Watch gained 8 secs per minute

[vladamir15]

Hello everyone,

I recently acquired a used watch and after receiving it. I gave it a full manual wind and wore it a bit. I could visibly see the seconds hand was a bit fast and timed it seeing that it was 8 seconds fast per minute. After this I thought a service must be necessary, so I put the watch away for the night. When I picked it up in the morning, it was 45 minutes off. Now for two days, it has been keeping correct time and has had no issues whatsoever.

Why might this be? If anyone has any experience how a watch might go from 8 seconds fast per minute to working fine? Would you guys still recommend getting a full service?

[locutus49]

I don't know what might cause that - others might know - but do not rush into servicing it. Give it a week or two, if it is manual, wind it, and if it is auto let it automatically wind. And if it is auto it still may need winding every few days depending on how active you are.

After a week or two see how it is performing. It may settle into a normal mode. If not, then you can think about having it serviced. IMO. I'm no expert.

[DoraTheExplorerII]

There's a good chance that it's just magnetized. The easy solution is to either bring it to a watch repairer and have it demagnetized for you for free/small fee or to order a cheap damagnetizer on eBay.

[PJ S]

^
It’s not magnetised, since a watch that is, will consistently run fast each and every day.
The discrepancy could be down to changes in the viscosity of the lubrication or the hairspring had oil on it but, no matter what the cause, you should at least get it on a timegrapher to check the amplitude. That’ll give you a better indication of its state of health, and whether a service is due or not.

[77T]

Please let us know what watch you bought, whether it is manual or an automatic, and how old it is - knowing more would be useful.

Something with the going barrel, pinion, escape wheel or the gear train could be the root cause of inaccuracy. But a sudden change from inaccurate, to accurate is impossible to diagnose while it’s running accurately. But I guess inquiring minds would like to know.

My advice is be happy that it’s running fine now and then wait - if it returns to crazy timekeeping then run it by a watchmaker while it’s crazy.


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[vladamir15]

Originally Posted by 77T

Please let us know what watch you bought, whether it is manual or an automatic, and how old it is - knowing more would be useful.

Something with the going barrel, pinion, escape wheel or the gear train could be the root cause of inaccuracy. But a sudden change from inaccurate, to accurate is impossible to diagnose while it’s running accurately. But I guess inquiring minds would like to know.

My advice is be happy that it’s running fine now and then wait - if it returns to crazy timekeeping then run it by a watchmaker while it’s crazy.


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Jaquet Droz grande second enamel J014014201 - Automatic. Not sure about the age.

[77T]

Thanks for the watch details. That is a nice one if it has the “figure 8” dial with the 2330 movement.

Back to the original question, I should append a couple of thoughts to my earlier comments. Jaquet Droz is now under Swatch who makes a bespoke Droz movement design.

The unusual behavior you mentioned might have been caused by an intermittent failure with the silicon parts in the regulation system. I mean a potential temporary aberration could have been encountered. Any looseness among these parts might have resulted from a shock to the movement caused in handling or shipping. How it “self-healed” would still be a mystery...

The only other design element beyond the silicon regulation system is the use of double mainspring barrels to extend the power reserve. It is less likely, but possible, that the coupling of those barrels had some slippage that over powered the gear train. But I can’t imagine how that resolved itself without intervention.

The last possibility has nothing to do with the movement, but has to do with the observer effect. Could you have measured this aberration inaccurately due to the small minute track on that dial?




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