Most watch problems don't start with a dead stop — they start quietly, months before you'd ever think to bring the watch in. Here's what to watch for.
1. It's gaining or losing more than a few seconds a day
A healthy mechanical movement should stay within about -5 to +15 seconds a day once regulated. If yours has drifted further than that, dried lubricant or a knocked hairspring is often the cause — both are straightforward to correct on the bench.
2. Fogging or moisture under the crystal
Any haze inside the crystal means the case seal has failed and humidity has gotten in. Left alone, that moisture reaches the movement and causes rust on steel components — this is the one item on this list that's worth acting on immediately.
3. A stiff, gritty, or loose crown
The crown is the most-used moving part on the entire watch. Grit or stiffness usually means the winding stem needs cleaning and regreasing; looseness can mean a worn gasket, which is also your waterproofing.
4. The power reserve feels shorter than it used to
If an automatic that used to run for two days off the wrist now stops overnight, the mainspring's lubrication has likely broken down and the barrel is working harder than it should.
5. It's simply been three to five years
Even a watch that seems to be running fine is quietly wearing its lubricants down. A routine service catches worn parts while they're still cheap to replace, rather than after they've damaged something else nearby.
Bring your watch to the bench
Bill Chandler services all types of watches in Meridian, Idaho — full inspections, honest quotes.
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