If you’re a watch aficionado you have probably encountered some myths and fallacies about mechanical timekeepers. There are plenty of them going around, and if you do not know any better you will be inclined to believe them. It is time to put those unfounded beliefs to rest; it’s the information age and time to be well-informed.
Myth No. 1: A person walks into a watch repair shop and says “This is over wound and has stopped working.
Fact: There is no such thing as an “over wound” timepiece. A blockage or defect has caused it to stop functioning.
Myth No. 2: A person’s body magnetism affects the timekeeping functions of a chronograph.
Fact: There is not enough energy coming from someone’s body chemistry, magnetism or electricity that could impact its functioning. Other factors that can influence timekeeping functions would include a large electric or magnetic field similar to a hydroelectric plant, but definitely not from a person’s body. Extreme temperature changes, not fully winding on a regular basis, not fully winding an automatic wind before placing it on the wrist, and the absence of regular servicing (to including cleaning and lubrication) influence timekeeping functions.
Myth No. 3: This is one of the oldest myths when it comes to chronographs: “jewels” that make them luxury items is often a misunderstood subject.
Fact: Wear and tear takes place whenever there is contact between the pivot of a wheel and its bushing. Years ago it was found that the metal bushing can be replaced with a donut-shaped jewel which would reduce the wear and allow watches to run longer and more accurately. These were initially made of precious stones like sapphires, rubies and diamonds. However, the stones used were of industrial quality and not of gem quality. Eventually it was discovered that laboratory created gem stones also worked, and these came at lower prices. The cost of installing these was very inexpensive. However, jeweled watches are obviously pricier than non-jeweled, depending on the quality used.
Service jobs facts:
- Your precious horologe should be serviced regularly, every 24-36 months to remove old sticky oils and dirt, clean and lubricate to keep them running and prolong their lives.
- On average, a timepiece’s life span has been found to be 8 -10 years, depending on how often they were serviced.
- Each piece is different which makes each servicing job unique. There is no set cost for repair as this depends on the complexity of the job.
- There is also no set price on cell replacement since each timepiece has a different degree of difficulty. More expensive horologes are more difficult to deal with. tag heuer service
