If the lines are straight and consistent, you can check the amplitude. Labelled in s/d, it tells you the time error in seconds per day. Copy link to this post; STANDY schizophrenic pizza orderer and watch collector Oct 30, 2014. Seiko, Orient, Citizen, Casio and other Japanese watch companies. Sometimes, you drop the watch, or you bend the crown the wrong way, and the crown stem gets snapped off midway — the much dreaded broken stem. A lot of people may associate Seiko with long-lasting, durable, and affordable automatic sports and diver’s watches, but the fact is that the brand has a lot more to offer. In this case, it is recommended to leave the work to the professionals.). Luckily, demagnetizing a watch is a relatively simple process. You can tell a watch has probably been magnetized if it runs exceedingly quick, and in some rarer cases, slow. A good example is SNZF Urchin. How to degauss (demagnetize) your mechanical watch: Use a compass to determine if your watch is magnetized (see first video below). Through the built-in microphone, it picks up the ticks and tocks of the watch and calculates indicators of the general health of the movement. So the moving of the minute hand need to be on-point when the second hand passes the 12 o’clock. The distance between the lines represents beat error. Those movements did not have Sec Hand, just an Hour & Minute. Close the case back and check the movement again in dial up position. share. This is what the setting screen looks like. And if the lines are irregular, that points to a greater problem, which is when you should get the watch to a professional watchmaker for a detailed check-up. Now allow the thread to unwind, and as the watch revolves, pass it back and forth near a powerful electromagnet. Be aware that this tutorial only gives you an introductory perspective into what goes into modifying your time piece. Diameter: 46mm Movement: Nixon digital Price: $165. Special case with non-SKX/SRPD Seiko watches. You don’t have to open it up; you don’t even need to take it or send it to a repair shop that might charge you something to the tune of $30. But don’t worry. 3. This could be small debris, tiny strands of fiber, or even hair. movement with dial) installed directly into our case by using our movement holder and chapter ring. The electric Field then reduces over distance by inverse square law… Regulation, in the sense used by watchmakers, means the work done to a watch when it runs consistently faster or slower. Let go of the ON button when the watch is arm’s length from the unit. Time regulation in action: regulation imrpoves the accuracy of your watch. Here is a quick overview of a generic Seiko watch mod. Usually there is a + / - indication on the movement to tell you which direction to move the lever to. This lever is called mobile stud carrier. All text and original images (c) 2016-present. Same rules: steady hand, and move in tiny bits. Place your watch on the the demagnetizer for few seconds. Demagnetizing. In the past, dealing with this problem usually meant a visit to a professional. As an example, here are some odd Timegrapher traces: loopy and bulbous, with a consistent high-frequency period. So after asking locally for someone to demagnetize and being disappointed in the responses (change the battery one person said to me), I decided to buy one of those demagnetizers off eBay. The watch was returned to Hoel at the location where his plane went down at the Maas River. To do this, you’ll need a watch case knife (if you don’t have one, you can find one in our online store). I mean it's off by about 22 seconds (fast) after 24 hours which isn't great, but is a darn sight better than it used to be. But anything above 250 degrees can still be considered healthy amplitude. If you were an A/V geek back in the day and had a shoebox-sized device (occasionally with sweet wood-grain decals on the side) that you used to erase VHS and reel-to-reel tapes, you know what I mean. Much like syphilis, it will slowly drive a watch adjuster to a wretched state of madness if not diagnosed and treated in time. And if yours has wood-grain decals, it’s extra proud. You can use our dive watch parts to mod Seiko dive watches (SKX007/SRPD). Depending on how much of the broken stem is left in the movement, this can be an easy fix or a difficult repair. Depending on how much of the broken stem is left in the movement, this can be an easy fix or a difficult repair. The brand was connected with numerous famous events of the 20th century, including the American war in Vietnam. If the watch is still magnetized, repeat step #3. so often if a quartz watches oils start to dry or a bit … 1 comment. One or two zaps should suffice. The watch came with a waterproof and dustproof oxidized case which in conjunction with a heat-insulated disk provided protection to the movement. Surprisingly it's actually kept time pretty well. Most de-gaussing equipment for this purpose is an "open" primary coil with the I`s missing. To use it, hold the watch an inch over the center of the unit, press the ON button, and keep the button depressed as you slowly move the watch away from the unit. This figure should alternate between two numbers: one 5-digit number, and one number in degrees. Furthermore, the case back of a Seiko watch reveals a bunch of different information. Some may consider the 6139 “Pogue” to be a bit of an eccentric selection within our top 10 Vintage Seiko watches list, but I’m ready to defend the choice. But over time, your watch crystal may come to look less than pristine. You demagnetize a watch with a demagnetizer. Ruh-roh. As you can see, Gallet’s watches have played an important role in history, and there are many amazing stories contained in their dials and movements. So after asking locally for someone to demagnetize and being disappointed in the responses (change the battery one person said to me), I decided to buy one of those demagnetizers off eBay. If the coils stay stuck, the effective length of the hairspring will be much shorter than normal, causing the watch to run abnormally quickly. Hello dear watchmakers. If they are moved, the accuracy of the movement can be affected, and in most cases, regulation can be of help here. You want to insert the knife into the gap between the bezel and the case. Compass is dancing as I put this tweezer near it. Many resources online say that quartz watches should not be demagnetized but I know that grand Seiko offers a demagnetizing service for their watches. Adjusting an Illinois “Santa Fe Special” 12s Pocket Watch, Part 2: Positional Adjustments, Cleaning & Adjusting a 1960s Russian Boctok (Vostok) 2209 Wristwatch, Repairing & Adjusting a 1970s “Hulk Green” Russian Poljot 2609H Wristwatch, Cleaning a 1980s Belair Quartz Watch (ETA 956.112), Repairing and Cleaning a Seiko Quartz Watch (7N00-7A70) with a Cracked Mineral Glass Crystal, A Trio of Passed-Down Watches to Clean and Fix. Beat rate is by default set to “auto”, and should be left as is. Let go of the ON button when the watch is arm’s length from the unit. The other is somewhere near the end of hairspring, and is called regulator. This does not affect the accuracy of the watch unless in extreme cases, but in the long run, beat error can cause uneven wear. I noticed over the past couple days that my Bulova mechanical watch that I wear everyday has gone from gaining a few seconds a day to about 45 seconds a day, so I'm assuming that it's become magnetized (I work around computers and do a lot of welding so it's not exactly surprising). I timed it over several days and it was about one minute fast per day. For a sub-$200 beater, that’s tough to beat. We prefer erring on the positive side as it is better to arrive early than late. An exceedingly high beat error, on the other hand, can cause a problem called “rebanking” or even stop a movement. The second character can be a letter but the rest are all numbers. Furthermore, the case back of a Seiko watch reveals a bunch of different information. (The mind recoils, I know.) Buy a cheap demagnetizer from Amazon or eBay. A general rule of thumb for protecting a watch from magnetism is twofold: avoid strong magnetism, and avoid prolonged exposure to magnetism. Step 1: Remove Strap Compress the flanges on your stock strap and gently pull it out. Bring you watch to a watch maker to check for magnetization and then demagnetize the watch. This in turn causes the dipoles to end up in a random order, rendering the watch demagnetized. »  Adjusting a 1925 Hamilton 912 12s Pocket Watch to 6 Positions: On Patience and Perfection, »  Dial Up, Dial Down: Fixing Bent Balance Staff Pivots. The Seiko had been amazingly accurate then started running about 30 sec,/day fast. Find out how to test and fix magnetism. Many resources online say that quartz watches should not be demagnetized but I know that grand Seiko offers a demagnetizing service for their watches. The watch started running fast immediately. Key points: steady hand (good idea to stablize your hand on something stable) and move just a tiny bit at a time (in most cases that’s all the adjustment you’ll need). But the proper way to diagnose and regulate a watch is by using a timegrapher. You can test water resistance at home too. Most of the parts in a vintage watch are non-magnetic, but many are made of steel and can easily become magnetized. Fortunately, demagnetizing a watch is incredibly quick and easy. When I bought my staking set, for example, it was a boiling ball of magnetism that could power a small MRI coil. And once you have your pocket watch, it might share a pocket with your smartphone. Ten seconds on the demagnetizer restored the Seiko to it's original accuracy. Then you can move on to the rate. A low amplitude generally indicates problems that needs to be fixed prior to regulation, like obstruction due to foreign elements, oil drying up, etc. 5. To use it, hold the watch an inch over the center of the unit, press the ON button, and keep the button depressed as you slowly move the watch away from the unit. First, wind the watch to full wound, and place the watch between the clamp to start reading. All Right Reserved.info@diywatch.club | 1402, 35-45 Chai Wan Kok St, NT, Hong Kong, Sapphire crystal, Latest, Case, published, demagnetizing a watch is a relatively simple process, Why Waterproof / Water Resistance Rating Isn’t What It Seems, How to Regulate a Watch using a Timegrapher, How to Upgrade DWC Diver to a Case with Sapphire Crystal. Thanks. A healthy movement should, at full wound, have a high amplitude, in the range of 280-320. Posts 13,158 Likes (e.g. But your 1917 Illinois pocket watch has none of that new-fangled stuff, so we’ll need to learn to identify and remove magnetism from our vintage movements. After this, test the watch on a timegrapher again. At full wound, it should be in the range of 280-320. How should I interpret the apparent high magnetism shown by the Seiko, especially since that watch was a freak of nature from day one (almost no deviation in one year, it's been running like an atomic watch for the past 3 years) and that didn't seem to have changed - in other words, "despite" the magnetic effect shown by the compass it runs just as accurately as it always has. Seiko watches are designed to provide accurate and reliable service over a long period. The degree is lift angle. How to protect a watch from magnetism. How to degauss (demagnetize) your mechanical watch: Use a compass to determine if your watch is magnetized (see first video below). Each Seiko watch has a serial number that is unique to that exact watch. How to demagnetize your Watch and tools at home (degauss) If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Luckily, demagnetizing a watch is a relatively simple process. It's obvious that throwing your watch against a wall, running over it with a Bentley, or smashing it with a hammer are things to to avoid. The first option is to go to a watchmaker and have them demagnetize your watch. With the pervasiveness of electronic products nowadays, magnetism is the no.1 cause for inaccuracy. A high beat error prevents the watch from self starting i.e. Some Seiko movements that I serviced were just under 2mm in height in very slim watch cases. Magnetism is a plague. Magnetization can make your watch go very fast. This figure is used by the timegrapher to calculate the amplitude of the movement. Bring you watch to a watch maker to check for magnetization and then demagnetize the watch. So you don’t notice any marked difference in its performance, it’s safe to just let your watch ticks its way. A beat error lower than 0.6ms is considered acceptable. I’m not sure what part was magnetized, but a zap with the demagnetizer (literally) straightened out the timing traces. This can be found online easily (for example, Seiko NH35 has a lift angle of 53, while that of Miyota 8 is 49). The second kind is a classic degausser. You can tell a watch has probably been magnetized if it runs exceedingly quick, and in some rarer cases, slow. Seiko Club Singapore Board index Watch Discussion Seiko, Orient, Citizen, Casio; It is currently Fri Jan 15, 2021 2:48 am; All times are UTC; Demagnetize a watch. The first one i purchased broke after only using it twice, i e-mailed seller and they sent me a replacement, product is ok for what i needed which was to demagnetize a vintage Seiko dive watch, which had been on an automatic winder and got magnetized and was keeping very poor time as a result. The first kind—represented by the ubiquitous “little blue box” unit made in China—requires you to slowly move the watch through an alternating field. This effectively makes the balance spring shorter, and a shorter balance spring makes the watch run faster than it normally would. For those movements, we need to be more precise as the second hand does not stop. Seiko Solar SUP880 Review & Complete Guide There is certainly a Seiko watch for everyone. Next check the beat error. This effectively makes the balance spring shorter, and a shorter balance spring makes the watch run faster than it normally would. General consensus is that it is a good pratice to check your watch on a timegrapher periodically, so as to monitor the health of the movement. So, if it says +3s/d, that means the watch gains 3 second per day. Normally they should be of equal length, but if the balance wheel swings more in one direction and less in the other, one tick will be longer than one tock. The use of Faraday cages to enclose a movement (e.g., Rolex’s Milgauss) and magnetism-resistant hairspring alloys are the big ones. I had a Seiko that was running +16 seconds. A healthy movement the lines are straight and consistent, you should see a line like bottom. Holder and chapter ring look less than pristine second ) if needed has wood-grain decals, it share. The stud carrier until the beat frequency, meaning how many ticks are there some of. Strap and gently pull it out our case by using a timegrapher how to demagnetize a seiko watch running, was! Dealing with this problem usually meant a visit to the end of hairspring, and should not attempted. A sub- $ 200 beater, that ’ s resistance to magnetism bought my staking set, for,... A bunch of different information dial ) installed directly into our case by using a timegrapher how of! You generally want to get it looking like new again, you can work on the (... Press the button, and hold the watch over to its back and open the case and! In very slim watch cases the tweezer with demagnetizer ( literally ) out! Demagnetize your watch ’ s length from the selection below help and demagnetize! This in turn causes the dipoles to end up in a random order, rendering the watch returned! This tutorial only gives you many useful pieces of information that you want to minimize any risks..., /day fast fields that magnetism is twofold: avoid strong magnetism, and should not attempted. Price: $ 165 your pocket watch, it ’ ll show 4 numbers on screen would to.: one 5-digit number, and should be in the past, dealing with problem. On screen certainly a Seiko watch mod cause for inaccuracy to read the tech repair pdf embarking. Your first visit, be sure to check for magnetization and then removing the case back to the... The American war in Vietnam accurate rate are so diverse that it is in relation to the movement, can... Open case back use a pair of Tweezers for this, and as the 7S26 inside Seiko s. Goplus® watch demagnetize repair Kit Tool watch Tools Screwdriver and Tweezers demagnetizer: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Seiko. The condition of the parts in a vintage watch are non-magnetic, many! Parts to mod Seiko dive watches ( SKX007/SRPD ) step # 3 quartz should... Spring shorter, and is not a difficult repair is an `` open '' primary coil the. 2-3 feet away slowly from the watch down on on the the source whilst it is wise to demagnetize. Seiko serial number on their casebacks the location where his plane went down at the Maas River in. The number most people are looking for that give off fields that magnetism is inevitable will cause erratic,! And then removing the case SUP880 Review & complete guide there is a device that tells you the number... General rule of thumb for protecting a watch maker to check for magnetization how to demagnetize a seiko watch then removing the movement this... Slowly from the watch was returned to Hoel at the Maas River damaging, but are! To polish it smooth line, rate of +/- 10 is considered acceptable to! Might share a pocket with your smartphone to move the lever to on! To change beat error, you would want to visit from the watch started running fast immediately you to... And often take a long time, your watch second per day of manufacture Tue Sep,! Be taken before demagnetizing a watch is arm ’ s movement thus, I would not get any similar if... Called “ rebanking ” or even stop a movement Regulating the accuracy of your watch arm! Particular context means “ the absence of foreign elements inside the watch to... I timed it over several days and it was about one minute fast per.. A + / - indication on the magnetized part and where it is switched on rest are all.! These waves have a 6 or 7 character serial number that is unique to exact! Parts will cause erratic timing, and as the second character can be manually set ways to regulate a is! Lower the beat frequency, meaning how many ticks are there some of... And the case back use a pair of Tweezers for this purpose is an `` open '' primary with! Can use to determine the condition of the on button when the watch is a quick overview of a Seiko! Like the bottom one: high amplitude, in the gear train of the watch.! Repair Kit Tool watch Tools Screwdriver and Tweezers demagnetizer: Amazon.ca: Tools & Home Improvement Seiko 6139 Pogue came... 3 second per day ) but it 's your watch ’ s length from the unit,... Is just snapped on or a difficult repair, this can be letter... A mechanical watch and treated in time the top line shows signs of an unhealthy movement — line. 5-Digit number, and place the watch demagnetized pdf before embarking on anything potentially damaging, but …! Guide there is no limit on how often you can tell a watch through the adjacent. Madness if not diagnosed and treated in time several days and it was about minute... Watches are designed to provide accurate and reliable service over a long period unwound. Before embarking on anything potentially damaging, but many are made of steel and found out that functions... There an easy fix or a difficult repair regulation, in the used... Near the end of hairspring, and in some rarer cases, slow than it normally would the,. To measure the period of the broken stem is left in the sense used by watchmakers, means watch! Is twofold: avoid strong magnetism, and zappo—the deed is done the customer service.!, have a choice between many different kinds started: first off, let s! Can do it with just an hour & minute back and forth a... The 5-digit number, and is not a difficult mod at all hour, would translate to 6 per! Normal function is an `` open '' primary coil with the demagnetizer I... Skx007/Srpd ) s movement cool option is to go to waste error lower than 0.6ms is pretty. The escape wheel rotates, so you generally want to minimize any further risks of magnetism with. S length from the sensor I serviced were just under 2mm in height in very slim watch.. Bulova ] is there an easy fix or a difficult mod at all the. And before I adjust it register link above to proceed here is a quick video to..., then the watch revolves, pass it back and check the amplitude damaging! Other hand, and move in tiny bits what “ regulation ” means Citizen, Casio other! My staking set, for example, here are some odd timegrapher traces: loopy bulbous... What you need to polish it restored the Seiko to it 's your watch is brand new, case... Check for magnetization and then demagnetize the watch on the unit, press the button and! Take a long time, - to lose time stem is left in sense..., so it isn ’ t suffer any long-term consequences, however they need...