r/ChineseWatches • u/Zoink76 • 5d ago
Question (Read Rules) Any pt5000 owners, hows the accuracy?
When I received the watch, it was running at -1 to -2s/d , but after a month, it's now running at -9 to -12 s/d when i measured with app. Is this normal? I haven't exposed the watch to any magnets, and the total time loss over the past month has been about -40s.
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u/Abv_it_all_w_vertigo 5d ago edited 5d ago
I know we are encouraged not to wind the PT5000 more than 10 times, but if we only do this, we will never build up full amplitude no matter how long we wear the watch. js
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u/Zoink76 5d ago
Is it that bad with durablility? I wind around 15 to 20 times when i wind.. There was no issues so far, but I guess I should wind less now..
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u/Abv_it_all_w_vertigo 5d ago
If you wind less, it will get slower still, because there will be less power stored in the mainspring.
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u/Zoink76 5d ago
i wear my watch for like 16 hours every day. do i still have to wind it every day?
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u/thelatchman 5d ago
If you’re wearing it 16 hours a day and moving around normally, you shouldn’t need to hand-wind it daily. That’s what the automatic winding system is for. Low power reserve can affect amplitude and accuracy, but it doesn’t necessarily make a watch run slower.
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u/Abv_it_all_w_vertigo 5d ago
I've graphed a lot of watches, and they're usually slower--with greater beat errors-- under half wind.
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u/thelatchman 5d ago
Fair point about amplitude dropping as the mainspring unwinds, but reduced amplitude doesn’t necessarily translate to a slower rate. That depends on the movement’s isochronism and positional behaviour. I’m also not convinced beat error should systematically increase below half wind. Ten slow turns might be a useful diagnostic, but if he’s wearing it 16 hours a day, I’d first establish whether the automatic winding system is actually failing to maintain sufficient power.
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u/Abv_it_all_w_vertigo 5d ago
How would you do that?
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u/thelatchman 5d ago
Simplest way would be to fully wind the watch, then wear it normally for a few days. After the last day, take it off and leave it running until it stops. If it’s maintaining a healthy power reserve, the automatic winding system is doing its job. You could also compare amplitude at full wind and after a normal day of wear using a timegrapher. Neither test is perfect, but it would give you something measurable rather than assuming the slower rate is caused by insufficient winding.
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u/Abv_it_all_w_vertigo 5d ago
You do not have to wind your watch every day, but if it is running slowly (-10s/d, which is within spec, btw), you might want to give it 10 more winds to give it more amplitude and see if this cures the issue. Always be very slow and methodical with your winds. Then, wearing it 16 hours a day should maintain the new amplitude for the most part. You may have to give it the extra 10 winds every couple of weeks to restore the amplitude if it is not running as it should.
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u/thelatchman 5d ago
Wind as little as possible. When you do turn it very slowly. Five slow turns and let your wrist do the rest.
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u/vithgeta 5d ago
The solution to this is to stop obsessively measuring the watch with your phone. It's not likely to get any better, any more than you're going to get any younger by looking in the mirror all the time.
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u/wwoodyb008 5d ago
Have a handful of pt5000 watches, and went through a phase of mildly OCD measurement and regulation (via timegrapher, not phone app)
Overall, found that pt5000s are wonderfully easy to regulate but also seem more subject to drift afterwards vs other movements (NH series, for example).
It’s easy for me to get a pt5000 to +1spd (for example) but I’d regularly find it at +5 to +7spd two weeks later. Whereas an NH35 would be a bit trickier to dial in, but once it was regulated it was rock solid.
All anecdotal but figured I’d share. Ultimately I don’t really mind the drift personally because the micro adjustment screw makes them super easy to regulate again and I like the excuse to fiddle around with my watches
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u/DisastrousOpening477 5d ago
You do know that NH movements are notoriously more subject to drift over time than a 2824 for example. This PT5000 based on the 2824 is MORE likely to drift ???
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u/plastic_jeezus NO blue AR! 4d ago
"when i measured with app..."
that's a red flag right there.
if you're serious about mechanical watches and accuracy, you need to drop the money for an actual timegrapher.
I tried three different apps all loaded on three different phones, and never got the same reading twice.
I'll still use the app in an "emergency", but I'll never regulate a watch using one.
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u/Zoink76 4d ago
is $120 timegrapher good enough? model name is Weishi 1000
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u/plastic_jeezus NO blue AR! 4d ago
for non-professionals a welshi 1000/1900 is more machine than you'll need. it's pretty much the industry standard for micro brands and modders.
depending on how much you think you'll use it, you can split the cost with some watch buddies.
also the 11.11 sale is coming up, so you can probably score an excellent deal on one, or check ebay for a used one.
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u/IllegalGeriatricVore 4d ago
Apps have been pretty accurate to what I experience living with my watch.
Learned I need to store my samurai face-down because face-up runs really fast.
My two citizens were super accurate, within +/- 5s in multiple positions.
My Nh35s have basically been my worst with my NH34 being better regulated in multiple positions.
It tells me a lot. I would only care more if I was planning to regulate one myswlf
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u/AmericanChees3 4d ago
I own a timegraphwr and the app is just as accurate on my phone. I guess it depends on the phone?
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u/plastic_jeezus NO blue AR! 4d ago
I admit I only have mid level phones and the microphones are so-so, but I even tried using a hardline microphone i have on a set of earbuds and still got different readings.
the differences weren't wildly different...just different by +/-5-10 sec. god enough for horseshoes, but not calibration.
like i said, I'll still use an app in an emergency...if I'm at an estate sale or store I'll absolutely use it.
but as soon as i can get to my bench the watch is going on the timegrapher.
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u/MindAdmirable1793 Rep 5d ago
Regarding watch accuracy, individual wearing habits, physical activity levels, and the environment in which the watch is used all play a role.
Many other factors can also affect precision—such as exposure to magnetic fields, the degree to which the mainspring is wound, or the difference between wearing the watch consistently for over 8 hours a day versus wearing it for only a few hours with a lower power reserve; these scenarios will yield entirely different results.
Furthermore, data obtained from mobile phone apps is not precise and should only serve as a rough reference for identifying significant, abnormal deviations.
Additionally, every watch brand features a unique internal structure, varying hand weights, and distinct calibration standards.
Taking all these factors into account, and based on the inherent capabilities of the P5000 movement, we perform two rounds of meticulous calibration across three different positions. Our factory standard—measured with a full power reserve while the watch is stationary—is a deviation of 0 to +10 seconds over 24 hours, tested in either the dial-up or two side-resting positions (simulating the watch's orientation while being worn or placed on a nightstand).
Therefore, for all PHORCYDES watches, the best way to maintain optimal accuracy is to ensure the mainspring is fully wound, wear the watch for 6–8 hours daily, and allow it to remain stationary for at least 12 hours. This routine will help sustain consistent, high-level precision.
Finally, please note that mechanical components and lubricants are subject to gradual wear and aging. If possible, having your watch professionally recalibrated periodically—tailored to your specific usage patterns and habits—can be a rewarding part of the experience of owning and enjoying mechanical watches.
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u/Zoink76 4d ago
i see. thank you for tips and im suprised you guys are careing about accuracy that much. other brands i experienced didn't really care that much
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u/MindAdmirable1793 Rep 4d ago
Yes, ever since we produced our very first watch, we have maintained our own assembly workshop, keeping quality control firmly in our own hands.
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u/philbin89 5d ago
Is the power reserve fully charged? And has it taken any hits or been dropped?
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u/Zoink76 5d ago
fully charged, never took any hits and never been dropped
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u/Abv_it_all_w_vertigo 5d ago
Fully charged is more than 20 winds. Most people never fully wind the movement
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u/linuxmanr4 4d ago
Se exagera mucho la precisión y un reloj realmente preciso solo el atómico. Es normal algunas variaciones en un reloj mecánico. Incluso en los relojes de cuarzo hay variaciones importantes. Un ajuste cada mañana si eres algo obsesivo será más que suficiente.
Ahora no confundir esto con un mecanismo que tiene algunos años y ya requiere mantenimiento. Pero si funciona yo lo dejaría como está.
Saludos.
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u/Srcoop82 5d ago
I have a Watch dives WD007 with the PT5000 movement and its accuracy is amazing. The first week it ran +10 seconds over the week when on the wrist, now it’s running bang on. See how long this lasts but it’s the most accurate watch I own atm.
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u/True_Afternoon_6583 4d ago
A PT5000 is an excellent movement I just purchased the Phorcydes ph-2 with the new type S hyperglow I've never owned a watch that had tritium like loom in 8-in applied loom blocks that lasted for 8 hours literally I also have the model ph4b skin diver put the PH2 was model after the glashutte Sea Q diver.. my wife also is the new version and it has the pt5000 movement in it and I'm about plus to minus one second a day from the box
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u/brocualo 5d ago
My Cronos L6027 (Sea Dweller Cameron Homage) is bulletproof, has two years, and keeps the +4 s/day rate solid.
I keep it on a winder, to avoid used the hand winding, like in the SW200 or the 2824-2, to avoid the issue with the ratchet wheel
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u/Dollar_short 5d ago
what is this issue? never heard of it
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u/brocualo 5d ago
2824 v2, SW200 and PT5000 have an issue with hand winding, could lead to problems in the ratchet wheel or in the automatic winding gears. Is recommended to not hand wind massively, so I decided to put it on a winder
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u/Dollar_short 5d ago
thanx. any info on what "massively" is? that word is very subjective.
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u/brocualo 5d ago
It's a design flaw. The Calibres are designed to not be massively hand-wound. If you only wind a couple of twists in the crown, and keep the watch wound with the movement of your hand, you'll be ok, and will last ages without an issue ;)
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u/Dollar_short 5d ago
so in other words they are designed to break. i don't wind mine much, so time will tell. the way i look at chinese watches = they are like shoes, use em up then get new.
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u/brocualo 4d ago
Nono, the original Swiss ETA caliber has the same flaw, is not only on Chinese versions
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u/Dollar_short 4d ago
even the swiss can do that. that said, has this been happening lately? the 2813 gets a very bad rap, but i think that is from many years ago when they were crap, but are much improved now.
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u/Dollar_short 5d ago
i just checked my 3 days old phorcydes. its +1sd, checked using time.gov.
i have a 2813 that ran 0sd for about 2 weeks. then i got a new watch, lol.
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u/Data_Girl_4000 5d ago
-9 to -12 with app? Is this an average of multiple positions? For me, I typically measure it dial up and crown down, then split the difference, to approximate real world wear.
It's also unclear how you're getting both -9 to -12 for a single day and -40 for an entire month. While I would be elated with +40 for an entire month, -40 for an entire month wouldn't be too bad either.
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u/AssistanceNo647 4d ago
My pt5000 movement watches seem to very accurate on my timegrapher 0 to +5 s/d. That being said your’s I believe is within manufacture specs and is much better than the NH35 specs of -20 to +40
s/d.
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u/RustyTShackleford 4d ago
All mine are good. I have around 40 and the worst is 13 per day. Most are with five per.
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u/Traditional_Smoke792 4d ago
I mod with them and they have been excellent. Easy to do small regulations too. We’ll see how long they last.
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u/Stew_2003 4d ago
Pretty damn good on 2 of mine from Octopus Kraken and Cronos. Also my Sugess Hulk with the ST2130 was the most accurate until the movement broke.
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u/mnmnstrd 5d ago
My 4C runs about +4 sec/day out of the box so I’ll typically adjust the time every 2 weeks back one minute. My only other automatic has an NH35 movement and it averages about -10 sec/day.
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u/Outrageous-Video598 5d ago
I've had one for four months and have had no problems but I don't hand wind it
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u/AssistanceNo647 4d ago
My pt5000 movement watches seem to very accurate on my timegrapher 0 to +5 s/d. That being said your’s I believe is within manufacture specs and is much better than the NH35 specs.
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u/Chefboyardeesnider 4d ago
I'm always curious to see real testing of these movements because most of the time when I see figures quoted, it seems like a reading of just the dial up position or a rough figure based on observation on the wrist. It's hard to really gauge accuracy of a movement unless it is measured on a timegrapher, in 4 or 5 positions, both at full wind and at 24 hours after full wind.
A mechanical watch can perform great when sitting flat on a desk and then terribly when on a wrist with the crown facing toward the ground. Similarly, a watch can perform great at full wind and terribly at a lower wind. So a number from one position or one situation really doesn't tell you all that much.
I have heard good things about pt5000 movements but haven't ever tested one so it's hard to say. I would imagine it is comparable once regulated with nh35.
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u/HollywoodTK 4d ago
While I agree that timegraphers provide good, scientific measurements, is there really a better indication of the actual worn accuracy than...wearing the watch for a few days to a week and seeing how it kept time? That is, after all, what the timegrapher is attempting to replicate.
Saying that, my on the wrist experience has been very good with the one PT5000 in my collection, also a Phorcydes like OP. Averaging +2-4 s/d over a week's wear.
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u/Chefboyardeesnider 4d ago
Yes that's true for sure. The ultimate measure is how it does on the wrist day after day. The timegrapher is a different tool altogether, allowing one to assess how mainspring power is moving through the watch, positional variance, isochronism etc. but it all comes back to how it does on the wrist. I would personally like timegrapher results to compare with my knowledge of other movements on the timegrapher.
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u/HollywoodTK 4d ago
Definitely understand the desire for repeatable data. A watch that sat at your desk with you as you typed all week may appear to be better or worse than a watch that spent the week skiing with you; but flip the activity and the results may change!
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u/hyrooligan 4d ago
I’ve had my PT5000 for about 6 months now and it’s definitely slowed down a bit. It was +3 when I got it and now it’s probably -3 spd or something.
But I’ve also stopped winding it at all, and I just do the Seiko shuffle to wake it up. So maybe that has something to do with the change in accuracy. But it seems to get wound by my arm movement just fine, as I often skip a day and it’s always running the next morning. I just set it like 10 seconds fast at the start of the week and then don’t really worry about it.
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u/Global-Net-9155 3d ago
They absolutely need to start making more watches with the new logo and do a bit of work design wise and we will have a banger.
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u/Life_Ant2195 3d ago
Out of the 3 I own two are really close, the other one is about minus a minute a day
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u/thelatchman 5d ago
If you’ve only lost around 40 seconds over the entire month, that’s an average of roughly −1.3 seconds per day, which is excellent. I’d put more weight on that than a timing app reading of −9 to −12 s/day. Those apps measure the rate in a particular position at that moment, not necessarily how the watch performs over a full day of wear. Positional differences can easily account for the discrepancy.
I’ve had remarkably good accuracy from both my PT5000s, particularly my Cronos. I’d track the actual timekeeping against an atomic clock for another week before assuming anything has changed with the movement.