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Tridente chrono about 5 yrs old very little use, yet today when i went to wind and wear it i noticed my hour hand is a bit off, say its 10 mins to 2pm, when my min hand is at the 10 mins to mark, the hour hand is already pointing about 2 ticks past the 2 hour mark, gets worse as hour comes and passes, just seems as tho the hour hand is advanced.

Any idea what could cause this (no drops or damages), wound it up gonna wear it all day today but doubt it will just "correct" itself.

Can post a pic if it would help but think the description hopefully makes sense, has this happened to anyone else and what am i looking at $ wise to fix it?

The watch seems to still keep perfect time just that hour hand is a bit forward of its proper position on the dial.

Very bummed today about this...


Bill

Took a pic and added it today, also tested it out by moving the watch around a few light taps at angles (to see if hr our min hand were loose), everything seems solid (nothing moved on the hands etc) I am just stumped on what caused this and curious what it will take to get it fixed.

The watch does work and keeps time great still just annoying to see the hour hand off like this.

Wife gave me this for our 11th anniversary as a gift about 4 yrs ago, i'd say 80% of the time it sits in the case not moving, and once a month or so I pull it out, wind it up and wear it a few days, so overall it's had very little use so this issue stumps me....

Technically, only two possibilities.

The hour hand is attached to the center wheel via a pinion (slip fit). See below for a simple gear train diagram:



Either the center wheel has a problem (in which case there would be more issues), or the hour hand moved on the pinion.

The later is a common effect if a watch experiences sudden decelleration (drop/impact/banged into a door jam) while the hand is at an angle towards the direction of the decelleration. If the force excerted onto the hand exceeds the coefficient of the slip fit, it will simply "release" and move. This coefficient is rather high (try to set or remove hands for yourself and you'll see), so it will take some force to move them, they don't just slip by themselves. Given that the Chrono hands seem straight, my guess is that the impact was either top or bottom of the watch, most likely a desk or table surface or door jamb, while the hour want was anywhere from 8 to 11 pm or 2 to 5 am. Check the bezel or solid end links, there may even be a small ding from the impact. Are you wearing your watch in bed while sleeping?

For a fix, simply remove the hands and set them again correctly. A competent local watchmaker should be able to do this for you, just make sure to check if all hands reset correctly afterwards and the date change is still correct (many so called "repair" shops have no clue and butcher a movement rather than doing it right). If your watch is 5 years, it should get a movement service, during which it will be completely disassembled, cleaned, inspected, assembled and lubricated, so the hands would get set correctly again anyhow. Also a good time to check WR and replace gaskets if needed (this should actualy get done annually) and it seems like she could use some cosmetic service as well (new bezel inlay, polish and brush of case and bracelet).

Where did you buy the watch?

Cheers

Matt

Thanks for the reply Matt, got the watch from my wife as an anniversary gift about 4 yrs ago and the paperwork/shipping label came from Germany, i thought she stuck the paperwork in our personal articles insurance folder but couldn't find it to reference this morning.

I don't recall anything bang or drop wise the last time I wore it, it was around the holidays and I wore it for a 3 day weekend down to see family and friends in Indiana.

I am a bit nervous sending this into any local shop really, any idea what questions I should ask before taking it in somewhere and about what the price would be to do an overhaul and fix the hour hand (assuming its the easier of the problems - adjusting the hands).

I would like to get it buffed out and replace my bezel inlay too (already got the replacement inlay just never had the old one taken off and replaced), I got it from you I believe

Just horrible timing, we have a new baby, wife lost her job in oct 09, heck it's about one of the only things I really get true joy out of material possession wise these days and to put it on wind it up and see the hands out of whack, wel it just bummed me out bigtime...


Bill

Bill,

You should really talk to the dealer in Germany that sold you the watch; I can't help you with a gray import. That dealer made money off your purchase, money that is supposed to cover him assisting you. What did you get in return for the money he made?

Customers that purchase from me/us here in the US get our support and assistance and we are going the extra mile, as you can see from some of the posts by satisfied customers that experienced it first hand.

It's just like with our economy; if you keep on buying cheap stuff from China, manufacturers here can't afford to keep the doors open and those jobs will leave the country. If the jobs leave the country, opportunities to create income, pay taxes etc. are lost, often lost forever. So if you don't support local businesses, you may have to live with the results.

Caveat emptor!

Matt

Thanks for the reply, will make sure to let all my friends know this...

Billa send me a email at toxicavenger70@yahoo.com. Beautiful watch too!

Let them know exactly what?

Cheers

Matt

My watch is out of warranty so contacting the shop in Germany where my wife bought it for me would put me in the same place (still looking for someone to fix it). I get many comments on my watch and always forward them to this page/forum so I will make sure to let them know if they ever want future service beyond their warranty to buy it from you.

I will find a reputable local area shop to help me on this and sorry to have taken your time here.

Bill

authorized dealer is the level of post sales service. Matt has been great about helping out when the rare problem crops up...even post warranty