El Primero accuracy - what's reasonable?
Discussion
After a recent service my EP Zenith has settled down to a pretty consistent 7secs a day gain. When new (c8 years ago) it was accurate to within a very few seconds a month.
As it was done by LVMH as part of a repair, I do have the ability to send it back for re-regulating within the one year warranty period.
My question is, is it worth it, i.e. could they improve its accuracy to finer tolerances?
As it was done by LVMH as part of a repair, I do have the ability to send it back for re-regulating within the one year warranty period.
My question is, is it worth it, i.e. could they improve its accuracy to finer tolerances?
If you don't ask you don't get. Easy to regulate a watch to a particular target, its the Isochronism to achieve accuracy in different positions and temperatures that is the problem. My Tutima Nato is a case in point, it was running slow by about 10 s per day, I got Watchworks in Bristol to regulate it. Rocco put it on his timing machine and made it run 10s faster. Recently it has been running to within a few seconds per week so the regulation worked. Its Isochronism is terrible, probably as much as 30s variation across the positions but this is irrelevant to me as it runs mega accurate on my wrist. The best bit is that the whole process took make 10 minutes from handing over the watch to getting it back, adjusted and sealed. In your case though the watch is under warranty so I imagine it needs to go back to the manufacturer. It may well settle down though and +7 is getting on for borderline on spec anyway, could easily run well within spec by next month.
Thought I'd drop back onto my old EP thread to ask another question.
The lower pusher pinged off again. No problem really, but this time I couldn't find the tiny return spring that sits underneath. I've just had a quote to replace it: £126... Reason? It only comes as a unit with both the pusher and the spring.
Any idea whether the spring is a generic item that I might be able to pick up elsewhere or do I have to bite the bullet and buy and what might just be, pro rata, the world's most expensive spring?
The lower pusher pinged off again. No problem really, but this time I couldn't find the tiny return spring that sits underneath. I've just had a quote to replace it: £126... Reason? It only comes as a unit with both the pusher and the spring.
Any idea whether the spring is a generic item that I might be able to pick up elsewhere or do I have to bite the bullet and buy and what might just be, pro rata, the world's most expensive spring?
GC8 said:
If this was my watch, Id now be sending it to Joe Horner at Anglesey Clock and Watch. I suspect that all independents might struggle to obtain the parts though.
I agree - cartels R us makes this an issue, which is why I was wondering if the spring is unique to El Ps or a bought-in item, in which case there's a chance?Bonefish Blues said:
Thought I'd drop back onto my old EP thread to ask another question.
The lower pusher pinged off again. No problem really, but this time I couldn't find the tiny return spring that sits underneath. I've just had a quote to replace it: £126... Reason? It only comes as a unit with both the pusher and the spring.
Any idea whether the spring is a generic item that I might be able to pick up elsewhere or do I have to bite the bullet and buy and what might just be, pro rata, the world's most expensive spring?
It would depend on the pusher. Some can be disassembled and a similar spring (either new or from other dead pushers) some are sealed units which can't be taken apart. Some watches use one type, some the other and once used one and now use another.The lower pusher pinged off again. No problem really, but this time I couldn't find the tiny return spring that sits underneath. I've just had a quote to replace it: £126... Reason? It only comes as a unit with both the pusher and the spring.
Any idea whether the spring is a generic item that I might be able to pick up elsewhere or do I have to bite the bullet and buy and what might just be, pro rata, the world's most expensive spring?
If in your case the pusher has unscrewed itself the springs might be available if you have a tame watchmaker who's willing to do part jobs. A bit of threadlock can prevent them coming unscrewed, but then you risk breaking them when it comes time to strip the case for polishing.
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