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OMEGA De Ville 1342 stopped running

jameshill51276@g
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Hi,

Noticed a few weeks back that this OMEGA De Ville was running a few hours slow after it had been set a few weeks prior.

Now it's happened again and I've gone to set the time and after getting it to the correct minute the seconds hand has stopped and will not move past this position.
1CE9DFFC-B50E-4805-926D-8F881B3E0D27.webp


I've heard there is some common issues with the stepper motor of this movement, but hoping this is just in need of a battery replacement.

I'm not sure when the battery was last changed as I bought it second hand off eBay late last year.

Thanks,
James
 
jameshill51276@g
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UPDATE:
Took the watch apart and tested the battery using a multimeter - reading 1.58V so it's not the battery.

Put the battery back into the watch and it's fully working again - set the time correctly so I will wait and see now in a few weeks whether the watch is still lagging a few hours behind.

Thanks,
James
 
sheepdoll
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These watches are in a way more mechanical than quartz. So they need cleaning and oiling. Like any mechanical movement they are sensitive to dust. The gearing is a bit finer than normal mechanical watches.

Be careful using a multi meter on them. Meters inject a small current to measure the resistance. The data sheets indicate what this should be. My guess with the chip and motor is proper ESD (Electro Static Discharge) procedures are not used. When these were made this was not as understood as now. This effect is best seen when walking across a carpet and getting a shock on a doorknob. Your Clothes and other things rub to create static electricity. So there is a voltage potential on your fingers.

Caps are designed to hold small charges, so handling electronics with metal tweezers can also short things.

The 1342 also uses magnetic clutches, so everything gets in the movement gets magnetized. Degaussing (demagnetizing) may do more harm than good. I like to use brass and bronze tweezers.

It is really easy to break the motor leads. They are on a tiny PCB (printed circuit board)
 
jameshill51276@g
Posts
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sheepdoll sheepdoll
These watches are in a way more mechanical than quartz. So they need cleaning and oiling. Like any mechanical movement they are sensitive to dust. The gearing is a bit finer than normal mechanical watches.

Be careful using a multi meter on them. Meters inject a small current to measure the resistance. The data sheets indicate what this should be. My guess with the chip and motor is proper ESD (Electro Static Discharge) procedures are not used. When these were made this was not as understood as now. This effect is best seen when walking across a carpet and getting a shock on a doorknob. Your Clothes and other things rub to create static electricity. So there is a voltage potential on your fingers.

Caps are designed to hold small charges, so handling electronics with metal tweezers can also short things.

The 1342 also uses magnetic clutches, so everything gets in the movement gets magnetized. Degaussing (demagnetizing) may do more harm than good. I like to use brass and bronze tweezers.

It is really easy to break the motor leads. They are on a tiny PCB (printed circuit board)
Thanks for the info, the watch is having the same issue again (lagging hours behind and when setting the time the seconds hand stops past a certain point and then flicks back and forth between a second) so I've bought a new battery to see how it gets on.

Cheers,
James
 
Dan S
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Yes I think changing the battery might be worth considering. ::facepalm1::
 
JimInOz
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Stick it on a tester with a line release function and confirm that the pulse/train is working correctly and then chuck a new battery in it.
 
jameshill51276@g
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Dan S Dan S
Yes I think changing the battery might be worth considering. ::facepalm1::
As a first point of call yes, but I’ve heard that the cal 1342 has issues with the stepper motor which can give out the same symptoms at first.
 
Canuck
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Seconds hand catching on the baton marker at 9:00?
 
jameshill51276@g
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Canuck Canuck
Seconds hand catching on the baton marker at 9:00?
It’s slightly below 9 (43 minute marker). If the battery is removed then put back in it will work fine but will run slow and then stop when trying to set it again.
 
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