WATCH MAINTENANCE GUIDE
5 reasons why automatic watches are delayed | Symptoms that require repair/overhaul also explained
An automatic watch is a mechanical watch that moves by winding a mainspring using the movement of your arm. It's natural for your watch to have a daily difference rather than just a few seconds a month like a quartz watch, but if your watch is noticeably slower than before, tens of seconds a day, or suddenly stops more easily, there may be a hidden problem.
In this article, we will focus on five of the most common causes of delays for those who think that their automatic watches run late, that they tend to stop even though they are worn every day, or that they need to be repaired or overhauled.
1. Insufficient winding
The most common cause is simply insufficient winding of the mainspring.
People tend to think that automatic watches can always be wound sufficiently as long as you wear them, but in reality, this largely depends on the movement of your wrist and the amount of time you wear them. If you have a desk-based lifestyle, don't spend much time outside, or only wear your watch for a few hours, the rotor may not rotate sufficiently and the mainspring may not wind up sufficiently.
When there is little remaining power in the mainspring, the force applied to the movement becomes weaker and the swing angle of the balance wheel decreases. As a result, the clock may become slow or stop at night.
The first thing to check is to wind the crown 30 to 40 times if it is a model that can be manually wound, and then look at the 24-hour difference. If the accuracy is stable when fully wound, the main cause may have been insufficient winding rather than a malfunction.
2. Oil shortage/oil deterioration
The next most common problem is running out of oil or deterioration of the oil inside the movement.
Inside a mechanical watch, there are many gears, shafts, stones, escapements, etc., each of which moves with a very small force. As the lubricant deteriorates, friction increases and parts move more slowly. This causes the swing angle of the balance wheel to decrease, leading to delays and stoppages.
In particular, it is worth suspecting the condition of the oil in a watch that has not been overhauled for more than a few years since purchase, has been stored unused for a while, or has a shorter power reserve than before.
The scary thing about running out of oil is that it not only delays the process, but also makes parts more likely to wear out. If the problem is inspected when the problem is minor, adjustments or overhauls are often enough, but if left untreated, the number of parts to be replaced may increase.
3. Abnormalities around the hairspring or balance wheel
Deformation, eccentricity, entanglement, and dirt on the hairspring are also major causes of automatic watches running out of time.
The hairspring is a very delicate component that controls the movement of the balance wheel, which is the heart of the watch. If an abnormality occurs here, the rhythm of the clock itself will be disrupted. If your watch suddenly starts to lag after a fall or strong impact, it is most likely due to a problem with the balance spring or balance.
In addition, if the delay is not constant and changes greatly from day to day, or if the accuracy changes drastically depending on how it is placed, a malfunction around the balance wheel is suspected.
This part is difficult to judge visually, and touching it forcibly may worsen the condition. If your watch lags significantly after an impact, stops easily, or suddenly becomes unstable, it is best to have it checked at a watch store as soon as possible.
4. Malfunction of automatic winding mechanism
If you wear your watch every day and it still won't wind, there may be a problem with the automatic winding mechanism itself.
Automatic watches have parts such as a rotor, switching wheel, and winding wheel that convert arm movements into winding of the mainspring. If these are worn out, oil runs out, or the rotor rotates poorly, the mainspring will not wind properly even if you are wearing it.
In this case, the symptoms are likely to appear in the form of ``the watch runs in the morning but stops at night,'' ``the power reserve is short even though I'm wearing it,'' and ``it moves when I wind it by hand, but it's unstable when I wind it automatically.''
If the watch is stable when fully wound by hand, but slows down when worn regularly, consider checking the automatic winding mechanism.
5. Magnetism, posture difference, and accuracy adjustment deviation
Finally, magnetization, postural differences, and misalignment are also common causes.
Magnetism can be caused by things such as smartphones, computers, speakers, and magnets in bags and cases. Although it is generally known as a cause of progress, depending on the condition, operation may become unstable, leading to delays or stoppages.
Posture difference means that the accuracy changes depending on how you place the watch. It is a natural phenomenon for mechanical watches that the daily difference changes depending on the position, such as when the watch is placed with the dial facing up, the crown facing up, or the crown facing down. However, if the difference due to posture is extremely large, it is necessary to make adjustments or check the internal condition.
In addition, the accuracy adjustment may simply be delayed. If you measure it with a timegrapher at a watch store, you can pretty much judge its condition based on the day difference, swing angle, unilateral swing, etc.
Easy cutting that you can do yourself
Although specialized tools are required to fully determine the cause of the delay, the following checks will give you a good idea.
- Manually wind the crown about 30 to 40 times.
- set the time accurately
- Check the daily difference after 24 hours
- The next day, try changing the way you place it at night.
- Do not place near smartphones or magnetic cases
If the delay decreases when the wire is fully wound, there is a high possibility that the winding is insufficient. If there is a significant delay even after winding the watch sufficiently, it may be due to lack of oil, misadjustment, abnormality around the hairspring or balance, or malfunction of the automatic winding mechanism.
Signs you should consult a watch store
If you experience any of the following symptoms, we recommend early inspection.
- be more than a few dozen seconds late per day
- It was working fine until yesterday, but suddenly there is a big delay.
- Accuracy worsened after dropping it.
- Stops immediately even if you wind it by hand
- The power reserve is short even though I am wearing it.
- The delay varies greatly depending on the day.
- Has not been overhauled in several years
In particular, if there is a delay after an impact or if there is a suspected lack of oil, it may lead to wear and damage of parts.
If you are concerned about the delay of your automatic watch, please visit Nanapure for watches.
Nanapure Wrist Watches is a watch specialty store that not only sells watches, but also provides consultation after purchase, including repairs and maintenance. Our strength is that we can provide support to help you use your watch for a long time, rather than just selling it.
Our award-winning record on Rakuten Market is one of the reasons why we have been chosen by many customers as a watch specialty store.
In some cases, delays in automatic watches can be easily isolated, such as insufficient winding, while in others, such as problems with the hairspring or lack of oil, professional inspection is required. If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact us via the maintenance page or LINE.
Summary
The most common causes of automatic watches being delayed are insufficient winding, lack of oil or deterioration of oil, abnormalities around the hairspring or balance, malfunction of the automatic winding mechanism, magnetism, differences in posture, and misalignment.
The easiest way to cut it is to first roll it by hand and measure the daily difference. If the delay is still significant, it may be related to internal friction, adjustment, or an abnormality in delicate parts. The more important your watch is, the sooner it is inspected is the shortcut to making it last longer.
Frequently asked questions about automatic watch delays
How late in the day does an automatic watch need to be repaired?
Mechanical watches allow different daily differences depending on the model and movement. However, if it suddenly starts to lag more than before, if it lags more than a few dozen seconds a day, or if it tends to stop even after being fully wound, it would be safer to consider having it inspected or overhauled.
Is there anything I can do to check if my automatic watch is running late?
If you have a model that can be manually wound with the crown, first wind it about 30 to 40 times and then check the 24-hour difference. If the delay decreases when the winding is fully wound, there may be insufficient winding. If it does not improve, there may be a lack of oil, misadjustment, or an abnormality around the hairspring or balance wheel.
Will automatic watches run late if not overhauled?
If a watch has not been overhauled for a long time, the oil inside it may deteriorate and the gears and escapement may become slow to move. As a result, the swing angle of the balance wheel decreases, which may lead to delays or stoppages. If it has not been maintained for several years, we recommend that it be inspected once.