Expert: Melvin Mills - 5/31/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have some old mechanical watches that appear to be "wound too far" Do I understand this to be a myth? If in fact this is true, what might other problems be? I don't have a great deal of money to do repairs, but a couple of the watches are from my grandmothers and I'd like to see them working. I prefer an old wind up watch instead of the new looking watches, the old ones have so much more character

ANSWER: Marilyn,

you are correct that over wound is a myth.

As one winds a watch, it will stop winding when it is fulling wound because or the notch that is in the spring that pulls the spring as it is being wound.  If one were to over wind, the spring would break.  At that point, the watch knob would turn freely.
No one accidently overwinds.  It would take great effort to break a mainspring by winding too much.

It is possible that the watch just needs a good cleaning.  That would entail taking the watch apart, cleaning, re-assembly, oiling, and then timing the watch so it is accurate.  Adding a new mainspring at that time is usually done, unless the watch is rare and one is not available (which is seldom the case).

You are probably looking at $100-$150.  With that price we are assuming it only needs to work detailed above.  If it is broken and parts need to be added, then the price goes up.

Kind regards,

Melvin

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

QUESTION: Hi Melvin, thanks for your quick answer. I was afraid you were going to say something like that. I guess I was hoping for a quick fix. I love those old watches. When you mentioned "timing" does that mean that a watch runs fast or slow? Because I have one that does that too. It gains time quite fast. I wear it anyway, it just means I'm usually early to everything! Again thanks for your help.

ANSWER: Running fast MIGHT have a quick fix.

Many times a watch runs fast because it has become magnetized.

To fix that, take the watch in one hand and a magnet in the other.

Hold them together in front of you and then slowly separate your hands until your arms are outstretched, like one would see a picture of Jesus on the cross.  At that point, drop the magnet (but not the watch).  This will demagnetize the watch.  You may need to repeat that process a few times.

If you don't have a magnet, go to a kids store.  They have this new toy that consists of two magnets that kids can throw up in the air and they make noise.  They would be perfect for this function.

Kind regards,

Melvin

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

QUESTION: It worked!!! Thank you so much. My lovely old watch has been keeping perfect time for 48 hours. I don't understand the logistics of it, but it worked and that's all that matters. Thanks again for all your help.

Answer
Excellent!! Congratulations and enjoy your watch.

If you ever plan on passing it down to someone, write down the watch's history, such as where it came from and as much about each owner as possible.  That will certainly add to the sentimental value.

Kind regards,

Melvin