Looking to regulate a watch? We must warn you first. This post is only for accuracy nerds! Those who want to reach the absolute best possible accuracy for their quality movements!
If that is your case, then read below where we will be sharing quick ways of regulating your watch accuracy by following three easy tips.
First, let’s start by calculating the accuracy of your mechanical watch on Toolwatch.io to get a reference measure without needing a timing machine. You want to know if your watch is running too slow or too fast in order to correct it accordingly.
Keep in mind that you must continuously take care of your mechanical movements and watches which are running 24 hours a day. As you know, these small marvels of engineering are made of hundreds of components and requires good attention and maintenance to deliver the best performance and avoid visiting the watch repair too often!
As you might already know, the oscillating spring is almost doing 5 millions vibrations a week without the help of any electrical power! All this activity can damage components over time with oils eventually drying. You should as well keep your watch clean, your timepieces need the utmost care and ultimately this will also impact the way your watch is running.
Regulating the accuracy of a mechanical watch
Following your watch accuracy result obtained using the Toolwatch app, three cases can be listed if your accuracy is not between the -10/+10spd (sec per day) range. As a reminder, usually we consider accuracy within that range to be acceptable but this can be challenged depending on the certification of your watches.
Here are the three options that we can consider:
- Your watch is losing time (between -20spd and -10spd):
In this case, you are looking to gain more seconds per day. The recommendation is to lay the watch flat for a few hours so that the dial is put uppermost.
Losing time is usually considered as the worse scenario as this will get you late all the time and you don’t want that.
- Your watch in running a bit too fast (between +10spd and +25spd):
Here, you are looking to lose a few seconds per day in order to compensate. You will there need to put the watch vertically on the case side, with the crown facing downwards.
- Your watch is running way too fast (above +25spd):
Put your watch vertically on the case size as well, but here with the crown on top. This action will help you slowing down the watch.
So, in order to regulate the accuracy of your watch, depending on the three cases, simply place your watch in the correct direction on your night table before sleeping. Everyone needs a good rest!
For all other measures (below -20spd and above +50spd), you should definitely get your watch serviced by a watchmaker. You may have issues with magnetism on your balance wheel or water resistance and the best thing to do is give your watch to expert hands.
Overall, what is important is the consistency of the accuracy of your watch. A watch can always be adjusted if it operates consistently. However if it doesn’t, then you might need to consider having moving the regulating operations to expert hands with a proper watchmaker.
One last thing! Did you know that those tips were originally given by Rolex in the box of each watch they were selling? This was actually the guarantee paper that owners should attach whenever their watch was being returned for servicing. Such card is now a collector’s item!
These watch tips are quite unknown, feel free to share them with any other watch fan!