6 Issues with Mechanical Watches and How to Fix Them

Mechanical watches are complicated devices. Some featuring thousands of tiny parts. As beautifully as they are engineered and designed, there is a lot that can go wrong with the internal components. A mechanical timepiece requires regular maintenance, servicing, and upkeep if you want it to last a long time. A properly cared for mechanical watch could last forever in theory. Below are some of the most commonly reported issues with mechanical watches.

6 Issues with Mechanical Watches and How to Fix Them

Mechanical watches typically need to be addressed by a pro. Understanding the issue so that you can properly tell a watch technician is really helpful. These watches are made to be precise without any battery, circuits, or internal chips. That makes the internal mechanics complicated and difficult to work on yourself.

1. The Internal Mechanisms and Gears are Loose

This is one of the most common mechanical watch issues.

If your mechanical watch has stopped ticking altogether, it is likely that there could be a blockage or jam in the internal mechanisms. Your mechanical watch, while sturdy on the outside, is a delicate balance of screws and springs which can be thrown out of balance or loosened by vigorous movement.

If you do sports wearing your watch you are more likely to loosen a screw or spring inside the watch. Even if you are very careful, your watch mechanisms can be loosened over time. Luckily, this is a very easy problem to fix and requires a professional diagnosis at your local watch repair.

2. The Mainspring Stops Working

If your watch has stopped working, it might be because the mainspring has stopped working. The mainspring is a tightly bound coil of wire inside the watch which makes it tick in time. If the the spring itself is defective, then the watch will no longer work. When you wind your watch using the knob on the side, you are preserving energy in the mainspring. Of course it may be just that you need to wind it, but if you feel any abnormal resistance winding it it could point to an issue with the mainspring.

If your watch’s mainspring stops working, it can either be rewound by hand or replaced by an expert watch repair engineer.

3. Trapped Dirt Clogging the Movement

It could be that your watch’s inner mechanism is lodged with dirt or dust. Even the tiniest amount of grime getting inside your watch can jam or damage the intricate mechanisms inside. Watch repair specialists work with careful precision to remove any clogging matter from inside your watch, to allow the mechanisms to unwind and rewind in the normal functionality again.

There are various ways dirt can get inside your watch. It could be a bad gasket and weak seal on the case. On a chronographer you have multiple stems and crowns that can lead to tiny particles of dirt getting inside.

These issues are most commonly solved through getting your watch serviced. A full movement overhaul entails taking all of the internal components apart, inspecting and cleaning them, and then putting it back together.

4. Water or Condensation Inside the Movement

Although most mechanical watches have watertight outer bodywork, no watch is totally waterproof. If your watch has been exposed to water, particularly for long periods of time, it might damage the inner mechanisms of the watch. Metal watches should generally be kept out of water, due to their ability to rust which creates problems both for the integrity of the metal and the aesthetic of the watch.

The back case has a gasket or seal that deteriorates overtime and can allow water in. It may even allow sweat from your wrist in while you are wearing it if the seal goes bad. Same with the seal on the crystal. Condensation is often the result of drastic temperature changes that can impact the movement.

Regular servicing of the watch is the best way to prevent these issues. When you get your watched serviced they inspect the seals and gaskets and replaces any parts that may lead to water or condensation getting inside.

5. Cracked Crystal Impacting the Mechanical Movement

If your glass watch face is smashed, the structure of the watch could be compromised. If shards of glass make their way into the mechanism of the watch, it could cause problems for the intricate springs and coils that make the watch tick. Although high quality mechanical watches have thick glass which is difficult to break, wearing your watch while doing sport, or dropping it onto a hard surface, could smash the watch face.

Any deep scratches or cracks in the crystal should alert you to stop wearing the watch and have the issue looked at. A small crack can lead to larger problems. A cracked crystal can lead to crystal shards in the movement.

6. The Watch is Running too Slowly or too Fast

All mechanical watches lose time slowly due to the nature of how they work.

It is likely that your watch is slightly out of sync with the way it was originally fine tuned by the watchmaker. All watches are precisely wound to run against a timegrapher when they are manufactured.

If your watch is suddenly running slowly or quickly, you should see a professional watchmaker to have your watch serviced.

How a Mechanical Watch Works

To better understand the issues, it is helpful to understand how these timepieces operate. They have no battery, no microchip, and no internal circuit boards. These are precision made machines designed to deliver accurate time keeping.

Authorized Repairs for Issues With Mechanical Watches

When considering any repair work, regardless if the issue is common or uncommon, your warranty should be considered. Most watch warranties contain a statement that says any unauthorized repair work will void the warranty. For some brands that includes simple repairs like replacing a crown.

If you own a mechanical watch and it is still under warranty, you should consider the imapcts on seeking a local repair service. A local repair shop or jewelry store can likely fix your watch, but can noy honor your warranty. That means they won’t do it for free even if it is covered under warranty. That also means they likely will not guarantee their work one it is completed.

It’s advisable to at least consult with your brands authorized service center if you still are under warranty coverage. While that often means you have to mail in your watch, you can get certified technicians to work on it and if the issue is covered under warranty the work is done for free.

Mechanical Watch Restoration

If you own a vintage mechanical watch you may want to consider finding a watch restoration shop. These places differ from that of a watch repair shop. While they can fix common issues with mechanical watches, they will be better handle an aged mechanical watch. These shops understand how to find replacement parts for older timepieces and if needed the ability to fabricate mechanical watch parts. Any type of restoration work always needs to consider how the work impacts the watches value in the eyes of a collector.

Issues With Mechanical Watches – Final Thoughts

There are certainly more then these common issues with mechanical watches. If you own one, the best thing to do is get any issues you have addressed immediately.  The best way to avoid future issues with mechanical watches is through preventative maintenance like routine servicing and cleaning.