THE JOURNAL

Is your watch magnetised?

News centrePublished 2014-04-08

When you find that your watch has suddenly stopped or the timekeeping error is increasing, you might immediately blame the manufacturer's quality or rush to have it repaired. However, there is no need to panic, as another common cause for these issues is that the watch has become magnetised.

Mechanical watches contain many steel components, and if a mechanical watch is frequently exposed to strong magnetic fields, it has the potential to become magnetised.

How to determine if a watch is magnetised

The method to determine if a watch is magnetised is to use a sensitive compass. Place the compass flat on a table, then quickly move the watch back and forth close to the top of the compass. Repeat this action while changing the orientation of the watch; if the compass needle moves, it indicates that the watch has been magnetised.

Treating a magnetised watch:

If your watch is magnetised, the most direct method is to take it to a service centre or a watchmaker to have it demagnetised using a demagnetiser, which will restore the watch to normal in about 2 seconds. Of course, if you find it inconvenient to go out, you can also try the demagnetisation tips found online.

1, find an unmagnetised iron ring, place the watch inside the ring, and pass it back and forth slowly. After a few minutes, the watch will be demagnetised and restored.

2. The effective area of an induction hob is generally circular, with coils underneath. If a sufficiently large steel object is not placed on it, it usually will not start due to automatic protection. It is best to find a steel cup (indicated by a red circle) filled with water, or another steel container, ensuring it does not cover the centre of the hob but is sufficient to trigger it. Then, turn on the induction hob, preferably at maximum power, and move the watch or tool to be demagnetised from the far left side, close to the surface, across the centre, and out to the far right. Repeat this several times, ensuring you enter from one direction, which provides an effective demagnetisation effect.