Does temperature affect the timekeeping accuracy of a watch?

　　Can temperature cause a watch to lose accuracy? To this question, my answer is: YES!

　　TakeQuartz watchesGenerally speaking, under normal temperature conditions in the range of 5°C to 35°C, a quartz watch can run steadily and accurately, but once the temperature exceeds 50°C, it will cause battery leakage, thereby shortening the battery life.

　　Mechanical watchLubricating oil is used during operation to reduce friction loss. If the ambient temperature reaches 50°C, the oil will rapidly diffuse and dissipate due to reduced viscosity, and it will oxidise and deteriorate, losing its lubricating properties. However, 50°C does not occur in natural environments, nor in our daily lives, so there is no need to worry too much.

　　When the temperature is consistently below -10°C, the viscosity of the lubricating oil inside a mechanical watch increases, which in turn increases the frictional resistance of the mechanical movement. This causes the amplitude of the balance wheel to decrease and the frictional resistance of the balance spring system to rise, affecting the watch's timekeeping accuracy.

　　For mechanical watches themselves, due to thermal expansion and contraction, when the temperature changes, the various parts inside the movement will also expand or contract, which can affect the accuracy of the watch. For those in places like Northeast China, where winter temperatures are often below -10°C, please be extra careful and take care to protect your watch; do not leave it outdoors.