Omega SMP 300 winding down completely. Service needed?

[burnthesehills]

The watch is only 2 1/2 years old. I wear it as my daily. But I noticed a couple times it has wound down completely. Granted I have a desk job. And there are some days it might not get much wrist time. And I’m sure and a day here and there with no wrist time at all. But after three or four weeks, the power reserve seems to wind down completely. Even with fairly regular wrist time and semi daily wear. Wondering if this is an issue requiring service.

While I’m at it, should I be winding the watch until the crown won’t turn anymore? It seems to take forever. And I don’t think I wind it quite that much. Maybe around 50 rotations but not until it stops.

[AEC]

Originally Posted by burnthesehills

...after three or four weeks, the power reserve seems to wind down completely...

..winding the watch until the crown won’t turn anymore...

That first statement is throwing me a little. To test for sufficient autonomy I recommend winding the watch manually to start/set it (~20-30 twists of the crown are enough), and then wearing it all day (after which the mainspring should be fully wound), and then putting it down for observation to see how long it continues to run. If your watch uses Caliber 8800 then you're looking for ~55 hours.

If you get ~55 hours then it's all good; if you get a meaningfully shorter autonomy then yes, it should be inspected. If it's under warranty then the service should be covered, and if it's not under warranty then I recommend Nesbit's Fine Watch Service. Nesbit's is authorized, prices are typically the same as Omega Service, but communication, turn-around, and quality-control are all better at Nesbit's in my experience.

Your watch's crown won't stop turning when the movement is fully wound. Self-winding watches employ a slip-clutch (I think that's the term) which allows the winding mechanisms (self- and manual-) to keep working even after the mainspring is fully wound.

The crown will come to a hard stop, though, in the hand-wound Omega watches such as the Speedmaster Pro or the De Ville Tresor.

Hope this helps. Let us know how it goes.

[burnthesehills]

Originally Posted by AEC

That first statement is throwing me a little. To test for sufficient autonomy I recommend winding the watch manually to start/set it (~20-30 twists of the crown are enough), and then wearing it all day (after which the mainspring should be fully wound), and then putting it down for observation to see how long it continues to run. If your watch uses Caliber 8800 then you're looking for ~55 hours.

If you get ~55 hours then it's all good; if you get a meaningfully shorter autonomy then yes, it should be inspected. If it's under warranty then the service should be covered, and if it's not under warranty then I recommend Nesbit's Fine Watch Service. Nesbit's is authorized, prices are typically the same as Omega Service, but communication, turn-around, and quality-control are all better at Nesbit's in my experience.

Your watch's crown won't stop turning when the movement is fully wound. Self-winding watches employ a slip-clutch (I think that's the term) which allows the winding mechanisms (self- and manual-) to keep working even after the mainspring is fully wound.

The crown will come to a hard stop, though, in the hand-wound Omega watches such as the Speedmaster Pro or the De Ville Tresor.

Hope this helps. Let us know how it goes.

Thank you! It appears some testing is in order.

[Crunchie]

It’s quite possible that if you put it on in the morning, drive to work, sit in an office all day, drive home, and take it off when you get changed (or have a relaxed evening), your watch just isn’t winding enough to keep running.

The odd more active day will help, but eventually it’ll stop.

Before you pay for a service or get it checked under warranty, try either winding it for thirty seconds before you put it on every day, getting a watch wonder, or simply moving a bit more. It sounds like I’m taking the p, but I’m honestly not.

[Zaneraph]

If your watch is only 2.5 years old but winds down despite regular wear, it could be an issue with the automatic winding system. Try giving it a full manual wind yes, you should wind until you feel resistance (which might take 50+ turns). If it still runs down unexpectedly, it might be worth getting it checked out.

[Andad]

As has been said, why not fully wind it, sit it on a table and check how long it runs?

[herefortheattachment]

Do you have another automatic watch to try out?

Years ago, I used to carry my work bag on the same arm I wore my watch, and held the strap walking to/from the car. My arm never swung by my side as a result and the watch would always die. I would take my watch off before the gym and wasn’t walking/moving around enough at work to keep it wound.