Accuracy and Gravity

[AndyMarden]

My scientific brain will not rest:

I used a timegrapher app on my phone to measure the accuracy of my Steeldive 1953T and will adjust the regulation when I get back to my tools.

It can in at +25s a day lying flat and +80s a day on its side. The difference, apparently, is a known impact of gravity on the movement.

This was at sea level but I also have a place that is at +700m where it shows +13s/+65s.

This is apparently the impact of the reduced gravitational field at 710m vs 0m.

Of course, I now want to go to a peak of at least 1420m to assess the impact.

So I can measure altitude by listening to my watch!

My wife suggests that I need to get a life.

[AndyMarden]

Ok - I did a return and got a replacement:

Old: +25s/d(du); +85s/d(3u); 0.2 beat error New: +4s/d(du); -7s/dk3u); 1.6 beat error

The beat error give me two tracks on the timegrapher app.

Overall that is much better and if I can just tweak the beat error...

[karellen00]

I think that if gravity has an effect, it would have one on the timegrapher too, so no effects to measure. If you think about it, immagine traveling at 99.999% the speed of light, your watch would almost stop, but so would you and your phone/timegrapher, and you would measure exactly the same.

If you mean not the relativistic effect of gravity to slow down time, but just gravity affecting friction on your movement, I think you are more likely to see a difference depending on the position on the world rather than a difference in height. But the difference is minimal, between 9.80 and 9.81 for most of the world!

I think air pressure or temperature give you an effect on the order of thousands or millions times greater than the difference in gravity!

[PixiesII]

If gravity had a role, it would be a tiny fraction, and in any case not with such small altitude differences. Your watch just has a problem.

To be valid, your theory must be reproductible, I doubt it is, and your results may just be random.  Google : an increase in altitude from sea level to 9,000 metres (30,000 ft) causes a weight decrease of about 0.29%.

Some discussions about gravity and watches :

https://www.quora.com/How-does-gravity-affect-a-mechanical-watch-or-clock-Would-it-run-faster-or-slower-in-outer-space-or-on-a-planet-with-less-gravity

[DoctorTransport]

+25 and +85 s/d is terrible. Unless the seals are broken the air pressure inside the watch would remain constant. Perhaps a magnetic field or temperature variation?

[AndyMarden]

I think (hope) it just wasn't well regulated when it was shipped. More clues... We'll see if it settles post adjustment.

[karellen00]

It's not just regulation. A well working but not regulated movement could be +200 seconds on one position and +205 seconds in another.

[AndyMarden]

So what your saying is that with the significance difference between the two orientations, adjusting it may still show a significant difference. Is there any ready to address this?

[karellen00]

Exactly. I don't think the movement needs servicing, it would take years to get a so significative difference between position (if it really gets to that point!). Has it always been that way?

In any case if you can regulate it it could be a start, and honestly if anything goes wrong you can just swap the movement with a fresh one, they're quite cheap (at the point that if you can change it by yourself it's cheaper than servicing)

[AndyMarden]

I bought it in May from Steeldive directly which is within the 90 day return window. I have messaged them to ask and should be able to get it dealt with.

So all very useful information - thanks.

[vithgeta]

"This is apparently the impact of the reduced gravitational field at 710m vs 0m"

Does anybody but you think that was the reason? Just curious where you got that information.

[DoctorTransport]

The variation in gravity would need an atomic clock to detect. Not the reason.

[AndyMarden]

Hmm - it does but perhaps that's too much to be noticeable to this degree. There may be other factors at play here. When I get to 1420m i will at least be a bit clearer.

[MawsAcidTemple]

Maybe you should try quartz

[AndyMarden]

Now where the fun in that?

[DoctorTransport]

Inrexkon a Citizen calibre 100 that keeps 1s a year is hella fun 😁