Expert: Melvin Mills - 6/19/2009

Question
Melvin,
I have seen your answers to the questions regarding magnetism and watches; thank you. I have killed dozens of watches over the last twenty-five years, cheap and expensive through magnetism (i guess). I am not exposed nor do I expose my watches to RF or magnetism. Any ideas on the cause or the prevention so I can protect my investments? I love wrist watches.

Answer
Mark,

There are many ways that we can have exposure to magnetic fields:

One gentleman works on his car sound system regularly and the magnets from the speakers affect his watches.  

My father used to work as an electrical engineer and had to wear a pocket watch because the electric current produced magnetic fields.

The new magnetic money clips, clock radios, stereos. some children's toys.

My first question is why do you think that the watches are magnetized?

If you are correct and magnetism is the problem, you are lucky.
You are lucky because it is an easy fix.

You can go to ebay and buy a demagnetizer. It will cost about $50.

You place the watch on it, push the button, and the magnetism is gone.

You will not harm your watch by doing this.

WARNING: do not do this to a quartz watch.  A quartz watch has magnetism in the movement and if you remove it, you ruin the movement.

If the watch is quartz, if you remove the source of the extra magnetism, the watch should go back to the usual timekeeping function.

Kind regards,

Melvin