Moonwatch problem - What's going on?

[WelshChris]

Yesterday my Speedmaster Moonwatch decided to start running fast, and I mean very fast. It gained 20 minutes in four hours, and each rotation of the minute subdial was taking circa 50 seconds. The chrono also runs fast, and the watch also stops periodically.

I've had it since new, bought in 2014, and it's not yet been serviced.

Clearly it needs attention, but my question is more to do with what suddenly causes a watch to run so fast?

Any current recommendations for servicing? - I don't want to get shafted by Omega unless I have to!

[clockworks]

If it's running very fast, and it's consistent, it's probably a hooked up hairspring. Some watches are prone to the outer coil of the hairspring "jumping" to the outside of the regulator boot if they get bumped. Happens a lot on the Seiko 7S26 movement, no idea if the Omega is prone to this though.

Magnetism is another possible cause - hairspring gets magnetised, and the coils stick together.

[trickywoo]

Try de magnetising it first.

[WelshChris]

trickywoo said:

Try de magnetising it first.

How would one demagnetise a watch safely?

[r159]

With a demagnetiser




They’re a few quid off eBay. That seems very fast for that though, may well be as suggested with the hooked up spring, but worth a try.

[RiggaTheMighty]

For it to be running that fast, I would suspect it is “knocking”
The mainspring is fully wound and then doesn’t slip in the way it should, so it’s providing extra power and the balance is swinging full 360 degrees, causing it to “knock” which increases the rate hugely.
Hold it to your ear, if it sounds like a horse galloping, rather than a consistent tick, then that’s your problem.

Probably wouldn’t need a service, just some grease on the tail of the mainspring and a little tlc.

[Mezzanine]

Did you trigger the thrust switch too early?!

[WelshChris]

Thread revival, but a massive thankyou to Joe and Anglesey Watches & Clocks. Called in to his shop recently with knackered Speedy, and watched the fastest watch repair I've ever seen - approximately 45 seconds from leaving my hand to being returned working. Obviously the problem was a simple one, and all I got was a knowing smile and an FOC repair - Can't thank him enough - top man.

Support your local watchmaker!

[sandman77]

Refreshing to see a thread come to a conclusion after a lengthy period. All to often threads like this are never updated.
I assume you don’t know what was done to fix it? Would be interested to know.

[gregs656]

sandman77 said:

Refreshing to see a thread come to a conclusion after a lengthy period. All to often threads like this are never updated.
I assume you don’t know what was done to fix it? Would be interested to know.

Sounds like it was demagnitised as recommended here.

[Driver Rider]

This was a good read, thanks for keeping us updated.

[Mogsmex]

Joe is Mustard

good stuff !

[Nola25]

Have the same issue with a Seiko Monster

Any ideas on the best way to get hold of Joe at Anglesey, tried email, phone and txt to no avail

[21st Century Man]

I would be interested in contact details too, my 5yr old Speedmaster Coaxial has stopped working (purchased a couple of months before they went to a 5yr warranty). I'm loathe to send it to Omega for a £630 service.

[944 Man]

Nola25 said:

Have the same issue with a Seiko Monster

Any ideas on the best way to get hold of Joe at Anglesey, tried email, phone and txt to no avail

Message him through the FaceBook page. His work email is spammed to oblivion.

[WelshChris]

sandman77 said:

Refreshing to see a thread come to a conclusion after a lengthy period. All to often threads like this are never updated.
I assume you don’t know what was done to fix it? Would be interested to know.

I believe it was the hairspring - A quick jab with a pointy thing seemed to do the trick