Seamaster Diver 300M Running WAY too fast

B Bigsurprise

Hey All,

I searched and found results for older models but nothing with my symptoms with my generation watch.

I purchased my Diver 300M last May direct from the Omega website. It's an amazing watch and I have loved it every day since. Everything about it tingles my insides and I'm so fortunate to be able to have such an incredible time piece.

With that said . . . my watch normally runs ~2 sec fast every day. Perfectly normal, within specs and it's fine. HOWEVER, for the last 2 days now it's running 2 HOURS fast in 24 hours. I just adjusted it last night around 7pm and now at 8am it's 40min ahead. Looking online I would think the problem is it's been magnetized. I thought the current generation Diver 300M's were anti-magnetic? And I don't know how it would have gotten magnetized. Maybe I dropped it?

Does anyone know what would make a watch run this fast out of the blue? I'm going to take it to my local Omega boutique when I get a chance because the watch is basically useless at telling time at this point.

B Bigsurprise

I appreciate the responses!

Two nights ago was a bit of an emotional night for my fiance and I and there was some drinking involved lol so I can't honestly say if I dropped it or not. I woke up and the watch was on the dining table but the bezel had been turned a few degrees which seemed suspicious. I have dropped it once or twice in the past(never a bad drop onto concrete, only short falls from the couch onto laminate flooring) and the watch handled it fine.

Really just curious what could cause it to run so fast. I'm going to take it to the boutique next wednesday and see what they say. I'm leaving for vacation to Italy next Friday and it would be a bummer if I didn't have my watch for the trip.

Thanks for the insight Donn!

B Bigsurprise

Thanks for the info Annapolis.

So starting yesterday the watch seems to be keeping time like normal again . . . Roughly 2 sec fast per day. Isn't this kind of strange?

I've been wearing the watch like normal because even though it wasn't keeping time, I just like having it on me. I've been adjusting the time every day and it seems completely normal now.

I've read a lot that these watches can't be overwound. Maybe it's just coincidence but just before it started running really fast, I manually would up the watch a bunch. Probably 70 or so half turns. That wouldn't cause any issue would it? Even if the watch was fully wound to begin with?

It would be really cool if these watches had a power reserve meter!

I really don't know what caused the issue to begin with or why it's now running like normal. I think when I get back from my Italy trip I'll take it in to get serviced and checked out.

Thanks for the reply guys!

Donn Chambers

If you dropped it, the hairspring could have been twisted or distorted, which would also cause it to run so fast. Be honest — did you drop it or not. If so, that’s more likely the cause than magnetism.

O Omegaman23

I'm now wondering if his girlfriend was changing the time on him while he was sleeping to mess with him??

3rdstringholder

Confused....Sounds like you're fairly confident you didn't magnetize it, but you're not sure if you dropped it? Sounds like it would be the other way around. Hope you get it sorted out.

Donn Chambers

If you dropped it, the hairspring could have been twisted or distorted, which would also cause it to run so fast. Be honest — did you drop it or not. If so, that’s more likely the cause than magnetism.

GBTRIUMPH

Assuming the picture and watch are authentic, that MASTER CHRONOMETER cannot be magnetized. One of its many selling points. Even the steel alloy case will not adhere to a magnet. Try it. Won't happen.
I REALLY like the "too much oil" hypothesis...sticking to the coil...