Technical advice on Fortis
Discussion
I recently acquired a second hand Fortis Flieger chronograph. It's only 2 years old and looks unworn.
I was a bit surprised today to notice that it had stopped at 3.00am after being worn yesterday and hadn't started again of its own accord. As my Rolex will just start up with a little shake.
I gave it a wind ( how many winds should you do?) and it started it up. I will keep an eye on the watch and see how it goes. It is usually ok and keeps good time when left overnight.
Should I be concerned and get it looked at?
thanks
I was a bit surprised today to notice that it had stopped at 3.00am after being worn yesterday and hadn't started again of its own accord. As my Rolex will just start up with a little shake.
I gave it a wind ( how many winds should you do?) and it started it up. I will keep an eye on the watch and see how it goes. It is usually ok and keeps good time when left overnight.
Should I be concerned and get it looked at?
thanks
50-60 turns of the crown should see the watch fully wound – maybe you weren’t active enough to do that yesterday, with the auto mechanism.
A fully wound 2 year old ETA should be good for about 42 hours – so I’d wind it fully then let it sit and see when it stops again (after setting the time so as to make it easy to calculate the power reserve).
If it’s less than 40 hours, then it could be an indication of something not quite right.
A fully wound 2 year old ETA should be good for about 42 hours – so I’d wind it fully then let it sit and see when it stops again (after setting the time so as to make it easy to calculate the power reserve).
If it’s less than 40 hours, then it could be an indication of something not quite right.
When I got the watch there a no instructions with the watch on how to wind it.
With my Rolex I have never wound it, I just shake it and it is good for 2 days after a few days of wear.
With my Dievas it does need bit of a wind to get going. I never knew that watches have a clutch and I was always worried about over winding a watch. So I will give them 30 turns from now on.
He explained to me to treat them a bit like a mobile phone and every so often give them a full charge!
With the Fortis it is generally 12 hours off my wrist each day so I think it was just not getting much of a chance to get going.
With my Rolex I have never wound it, I just shake it and it is good for 2 days after a few days of wear.
With my Dievas it does need bit of a wind to get going. I never knew that watches have a clutch and I was always worried about over winding a watch. So I will give them 30 turns from now on.
He explained to me to treat them a bit like a mobile phone and every so often give them a full charge!
With the Fortis it is generally 12 hours off my wrist each day so I think it was just not getting much of a chance to get going.
After a full wind and 2 days of wear it stopped last night after being off my wrist for 30mins. Gutted
I'm now in email contact via ebay with the seller, 'it was working perfectly when I sold it' 'I have broken it' etc.
Awkward, but I had to contact him as I am hacked off and potentially facing a big repair bill or just hand wind my auto watch. Initially I was really pleased with the watch and thanked the seller as it was a bargain and in great condition, but was a bit surprised that when I opened the box from receiving it in the post that it needed a wind to get it going.
O well you live and learn.
I'm now in email contact via ebay with the seller, 'it was working perfectly when I sold it' 'I have broken it' etc.
Awkward, but I had to contact him as I am hacked off and potentially facing a big repair bill or just hand wind my auto watch. Initially I was really pleased with the watch and thanked the seller as it was a bargain and in great condition, but was a bit surprised that when I opened the box from receiving it in the post that it needed a wind to get it going.
O well you live and learn.
rat840771 said:
After a full wind and 2 days of wear it stopped last night after being off my wrist for 30mins. Gutted
I'm now in email contact via ebay with the seller, 'it was working perfectly when I sold it' 'I have broken it' etc.
Awkward, but I had to contact him as I am hacked off and potentially facing a big repair bill or just hand wind my auto watch. Initially I was really pleased with the watch and thanked the seller as it was a bargain and in great condition, but was a bit surprised that when I opened the box from receiving it in the post that it needed a wind to get it going.
Highly unlikely that the auto mechanism was damaged in transit, and to a degree, may explain the bargain price paid.I'm now in email contact via ebay with the seller, 'it was working perfectly when I sold it' 'I have broken it' etc.
Awkward, but I had to contact him as I am hacked off and potentially facing a big repair bill or just hand wind my auto watch. Initially I was really pleased with the watch and thanked the seller as it was a bargain and in great condition, but was a bit surprised that when I opened the box from receiving it in the post that it needed a wind to get it going.
If you really like the watch though, get in touch with Variomatic, and see what his view is on it, and a ballpark for fixing/servicing it.
It may be worth doing that, and could result in you still being ahead financially.
He's got a right strop and claiming he would never unknowingly sell a watch that was faulty, I just think he had never really worn it to notice there was an issue.
There is no doubt it is a lovely watch and to be honest I may wind it for the time being and see how it goes, as it is not a screw in crown and its not a hardship winding it.
I have been in touch with Jonathan at Page and Cooper and it would start of at £30 for an assessment and then await the dreaded phone call. replacement parts, but then whilst it is open you might as well service it (£400)
As for selling I would consider it, it cost me £810 all in, so a fair price and I reckon in full working order it would be worth £1250 ish.
The trouble is I also need my Seadweller servicing ( which runs like a dream ) as that is 10 years old now. I cannot believe I may have to spend £1k on servicing.
The price you pay for high end watches!
There is no doubt it is a lovely watch and to be honest I may wind it for the time being and see how it goes, as it is not a screw in crown and its not a hardship winding it.
I have been in touch with Jonathan at Page and Cooper and it would start of at £30 for an assessment and then await the dreaded phone call. replacement parts, but then whilst it is open you might as well service it (£400)
As for selling I would consider it, it cost me £810 all in, so a fair price and I reckon in full working order it would be worth £1250 ish.
The trouble is I also need my Seadweller servicing ( which runs like a dream ) as that is 10 years old now. I cannot believe I may have to spend £1k on servicing.
The price you pay for high end watches!
They’re not high end, but that’s by the by – I doubt the Omega will be £600, even if it’s a chronograph too.
Anyway, speak to Variomatic – they’re both ETA movements, but part of the extra cost of servicing with Omega will be the 2 yr service guarantee. Even so, let Joe give you a ballpark, which even with “just” a 1 year guarantee, may still be more astute financially.
Certainly let him discuss the Fortis at least, as a saving there will be welcomed, given the Omega needing done.
Anyway, speak to Variomatic – they’re both ETA movements, but part of the extra cost of servicing with Omega will be the 2 yr service guarantee. Even so, let Joe give you a ballpark, which even with “just” a 1 year guarantee, may still be more astute financially.
Certainly let him discuss the Fortis at least, as a saving there will be welcomed, given the Omega needing done.
Just spoken with Variomatic, I will be sending the Fortis to him in the New year and hopefully the fee will be between £20 to £150 dependant on the issue.
As a bonus he can also service my Seadweller and Citizen diving watch. So I'll get all 3 done. The price for all 3 will be well under what I was quoted for the Seadweller service from Goldsmiths!
As a bonus he can also service my Seadweller and Citizen diving watch. So I'll get all 3 done. The price for all 3 will be well under what I was quoted for the Seadweller service from Goldsmiths!
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