Automatic watches are a popular choice, as they require minimal maintenance. Unlike their manual counterparts, watches with an automatic movement do not need to be hand wound if they are worn daily. Instead, the watch gathers energy from the movement of the wearer’s wrist.
The internal mechanism features a rotor, a small metal weight that is connected to the movement. As the wearer moves, the rotor spins, transferring the energy needed to automatically wind the mainspring which stores the energy.
On the whole, automatic watches are incredibly reliable. However, like other types of watch, problems can start to develop over time. One of the most common issues is the watch running fast. Thankfully, Babla’s Jewellers has the answers — read on to learn why your automatic watch is running fast.
Lubricants have become more liquid
It’s a good idea to have your watched serviced every few years to ensure its longevity. In order to keep the mechanism of your watch operating smoothly and keep rust at bay, the watch repair specialist may apply a small amount of synthetic lubricant.
Over time, this lubricant becomes more liquid, so it may spread to other parts of the watch’s mechanism. If it attaches to the watch’s hairspring, the spring could start to stick. Because this spring controls how quickly the wheels of movement turn, it could have a knock-on effect on how quickly the hands move. As a result, your automatic watch may run too fast.
The watch has been dropped
Dropping the watch could cause damage to the hairspring. If this does happen, the hairspring could be knocked out of place, causing a similar problem as mentioned above. The good thing about this is you will know if the watch has been dropped, making diagnosis of the problem easier.
It has been exposed to a magnetic field
The third reason why your automatic watch may be running fast is if it has been exposed to a magnetic field. When this occurs, the movement of the watch becomes magnetised, which will have an effect on how well it operates.
There are a number of reasons why your watch may become magnetised, including keeping it in close contact with your mobile phone. A skilled watch repair specialist will be able to reverse this damage and the others listed above with a full service.
At Babla’s Jewellers, we are fully qualified to service both automatic and quartz watches, specialising in Omega, Tag Heuer, Tissot and more. Visit our watch repairs page to learn more.