New Portugieser is +10 seconds. Acceptable?

Hello!

I purchased a new Portugieser Chronograph about a week ago. This is my very first non-quartz watch and certainly the nicest watch I have purchased. I was a little surprised to see the watch runs fast about 10 seconds per day. I understand it needs time to 'settle down' so hopefully it will improve!

The jeweler told me that IWC tests their watches from 0 to +7. Is that true? I didn't realize that 7 seconds fast is considered acceptable. I just want to make sure I have my expectations in order?

0 to +7 is the spec. Give it a bit of time to settle in. If it still runs fast take it to your AD for an adjustment. It's a simple fix.

Congratulations on your first IWC. Post pictures when you have time. We love to see them. Wear it in good health.

+10 wouldn’t bother me. Personally, I wouldn’t even time a mechanical watch. After a few weeks If the time seemed way out, I’d be concerned - otherwise don’t stress it.

If you want hyper accuracy, mechanical watches won’t be for you :)

Excellent, thank you for the replies. I find mechanical watches fascinating and can live with a little inaccuracy. It just wanted to know what to expect! How accurate are your watches that you own?

It really depends.. I’m pretty sure when your watch left the factory, it was within a few seconds a day, but shipping a mechanical object across the world can certainly have an effect on the watch..

I used to be really ocd with my watches and would time them all and finally realize it was really just silly.. I’ve had Aquatimer that ran -+ 0 seconds over a couple weeks and I’ve had Big Pilots run +15 a day. For the record, I have a Patek right now that I know is running fast, but honestly, it’s a mechanical masterpiece and sending it off for adjustment may just cause more harm than good.

I’d strap that baby on, post pics here on the forum and not worry about it. You’re wearing a mechanical marvel on your wrist, either way you look at it. Wear it well :)

I had a Portuguese handwound that ran about 10 seconds a day fast, after a while this bothered me. I took it to an AD while on holiday in Switzerland, they fixed it easily, it now runs almost perfectly.

I wouldn't accept "it is mechanical so it is OK if it runs fast". Manufacturers make the effort to let it run within quite tight specifications, so it can be done, I wouldn't expect less from my watch.

Kind regards,
Paul

Give it a little more time and wear it regularly - place it in different positions at evening - and then 60 days from now, take another look. If it's still a little too fast for you - you may also try buying a $10 "Jewelers Demagnetizer" online - although, when a watch is "magnetized" it is usually much worse, like +/- 1:00 (1 minute or more) per day... but if it has a minor magnetism impact - perhaps it can correct a couple seconds.

Also, the 0-7+ standard is BETTER than other Swiss COSC certifications like (Rolex) which are -5 to +5 (a 10-second range) which allows a watch to run SLOW - with an IWC, regulated to only with +7 seconds - you will never be late for a meeting....

I don't agree. The COSC specifications are (-3/+6 sec. per day) and Rolex standards are -2/+2 sec. per day, they call their creations "superlative chronometers" just to point out thier stict range of tollerance.

Are you sure that your Portuguesier is correctely winded? I purchased a new Pilot's Watch three months ago and i wasn't satisfied because it runs fast 4-5 seconds per days. After a full winding and putting it with face down when not dressed i've reduced the gap to 2,2 sec per days that is ok for me. Ten seconds are not acceptable for a brand new IWC.

While we are all debating "seconds" per day, some food for thought...

A watch nearly always leaves the factory well regulated - anything can happen in travel (temp deviations, watch gets bumped around etc etc) which can all have an effect on a watches timing.

While I'm sure you could send it into IWC to be regulated, don't be surprised if it comes back running worse off, or dust is under the crystal, or a new scratch on the dial etc - all sorts of things happen when a watch is opened up - all over a couple seconds a day.

I once sent a JLC Navy Seals in for adjustment as it was running -8 a day (clearly not good) - JLC sent it back to me saying it was running within spec and they knocked the indicator on the bezel at 12 loose on me. Now the irony is, the watch came back running spot on and JLC didn't even open up the case.

If you dig around on forums, you'll find countless stories of watches coming back worse than they went in.

Is +10 ideal? Probably not... Is it worth losing your watch for potentially a month or two only to have it come back worse off? It's likely it'll come back running within +7 a day, but really is it worth the headache? I guess only you can decide :)

I think the picture that is erected here is far too negative, far too worst case. It took my AD in Switzerland two days to make my watch run near perfect, and the watch was in prime condition after he touched it. It was quite a good watchmaker I guess, at an official IWC AD, in a first class Swiss resort with some competition. I think that the treatment my watch and I got there is nearer to reality, as long as you seek the best person to do it.

Kind regards,
Paul