Seamaster Question - Gaining Time

[HDM]

I have a Seamaster 300M Chronometer watch (normal automatic movement, not co-axial), and I have noticed in the past few days it has started to run fast, by my estimation it is currently gaining approximately 1 minute and 40 seconds over a 24 hour period.

This is rather distressing as until now the watch has kept good time, within Omega's guidelines for this watch.

I may inadvertently exposed it to a magnetic field recently, but having read the Omega websites FAQ it appears that the watch should not have been adversely impacted. The magnet in question was a DIY screw/nail/small item holder, not some massive electromagnet or de-gausser!

I have to say I am surprised at this turn of events, the watch has been great, and this is rather upsetting.

My questions are, is this a known issue amongst automatic watches? Can this be fixed easily, or takes significant work?

Many thanks fellow PH'ers

[Miguel Alvarez]

Can't offer any help but am interested as I'm reguarly around musical equipment that has magnets in such as speakers and turntables.

[ShadownINja]

If it is the case, then I hear 30 seconds with a degausser should do the trick. Many watchmakers have them so find your local one and ask. If he's nice, he won't charge.

[mel]

I very much doubt it's the magnetism, I've worn mine while hi frequency & spot welding which generate pretty meaty magnetic fields (enough that I've seen the hands on cheap watches spin round) and my SM has never missed a beat because of it. It has however started to lose time at similar levels to you describe every 5 years or so when it decides it's service time, I don't know if it could have just as easy gone the other way but when was it last serviced?

[HDM]

Thanks Mel, I didn't think the magnetism should have an impact, good to hear it's a robust watch! Revolving hands whilst welding sounds crazy! Out of interest, when you got your watch serviced, do you know what was done during the work?

Thanks

[TheEnd]

During, or infact after the service, they will, or at least i'd expect them to, regulate the watch.
It's put on an oscilloscope and microphone combo, and listened to to make sure it ticks at the right frequency.

Particularly fancy regulators will do it a few times with the watch in various different positions, such as crown up, dial down etc to get a good average