About vintage watches accuracy?

Al13 · May 25, 2020

Hi OF,

I did some research about what it generally considers a good accuracy for a vintage watch and I come to the conclusion that +- 20s/day is a good performance.
I recently purchase a Connie Pie Pan from 1968 and it is constantly loosing about 15s per 24h (I measure the time on my wrist during the day and dial up at night). Should I be happy with that or can it be improved? The absolute delta is not what bothering me much, but it rather the fact that it is losing time.
Another precision, I purchased the watch serviced (no paperwork), but with a 6-month warranty.

Do you think that bringing the watch to a watchmaker is worth it ?
I will appreciate any of your inputs as you are the experts.

Thank you for your time,
Stay safe everyone,

Canuck · May 25, 2020

The question might well be whether you wish to pay what a watchmaker will charge you to improve the performance to a standard you can live with. Improving the accuracy by seconds per day most likely will involve more than simply moving the regulator. Find someone who specializes in antique and vintage mechanical watches, and ask them for their opinion.

Al13 · May 25, 2020

Thanks @Canuck for your feedback

Joe_A · May 25, 2020

If the watch is losing 15 seconds a day on average and the loss amount is repeated day after day, this is a relatively good sign as a starting point.

If you wish to tinker, have the equivalent of 150 USD to spend, and you have a little bit of manual dexterity, you can learn to use a timegrapher and make a small adjustment to the regulator yourself.

I found this to be a good introductory video:

Another video here that takes you through an understanding of how to use a timegrapher to adjust rate.

nkhandekar · May 25, 2020

My 1968 Connie went to Omega for a service and it keeps time as well as any of my modern watches (cal. 564). I had a 1960s Seamaster de ville that would gain 30s a day no mater the service or regulation it received (cal 565). There is part of me that likes to believe old watches develop a personality in the same that that the late great Harry Pellow described the individual quirks of 356s.

p4ul · May 25, 2020

First off - all of the above.
Second - it is a cost benefit question only you can answer. (IMO only)

Might be more relaxing to look at the beauty of the watch and try not to focus on the time. 😀

Al13 · May 25, 2020

Joe_A
If the watch is losing 15 seconds a day on average and the loss amount is repeated day after day, this is a relatively good sign as a starting point.

If you wish to tinker, have the equivalent of 150 USD to spend, and you have a little bit of manual dexterity, you can learn to use a timegrapher and make a small adjustment to the regulator yourself.

I found this to be a good introductory video:

Another video here that takes you through an understanding of how to use a timegrapher to adjust rate.

I thought of doing that, but I'm a bit scared. Maybe I'll try. Thanks for your opinion

Al13 · May 25, 2020

I'll try to ask a watchmaker what he thinks. Depending on the price, I'll make my decision
Thanks all for your response!

Archer · May 25, 2020

Al13
I thought of doing that, but I'm a bit scared. Maybe I'll try. Thanks for your opinion

Please note that there is risk involved in doing this. You can easily cause damage far beyond what a typical service would cost with a single slip of a screwdriver or tweezers.

Canuck · May 25, 2020

Don’t expect regulation only to cause your watch to keep better time. The problem of erratic timekeeping is often the result of mechanical problems causing the rate to vary hour by hour, and day by day. Regulation by itself will not even out the variations in rate. A stable rate must be achieved by doing all necessary repairs and adjustments. Only then can the watch be regulated to maintain a steady and accurate rate of timekeeping.

Al13 · May 25, 2020

Canuck
Don’t expect regulation only to cause your watch to keep better time. The problem of erratic timekeeping is often the result of mechanical problems causing the rate to vary hour by hour, and day by day. Regulation by itself will not even out the variations in rate. A stable rate must be achieved by doing all necessary repairs and adjustments. Only then can the watch be regulated to maintain a steady and accurate rate of timekeeping.

The delta is not erratic. It's pretty constant at -15s a day on my wrist. I did not take all the measures in all the positions thought, but only on my wrist during the day and dial up at night.

Al13 · May 25, 2020

Archer
Please note that there is risk involved in doing this. You can easily cause damage far beyond what a typical service would cost with a single slip of a screwdriver or tweezers.

Thanks Archer for the advice. Yes, this is why I'm scared.

Dan S · May 25, 2020

Once you reach the point as a collector where you wear a different watch each day, then as long as a given watch keeps decent time over 16h, that's good enough. 😁

Bill Sohne · May 25, 2020

Dan S
Once you reach the point as a collector where you wear a different watch each day, then as long as a given watch keeps decent time over 16h, that's good enough. 😁

That is being reasonable... given age , wear and usage.

Al13 · May 26, 2020

Dan S
Once you reach the point as a collector where you wear a different watch each day, then as long as a given watch keeps decent time over 16h, that's good enough. 😁

I'm not at that point yet. Letting time take its course 😀

About vintage watches accuracy?

Al13

Canuck

Al13

Joe_A

nkhandekar

p4ul

Al13

Al13

Archer

Canuck

Al13

Al13

Dan S

Bill Sohne

Al13

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