Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you.
The short answer: Your watch loses time mainly due to power reserve depletion, magnetization, lack of servicing, or extreme temperature changes. For quartz watches, a low battery is the usual culprit. For mechanical watches, it’s often a need for winding or a simple regulation. In most cases, you can fix it at home or with a quick visit to a watchmaker.
If you own a mechanical watch, it relies on a mainspring to store energy. If you don’t wear it regularly or only for a few hours a day, the power reserve can run down, causing the watch to slow or stop. Even automatic watches need movement to wind, so if you’re sedentary or rotate watches, they may lose time.
Fix: Wind your watch manually (if it’s an automatic, wind it via the crown about 20-30 turns) before wearing. If you wear it daily, ensure you’re moving enough to keep it wound. For a quartz watch, if it’s losing time, the battery is likely low. Replace it, and it should be accurate again.
Magnetic fields are everywhere: from smartphone speakers, fridge magnets, and even some handbag clasps. When a mechanical watch gets magnetized, its balance spring becomes sticky, causing it to run fast or slow. Quartz watches are less affected but can still be impacted.
Fix: You can test by placing a compass next to the watch; if the needle moves, it’s magnetized. A simple demagnetizer (a cheap, small tool) can fix it at home. Or take it to a watchmaker who has a professional demagnetizer.
Extreme heat or cold can affect the lubrication and metal expansion inside a watch. In cold weather, oil thickens, causing friction and time loss. In heat, expansion can alter the balance wheel’s rate. While modern watches are designed to handle a range, sudden or prolonged extremes can cause temporary inaccuracy.
Fix: Avoid leaving your watch in a hot car, on a radiator, or in direct sunlight for hours. For cold, wear it under a sleeve to keep it closer to your body temperature. If you’re moving between extreme environments, give the watch time to acclimate.
Over time, lubricants dry out, seals fail, and tiny parts wear. A mechanical watch should be serviced every 3-5 years, even if it’s running. If you’ve never serviced your watch and it’s losing time, it’s likely due to dried oil or worn gears. Quartz watches also need new batteries and a gasket change periodically.
Fix: Take your watch to a professional watchmaker for a service. They will disassemble, clean, oil, and regulate it. This is the most thorough fix for ongoing time loss.
Even well-maintained watches can be slightly out of regulation. This means the balance wheel’s oscillation isn’t perfectly timed. Often, a watch will consistently lose a few seconds per day. You can adjust it yourself if you have a timing machine, but for most, it’s best to leave it to a pro.
Fix: If your watch is consistently losing time (e.g., 10 seconds a day), a watchmaker can regulate it by adjusting the balance wheel’s effective length. This is a delicate operation and not recommended for novices without proper tools.
If your watch is old, frequently needs repairs, and the cost of servicing exceeds its value, it might be time for a new one. Even quartz watches can suffer from circuit board failure, which is often not worth fixing. Before you invest in repairs, consider the watch’s sentimental value and cost.
If you’re in the market for a reliable timepiece that won’t lose time unnecessarily, check out our curated list of top-rated watches at our watch buying guide. We’ve researched many options to help you find one that fits your lifestyle and budget.
A well-adjusted mechanical watch might lose or gain 5-10 seconds per day. If you’re losing more than that, it’s worth investigating the causes above.
Yes, you can buy a cheap demagnetizer online. Just hold the watch near it and press the button, but make sure to follow instructions carefully. If you’re unsure, take it to a pro.
Yes, quartz watches need battery changes every few years, and it’s a good idea to replace the battery when it dies. Also, have the seals checked to maintain water resistance.
We don't accept free units or payment for placement. Our rankings combine verified manufacturer specifications, real owner feedback and availability, compared on one transparent S to C rubric.
Honesty note: We have not hands-on tested every product mentioned on this page. Where we have not personally used a product, any ranking referenced here is based on verified specs, aggregated owner feedback, availability and editorial comparison rather than a hands-on review.