Expert: Melvin Mills - 2/26/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi!

I have a question re a Hamilton Electric Watch (vintage reproduction). Not sure if it qualifies as a "quartz" watch.  Would you be able to help with this sort of watch?

Thank you! :)

Connie Watson

ANSWER: Connie,

Please go ahead with the question.  I will likely be able to find the answer if I don't know it.

Kind regards,

Melvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, Melvin!

Thank you for taking on my question. :)

I bought this watch for my husband in 1989.  It's been working great so far, just needing the usual battery changes.

My husband likes to let his watches "rest" (he has a vintage watch collection and rotates them). He decided to put a new battery in yesterday and went to a neighborhood store that sells mainly newer (and cheaper watches.

When he brought the watch home, it was working (I saw the second hand moving). But...the clerk couldn't get the back plate back into position so it wasn't totally closed. I put the watch on a small pillow and worked the back into place (no tools). I heard a "click" and saw that the back was finally closed and aligned.  But, when I flipped the watch over, I saw the second hand was no longer moving. So I opened it using the corner provided on the back of the watch and checked to see if the battery were out of place, which it wasn't.

My husband took the watch and battery back into the same store and had the battery tested just to start there to see if that might be the problem, but the battery is fine.

I feel responsible for the watch not working. I'm generally very careful not to touch working components in watches as I know they're very delicate.  My fingers were on the back of the case.  I'm not sure where I went wrong.  Any insights would be appreciated.  
Thank you for your time and expertise. :)  
Connie

Answer
Ms. Connie,

I am very sorry to hear about your watch.  

I am not sure what happened.  It is very hard to tell.  I am wondering why the clerk could not get the back on properly.  He should have been able to get it to click if the movement was in properly.

It sounds like you did everything correctly.  That "click" let's you know the back is on securely.  

Will the watch work when the back is off?  If that is the case, it means that the movement is not in properly.

Check the hands to make sure they are not touching one another.

The good news is that it can probably be fixed.  Take it to a watchmaker and let him take a look.  He should be able to have it running well in short order.

Kind regards,

Melvin