Do you regulate your own modern watches?

Neeb · Aug 12, 2022

I’m strictly a vintage guy (so far at least), and I always open up and regulate my watches to get accurate timekeeping on the wrist.

Just wondering how easy it is to regulate modern omega watches (particularly those co-axial movements), and how many people do it?

Archer · Aug 12, 2022

What sort of movements have you regulated so far? Only those with a regulator? Free sprung balances with adjustable masses?

If you have done the latter, the co-axial is like that, but if you move the balance wheel in the wrong direction at the wrong time while adjusting the screws on the time of the balance, you can damage the movement. Unless you are an advanced amateur, I don't consider these DIY friendly.

Neeb · Aug 12, 2022

I’ve only regulated movements that have regulators - either indirect screws (such as on the vintage Omegas with swan-neck regulators), or direct levers. Sounds like regulating a co-axial movement would be a little beyond my current skills.

Donn Chambers · Aug 12, 2022

I have regulated an ETA 2824 movement, but I would not touch anything like a co-axial or any other movement with a free sprung balance.

Leviathan · Aug 12, 2022

If the balance wheel has regulator screws then I’m not touching it.

This is sensitive work, better left to the experts.

Charlemagne1333 · Aug 12, 2022

Not me.

I might be able to name the parts of a movement, and speculate on what might be causing certain problems, but tinkering with a watch is best left to those who know what they’re doing.

I can strip and rebuild a chainsaw engine, but watchmaking/servicing is delicate work.

Kringkily · Aug 12, 2022

Depends on the movement. Some are easier than others being older ones have a lever for larger range adjustment and the screw is for micro fine tuning while others it's more complicated and requires taking the balance mechanism out and doing an adjustment which is out of my league.

Old Speedy movements easy....Co-axial adjustments I couldn't figure out you need a special tool

Evitzee · Aug 12, 2022

If you have to fiddle around trying to regulate a vintage movement it probably needs a service anyway.

Kringkily · Aug 12, 2022

That's not always true. I think if for some reason due to use it goes out about 5-7 seconds a minor correction can be done but if say +15 or so then that might need to be looked at more extensively if it hasn't been serviced in a while. I wouldn't recommend self diagnostics unless you have some experience. Even Omega will adjust timing if the rest of the movement looks in good shape when you take it in for analysis at the store.

One of the things that Omega gets a lot of is some how magnetism happens whether working on a laptop or close to a strong speaker it can happen and people think it needs a service when a simple run over a demagnetizer will resolve the issue.

SkunkPrince · Aug 12, 2022

I used to when I was younger and stupider. Now I leave it to the watchmaker. I go out of my way to make dropoff and pickup easy for him.

noelekal · Aug 12, 2022

I have long wished to be able to tweak a regulator on occasion on some of my watches, but don't understand the process well enough to try it. I have the notion that regulators require loosening some sort of set screw before the fiddling about can begin.

It's easier to just have them serviced, segregate the ones that are accurate enough for a week plus of continuous wear from the others which are changed out after each day or two of wear.

SkunkPrince · Aug 12, 2022

noelekal
I have long wished to be able to tweak a regulator on occasion on some of my watches, but don't understand the process well enough to try it. I have the notion that regulators require loosening some sort of set screw before the fiddling about can begin.

Generally not, but getting into that little space, it's way too easy to cause damage, plus just a tiny movement of the regulator can change timekeeping by minutes a day. My watchmaker can do that a lot better than I can.

MHBsheep · Aug 17, 2022

I've tried regulating few seiko movements but i damaged it.. Now i always leave it to the watchmaker. Modern Omega are too expensive to take the risk

Do you regulate your own modern watches?

Neeb

Archer

Neeb

Donn Chambers

Leviathan

Charlemagne1333

Kringkily

Evitzee

Kringkily

SkunkPrince

noelekal

SkunkPrince

MHBsheep

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