Strange Ways Timepieces Break and How to Prevent Them Part 1

Despite their superior craftsmanship and quality, mechanical watches can still suffer from breakage through these strange times we’re going through today. Even authentic Seiko parts such as custom Seiko dials won’t be spared from damage if they happen. 

Read on to know what they are and find out how to prevent them in this first entry of a two-part series!

Strange Way #1: Not Using Them Often

This first item on the list might seem odd since it might be a common misconception that unused items will remain in the same pristine condition it was purchased or left in.

Unfortunately, this is not always true. In the case of luxury watches, lengthy periods of unuse will clump the oils and lubricants on the components, leading to poor performance and incorrect time measurements after a while. Even genuine Seiko parts and custom Seiko dials are not spared from these malfunctions.

How to Prevent This

Do not wind watches manually. Instead, use automatic watch winders. They are special storage units that protect your beloved timepieces from dust and keep them wound in the entirety of their storage. Be sure to purchase from legitimate brands such as Wolf since their products prevent overwinding, which can also damage your watch and its internal components.

Strange Way #2: Setting the Date Incorrectly

Another danger of leaving a watch unused and stored in a container other than an automatic winder will set the date and time to inaccurate measures. Undoubtedly the most straightforward solution would be to set them to the correct numbers, yes?

Sadly, not entirely, especially if you set the date and time on your dial between 9 PM and 3 AM. Doing so damages the date change component (located between those numbers) and misaligns it completely.

How does that happen? The date change mechanism is an instant switch that charges up to make the switch at the appropriate time. Its charging period starts at 9 PM and ends at 3 AM, hours when the watch wearer is supposedly not using the watch. Fixing an inaccurate date reading between these times exerts too much pressure on this particular component, causing damage.

How to Prevent This

The first prevention method for a timepiece’s busted date-setting component would be to store it in an automatic watch winder. As mentioned earlier, it mimics the use of a watch, so all the elements (including the date change mechanism) remain in good working order.

The second way to prevent this from happening is to simply avoid adjusting your rarely-used timepiece’s date and time between 9 PM and 3 AM. Instead, set them between 5 AM to 5 PM so that the mechanism can charge up on its own.

Always check with your watch manufacturer for more specific details regarding this concern. For instance, Seiko may have a different date mechanism placement than others, so a more specialised timeframe may be needed to preserve original Seiko parts.

To Be Concluded

This is the first of a two-part series on strange ways a watch can break and how to prevent them. If your watch suffers from these two concerns, refer to these tips as often as possible to maintain its lifespan. If not, we strongly urge you to bring them to your manufacturer for observation or read part two here!

If you’re looking for genuine watch parts such as custom Seiko dials to elevate your timepiece or give it a much-needed repair, Seiko Mods is the perfect option. We specialise in designing and manufacturing sapphire crystals and other client-specific parts for Seiko watches. Shop with us today!