Is Your Watch Running Inaccurately? Professional Calibration & Repair in Hong Kong for Watches Running Fast, Slow, or Magnetized.
How Accurate Is Your Watch? Understanding the Chronometer (COSC) Standard
A precise timepiece is a symbol of reliability. But when you discover it's gaining or losing tens of seconds, or even several minutes, each day, that sense of trust is diminished. Inaccurate timekeeping not only affects your schedule but could also be a "health warning" from the movement inside.
Before discussing the causes of inaccuracy, it's essential to understand the physical limits of a mechanical watch. Even the finest timepieces have an acceptable daily deviation. The widely recognized Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) sets its standard for accuracy at a daily rate of -4 to +6 seconds. If your watch's timekeeping error significantly exceeds this range, it is very likely due to one of the following reasons.
At RG Watch Repair Center, we specialize in resolving all accuracy issues for luxury timepieces. Whether you're facing a sudden timekeeping error or a gradual decline in performance over the years, our master watchmakers use state-of-the-art Swiss calibration equipment to regulate your beloved watch back to its optimal condition, restoring its exceptional, split-second performance.
Finding the Root Cause: The Three Main Reasons for Inaccurate Timekeeping
Timekeeping inaccuracies are almost always related to the "heart" of the movement—the balance wheel and hairspring assembly.
1. The #1 Culprit: Magnetization
This is the most common—and most easily overlooked—reason a watch suddenly begins to run fast. When the hairspring becomes magnetized, its delicate coils can stick together. This effectively shortens the hairspring's length, causing the balance wheel to oscillate at a higher frequency. The result is a significant gain in time, sometimes by several minutes per day.
You can perform a simple test by placing your watch near a traditional compass. If the compass needle deflects or moves erratically, your watch has likely been magnetized.
2. Accidental Shocks & Vibrations
A sharp impact or sustained vibration can cause a shift in the hairspring's position, altering its effective working length and leading to timekeeping errors. In more severe cases, a shock can deform the hairspring or cause it to become entangled with other components, resulting in extreme instability or causing the watch to stop completely.
3. Movement Aging & Lubricant Issues
Over time, the specialized lubricants within the movement can thicken or dry out, which increases friction between components. This typically causes the balance wheel's amplitude (the degree of its swing) to decrease, making the watch run slow. Furthermore, natural wear on parts can affect the stability of power transmission, leading to greater timekeeping variations in different positions (positional error). When this occurs, a complete movement overhaul and service is necessary to restore its performance.
Our Solution: Scientific Diagnosis and Precision Regulation
A Data-Driven Calibration Process: RG Watch Repair Center utilizes state-of-the-art Swiss testing equipment, ensuring every adjustment is supported by precise, empirical data. Contact Us
1. Instrument Diagnosis & Data Analysis
First, your watch is placed on a professional, Swiss-imported timing machine (Timegrapher). This instrument provides an instant diagnosis of core performance metrics, including the daily rate (gain/loss), amplitude, and beat error. The results are displayed graphically, allowing our watchmakers to scientifically identify the root cause of any inaccuracy.
2. Professional Demagnetization
If the diagnosis reveals that the watch has been magnetized, we use a professional, high-power demagnetizer to safely and completely remove the magnetic charge from the hairspring and other movement components without any risk of damage.
3. Precision Regulation & Calibration
For inaccuracies not caused by magnetism, our master watchmakers perform micro-adjustments to the movement. This highly detailed work involves precisely adjusting the regulator index or, for free-sprung balances, turning the timing weights on the balance wheel itself to gradually calibrate the watch's daily rate to the highest standard of accuracy.
4. Multi-Positional & Dynamic Testing
Following regulation, the watch is tested on the timing machine in multiple positions (e.g., dial up, crown down, etc.) to ensure its timekeeping remains stable and consistent through the motions of daily wear. Finally, your watch undergoes several days of dynamic testing on a watch winder to confirm its real-world performance is reliable and built to last.
Watch Accuracy & Calibration - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Understanding the cause of an issue is the first step in any professional repair. Below are the most common reasons why a mechanical watch may run inaccurately—too fast or too slow. Contact Us
Our Commitment: We always provide a full diagnosis and quotation first. We will never proceed with any chargeable repairs without your prior approval.
Q1: Can all mechanical watches be regulated to Chronometer (COSC) standards?
A1: Not necessarily. A Chronometer certification (COSC) is a guarantee of a movement's high quality from the factory. For non-certified watches, we are committed to regulating them to the best possible performance for that specific caliber, typically achieving an excellent accuracy range of within +/- 15 seconds per day.
Q2: Will demagnetizing my watch harm the movement?
A2: Absolutely not. The professional demagnetizing instruments we use safely remove any magnetic charge in seconds. It is a physical process that is completely harmless to the movement. Please do not attempt to "reverse magnetize" the watch yourself with ordinary magnets, as this will only worsen the problem.
Q3: My watch's timekeeping is erratic—sometimes fast, sometimes slow. What is the cause?
A3: Unstable timekeeping is often a symptom of a more complex issue, such as severely degraded lubricants, loose components, or a previously damaged hairspring. This situation strongly indicates the need for a comprehensive movement inspection and service, rather than a simple timekeeping regulation.
Q4: How long does a simple time calibration service take, and what is the cost?
A4: If the issue is simply due to magnetization or requires only a minor regulation, the service can often be completed relatively quickly and at a much lower cost than a complete overhaul. The specific time and fee will depend on the actual problem identified during our diagnosis. We will always provide a quotation for your approval before commencing any work.
