⏱️ A Little Variation Is Normal
No mechanical watch is perfect. Even well-made ones gain or lose a bit of time, and vintage watches are no exception.
The trick is knowing what's normal, what's a quick fix, and what's a sign your watch needs some attention.
✅ What Counts as Normal?
Mechanical and Automatic Watches
Most vintage mechanical watches were never certified chronometers. A variation of anywhere from a few seconds to around half a minute a day is typical for many of them.
Every movement has its own tolerance set by the maker, so it's better to compare against that calibre than to expect one figure for every watch.
Quartz Watches
Quartz is far more accurate. A healthy quartz watch typically stays within seconds a month.
If you're not sure which type you have, our guide to quartz vs mechanical vs automatic explains the difference.
🧲 Cause Number One: Magnetism
If a mechanical watch suddenly starts gaining minutes a day, magnetism is the most likely culprit.
Everyday things can magnetise a watch:
- Phones and tablets
- Laptop speakers
- Magnetic bag clasps and phone cases
A simple test: hold the watch near a compass. If the needle moves, the watch is probably magnetised.
The good news is that a watchmaker can demagnetise it in seconds, and it's usually inexpensive.
🛢️ Other Common Causes
- Old, dried oil. As lubricants age, the movement struggles, and timekeeping suffers.
- A tired mainspring. It may not deliver steady power through the day.
- Position. A watch can run slightly differently dial up, crown down or on its side. Where you leave it overnight can make a small difference.
- A knock or drop. A hard impact can upset the delicate balance.
- A low battery on quartz watches, which can cause odd behaviour before it stops.
🔬 How a Watchmaker Checks It
Watchmakers use a machine called a timegrapher, which listens to the watch and shows:
- Rate: how many seconds a day it gains or loses
- Amplitude: how strongly the balance is swinging. A healthy movement, fully wound, is usually well into the 200s of degrees. Low amplitude often points to old oil or a tired mainspring.
- Beat error: how evenly the watch ticks and tocks
They'll also check it in several positions, because a watch can behave differently depending on how it's held.
🚫 The Common Mistake
It's tempting to just "adjust" a watch that's running fast or slow by moving the regulator.
On a healthy movement that's fine. But if the movement is dirty or has low amplitude, adjusting it only hides the symptom. The watch still needs a service, and it'll keep drifting.
⚠️ When to Worry
- It suddenly gains or loses much more than it used to
- It stops overnight or runs for much less time than before
- Winding feels gritty or rough
- There's fogging under the crystal
Any of these is a sign to see a watchmaker. Our guide to how often a vintage watch should be serviced explains what a proper service involves.
🔗 Explore More
👉 Browse every vintage watch currently in stock
👉 Can't see the one you want? Let us source it for you
👉 Read more from the CM Timepieces Watch Blog
🚀 Final Thoughts
A vintage watch that's a few seconds out each day is just being a vintage watch. One that's suddenly racing ahead is usually magnetised, and that's an easy fix.
Keep it away from strong magnets, wear it regularly, and have it looked at when the signs say so. Every watch we sell comes with a 12-month warranty, so if something doesn't seem right, just get in touch.
