Watch running fast.

bernard0368

I was gifted a 1970s raketa watch, it is a nice little watch. however it seems to be running fast. Unscientifically tested I would say it is doing a couple of minutes on the hour.
Does anyone know somewhere reasonable that could check and reset it?

peasant

A couple of minutes on the hour, that's really fast and IMO points towards a magnetised balance spring.
If it's that, de-magnetising should fix it (people have used security scanners at checkouts for that).

art

peasant wrote: »

If it's that, de-magnetising should fix it (people have used security scanners at checkouts for that).

How's that work then! My Poljot is running hugely fast and I think I may have left it atop speakers at some point so likely magnetised all to hell ... what security scanners!!? I like this suggestion of not paying money to fix it, just suspiciously rubbing my hands all over some scanner or other ...

peasant

I've never done it myself (but other's here have, a search might bring something up).

Some shops use magnetic anti theft badges on their wares (to set off the alarms at the exits) so they have a de-magnitiser at the checkout to deactivate them. Seemingly running your watch over one of those does the trick.

Magnetising the balance spring causes it to tighten up, which in turn makes it swing faster, speeding the whole watch up.

art

peasant wrote: »

I've never done it myself (but other's here have, a search might bring something up).

Some shops use magnetic anti theft badges on their wares (to set off the alarms at the exits) so they have a de-magnitiser at the checkout to deactivate them. Seemingly running your watch over one of those does the trick.

Get you now, know the things you're talking about - will have to give that a try somehow

bernard0368

Thanks Peasant, off to Dunnes I go and sweet talk a cashier.

Menas

Of course it could just need a service.

bernard0368

A little update on this.
My father the old wise one, came up with this solution and by god it works.

On the old style crt monitors there is a menu option De-magnetizing or Degauss.
Take the back of the watch hold it against the screen and perform this option. Bingo the watch is still running perfect 5 days later.