What are the reasons why mechanical and quartz watches stop working?

　　It is unsettling for anyone when a newly purchased mechanical or quartz watch stops working. So how should consumers resolve such a situation? Let us look into the reasons why newly bought mechanical and quartz watches stop working.

　　Reasons why mechanical watches stop working

　　Mechanical watches can generally be divided into the following two types: manual-winding and self-winding watches. Manual-winding watches rely on manual power; if a watch suddenly stops, you should consider insufficient power. Manual-winding watches should ideally be wound around the same time every day to ensure the watch has sufficient energy to run for the next 24 hours.

　　The principle of a self-winding watch relies on the automatic rotor rotating in any direction to wind the mainspring via the self-winding mechanism. Generally, a fully automatic watch should be worn on the wrist for more than 8 hours a day to replenish the mainspring power, though this is not absolute. Therefore, if not worn for a long time, or if the activity level is insufficient after wearing, it can also cause the mechanical watch to stop. In such cases, manual winding can be used as a remedy. It is worth noting that self-winding watches that have not been worn for more than 40 hours should have their crown turned twenty times when worn again to restart the movement's drive system.

　　Reasons why quartz watches stop working

　　1. The quartz watch battery is dead or has insufficient capacity; simply replace it with a new battery. When a quartz watch suddenly stops running, this is the very first thing we should consider.

　　2. Poor contact, mostly due to dirt on the positive and negative contact springs, causing poor contact with the battery. First, thoroughly clean the contact surfaces, and then reassemble.

　　3. When a quartz watch comes into contact with a magnetic field, it will stop running under its influence. However, rest assured that unlike mechanical watches, quartz watches will not become magnetised. It will be fine as soon as it is moved away from the magnetic field.

　　4. Open circuit in the coil, where the coil is damaged due to oxidation or human factors. This can be detected through multimeter testing, and generally requires a complete replacement.

　　5. Gear train failure, which occurs because of dust or foreign objects between the gear teeth, causing the gear train to jam. It should be cleaned to remove any foreign objects.

　　6. No output signal from the quartz watch, while other aspects have been checked. This situation is generally caused by an integrated circuit board failure, in which case the entire integrated circuit board needs to be replaced, which is considered a relatively serious issue.

　　Solution: We can take the watch to an after-sales service centre for inspection. If it is due to the battery, the battery can be replaced; if it is a circuit board or the quality of the watch itself, you can directly request a replacement watch. Of course, for a newly purchased watch, this situation is extremely rare; generally, quartz watches are more likely to stop running after being worn for about 2 years.

　　Precautions for watch maintenance

　　Shock resistance: A watch is a very precise instrument, and a tiny space of no more than a few centimetres can contain hundreds of parts. Damage, loosening, or displacement of any of these components can cause inaccurate timekeeping or even stoppage. The impact on the appearance is the detachment of five elements: markers, hands, pins, gems, and the crystal.

　　Magnetic resistance: Avoid approaching magnetic fields, such as placing the watch near electrical appliances that generate magnetic fields (like speakers, refrigerators, computers, etc.) or magnetic objects (like magnets, mobile phones). In addition, women's handbag snap buttons and men's mobile phone case magnetic closures may magnetise the watch, causing inaccurate timekeeping or temporary stoppage.

　　Water resistance: Generally, watches have water-resistant functions, but if used improperly, the watch glass easily develops water vapour, becoming hazy and unclear. In cases of severe water ingress, moisture seeps into the movement, which easily rusts and damages the movement, shortening the watch's lifespan. Therefore, experts suggest that when water enters a watch, you should not merely take the simplest approach of air-drying it; you should also have the watch cleaned, lubricated, and serviced to protect the movement from damage.

　　After a period of time, we will find that the originally smooth and bright appearance of "scratch-resistant" watches has become completely unrecognisable, with various scratches covering the crystal, bezel, and strap. These watches, which once made us shine, have now lost their lustre and can only be left forgotten in a dark corner of a drawer. Therefore, we must raise our awareness of "scratch prevention".