Why Does My Watch Lose Time?

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Wristwatches are an essential accessory for people who like to distinguish themselves with their style and taste. Luxury timepieces, such as the Patek Philippe or the Rolex are sold for thousands of dollars, and there are certain watches that retail for hundreds of thousands of dollars as well.

If you own a luxury timepiece, the last thing that you would want is to see the watch losing time after every few days. It can be quite frustrating having to reset the time every now and then, and it really takes away from the quality of the timepiece. Thankfully, there are some pretty simple reasons why your watch loses time.

Before you decide to take the timepiece back or take it to a professional, it might be a wise idea to look at a few reasons why your watch might be losing time. In some situations, the problem is caused due to old age. Modern watches have a plethora of moving parts, so a lack of lubricant or parts getting damaged over years of use could prevent the watch from keeping accurate time.

Why does my watch lose time? There can be several reasons for that. Here are just some of the most common reasons why your watch might stop keeping accurate time.

1. The Battery

The most common reason why your watch may stop keeping accurate time is if the battery goes dead. Quartz watches have a battery that passes current through the quartz to keep time. If the battery is dead, the watch will simply stop keeping time altogether.

While most watches don’t always use batteries, the ones that do should last around a couple of years. But, you should know that there are several factors that affect the life of the battery. Digital watches, for instance, have batteries that run out quicker.

You also need to consider the size of battery. Watches with a chronograph function are going to lose time quickly if you keep the chronograph running all the time. Furthermore, you should know that temperature also has an impact on the battery.

If the battery is exposed to excessively hot or cold temperatures, it’s also going to have an impact on its battery life. Therefore, the first thing you need to check is the battery.

2. Water Damage

Most watches have a “water-resistant” label on them. There’s also a rating, such as 20 Bar or 10 Bar. Essentially, this means that the watch will keep water out up to a depth of either 100 meters or 200 meters. However, you have to understand that even if a single drop of water gets in the watch, it’s going to cause serious damage.

3. Low Quality Parts

The use of low quality parts or poor manufacturing practices is another reason why your watch may stop keeping accurate time. Even if you own a luxury timepiece, you have to understand that faults can occur from time to time, and this could prevent the watch from keeping accurate time.

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do about this. The most you can do is take the watch to a technician and get it fixed, though it’s likely that the problem will occur again.

4. Physical Damage

If the watch sustains any kind of impact damage (such as falling from a distance), it’s likely going to cause problems. depending on the extent of the damage caused due to the impact, you may have to take the watch to the manufacturer or a jeweler to determine the extent of the damage and then get repairs done.

5. Current Fluctuation

If the battery does not regulate the flow of current properly, it’s going to prevent your watch from keeping accurate time. In some cases, it’s also due to a higher electrical current running through the person’s body. In some cases, if you were exposed to electricity, it could cause an impact on the performance of the battery or the watch itself.

These are just some of the main reasons why your watch loses time. Once you know what is causing the problem, you can get it fixed easily!