Regulating your own watches
Discussion
How many people with a mechanical watch regulate it themselves?
I've done it a few times with relativly inexpensive watches (Seiko/Hamilton etc) typically under £300. Whilst it's a bit nerve racking the first time I was also suprised how easy it was with they little adjustment lever relatively easy to acces with a steady hand and some patience.
Who else does this? Or is it something I've just been lucky with and should probably stop doing?
I've done it a few times with relativly inexpensive watches (Seiko/Hamilton etc) typically under £300. Whilst it's a bit nerve racking the first time I was also suprised how easy it was with they little adjustment lever relatively easy to acces with a steady hand and some patience.
Who else does this? Or is it something I've just been lucky with and should probably stop doing?
pistonheadforum said:
How many people with a mechanical watch regulate it themselves?
I've done it a few times with relativly inexpensive watches (Seiko/Hamilton etc) typically under £300. Whilst it's a bit nerve racking the first time I was also suprised how easy it was with they little adjustment lever relatively easy to acces with a steady hand and some patience.
Who else does this? Or is it something I've just been lucky with and should probably stop doing?
I've never done it. But it seems to me that it is probably something very, very easy to do, yet it requires weeks off the wrist if you send the watch back to the manufacturer for it to be done.I've done it a few times with relativly inexpensive watches (Seiko/Hamilton etc) typically under £300. Whilst it's a bit nerve racking the first time I was also suprised how easy it was with they little adjustment lever relatively easy to acces with a steady hand and some patience.
Who else does this? Or is it something I've just been lucky with and should probably stop doing?
My Seiko 5 auto kept great time for years then started to be 5 mins or more out in a day.
I've had the back off numerous times, helped by a nice little watch tool kit via Amazon, and have moved the lever by very small increments each time. Waited a day but still it was out.
I finally ran out of adjustment and it has sat in a draw for a couple of years now.
So I presume it's something that needs an expert, and money.
I've had the back off numerous times, helped by a nice little watch tool kit via Amazon, and have moved the lever by very small increments each time. Waited a day but still it was out.
I finally ran out of adjustment and it has sat in a draw for a couple of years now.
So I presume it's something that needs an expert, and money.
croyde said:
My Seiko 5 auto kept great time for years then started to be 5 mins or more out in a day.
I've had the back off numerous times, helped by a nice little watch tool kit via Amazon, and have moved the lever by very small increments each time. Waited a day but still it was out.
I finally ran out of adjustment and it has sat in a draw for a couple of years now.
So I presume it's something that needs an expert, and money.
It depends what’s causing it to lose or gain time. I've had the back off numerous times, helped by a nice little watch tool kit via Amazon, and have moved the lever by very small increments each time. Waited a day but still it was out.
I finally ran out of adjustment and it has sat in a draw for a couple of years now.
So I presume it's something that needs an expert, and money.
5 minutes a day is way outside of spec, possibly caused by magnetism or a failure somewhere along the chain.
A watch that is in good working order can be regulated, but if it’s not in good working order regulating it isn’t going to be possible.
A timegrapher is what you need really, unless it’s a new or recently serviced movement. Then you can see amplitude etc and get a feel for if the movement is in good working order.
pistonheadforum said:
What's the opinion on the Seiko 5 movements - are they worth regulating or is it an impossible task? Have tried on mine and it never seems to be consistent when wearing it.
What is the movement, the 7s26 or 4r35? 4r35 is basically an nh35a and I’ve had great success regulating those in the past with just an app on my phone. pistonheadforum said:
Yes it's the 7s26 (non hacking) might try again but think maybe it's just not that kinda movement.
Possibly. I’ve no experience with that movement personally but did a little reading up on it earlier, and it seems there is a 7s26a and b. The a can be a bit finicky and the b much better and easier to regulate. Rolex regulation instructions from the Rolex owners manual.
1. To gain a few seconds, lay the watch flat face-up overnight.
2. To lose a few seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown downwards overnight.
3. To lose a few more seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown up.
Guessing the would work with watches in general and an easy way to keep things in check.
1. To gain a few seconds, lay the watch flat face-up overnight.
2. To lose a few seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown downwards overnight.
3. To lose a few more seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown up.
Guessing the would work with watches in general and an easy way to keep things in check.
pistonheadforum said:
Rolex regulation instructions from the Rolex owners manual.
1. To gain a few seconds, lay the watch flat face-up overnight.
2. To lose a few seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown downwards overnight.
3. To lose a few more seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown up.
Guessing the would work with watches in general and an easy way to keep things in check.
That's not really regulating it. It is just taking advantage of varying positional error. Also wouldn't necessarily work with watches in general because each manufacturer will regular with different positional errors.1. To gain a few seconds, lay the watch flat face-up overnight.
2. To lose a few seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown downwards overnight.
3. To lose a few more seconds, lay the watch vertically with the crown up.
Guessing the would work with watches in general and an easy way to keep things in check.
Found this short youtube video very hepful
How to regulate and automatic watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XehbtkcDUUY
How to regulate and automatic watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XehbtkcDUUY
1 - Watch a few Youtube vids
2 - Buy cheap watch tool kit.
3 - Open up SKX007 (7s26) that had been running 30 secs/day fast.
4 - Regulate it.
5 - Find it now runs 5min slow/ day.
6 - Go to 3 about 5 times then go to step 7
7 - Find it has stopped running completely.
8 - Buy new SKX007 (only ~ £120 then)
2 - Buy cheap watch tool kit.
3 - Open up SKX007 (7s26) that had been running 30 secs/day fast.
4 - Regulate it.
5 - Find it now runs 5min slow/ day.
6 - Go to 3 about 5 times then go to step 7
7 - Find it has stopped running completely.
8 - Buy new SKX007 (only ~ £120 then)
pistonheadforum said:
Louis Balfour said:
I've got one. Not sure how that will help you though.
Thanks I appreciate it might be a strange question but was wondering what model/how useful etc as it's something I'm thinking about investing in as I learn more about watch repair as a hobby.
Mine is a Weishi 1000 which, if I recall correctly, is a knock-off of a model by a similar name.
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