Regular watch maintenance allows your timepiece to function properly and prolong its lifespan. Whether it’s a luxury watch or a daily essential, staying on top of repairs and maintenance can preserve your watch’s performance and save you from costly replacements down the road.
Watch repair is often best performed by professionals, like the watchmakers at Peter & Co. Jewelers. We serve Avon Lake, Ohio, and the surrounding Cleveland area with professional watch repair and jewelry sales. Here, we discuss the signs that your watch needs repair.
Common Signs to Pursue Watch Repair
Even the most reliable watches can show signs of wear or internal issues over time. Recognizing these early warning signals can help you avoid more serious and expensive repairs down the line:
Stopping or Running Erratically
If your watch suddenly stops or begins to tick inconsistently, it’s a clear sign that something’s wrong. This can stem from several underlying issues:
- Battery issues: For quartz watches, a dead or dying battery is the most common cause of sudden stops.
- Mechanical failure: In automatic or manual watches, internal components like the mainspring or gears may malfunction.
- Worn-out parts: Over time, gears and pivots can wear down, leading to erratic movement or stop completely.
Difficulty Setting the Time or Date
Struggling to adjust your watch’s time or date is more than just a minor inconvenience. It’s often a sign that something inside isn’t functioning as it should. If you notice any of the following, it may be time for a professional to examine the piece:
- Stiff crown: If the crown feels unusually tight, loose, or doesn’t engage properly, it could indicate internal wear or debris interfering with the inner mechanism.
- Skipping days: A date window that jumps erratically, skips days, or doesn’t change at midnight may point to a misaligned gear.
Unusual Noises or Loose Parts
Watches are designed to operate smoothly. If you start hearing strange sounds or notice parts that feel loose, it’s a strong sign that something inside may be damaged or out of place. Common issues include:
- Clicking, rattling, or grinding sounds: These noises often suggest that internal components have shifted, broken, or are rubbing against each other improperly.
- Loose internal parts: If you feel or hear something moving inside the case when you tilt the watch, it could mean a screw, gear, or spring has come loose, potentially causing further issues.
Losing or Gaining Time Significantly
If your watch consistently runs too fast or too slow compared to other timepieces, it’s a sign that something may be off internally. Other signs may include:
- Noticeable inaccuracy: If your watch gains or loses several minutes over a short period, it’s likely more than just a calibration issue.
- Movement problems: Internal components may need adjustment, especially in mechanical watches, where precision is key.
Physical Damage
If your watch has a cracked or scratched face or the band has broken, it can take away from the overall appearance of the piece. Therefore, you should take it in for repairs. Often, the damaged piece can be replaced, and you’ll get your timepiece back looking as good as new.
Choose Peter & Co. Jewelers for Watch Repair
For the repair of fine timepieces and jewelry, having a professional perform the work is essential for success. Peter & Co. Jewelers is a family-owned jewelry store with years of experience serving customers in the Avon Lake and surrounding Cleveland, Ohio, area with jewelry sales and repair. We also offer online tracking to check in on the status of your repair. To learn more about watch repair or to get a free quote, contact us or call us today.