Timecraft Watch and Clock Repairs

Useful Information on... Water Resistance There is much confusion about what the depth rating on a watch actually refers to. The depth rating refers to the testing done on a brand new watch under laboratory conditions. For example a rating of 30m does not mean you can take your watch to a depth of 30 meters in the ocean. Watches manufactured to meet the minimal 30m standard typically have poor quality components, inadequate gaskets and cemented or glued glasses. They may have met the minimal standard when new in the factory, but will fail to meet the standard once they have been in service for a year or so. Depth Rating ‘Water Resistant’ or 30m Splash/rain resistant. NOT suitable for swimming. Depth Rating 50m Suitable for pool swimming and fishing. Depth Rating 100m-200m Suitable for ocean/pool swimming and water sports. Depth Rating 300m+ Deep sea and saturation diving. During a pressure test the watch case will be dismantled and cleaned, a full set of replacement seals and gaskets fitted, as well as water resistance testing. The watch band will also be cleaned to minimise wear.

Useful Information on… Mechanical Watches Time keeping of a mechanical watch is not as accurate as an everyday, battery operated quartz watch. An average tolerance of -10 to +20 seconds a day is to be expected from standard mechanical watches, and a -4 to +6 second tolerance is to be expected from Swiss chronometers. When setting your watch and testing accuracy, always compare your watch to the same reference point where you set the time from. The general rule for mechanical watches is that the user should expect to make an adjustment to the time at least once a month. Non-automatic watches should be wound daily. When fully wound most watches will have an average power reserve of 36 to 40 hours. In an automatic watch, the power reserve is generated by a motion driven rotor which is linked to the wearers’ activity. 10 to 12 hours of active wear will generate over 20 hours of operational reserve, which will ensure the watch will run throughout the night. If an automatic watch has not been worn actively for several days it will stop altogether. Over time the oils that lubricate the movement may begin to congeal, dirt and moisture will penetrate through ageing seals and the movement will struggle to perform accurately. It is recommended every 3-5 years an overhaul be carried out to ensure reliability, accuracy and minimize wear on the movement. An overhaul includes complete disassembly of the movement, every component is thoroughly cleaned, re-lubricated and reassembled. Any components which are found to have signs of wear are replaced, followed by demagnetisation and thorough testing to ensure the movement runs as accurately as possible. The watch case will be cleaned and have replacement seals and gaskets fitted, as well as a pressure test. The watch case band will also be cleaned to minimise wear.

Useful Information on... Daily Precautions Water resistant watches are not designed for use in heated water as it will weaken the seals and enter the watch. If condensation appears on the back of the glass, it is best to take the watch in for repairs immediately, rather than attempt to dry the watch out yourself. If any moisture is left in the movement, it will eventually rust. If available, the screw lock crown should be secured at all times to provide additional protection against moisture and dirt/dust. In most cases water resistance cannot be guaranteed if the crown is not secured. Some leather bands are not suitable for use in water and can fade or perish. A leather conditioning product can extend the life of a leather band. Strong or excessive perfumes will cause leather bands and gold plated metals to deteriorate. Even with some grades of steel, the smell of some perfumes cannot be removed. If a quartz watch has stopped and been left dormant for an extended period of time, a battery leak is likely to occur. The residue that can leak from an old battery will eat away the insulator, battery terminals and may even cause the circuit to corrode.