You glance at your wrist and realise the hands haven’t moved. Has the battery gone flat? Does your mechanical watch simply need winding? Or is something more serious happening inside?
A stopped watch doesn’t automatically mean a major repair. Here are some of the most common reasons your watch may have stopped and when it’s time to bring it to a watch repair specialist.
1. The battery may be flat
If you have a quartz watch, the most likely culprit is often the simplest: the battery has reached the end of its life.
A professional battery replacement can get many watches running again. If your watch is water resistant, it’s also worth considering pressure testing after the case has been opened to ensure the seals and case are still providing appropriate protection.
If a fresh battery doesn’t solve the problem, further investigation may be required.
2. Your mechanical watch may need winding
Unlike a quartz watch, a mechanical watch relies on stored energy within its mainspring.
A manual mechanical watch requires regular winding, while an automatic watch uses movement from your wrist to help keep the mainspring wound.
If an automatic watch has been sitting unworn for several days, it may simply have exhausted its power reserve. Try winding it according to the manufacturer’s instructions and see whether it begins running normally again.
If it repeatedly stops despite being properly wound and regularly worn, it may be time for an assessment.
3. It may be overdue for a service
A mechanical watch contains numerous tiny components operating together under very fine tolerances.
Over time, lubricants can deteriorate and components can experience wear. You might first notice reduced power reserve, inconsistent timekeeping or occasional stopping before the watch eventually stops altogether.
If your watch hasn’t been serviced for many years, or you don’t know its service history, a professional mechanical watch service may be worth considering.
4. Your watch may have suffered an impact
Dropped your watch recently? Knocked it against something?
A watch can look perfectly fine externally while an impact has affected something within the movement.
If your watch stops or begins behaving differently following a fall or significant knock, avoid repeatedly winding or adjusting it in an attempt to make it run. Have it professionally assessed instead.
5. Moisture may have entered the watch
If you can see condensation, fogging or moisture beneath the crystal, don’t ignore it.
Water inside a watch can cause corrosion and damage to the movement, dial and other components. The longer moisture remains inside, the greater the potential for damage.
This is one situation where we recommend seeking professional attention promptly.
6. Something inside simply needs attention
Sometimes there isn’t an obvious explanation.
A problem with the crown, winding system, movement, battery contacts or another internal component may prevent the watch from operating normally.
This is where proper diagnosis becomes important.
Don’t assume the worst, have it checked.
A stopped watch doesn’t necessarily mean an expensive repair, and replacing parts unnecessarily isn’t the answer either.
At JFP Watch Repairs, we’ll start by assessing the watch and identifying why it has stopped before recommending the appropriate next step.
Whether it’s a simple watch battery replacement, a mechanical issue or a watch that hasn’t been serviced in decades, bring it into our Adelaide workshop and let us take a look.