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From Tissot to Omega: watch owners in every price range know the problem of an automatic watch that ticks too slowly or too fast. Leave it unadjusted for a few weeks, and the timepiece ends up several minutes behind the exact digital clock. Is your watch running slow? Our magazine explains which rate deviations are normal, what causes a watch to lose time, and how to have the best possible precision of your automatic or hand-wound watch restored.
All mechanical watches are imprecise
"My watch keeps losing time!" Every day, German watchmakers and jewelers are confronted with frustrated owners whose mechanical timepieces deviate noticeably from atomic time. The extent of the error varies: while some watches lose a mere three seconds a day, others drift several minutes away from the correct time. We can reassure the first group: if the inaccuracy falls within a range of minus ten seconds to plus ten seconds over 24 hours, the watch can be considered precise. Tiny differences in mechanical construction and regulation mean that two examples of the same watch model can differ noticeably from each other. Whether you happen to get one that comes close to zero deviation is a matter of luck. Anyone who expects (near-)perfect precision has to buy a quartz watch.
Which rate deviations are acceptable?
Is your watch running slow? Watchmakers can influence the size of the window in which the potential deviation lies, on the one hand through the quality of the components and the construction of the caliber, and on the other through adjustment in various positions. Gravity, friction, and any imbalances between the movement components cause precision to vary depending on the position of the watch. To compensate for this, the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) prescribes five positions in which movements must be regulated: dial up/down, crown up/down, and crown left. Finally, the mean daily rate is calculated. The coveted certification is awarded in the following cases:
- Automatic watch running slow: up to minus four seconds per day is permitted.
- Automatic watch running fast: a maximum of plus six seconds per day qualifies for COSC.
The same standards apply to hand-wound watches. Luxury brands such as Breitling and Chopard rely on the renowned COSC procedure, as do more affordable manufacturers from Tissot to Hamilton, to guarantee customers a recognized minimum standard of precision.
Omega goes one step further with its METAS certification: regulated in six positions, the watches may gain no more than five seconds (automatic watch running slow: failed!) and must withstand strong magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss.
Rolex's in-house "Superlative Chronometer" certification is particularly strict: anything beyond plus/minus two seconds per day is not permitted. But as you can see, no mechanical movement delivers 100 percent precision.
Automatic watch running slow: causes
Your watch is losing time – now what? If the deviation is considerably larger than the COSC tolerance, for example 30 seconds a day, action is needed. Rather than tinkering with it yourself and, in the worst case, causing thousands of euros in damage, you should take the watch to a watchmaker. The watchmaker will first identify the cause of the inaccuracy, which can vary:
- Service required: every mechanical movement needs regular servicing (typically every five to eight years). This primarily involves replacing the oils and worn components. If this work is not done, the result is severe inaccuracy, up to the caliber drying out and being damaged.
- Magnetized hairspring: smartphones, speakers, magnetic clasps on handbags – mechanical watches can become magnetized through everyday influences. To a small degree this is harmless, but extreme cases are unmistakable: the automatic watch runs fast – by several hours! That is exactly why the METAS certification places such great importance on magnetic resistance.
- Hard knocks: if the hairspring takes a hard hit, its outer coil can jump out of position. The result: the automatic watch runs slow. Misaligned regulator pins and a sticking hairspring are also common causes.
- Water in the movement: dive watches need their water resistance checked regularly. If moisture gets into the movement, damage follows.
Watch running slow: how to fix it
Inaccuracy is not only a problem for those fascinated by the technology, but also in everyday life: if your watch is slow, the unpleasant consequences range from missing your train to arriving late for important appointments. Whether Hublot, Breitling, or Chopard – significant inaccuracies must be corrected by a professional. Often, a simple regulation of the caliber is all the watchmaker needs to reduce the loss. In other cases, a complete service or repair is required. The longer you postpone the necessary work, the more serious the damage and the higher the cost. If you stick to the service intervals, you can often get away with a comparatively inexpensive cleaning. Brand-new watches need a check, too: once they have run in, they should have their rate checked after a few weeks and be regulated if necessary.
Incidentally, quartz watches are not entirely exempt from maintenance. Despite a new battery, many owners are surprised to find that the watch is running slow! The most common reason is aged lubricant in the gear train, which makes it harder for the wheels to turn, demands more torque from the stepper motor, and makes it more prone to errors. Digital watches are not susceptible to this problem because the quartz oscillations are passed not through a gear train to mechanical hands, but to a digital counter.
Tips for properly caring for automatic watches
Automatic watch running slow – there are many causes, and just as many professional solutions. But what can you do yourself to reduce rate deviation and limit wear? One important factor is how you store the watch overnight. Is your automatic watch running slow? Try laying it on its side with the crown facing up. Conversely, a crown-down position can help "slow down" a watch that runs fast.
[box type="info" align="" class="" width=""]Our tip: Place the watch in different positions for 24 hours each and measure which position works best.[/box]You should also avoid excessive wear from extremely abrupt hand movements, as these can cause the hairspring coils to overlap or springs to slip out of place. Sharp temperature fluctuations also harm the movement, which is why many enthusiasts swear by wearing their watch overnight. If you won't be wearing it for a while, store it carefully, clean your Hublot, Rolex, and the like gently, and stick to the required service intervals. And no matter how detailed the video tutorials online may be: as a layperson, you should never open the watch yourself to attempt amateur regulation.
