If your new automatic watch is running too fast or too slow or seems to have stopped, do not panic. An automatic watch is an investment of time and effort and unlike quartz watches (battery operated) it may take some time to start keeping good time. This is true especially for lower range automatic watches (i.e. not "chornometers"). For your watch to start keeping good time, the main spring needs to be completely wound first. The way to do that is to use a watch winder or shake and wear the watch continuously. You will have to initiate the watch also by turning the crown in a clockwise direction 40 to 50 times. Like most mechanical devices, a new automatic watch (or a watch that has not been used for some time) has a break-in period that lasts for about a month or so. During this time, your watch is distributing the oil around, and is breaking in its gears. You need to wear the watch or have a winder do the job.
There are some simple steps you can take to regulate your watch as well:
Take the watch off at night and place according to below:
1. If your watch is running slow : lay it flat with the dial up.
2. If your watch is running fast : lay the watch vertically with the crown downwards.
3. If your watch is running too fast: lay the watch vertically with the crown up.
If you watch is still running fast or slow by a large margin the most likely cause is that the mainspring may have gotten itself caught on one of the screws inside the watch. To get it freed up try this: Place the watch on your palm with the crystal down and slap the watch. If this freed up the mainspring it should start keeping good time.
For the watch to have full power reserve it has to be worn for a minimum for 8 hours a day. If you have not worn the watch for a couple of days, please initiate the watch again by rotating the crown clockwise for 30 to 40 times.
If you have given you watch time to settle and tried the above steps it should start keeping good time. You can also take the watch to a nearby watch shop and they should be able to regulate it (or free up the mainspring if it is stuck) for you for a small fee. Since automatic watches need periodic servicing to keep good time, our warranty does not cover periodic servicing of these watches. We really cannot afford to offer low prices on watches + servicing for automatic watches, so if you require servicing within the first 2 years, a nominal fee of USD 20 is charged.
