Expert: Melvin Mills - 10/23/2010

Question
Is it something (making +/- corrections)the average person can do to ordinary automatic/self winding type watches. I have several that I would like to wear intermittently, but they gain or lose a couple minutes p/day which is unacceptable. The mechanisisms all seem similar with the pointer and a +on one side and - on the other side of wheel. If its running fast does one move the arrow to the "_ " a tad and vice-versa?

Answer
David,

Yes, that device you are referring to is used to adjust the timing.

It probably will not work if the watches are a couple of minutes though.  The regulator was only designed to fine tune the timing once it has been timed within seconds, not minutes.

If the watches were keeping good time and now they are not, the watches need to be cleaned.  Trying to speed them up to compensate for the dirt will only lead to wearing out the parts sooner than necessary.

Kind regards,

Melvin