the end of the week, see where it is, divide by the number of days, and that's where you make the change.

For me? My Seamaster 300 and my Speedmaster both gain 2 seconds per day. I set it 30 seconds slow, let it do what it's going to do, and when it's 30 seconds fast, then I set it 30 seconds slow again.

I could try to chase super-accuracy but it's not worth my time.

Tom
 
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Exactly as Tom said.

You see Jeff, not only you're driving yourself crazy but you're doing it all wrong. All mechanical watches are affected by gravity, movement, and life. That is why they have a "margin" of tolerance. A Watch stored upside up or down or sideways to the left, or right... Or in your wrist while you sleep, or run, or shake a... Bottle of organic juice.., when it's hot weather, or cold, or Dwayne Johnson throws you 10 feet into a wall, or you see a movie, unless it's entourage because that will get you pretty restless, or your brother drops the watch from a car seat, no: two feet, no: one, barely 6 inches to the ground ALL those actions will have a direct impact on the watch. The balance of tensions and laws of physics may recover a little of whatever gain or loss it may have but invariably there will be a variance.

When you measure this variance on a controlled environment, unless you do like COSC and other testing entities and test consistently on a rotation of positions and conditions, of course the watch will tend to gain or loose a fairly consistent number....but then when you start living again and the conditions change that number will vary again. Also, make sure you're using the right testing method. If it's your phone, or an app, make sure you have full reception and the phone syncs up and refreshes prior to the first test, and on any subsequent testing, otherwise a good quartz watch may be more accurate.

And remember, at least for me; every time you personally open that watch and screw around with it, or take that scotch Brite pad and start polishing, it devaluates the value of the watch because even if this one has been serviced, unlike the last one, for all I known a fly or dust or an eyelash fell right into the movement while you where opening and closing and opening and closing again and again which even if you say you don't at this point with what I know of your personality I would not believe. So I'd have to take the watch for cleaning anyway.

I'm a part time photographer, and there are a couple more photographers here. If there's one thing I can tell you from changing lenses during shots is that no matter how careful I am dust always finds a way into the mirrors and sensors. Always. And they are designed to be changed! Don't fool yourself into believing otherwise.

I counsel you, again, to take it easy. Also do as some others have done and buy a couple of super cheap warches to tear apart and tinker with, that way you can expand on your hobby and knowledge safely and cheaply and without affecting a several thousand dollar watch that most likely is going to be sold.

My 2 cents...or 10 dollars more like.
Edited:
 
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I'll just go ahead and say what we're probably all thinking; when you place this one for sale please please please fully disclose the whole scotch Brite polishing, time loosing/gaining.adjusting back and forth by an AD and eventually by you It's perfectly OK to play doctor with your watch, it's your watch after all, but don't pass the final bill to a random buyer.

Of course! I don't leave things out when I sell things. I definitely didn't forget to mention that the 3594.50 was dropped by my brother. I certainly made that very clear when I sold it!

I'm not that stupid [emoji23] well, sometimes, maybe, but I'm definitely not careless. I don't do things on a whim without research (like brushing the bracelet with a scotch brite pad - I know a ton of people do this and achieve excellent results).

As far as the regulations go, I'm just trying to make it keep better time, I don't think that's unacceptable. Most of us determined that if it was regulated properly, the timekeeping would be very accurate (which, I should add, it's only at +1 second after 16 hours!).

I don't want these threads to make me seem like I'm careless and stupid, which I'm worried is what they're doing. I'm just trying to get advice from the vets, and I'm also trying to learn what I can do on my own (like finishing a bracelet or regulating the watch). I think there is a certain joy that comes with performing simple, routine maintenance on a watch, because (1) it is fun, (2) you bond with the watch, (3) you save some money.

Again, if I do list this for sale, I will of course list everything that has been done to it. Never have I left out info in a listing, and I certainly wouldn't do that now 😀
 
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ffej4, it could just be that the clutch for the chrono is new or not used very much. I'm pulling this out of thin air (or other regions), but it's the only thing that might make sense. Running the chrono for 50 hours may solve the problem simply because the clutch is now broken in a little more, if my logic is correct. My suggestion, wind it up and run it. You honestly can't hurt this watch unless you drop it. Chrono shouldn't drain the power too much, it's piggybacking off the mainspring which is already running the watch.
 
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You said your brother dropped it from 1ft and there is no evidence that it was at the 1ft height.

Unless your brother is a midget


( just busten your balls )

Wear it, look at it and set it once a week. Service it every 5 years.
Easy all there is to it
 
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Exactly as Tom said.

You see Jeff, not only you're driving yourself crazy but you're doing it all wrong. All mechanical watches are affected by gravity, movement, and life. That is why they have a "margin" of tolerance. A Watch stored upside up or down or sideways to the left, or right... Or in your wrist while you sleep, or run, or shake a... Bottle of organic juice.., when it's hot weather, or cold, or Dwayne Johnson throws you 10 feet into a wall, or you see a movie, unless it's entourage because that will get you pretty restless, or your brother drops the watch from a car seat, no: two feet, no: one, barely 6 inches to the ground ALL those actions will have a direct impact on the watch. The balance of tensions and laws of physics may recover a little of whatever gain or loss it may have but invariably there will be a variance.

When you measure this variance on a controlled environment, unless you do like COSC and other testing entities and test consistently on a rotation of positions and conditions, of course the watch will tend to gain or loose a fairly consistent number....but then when you start living again and the conditions change that number will vary again. Also, make sure you're using the right testing method. If it's your phone, or an app, make sure you have full reception and the phone syncs up and refreshes prior to the first test, and on any subsequent testing, otherwise a good quartz watch may be more accurate.

And remember, at least for me; every time you personally open that watch and screw around with it, or take that scotch Brite pad and start polishing, it devaluates the value of the watch because even if this one has been serviced, unlike the last one, for all I known a fly or dust or an eyelash fell right into the movement while you where opening and closing and opening and closing again and again which even if you say you don't at this point with what I know of your personality I would not believe. So I'd have to take the watch for cleaning anyway.

I'm a part time photographer, and there are a couple more photographers here. If there's one thing I can tell you from changing lenses during shots is that no matter how careful I am dust always finds a way into the mirrors and sensors. Always. And they are designed to be changed! Don't fool yourself into believing otherwise.

I counsel you, again, to take it easy. Also do as some others have done and buy a couple of super cheap warches to tear apart and tinker with, that way you can expand on your hobby and knowledge safely and cheaply and without affecting a several thousand dollar watch that most likely is going to be sold.

My 2 cents...or 10 dollars more like.

Very, very fair. You preached this well, good sir.

I agree. Could I open the movement and adjust it without breaking something or screwing something up? Probably.

But the probably is the issue. I'm not a pro. And I don't even have much experience. If something did happen, I would regret it for a very, very long time. If something is really bugging me, it's best to take it to a qualified person to do the work, and to do the work right.

I'll hop on eBay and look into some old Seikos or Walthams. Maybe I can fiddle around with one and see how it goes, as you suggested.
 
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If you live near Lancaster, PA you can even go to the horology school for a workshop.
 
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If you live near Lancaster, PA you can even go to the horology school for a workshop.

I've been considering going to a watchmaking school, but being partially through college really screws that up [emoji24]
 
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I've been considering going to a watchmaking school, but being partially through college really screws that up [emoji24]

Maybe a summer course or something... As I said before there is a positive side to your personality type and you should put it to good use. There was another thread from a member that got some cheap watches and slowly taught himself stuff. I love it and what a great hobby and passion that is.

I always admired my brother for building plane models and mechanical stuff...I just hated it when he fυcked with my toys!! 😡
 
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There's a guy on youtube, Bunn Special, who is self taught and does a lot of good work on watches. Look him up, some great videos.
 
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Maybe a summer course or something... As I said before there is a positive side to your personality type and you should put it to good use. There was another thread from a member that got some cheap watches and slowly taught himself stuff. I love it and what a great hobby and passion that is.

I always admired my brother for building plane models and mechanical stuff...I just hated it when he fυcked with my toys!! 😡

I hate it when my brother fucks with my toys too, because he just drops them on the ground [emoji23]

A summer course could have potential. Even with that, I might be out of luck. Internships next summer will eat away my time and pay me the awesome hourly wage of $0.00/hour (if I'm unlucky).

I'm sure there are a couple of old watchmaking books I could pick up on eBay, and God knows there's a TON of old, low-valued mechanicals I could pick up, so maybe that's a start. Heck, maybe I could even buy some old tools from the watchmaker in Great Falls that I've become pretty close to.

I think the big goal is to open a boutique or some sort of music store (Guitar Center, maybe?). I like the business education I'm currently receiving in college, and I'd like to apply that entrepreneurially to a business that meshes well with a hobby of mine (watches or guitars).
 
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By the way, your caseback gasket is probably trashed by now. 😀

Tom
 
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By the way, your caseback gasket is probably trashed by now. 😀

Tom

I've had it opened twice. They can't take two openings?

I can get it replaced when I get home, if need be. Surprising they are that delicate!
 
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what I can do on my own (like finishing a bracelet or regulating the watch). I think there is a certain joy that comes with performing simple, routine maintenance on a watch, because (1) it is fun, (2) you bond with the watch, (3) you save some money.
Some deeds cannot be undone, some posts cannot be un-post
 
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Just as an aside, I don't think you would have a screwdriver that comes close to one small enough to adjust a speedmaster.
 
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Some deeds cannot be undone, some posts cannot be un-post

What is the significance of this? Did I say something wrong?
 
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Just as an aside, I don't think you would have a screwdriver that comes close to one small enough to adjust a speedmaster.

Oh, I know. I have a couple of screwdrivers that would do the trick, but I'm going to take the advice of you guys and not mess with the innards of my watch.