Accuracy of Mechanical watches
What is the accuracy of mechanical watches?
A mechanical watch, which is run by a spring is easily influenced by the environment or the conditions in which it is used.
This affects the accuracy of mechanical watches.
The accuracy of the mechanical watch changes slightly day by day, depending on several factors such as the amount the spring is wound, movements of your arm, temperature, and the position of the watch.
It is normally indicated as a "mean daily rate," which differs for each type of movement.
Accordingly, the loss / gain of mechanical watches is not measured by a daily rate, but by an average of daily rates in one week or ten days when it is actually worn. This is why the accuracy of mechanical watches is indicated by "the mean daily rate."
What are the major factors influencing accuracy?
Mechanical watches have a mechanism that is moved by power generated as the mainspring unwinds, and small metal parts that work together to control accuracy. The fragile metal parts of a mechanical watch are easily influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, gravity, and shock. Also,
conditions of use such as regular usage time, movements of your arm and winding state of the mainspring can influence the gain / loss of the watch.
Temperature : Do not place the watch where the temperature is extremely low / high (less than 5ºC or more than 35ºC)
Mechanical watch parts are metal and slightly expand and contract with changes in temperature, and this influences accuracy.
Normally, under high temperatures, a watch tends to lose time, and under low temperatures, it tends to gain time.
Magnetism : Keep the watch away from magnetic fields
Watches can be adversely affected by magnetism and may gain or lose time. It is important not to leave a watch close to magnetic objects for a long time. In particular, smartphone or cell phones (speaker), television and PC or tablet device speakers, handbag clasps, magnetic cover of tablet
device, hair-driers, electric razors, these are all magnetic.
A mechanical watch affected by magnetism remains magnetized even after separating it from magnetic products.
Shock : Strong shock may affect accuracy
It is recommended that you remove your watch before playing any sport that involves strong impacts. Any direct impact to your wrists can affect the very small parts inside the watch. Dropping the watch may also cause damage.
Position : The accuracy of the watch is affected by its position when it is not worn on the wrist.
The rates of loss / gain of mechanical watches vary slightly depending on positions they are put in, such as being placed horizontally with its face or back turned up, or being laid on its 12:00 / 3:00 / 6:00 / 9:00 side respectively. This is because gravity affects the operation of the inside
movement of the watch. Experiment with storing the watch in various positions for 7 to 8 hours when not in use and check the loss / gain of each position. By storing the watch in a resting position that minimizes loss / gain you may counteract the loss/ gain which occurs while the watch is being
worn.
What should I do for better accuracy?
To improve the accuracy of a mechanical watch, it is recommended that you wind up the mainspring every day, at a fixed time, even if the watch is a self-winding type.
Wind up your watch before you wear it
It is important that sufficient energy is supplied to each movement by the mainspring of the watch. The accuracy of a mechanical watch will be more stable if it is wound up sufficiently. If the spring unwinds causing the energy level to drop, the parts controlling accuracy become easily affected
by environmental factors.
Wind the mainspring up fully to stabilize accuracy
If the watch is used without being fully wound up, a gain or loss of time may result. To avoid this, it is recommended
that you wear the watch daily for more than 8 hours.
How often should I have the watch serviced?
Please take your watch to our service center once every three years for examining, cleaning and oiling of parts where needed.