Seiko 5 Automatic - randomly adding 5 minutes an hour!

[HereBeMonsters]

My new Seiko 5 racer auto is not yet two weeks old, and has today has decided to run 5 minutes fast every hour. Previously it was keeping great time - around 5 secs a day slow, but last night I took it off for the first time in a week and left it on the bedside table. This morning it was about half an hour in front, and I have reset and measured it a couple of times today.

Any ideas what could make it do that? I have worn it in the shower a couple of times (it is "water resistant), but no condensation or fogging evident on the front or back glass. Winder moves freely, and movement seems to be OK, just very fast!

[HereBeMonsters]

OK, I reset it again at 1400, and it's now only gained a minute in all that time. Are all automatics like this??

[Alexj800]

I have a few Seiko 5s. Sometimes I dont wear them for weeks, but what you have described never happens.

[Deerfoot]

My Seiko 5, only three weeks old has been faultless. It runs a little fast, gaining a couple of minutes over a week but apart from that I`m well chuffed.

[ShadownINja]

Sounds like a fault. I've got a Seiko 5 from the early 1980s that was a definite beater. It has never been serviced and is +/-25s per day. You might find that when you move your hand at certain angles, the minute hand shoots forward. I think this is a problem with the gearing (but I might be talking crap). In any case, if it's new, speak to the shop you bought it from.

[HereBeMonsters]

ShadownINja said:

if it's new, speak to the shop you bought it from.

New, but from ebay...

Still, seems to still be working fine today...

[ShadownINja]

HereBeMonsters said:

ShadownINja said:

if it's new, speak to the shop you bought it from.

New, but from ebay...

Still, seems to still be working fine today...

Is there no returns policy? Or is it gonna be a pain to get it sorted out?

[Pints]

Could the watch be magnetised?? I had a watch a while ago that was doing the same and I bought a cheap demagnetiser from ebay for a tenner and it worked a treat!

[Chris P. Bacon]

Seller has got back in touch now and seems alright. He claims it may take a while to "bed in" as it's brand new. Keeping perfect time now (hasn't lost a second in over 24 hours) so hopefully panic over.

[Pints]

Have you had your watch anywhere near your mobile while its on? That could quite easily have done it.
I don't really buy the "bedding in" story the seller's spun you.