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Running fast only when worn

  1. JwRosenthal Jan 14, 2020

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    So I have a watch that when you set it and sit it on the dresser, it will be almost perfectly on time the next day. But when worn, it will gain minutes in a few hours....what causes that?

    And it’s a manual wind, not auto-wind
     
  2. 89-0 Jan 14, 2020

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    Have you tried setting it down in different positions to see if it speeds up? (Dial up, dial down, crown up, etc.)
     
  3. JwRosenthal Jan 14, 2020

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    That’s my next step. But such variations in speed depending on position- I get by a second or a few seconds, but minutes??
     
  4. janice&fred Jan 14, 2020

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    last time I had that happen it was a problem with the balance staff jewels. the watch likes one position but freaks out when tilted. edit: actually I can't remember if the staff was screwed up as well.
     
  5. JwRosenthal Jan 14, 2020

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    Good lead- was it out of place or just worn?
     
  6. janice&fred Jan 14, 2020

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    now that I think about it I seem to remember the staff was snapped and not fully engaging in both the top and bottom jewel. depending on position of the watch.
     
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  7. Joe_A Jan 14, 2020

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    The delta or difference between wearing it and resting it seems to be too large to be within an acceptable range.

    Perhaps a watchmaker will come in and offer an opinion?

    For example, a 1966 Valjoux 72 based watch of mine that runs spot on day after day, positional differences are . . .

    Fully wound:
    Dial-up = +12 seconds a day
    Crown Down = +2 seconds a day.
    Crown Up = - 4 seconds a day

    1/3 wound:
    Dial-up = + 6 seconds a day
    Crown Down = - 6 seconds a day
    Crown up = - 5 seconds a day

    When I wear it regularly it typically gains a few seconds a day, but after resting it crown up overnight, it's pretty close to being spot on in the morning.

    Is it possible your magnetic personality is causing it to speed up? :)

    Edit: A good suggestion was made while I was typing. ;)
     
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  8. janice&fred Jan 14, 2020

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    yes this is what leads me to suspect a jewel-staff problem as the time keeping is so radically variable depending on position.
     
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  9. JwRosenthal Jan 14, 2020

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    The balance was removed for cleaning (not by my watchmaker, but watch buddy), it’s possible he didn’t seat it properly- and now it’s gained 15 minutes in 2 hours so perhaps we have a kinked hairsping.
     
  10. janice&fred Jan 14, 2020

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    would a kinked/sticky/out of shape hairspring be position-sensitive like you are describing? I guess Al would be able to answer that one as my guess would be no.
     
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  11. JwRosenthal Jan 14, 2020

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    Very true- kinked hairsping s I have had before (recently we’re consistently fast- and just sorting t got them back on time without any other adjustment. The irregularity is puzzling- I’ll have him pull the whole balance and inspect the staff and seats.
     
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  12. Dan S Jan 14, 2020

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    Could be a serious balance staff problem.
     
  13. ExpiredWatchdog Jan 15, 2020

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    In regard to your original question, it's possible that the hairspring has just enough magnetism that it needs a little push to "short out". When walking, it sticks and releases depending on your movement. Resting has no effect.
     
  14. bubu16 Jan 16, 2020

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    Good thread. I have a Zenith Sporto that has the same issue. And the movement sounds like a "trot" of a wild horse. Then disappears after a few minutes.
     
  15. JwRosenthal Jan 16, 2020

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    In another thread I mentioned an 1940’s Elgin I have that was running really fast (gaining 15 minutes a day or so) and thought is was magnetism. Turned out it was the hairsping hanging up- once that was straitened out, it ran within 10s/day without adjusting anything else- but that was a consistent gain.
    The fluctuations here is what’s curious. My watch buddy put it on a timegraph and it fluctuates wildly just turning it in different positions. He had it apart last night- will find out today what he found.
     
  16. ExpiredWatchdog Jan 16, 2020

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    Could be a broken balance staff pivot as well but I stand by my first suggestion. Different accelerations cause the spring to stick or not.
     
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