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Danger Zone: Did I break my watch that badly?
This morning I was distracted when setting my watch and ended up doing something I would never do: setting the date with the watch set to 10. I felt a little extra resistance after 3 or 4 dates and realized what I was doing. Lo and behold, I was changing the date at 10pm. I ran the hands forward about 72 hours and confirmed that the quickset date was still working, so I thought I was good. About an hour and a half later, the watch completely stopped running. When I wind it I can see the gear moving, but it won’t take the wind and it won’t start up by moving the rotor either. It looks like my only option here is to get a new movement, but my question is, did I really destroy this movement? I always knew the danger zone rule but I didn’t realize the stakes were this high.
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Time to visit the watch doctor.
Is your only evidence that it won't wind the fact that it's not running? I suspect you may have broken some part of the date wheel if the date was still ticking forward when you set the time forward, and that piece of date wheel, or whatever gave way, found its way into some spot that stops a wheel, stopping all of them.
If you tell a watchmaker what happened, they might be able to pop it open, find what broke, find where it landed, and give you a quote for fixing it without costing you quite as much as a movement swap with no investigation.
Is your only evidence that it won't wind the fact that it's not running? I suspect you may have broken some part of the date wheel if the date was still ticking forward when you set the time forward, and that piece of date wheel, or whatever gave way, found its way into some spot that stops a wheel, stopping all of them.
If you tell a watchmaker what happened, they might be able to pop it open, find what broke, find where it landed, and give you a quote for fixing it without costing you quite as much as a movement swap with no investigation.
This is a $25 NH35 so anything will likely cost more than a movement swap. 😅
This is a $25 NH35 so anything will likely cost more than a movement swap. 😅
It's only that cheap if he does it himself. If he pays a watchmaker to open it up and get the movement out, and fixing it is as easy as something like a date wheel swap and pulling a piece out from some place it's stuck, the "fix" part could potentially be less than 25 bucks.
If anything deeper in the movement is broken and requires a decent degree of disassembly, then yeah, it's probably not going to be cheaper. Could still be done if he wants though.
Is your only evidence that it won't wind the fact that it's not running? I suspect you may have broken some part of the date wheel if the date was still ticking forward when you set the time forward, and that piece of date wheel, or whatever gave way, found its way into some spot that stops a wheel, stopping all of them.
If you tell a watchmaker what happened, they might be able to pop it open, find what broke, find where it landed, and give you a quote for fixing it without costing you quite as much as a movement swap with no investigation.
The balance spring is also completely still/dead, so the movement is not running, it’s not like it’s running and the hands are stuck. I’m not sure if that helps to confirm your theory or give any more info, I’m definitely no expert on how movements work.
It's only that cheap if he does it himself. If he pays a watchmaker to open it up and get the movement out, and fixing it is as easy as something like a date wheel swap and pulling a piece out from some place it's stuck, the "fix" part could potentially be less than 25 bucks.
If you look at the pictures he posted, you'll see that it's a DIY Watch Club case back. I'm willing to go out on an edge and say that he put this watch together. 😉
If you look at the pictures he posted, you'll see that it's a DIY Watch Club case back. I'm willing to go out on an edge and say that he put this watch together. 😉
Yup I did, and I can swap it out, I’m really just surprised my mistake was so catastrophic. I always assumed the worst you could do was mess up the date setting.
Yup I did, and I can swap it out, I’m really just surprised my mistake was so catastrophic. I always assumed the worst you could do was mess up the date setting.
Yeah, I don't know what all can happen. I've just been told by many people that it will mess up the watch if you do.
What I do; regardless of what time the watch stopped, is wind the watch up. Then I rotate the hands until the day changes, that way I know that it's now in the AM. Now I can set the correct time and date.
Movement swap will always be cheaper than parts and labour to fix them
Where are people going for cheap movement swaps? No one in my area will do this inexpensively. Haven’t learned myself and not especially inclined.
Yeah, I don't know what all can happen. I've just been told by many people that it will mess up the watch if you do.
What I do; regardless of what time the watch stopped, is wind the watch up. Then I rotate the hands until the day changes, that way I know that it's now in the AM. Now I can set the correct time and date.
Yup me too. I don’t know why I went out of order today.
Where are people going for cheap movement swaps? No one in my area will do this inexpensively. Haven’t learned myself and not especially inclined.
I haven’t looked into doing it elsewhere, but I put this one in so I could replace it. I know what you mean though, it’s not as easy as everyone makes it out to be. You basically have to deconstruct the whole watch: hands, dial, everything.
The balance spring is also completely still/dead, so the movement is not running, it’s not like it’s running and the hands are stuck. I’m not sure if that helps to confirm your theory or give any more info, I’m definitely no expert on how movements work.
It could also be an issue with the keyless works. The pinion would remain still in time setting position, and the extra resistance while winding may have come from the lever slipping over the notch in the pinion. (The balance is stopped in this position.)
Had a very similar problem recently, but I decided to disassemble and reassemble the movement.
Yup I did, and I can swap it out, I’m really just surprised my mistake was so catastrophic. I always assumed the worst you could do was mess up the date setting.
The front of the watch movement is connected to the overall gear train. It is on the low-torque side of things, but it can stop a movement, similar to a second hand touching the minute hand. The further you get away from the mainspring housing, the less torque it takes to the stop the movement.
This video should be helpful in explaining what's probably happened
https://youtu.be/EZu6wxCVjaE?si=fshdWxhYEj3wFHyY
Wow thank you, this helps a lot.
This video should be helpful in explaining what's probably happened
https://youtu.be/EZu6wxCVjaE?si=fshdWxhYEj3wFHyY
If that happened the quickset date would no longer work. But the watch doesn't wind and doesn't run. My money is still on the setting lever jumping the clutch wheel, and the lever being stuck in the time setting position.
If that happened the quickset date would no longer work. But the watch doesn't wind and doesn't run. My money is still on the setting lever jumping the clutch wheel, and the lever being stuck in the time setting position.
You may be right, I just remembered this video from a few years back & thought it would be interesting & relevant
Nightmare. Is this a mod? If so, definitely just change the movement and start again, nh35... £20/35 if you've built this piece it'll be a doddle to fix. Should only take half an hour, the hardest bit is fitting the seconds hand..... AGAIN! 😅😅. If you've bought it, a watch maker will have it up and running in no time, its just a pain to have to sort out.
Always set yesterday's date and then set manually the arm's no need to wait before 9 or after 3
Nightmare. Is this a mod? If so, definitely just change the movement and start again, nh35... £20/35 if you've built this piece it'll be a doddle to fix. Should only take half an hour, the hardest bit is fitting the seconds hand..... AGAIN! 😅😅. If you've bought it, a watch maker will have it up and running in no time, its just a pain to have to sort out.
Yup, this one’s on me! I’m not necessarily looking forward to that seconds hand but it’ll be good practice for sure.
If that happened the quickset date would no longer work. But the watch doesn't wind and doesn't run. My money is still on the setting lever jumping the clutch wheel, and the lever being stuck in the time setting position.
You're right. This makes more sense. Even easier fix.
Nightmare. Is this a mod? If so, definitely just change the movement and start again, nh35... £20/35 if you've built this piece it'll be a doddle to fix. Should only take half an hour, the hardest bit is fitting the seconds hand..... AGAIN! 😅😅. If you've bought it, a watch maker will have it up and running in no time, its just a pain to have to sort out.
Fitting the seconds hand is immeasurably easier with a stand mounted tool, like this from Aliexpress.
| Watch Hand Needle Remover Presser Portable Wristwatch Plunger Puller Accurate Parts Watchmaker Repair Fittings Tools Red https://a.aliexpress.com/_EJsGnGj
I can not testify to the quality of this specific one, but I use one just like it for most of my hand fitting jobs. Also a set of Bergeon reamers helps a lot.
The good thing with these movements is that they are durable, resistant amd also very cheap! Something broke off and is jamming the motion of the movement and probably can be repaired. In many cases it is cheaper to get a new movement vs getting it repaired.
Yup, this one’s on me! I’m not necessarily looking forward to that seconds hand but it’ll be good practice for sure.
No matter which approach you choose, it will only get easier. Soon enough you will think that this hand is named appropriately because it installs in seconds.
At least wasn't an expensive movement. Lesson learned.
If you look at the pictures he posted, you'll see that it's a DIY Watch Club case back. I'm willing to go out on an edge and say that he put this watch together. 😉
Ah, yep. I was too busy looking inside the watch.
Hey there, just wanted to share some info with you. I've noticed that not all movements have an easy time setting the date close to midnight. In my experience, movements like the 2824's and nh35/36 watches have been smooth, but I've had some trouble with Valjoux clocks, especially the ones with the pusher.
The good news is that doing a movement swap is quite simple and affordable. I'd recommend giving it a try yourself. You can find tutorials on YouTube that will show you how to do it. You'd only need some basic tools, which should cost you less than $30.
The only thing to keep in mind is to be patient when reinstalling the second hand, as that can be a bit tricky.
Hey there, just wanted to share some info with you. I've noticed that not all movements have an easy time setting the date close to midnight. In my experience, movements like the 2824's and nh35/36 watches have been smooth, but I've had some trouble with Valjoux clocks, especially the ones with the pusher.
The good news is that doing a movement swap is quite simple and affordable. I'd recommend giving it a try yourself. You can find tutorials on YouTube that will show you how to do it. You'd only need some basic tools, which should cost you less than $30.
The only thing to keep in mind is to be patient when reinstalling the second hand, as that can be a bit tricky.
Yup thank you, I actually put this movement in so I’ve done it once before.
At least wasn't an expensive movement. Lesson learned.
Absolutely