Sending your watch for a full servicing seems like a luxurious treat. Not something that you need to do every couple of months. The general rule of thumb for watch servicing is every three to five years. For watches that are worn more frequently, it is advisable that you service them more regularly.
In this article, we are going to share a few key signals that your watch can no longer wait till the three-year mark before its next service.
Read on to find out what these signals are! It could save you tons of money before your watch slips into an extensively damaged condition.
1. Inaccurate timekeeping
Under the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (or COSC), a certified chronometer must maintain an accuracy within -4 to +6 seconds a day. This is about a 99.994% accuracy. Most quartz watches are known to have extremely accurate movements and timekeeping. Although mechanical watches are slightly less accurate in timekeeping, losing or gaining more than 4 to 6 seconds per day indicates that some fault may lies in the movement and you should get your watch checked. Ignoring this tell tale sign may cost you more for repair later if other parts of the movement are affected.
2. Second hand skips seconds
This sign largely applies to quartz watches that are operated by batteries. Take note when the second hand of your watch is jumpy and starts skipping forward every 2 to 5 seconds – an indicator of a battery’s end-of-life. The depleted battery inside your quartz watch may start to leak battery acid over a long period of time. This can cause greater damage to the watch components and overall functioning of the watch. So when your quartz watch start to "skip", check in with your service centre to have the battery changed!
3. Watch stopped
An even more glaring timekeeping-related sign is when your watch completely stops. For quartz watches, it is likely that the battery is dead and needs to be replaced. Other common reasons include water damage and impact damage (e.g. dropping your watch against the pavement). All these are urgent reasons for you to service your watch.
4. Turning the crown feels weird
An important component of the watch, the crown allows you to control various functions of the watch such as time setting. If you notice that the crown is stiff or loose, or you cannot even change the time or date of your watch, it is a sign that your watch needs a repair. The crown is connected to a tiny stem within the watch movement and this stem may have snapped or become detached.
5. After an accidental drop
Here’s a reminder not to shrug off any shock or impact on your watch. The damage may not be visible physically but could affect the inner workings of the watch.
6. Loose components
A simple mechanical watch contains an average of 130 components – some smaller than a pinhead. More complicated watches can contain movements with hundreds of small components. The springs, gears, screws and springs inside a watch movement could come loose over time, or after suffering a sharp impact. If you hear rattling inside the watch case or the hands, dial of the watch appear loose, do get your watch serviced. A problem with the movement could extend to the entire functioning of the watch.
7. Moisture in the watch
If you see signs of fogging or condensation under the watch crystal or see moisture on the watch dial, take your watch to a watch service centre immediately. It means that water has entered your watch and even the smallest amount of moisture could corrode parts of your watch, dry out the lubrication and cause damage to the movement. Don’t just blow dry the watch and expect the moisture to be gone. A professional watch technician will have to open up your watch and let the components dry properly. He will also have to test for water resistance and check the seals to ensure moisture cannot seep into the watch anymore.
These are just some of the more glaring indicators that it’s time to send your watch for watch servicing.
If you have other indicators or personal experiences to share with us, do leave a comment down below!