My 145.022 went from running at +5 seconds to -20 seconds in two weeks.

Hi all,

I recently purchased a vintage Omega Speedmaster 145.022-76, produced in mid-1977. It arrived on 12/9. I bought it from a very respected dealer here on the forum who told me it was running at roughly +5 seconds when it shipped and that it was serviced this past May. I didn't measure, but the watch seemed to be keeping good time.

A couple days ago, I decided to check how it was running for fun since I felt like it was running quite slow. I had set the time just a few days ago, but it was already a minute slow. I measured how much my watch differed from the time on time.gov starting at 9:12 PM on 12/20 until 9:12 PM on 12/21. In those 24 hours, my watch had lost 20 seconds, meaning it went from +5 seconds to -20 seconds in less than two weeks. I started to get very worried that something was wrong and that I had done something wrong.

Last night, I decided to rest my watch on the side with the crown up for 2 hours. The watch seemed to lose a couple more seconds over this time. So, I tried to rest it on its other side with the crown down for 2 hours, and this time, it also seemed to lose a couple seconds.

Does anyone know what could cause this and how I can fix it? This is my first vintage piece and I'm worried that I've screwed something up. I've brainstormed a couple reasons why my watch might have lost time in this way. I've read that the watch's resting position overnight might affect accuracy. I always rest my watch with the dial facing straight up. I also only wear it for roughly 12 hours a day, so it spends quite a bit of time in this position. And, instead of winding my watch right when I wake up, I wind it until the crown stops turning around noon to 1 PM everyday. Also, when I set the time on 12/20 after noticing that it had lost over a minute in just a few days, I hacked the movement just a little so the seconds hand moved back a few seconds. I only did this for about 5 seconds and this was before I started to measure accuracy, so I don't think this affected the watch.

How do I fix this issue? Should I take my watch to my local boutique to get it regulated? Is there anything else I can do to fix this issue and prevent it from happening again? Will it settle down after a few months of wear? Is this just another case of a rookie watch owner overreacting to a minor event? I'm quite worried right now so any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Did you perhaps rest your watch on or near your iPad/Laptop/wireless-phone-charger at any point?

I might have. I keep it near my bedside table at night, about a foot and a half away from my iPhone charger, which is plugged in the wall nearby. I also just realized that I keep my AirPods case on the same table a few inches away from the watch every night. The case has tiny magnets in it to keep it closed. Could this have had an effect?

Yes, on second thought, I don't think it's the reason either.

This is a possibility, but I somewhat doubt it. I purchased the watch from Kringkily, who has an excellent reputation on the forum. And, as I mentioned, although I didn't actually measure it, the watch seemed to be running pretty well for the first week I owned it.

If in fact the watch wasn't running as well as claimed, would simply going to a boutique and having it regulated fix the issue?

A watch in general and especially a vintage piece can run a little different depending how you wear it and how you store it during the night. Keep in mind that’s not a new watch and even if serviced parts aren’t new.

I would still get it demagnetized. I wouldn't put my money on 'fast' being a hard rule. There are levels of magnetism (its not binary) and this affects how much (fast/slow) it suddenly runs. The greater the magnetization, the greater the rate of deviation.

I agree with the above. Could act like the balance is heavy in one spot, for example.

Demagnetizing is usually a free service unless you abuse it. At least it has been for me until I bought my own device.

Tom

This is also possible. The train didn't go back in the same way it came out and every so often it might bind a tiny bit until micropolishing occurs at the microscopic level.

That these tiny devices work at all much less at the remarkable precision they do is astonishing.

Tom

Hi Tom,

I held my watch above a compass, and the needle moved. It only moved 5-10 degrees, but it still moved every time I held it above the compass. Could this have been because it's magnetized? I'm a bit unsure because the compass didn't move by much, so it may be just because the watch is made of metal.

I called my local boutique and they said they'd get back to me in an hour after speaking to their technician. The guy I spoke to didn't know if their technician could regulate an older piece. If not, they said they have a watchmaker in the same mall they are located in that they refer people to.

I live in Irvine, CA, about an hour south of Los Angeles. The closest Omega boutique next to me is located in South Coast Plaza, which is located about 20 minutes away in Costa Mesa, CA. Any watchmaker you could recommend in Irvine, Newport Beach, or Costa Mesa would be much appreciated. Thanks!

Thanks for these links. The boutique said their technicians couldn't look at it because it's got a tritium dial, but they recommended a watch repair store with a certified Omega guy in the same mall called Jostmar Jewelers. They seem to have really good reviews, so I'm going to go there and see what they say.

-20 seconds in 24 hours isn't terrible so I would try running the watch for another few days and see if it's consistent. if it's indeed consistently losing 20 seconds per day then you know the watch is probably in fine shape and just needs a little regulating. if the accuracy deviates too much from the -20 second mark then you know the thing needs a bit more than simple regulating.

just be careful who you let work on the watch. many of our friends out in your area have great luck using L.A. Watchworks in Pasadena. they don't make mistakes.

Umm... nowhere in this thread do I see the service history.

At the risk of sounding insensitive, always budget for a complete service when you buy any vintage omega. Start from a known state.

Hey guys,

I just wanted to update the thread. I took my watch to my local Omega boutique in Costa Mesa, CA and asked if they could demagnetize it. They said that the watch was indeed magnetized and then demagnetized it in a couple minutes. Then, I visited the watchmaker they referred me to right after. He tested how my watch was running and said that it was now running at -8 to -9 seconds. He said it was running fine and that I don't need to worry about anything. I think -9 seconds is reasonable for a 42 year old 861 movement, so I'm just going to forget about it and make sure I keep it away from magnets in the future.