I ran a watch on a basic timegrapher and got +6 s/d, 245 degrees amplitude and 0.8 ms beat error, dial up, about an hour after winding. Is this good, bad or normal? I don't want to send it for service on a single reading.
Reply scope: address the opening question, explain the supporting record or reasoning, and state the limit of the answer.
First identify the caliber, lift-angle setting, winding state and measurement position. Without those fields, the rate, amplitude and beat-error values lack enough context for a useful comparison.
Can the same settings and winding state be used for several positions? Record each position separately rather than combining measurements taken under different conditions.
Amplitude depends on the movement and measurement setup. Compare it with appropriate specifications and a qualified watchmaker’s assessment; a universal pass/fail threshold would be misleading.
The lift angle must match the movement specification for the amplitude reading to be meaningful. If it is unknown, label amplitude as provisional instead of accepting the instrument default.
A useful table has columns for date, position, winding state, lift angle, rate, amplitude and beat error. Keep the full recording so settings and stability can be checked.
The reported numbers alone do not establish damage or the need for service. Confirm the setup, collect comparable readings and ask a watchmaker to assess a concerning or changing pattern.
Clarification for “Timegrapher reading context: what do rate, amplitude and beat error actually tell me?”: the point beginning “First identify the caliber, lift-angle setting, winding…” belongs to the question as written. It should not be read as a report that a new check, purchase or experiment has been completed. Review focus: scope. Keep the stated question separate from any broader claim.