Big pilot accuracy, normal?

[Heber 0]

 

The IWC boutique sales rep told me that the big pilot gains on average 10 - 15 seconds per day. This number is similar to what I've read on the internet. So yesterday I decided to put my new 5009 to the test. I noted the time on my computer at 8:30:00, on my watch it was 8:29:23. Today when my computer struck 8:30:00, my watch was at 8:29:25... I was stunned. 2 second gain?!

Is this accuracy normal on a new watch and it's supposed to degrade over time or did I just get lucky? My PR was around 6 days throughout this test.

[Alex 1]

 

Not surprising. IWC generally does a good job regulating their watches. I have no experience with that movement though, so not sure how PR fluctuations may affect accuracy.

 

[Erren7 2]

 

You need a longer time to check real accuracy. Try about a week or two. But I wouldn't be surprised at a good regulation from IWC.

 

[YyffM74 2]

 

Most BP's that I've seen run fast (mine included)

 

[uBeast 0]

 

IWC has had trouble getting consistent time keeping from their super long PR watches. There were many many many pissed off owners when the Big Pilot first showed up - IWC simply couldn't provide them with better than 15 sec/day timekeeping. I haven't heard complaints about that lately, so either people have lowered their expectations or IWC managed to figure it out.

 

[confidol 0]

 

Single barrel movements with 3+ days of PR are prone to significant variation on accuracy during their cycle, the spring is I simply too long to guarantee exact same performance when fully wound vs when running on empty. I've read of many people not being happy with IWC long-PR movements, and don't really get why wouldn't they do the Panerai thing and run them as a double barrel configuration, after all their R&D are shared within Richmond and should be relatively easy to replicate.

 

[cmmaster 2]

 

This exactly. With the huge dimensions of the IWC in house movements, they should have used double barrels.

 

[shirerry362 1]

 

Sounds like you've been lucky. My BP will run at about +7 when fully wound and worn daily. In the 4 or 5 day range of the power reserve everything goes to hell and I start getting +20s or worse. In days 1 and 2 things slow back down and the watch stays a few minutes ahead but at a consistent rate, before finally stopping. This is after a full servicing from an IWC trained service center at my local AD. When placed on a measurement device, the watch shows less than 5 seconds deviation in all positions, but in real life the performance isn't great.

Like everyone has said, the 7 day power reserve on a single barrel makes it difficult to achieve great accuracy. Then again, a 46 mm case full of iron also makes it heavy to wear. As with people, some watch relationships are more complicated. The BP and 5000 calibers have a sort of love/hate things going for them.

 

[Jason213 0]

 

Quick Update - 5 days in, at 8:30:00 on my PC, watch registered at 8:29:40

so 17 seconds over 5 days = avg 3.4 seconds / day. PR ranged from 5 - 6.5

 

[timezinelard 1]

 

Lucky b@st@rd!

Enjoy the BP, it's a great watch!

 

[LabsTin 0]

You can go through a long time to test the time difference to adjust.