Understanding the amount of lubricant used in a watch movement shows your expertise in watches.
- 瑞港名錶維修中心 RG Watch Repair Centre
- May 29
- 2 min read
Understanding the amount of lubricant used in a watch movement shows your expertise in watches. Many watch enthusiasts know that watches require regular maintenance, but they may not be familiar with "oil washing." What exactly is oil washing? Let's explore!
Why is Oil Washing Necessary?
Mechanical watches rely on a mainspring to drive interlocking gears, and the prolonged metal-to-metal contact between gears and bearings requires lubricant to ensure smooth operation. Without it, the lubricant can dry out or degrade over time, forming residue that may damage movement components.During use, the lubricant gradually evaporates and dries, while gear friction produces metal particles. Dust and fibers can also enter through case gaps, creating buildup. Thus, after a certain period, the movement parts must be disassembled, cleaned, and relubricated.
How Often Should Oil Washing Occur?
Mechanical watches require maintenance every 3 to 5 years, with a key step being the cleaning of residue from disassembled movement parts to extend the watch's lifespan and ensure accurate performance.Friction between movement parts generates tiny particles that can disrupt precision mechanics. Similar to how engine oil prevents wear in high-performance car engines, oil washing serves the same purpose for mechanical watches. For watches with complex features like perpetual calendars, the number of lubrication points may increase significantly.
How Much Lubricant is Used in a Movement?
Only one-thousandth of a milliliter of lubricant is sufficient for an entire watch movement. The oiling process demands extreme patience from the watchmaker, who uses a needle-tip applicator thinner than 0.1 mm to precisely place lubricant into the gemstone bearing grooves, keeping their hands steady throughout. Not all parts require lubrication, and some must absolutely remain oil-free.Typically, a set of oil pens includes four colors—red, blue, yellow, and green—each used for specific parts and lubricant types. Additionally, automatic oil pens with adjustable flow are used for applying thinner lubricants to tiny movement parts.
The Oil Washing Process
Oil washing involves disassembling and cleaning movement parts, divided into two categories based on contamination levels:
Parts with less residue, such as plates, jewels, balance wheels, hairsprings, escapement forks, and springs, which are delicate and prone to damage.
Heavily soiled parts, like gears, mainspring barrels, and screws, which require cleaning tailored to the movement's condition.After washing, the oiling process is a technical challenge. Once old lubricant is cleaned off, new oil must be precisely applied to each necessary part.
