Precautions for Anti-Magnetic Mechanical Watches

　　Besides ultra-thin timepieces, mechanical watches are relatively susceptible to magnetic fields, which can cause inaccurate timekeeping with errors ranging from tens of seconds to several minutes. Once magnetised, a watch must undergo demagnetisation to return to normal. Attention should be paid to anti-magnetic precautions for mechanical watches in daily life. Below, I will share some methods for protecting mechanical watches against magnetic fields.

　　There are many objects that can cause a watch to become magnetised; mobile phones, computers, and induction cookers are magnetic fields that can potentially cause a watch to become magnetised, and even refrigerator doors, shavers, and so on count. The strength of a magnetic field is inversely proportional to the 2 power of the distance; the further away from the magnetic field, the lower the magnetic field strength. Mechanical watches have certain anti-magnetic specifications. Taking Japanese mechanical watches as a standard, they include unmarked anti-magnetic, marked ordinary anti-magnetic, and marked enhanced anti-magnetic types, totalling 3. To prevent mechanical watches from becoming magnetised, we need to pay attention to the following three points:

　　(1) Fully wind the watch mainspring on time every day to ensure accurate timekeeping. At the same time, do not open the case back casually to prevent dust, fibres, water vapour, etc., from entering the movement and affecting the normal operation of the watch. These good habits can prevent your watch from becoming magnetised without your knowledge.

　　(2) Maintain the watch frequently, and wipe the case often to keep it clean. If not in use, it should be stored in a dry place free from mothballs, while remembering to wind the mainspring periodically;

　　(3) Watches with anti-magnetic performance must avoid contact with strong magnetic fields to prevent parts from becoming magnetised and causing timekeeping variations.

　　Once a mechanical watch is magnetised, the magnetism will not dissipate on its own; demagnetisation repair is required to restore normal function. Therefore, if your mechanical watch is inaccurate due to magnetisation, it is recommended to seek a professional service centre.