These 3 reasons explain why a watch stops running

During daily wear, we sometimes encounter a perplexing issue: the watch stops running. Bafflingly, we cannot recall subjecting the watch to any severe impact. What exactly causes this? Why does a watch suddenly stop?

Below is a compilation of professional insights into why watches stop running, aimed at helping you resolve such issues with ease should you encounter them while wearing your timepiece.

Issue 1: Dried-up lubricant, water ingress and rust

Slight carelessness during daily wear can result in water ingress. Once water enters the watch, the minute bearings and gears are prone to corrosion, causing the movement to seize and stop. Furthermore, water ingress affects the flexibility of the automatic winding mechanism, causing the watch to lose power and stop even under normal daily movement.

Solution: Should the above occur, professionals advise seeking servicing and repair immediately; leaving it unchecked for too long increases the risk of damaging the movement components.

Issue 2: Insufficient wrist motion

In fact, this is the most common issue people consider and attempt to address first. So, how often should a mechanical watch usually be wound? Generally,Mechanical watchit needs to be worn for more than 8 hours daily to fully replenish the mainspring energy. Of course, this is not absolute and depends on individual activity levels.

Desk-bound office workers and elderly individuals commonly experience watch stopping due to a lack of sufficient motion to keep the mainspring wound.

Solution: This can be resolved directly by manually winding the watch using the crown.

Issue 3: Damage caused by shock-induced misalignments

Generally speaking, watches are equipped with a degree of shock resistance, allowing the internal anti-shock mechanism to absorb external impacts, though the exact tolerance varies by model. In quartz watches, impacts may disconnect the battery contacts, whilst in mechanical watches, shock can cause misalignments in the balance roller, leading to a standstill.

Solution: If these issues arise, do not assume the watch is broken; simply take it to a service centre to have the components properly reset.

To ensure reliable operation and precision, professionals recommend regular watch maintenance. It is best to have your timepiece tested for water resistance and externally cleaned once a year.