FAO Rotty/Watch enthusiasts

Jez

Jez

Jez

Caporegime
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
33,073
Hi Rotty/watch enthusiasts, bit of advice re my recent Omega Seamaster purchase.

The watch in question has sat unwound for around 2-3 months, maybe longer. I have had a REAL job getting it going again, would you expect an automatic watch like this to be hard to get going again after being sat?

When i say really hard, i have wound and wound it, and i could only get the second hand to move for about 5-10 seconds maximum before stopping. I then would shake it, and it would go for a further 5-10 seconds. Rinse and repeat all bloody day, with the watch gradually running for slightly longer each time i shake it before stopping. I got it up to around 30 seconds, then a minute, and now it has been running for a constant 10 minutes and shows no sign of stopping.

This is somewhat annoying me, as i am now scared about letting it stop again! Is there something wrong or would leaving a watch stood for ages make it act like this?

If not, i will most certainly be questioning the dealer and seeking a refund or be asking for it to be sent to Omega or something.

Regards, a frustrated wannabe watch enthusiast. :)
 
Omegas are slow to restart when winding, 50 winds from dead would not be excessive

Just shaking it adds little power

try a big wind and then wear it for a day, it then should stay running for at least 30 hours


it may be in need of a service, do you know how old it is and when it was last serviced ?
 
That doesn't sound normal to me. You should be able to pick up an automatic after two or three months and give it a shake for 5 seconds and it start again. It sounds like it needs a service.
 
Its 6 years old, and i am not sure when it was last serviced. I have the option of a service, but it was a fair chunk of cash (£265) and it is sold as in working order. Therefore i thought i would opt out and see how it goes.

I have not tried anything even like 50 winds, my father has a Patek, and gives that a maximum of around 5 winds, so he advised me not to go overboard on the winding.

If you are sure i may wind it that much? i will give it a full 50 winds and see what happens if so :)
 
a wind in prob about 180 degree, as in to the point where you reposition your fingers

from a watch website

"for a watch that has run down completely 15 turns or so are typically recommended for a “jump start” after which the motion of the arm should bring it to a full wind, with about 40 or so turns typically required to bring a movement from a dead start to a full wind. "

auto watches have a clutch and typically cannot be over wound
 
Rotty said:
5 is nowhere near enough, probably wouldn't even start many watches
Click to expand...

Ok, i have given it 50+ winds, and it now *seems* to be running :) If this is all that was wrong with it i feel like a total n00b. Half of the fun i guess.

I cant thank you enough for the winding advice Rotty, i was scared of breaking it hence not trying to wind it too much.

whitecrook said:
What is 'a wind'? It that one 360 turn of the winder knob?
Click to expand...

I am taking a "wind" to be as far as i can turn it through my thumb and forefinger until i run out of finger. Whether that is a full rotation or not i am unsure :)
 
Jez said:
Ok, i have given it 50+ winds, and it now *seems* to be running :) If this is all that was wrong with it i feel like a total n00b. Half of the fun i guess.

I cant thank you enough for the winding advice Rotty, i was scared of breaking it hence not trying to wind it too much.



I am taking a "wind" to be as far as i can turn it through my thumb and forefinger until i run out of finger. Whether that is a full rotation or not i am unsure :)
Click to expand...

that is what I would consider a wind

now wear it until you take it off tonoght, it should still be running tomorrow night

let me know how you go
 
The potential for 'winding people up' about expensive watches that don't actually work is hard to resist in this thread. :D
 
doofer said:
The potential for 'winding people up' about expensive watches that don't actually work is hard to resist in this thread. :D
Click to expand...

Tell me about it mate, this thing cost as much as ive spent on cars before, and so far isnt as good as my scratched to death £350 Hugo Boss Quartz work watch :p
 
lakitu said:
That doesn't sound normal to me. You should be able to pick up an automatic after two or three months and give it a shake for 5 seconds and it start again. It sounds like it needs a service.
Click to expand...

No. There's no way a five second shake will give an automatic watch enough of a wind to start.
 
Fair enough, I'm just going off the two automatics I have. Both need a couple of seconds shake and they're off.
 
Tel you something, £265 for a service of a watch sounds incredible to me.

Also a watch sold you in full working order, and you didn't think to ask if it should maybe be ticking, or the hands moving or something?

I'm likely missing something major, but even so, seems like an entirely different world to me.
 
Feek said:
No. There's no way a five second shake will give an automatic watch enough of a wind to start.
Click to expand...

Not true.

lakitu said:
Fair enough, I'm just going off the two automatics I have. Both need a couple of seconds shake and they're off.
Click to expand...

True.

I don't know what automatics Feek has owned, but whenever I've gone into a watch shop and looked at a stopped automatic, a couple of shakes from the salesman has brought them back to life, same as my Planet Ocean.
 
Robbie G said:
Not true.



True.

I don't know what automatics Feek has owned, but whenever I've gone into a watch shop and looked at a stopped automatic, a couple of shakes from the salesman has brought them back to life, same as my Planet Ocean.
Click to expand...

Yeah I have a Seamaster and an ETA
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom