Post service +12-30s 861 speedy?

77J77 · Jan 10, 2025

A couple months ago I was given an heirloom Speedmaster. It was losing 3 to 17 seconds per day prior to sending it for service. After it returned from service (movement was completely overhauled, new mainspring etc) a few days ago, I noticed that it seemed to be gaining significant time. The watchmaker tested it over a week within Omega specs (at +6), but my phone app shows +31s in the 12 up position, +20 in 9 up, +20 to +24s in 3 up, +17 in dial up, and +7 dial down.

I'll contact them later today to ask the question, but I'm wondering if something potentially changed in the watch in the Fed Ex box between the watchmaker and my house.

The service completed: Omega 861 mainspring, new third wheel, new hour recorder wheel, new dial washer, new screw for pallet bridge, new gaskets, crystal, new sweep hand (old one wasn't original and had fallen off), hands paint/relumed, gaskets, new spring bars, case/bracelet cleaning, water pressure test.

Donn Chambers · Jan 10, 2025

Everything I have read or seen about those app-based timegrapher results indicate they can be biased by 10-15 seconds per day pretty consistently. This is based on comparing to a real timegrapher.

Have you confirmed this rate by comparing the time to a known source (like time.gov), then checking again a day or two later?

77J77 · Jan 10, 2025

Donn Chambers
Everything I have read or seen about those app-based timegrapher results indicate they can be biased by 10-15 seconds per day pretty consistently. This is based on comparing to a real timegrapher.

Have you confirmed this rate by comparing the time to a known source (like time.gov), then checking again a day or two later?

I am doing that now-- I did set it based on the atomic clock yesterday and it seemed a minute fast today, but I did not record the seconds yesterday and since it is a non-hacking movement I know that I didn't have the seconds zeroed with the atomic clock. This morning I've recorded that I'm currently +11 vs the Atomic Time app (time.apple.com). I'm unsure of the accuracy of the timegrapher apps, but I have used the timegrapher app with my other watches and tend to get pretty consistent results. I have a few other mechanical watches (Mido, Seiko, Tissot, Poljot, etc) that seem relatively consistent on that app-- but I don't have a dedicated timegrapher to compare to.

Dan S · Jan 10, 2025

Do a real test and if you're not happy, send it back. I don't think anyone can tell you what happened during shipping.

77J77 · Jan 11, 2025

77J77
I am doing that now-- I did set it based on the atomic clock yesterday and it seemed a minute fast today, but I did not record the seconds yesterday. This morning I've recorded that I'm currently +11 vs the Atomic Time app (time.apple.com). I'm unsure of the accuracy of the timegrapher apps, but I have used the timegrapher app with my other watches and tend to get pretty consistent results. I have a few other mechanical watches (Mido, Seiko, Tissot, Poljot, etc) that seem relatively consistent on that app-- but I don't have a dedicated timegrapher to compare to.

Dan S
Do a real test and if you're not happy, send it back. I don't think anyone can tell you what happened during shipping.

Thanks for the reply. It gained 17 seconds over the past day. I guess an unstated part of my question was whether it is normal for a watch to run fast in the days after an overhaul and/or if the large difference in the reading in the dial down position could be indicative of something. I'll continue to monitor for the next week and discuss with the watchmaker.

Dan S · Jan 11, 2025

77J77
Thanks for the reply. It gained 17 seconds over the past day. I guess an unstated part of my question was whether it is normal for a watch to run fast in the days after an overhaul and/or if the large difference in the reading in the dial down position could be indicative of something. I'll continue to monitor for the next week and discuss with the watchmaker.

No, I would not expect a watch to run fast after an overhaul.

Post service +12-30s 861 speedy?

77J77

Donn Chambers

77J77

Dan S

77J77

Dan S

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