Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

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Axelay2003
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Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Axelay2003 » Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:08 pm

What is the tolerance(acceptable) for day/date changes on mechanical watches. I have never really focused on the exact times when the day/date actually change.

My observation from one of my Sinn 103 LE, the day and date starts to turn/change at 23:00. The day completely changes exactly at 23:43. The date changes fully at 23:57.

One of my ZRC watches, changes completely at 23:50.

The other ZRC completely changes at 23:57 and 30 secs.

I will check all of my other watches to see when they make the complete change.

All this time, I assumed all day/date changes occur exactly at 24:00.

I’m also assuming that different types of movements are also a consideration when day and date change.

:scratch:
Last edited by Axelay2003 on Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Axelay2003
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Re: Day and date changes in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Axelay2003 » Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:12 pm

This is the only topic I have seen when I searched google.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=433003

Am I being paranoid?
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CGSshorty
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Re: Day and date changes in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by CGSshorty » Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:48 pm

I never see it happen, so I don't really care.
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Axelay2003
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Re: Day and date changes in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Axelay2003 » Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:48 pm

CGSshorty wrote:
Sat Aug 04, 2018 4:48 pm
I never see it happen, so I don't really care.
:roll:
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gonzomantis
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by gonzomantis » Sat Aug 04, 2018 5:00 pm

I thought it was the same little elf who turns off the refrigerator light when you close the door! :shrug:

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Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by matt.wu » Sat Aug 04, 2018 5:20 pm

Very dependent on movement. I'm a fan of the instantaneous flip ala Rolex. They usually get it pretty damn close to midnight too. Love the audible "click".
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Torrid
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Torrid » Sat Aug 04, 2018 5:33 pm

I’ve seen it because there’s a lot of times I’m still working, though I couldn’t tell you the exact time it happens on my watches.

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by toxicavenger » Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:01 pm

I like all of mine to change anywhere from 10 minutes before 12 o'clock or after 12 o'clock within 10 minutes. Is it really relevant? Not really just my personal preference

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by bedlam » Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:17 pm

The bigger issue I have is when the date isn't well centered, whatever time it arrives!

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Axelay2003 » Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:35 pm

toxicavenger wrote:
Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:01 pm
I like all of mine to change anywhere from 10 minutes before 12 o'clock or after 12 o'clock within 10 minutes. Is it really relevant? Not really just my personal preference
So, 10min prior is still acceptable?

The example I posted with the person that owns a PAM has his date to change at 23:35.

I was thinking of returning the ZRC that changes at 23:50, to have it calibrated closer to midnight. They already said it would be fine to return and would send me the FedEx return label mid August. I just received it after waiting over 8 months, and I really want to wear it. Who knows when I’ll get it back.

Also, I’m afraid, they may scuff up the matte bead blasted finish when they reopen the case and recalibrate the date wheel. :shrug:
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Henryj » Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:45 pm

No expert here, but it does seem to depend on the movement. Seiko day-date like the 7S26 seem to take a couple hours from start to finish. My experience with 7750 based movements seems to show they take about an hour for the full day date change over, starting around 2330.
Last edited by Henryj on Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by r.palace » Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:57 pm

My Pelagos changes at 12:03. Got no problem with that
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Chocodove » Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:43 pm

Axelay2003 wrote:
toxicavenger wrote:
Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:01 pm
I like all of mine to change anywhere from 10 minutes before 12 o'clock or after 12 o'clock within 10 minutes. Is it really relevant? Not really just my personal preference
So, 10min prior is still acceptable?

The example I posted with the person that owns a PAM has his date to change at 23:35.

I was thinking of returning the ZRC that changes at 23:50, to have it calibrated closer to midnight. They already said it would be fine to return and would send me the FedEx return label mid August. I just received it after waiting over 8 months, and I really want to wear it. Who knows when I’ll get it back.

Also, I’m afraid, they may scuff up the matte bead blasted finish when they reopen the case and recalibrate the date wheel. :shrug:
As long as it’s consistently changing at the same time every day, no big deal. Not worth sending it back and having it opened IMO. As long as time keeping is good and the date changes at the same time around midnight, it’s doing what it’s supposed to.
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by r.palace » Sat Aug 04, 2018 9:01 pm

Well my Pelagos just switched over now precisely at 12. Hmm never seen the switch over change times
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Andycapp » Sat Aug 04, 2018 9:12 pm

Hmm, I've never worried to much as the date changes in the middle of the night. However I'm a bit surprised at the variance you guys are reporting. Of course different movements will take different lengths of time to complete the process. But the timing of the date change has nothing to do with date wheel "alignment". It's simply a matter of installing the hands correctly. When casing I "set" the time forward until the date changes, then install the hands at precisely midnight. Simple as that!

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by blkgsl » Sat Aug 04, 2018 9:47 pm

It all depends on movement - some start as early as 10 pm and last until 3 am. This is especially common in annual or perpetual calendars, where the switching cycle sometimes must move multiple dates in order to arrive at the right number. On a typical Rolex or ETA (non-775x), I'd say +/- 10 minutes of midnight is acceptable - in fact, the repair is trivial - it's a matter of resetting hands to a slightly different position. So even if it's beyond that range, I'm not too concerned; it can be addressed at the next service.

Fwiw, my favorite date change mechanism is on the JLC 889 caliber - even setting the date via crown's quickset is an instantaneous jump. Super cool in person, and it is very satisfying to hear the click.

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Axelay2003 » Sun Aug 05, 2018 2:28 am

Thanks for all the replies. :thumbsup:

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by JBZ » Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:52 am

If I got to bed and it shows one date, and when I wake up it shows the following date, I’m pretty sure all is well.
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by ericf4 » Sun Aug 05, 2018 6:35 am

JBZ wrote:If I got to bed and it shows one date, and when I wake up it shows the following date, I’m pretty sure all is well.
This ^^^^^^^^

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by CesarG » Sun Aug 05, 2018 8:39 am

Just don’t wear sunscreen, don’t bathe in a chlorine pool or play golf while wearing your mechanical watch. Just get a G Shock while you’re at it. You’ll thank me later.

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by gwells » Sun Aug 05, 2018 8:42 am

ND FTW

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by Grahamcombat » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:03 am

gwells wrote:ND FTW
^^+1

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by DoctorC » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:19 am

JBZ wrote:
Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:52 am
If I got to bed and it shows one date, and when I wake up it shows the following date, I’m pretty sure all is well.

If I go to bed, and wake up.... All is well.
:grin:
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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by unixshrk » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:29 am

DoctorC wrote:
JBZ wrote:
Sun Aug 05, 2018 5:52 am
If I got to bed and it shows one date, and when I wake up it shows the following date, I’m pretty sure all is well.

If I go to bed, and wake up.... All is well.
:grin:
Yep

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Re: Day and date change in mechanical watches. What is acceptable?

Post by jeckyll » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:58 am

I've never really worried about it.

On 7750s your not supposed to change day or date between 9pm and 3am I think. So, any interval in there is ok



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