3min/day fast (New Portofino Automatic)

Just bought a Portofino automatic two weeks ago.
It has been great, and love it.
But I just realized that it runs fast, I mean 3min/day fast.
I searched the forum and it says IWC should be at most 7s/fast.

I am just curious how could this happen? I don't wear my watch while running or playing tennis. The only thing I could think of is it may be magnetized since i use my computer a lot. MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, both Aluminum enclosure.

If this is the reason, sadly, does it mean I would probably better not wear my watch while using my computer? Or visit IWC store to demagnetize every month!?

Hi, I am highly doubtful a MacBook Pro or an Air can magnetize a watch. I used them ~6 hours/day at work and have never had any effect. And these now have SSDs, not magnetic-based HDs with moving parts. Even in those old ones the external magnetic field when operating - which I measured once in my lab - is extremely small. It is smaller than wearing your watch and walking through the pulse-induction airport metal detectors.

However your watch could be easily magnetized by some other source, especially where you keep it overnight or for longer periods. If you have a reasonably sensitive compass or some magnetic field sensor you can try and look for any changes by moving around the watch to determine if it is magnetized or not. The easiest thing most here will recommend is to just take it to a watch shop with a demagnetizer. The demagnetizer will randomize any internal magnetization. I expect you can get this done for free at the local AD.

Ray

Thanks a lot Ray! That is some very good advice. I actually also doubt that computers can magnetize a watch, considering semiconductor circuits and LED screen obviously won't. I don't know much about SSD though, assuming it is just a faster flash and still CMOS based.

I highly doubt if our small town New Haven has a watch shop. But anyway if have have free time in the weekends I can go to New York and have it checked. Since I just bought if literally two weeks ago, I guess IWC would check it for free under warranty?

IWC should do it under warranty. As has been stated here by our forum moderator, watches can leave the factory in perfect condition as regards time keeping but delivery employees and companies can treat the shipment to all sorts of shocks throwing the time keeping out. I did wonder if the balance sping was caught but that can produce error rates of +10 minutes per hour. Do not take it to a local watch guy though. Take it to an authorised dealer complete with the guarentee card.

Agreed --if it's not magnetized it's a caught balance spring, which can happen as the result of a large jolt. As mentioned before, I have a "basketball theory" of watch delivery, and there can be problems --fortunately easily fixable, although admittedly disconcerting.

Good luck.

If you use a watch wonder, they sometimes can magnetize the balance spring if the motor winding is not properly insulated. If magnatism is the issue,it's an easy fix. You can get a de-magnetizer at places like Radio Shack. It's easy to do yourself.

Thanks a lot!

Just curious, usually how long would it take the IWC store to fix such a problem?
would it be a day or a week??

I don't live inN NYC and it is 2h train ride to NYC so...

Well I'm in the UK and have zero knowledge of NY boutique or ADs but the only thing a local man is allowed to do for fear of breaking warranty is demagnetise the watch. He must not open it. All work on IWCs is recorded so a service in London will show up if taken to the Hong Kong service centre. Proof of this came about when I asked IWC Schaffhausen for an instruction manual for a second hand watch quoting model number case number and movement number. Months later I sent it in for service in London and I was given a photostat of the instruction manual with the serviced watch. Impressive to say the least IMO.

If your IWC store has an in-house watchmaker, your watch can be demagnetized in minutes. It doesn't even need to be opened. On rare occasions, where the magnetisation is excessive, the watch may need to be opened and re-regulated. You may need to leave your watch with the shop for this.

The electronics or drives in modern laptops and tablets do not normally create magnetic fields strong enough to influence your watch but if they have built-in speakers, their magnets can be very strong over a short distance.
Many mobile phones have magnets strong enough to pick up your keys. Bed-side radio clocks also have large magnets so don't leave your watch beside your clock & phone at night. TV and Hi-Fi speakers should also be avoided. The airport metal detectors, mentioned by Ray, can be very strong. Never wear your watch through one, always pass it through the x-ray instead.
Leo

I don't know if the NY Boutqiue Boutique has a demagnetizer but you can buy one from Radio Shack for less than $100. You might want to try that first. Properly done, there's no risk --it's not an invasive procedure.

If not, why not call the boutique? You might be able to find out about timeframes a (which may depend on several factors) and how best to handle this, including shipping.