Rolex 1675 Hands Stop

[sgwatchobsession]

Happy new year all!

I recently was having an issue where my 1675 GMT seems to "stop" before the power reserve runs out. Upon picking up the watch and unscrewing the crown to set the time, the watch begins running again (Non-Hacking Movement), almost as if something was keeping the hands stuck.

Any idea what the cause of this could be? Lack of lubricant? Dust in the movement? Hand alignment issues?

[77T]

It could be the barrel is sticky

or the hands if it stops when they are together

or a flake of something in the gear train that the crown/stem can push the gears past it - only for it to come around again.

Time for a watchmaker and a service.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dan S]

When the watch stops, the power reserve has run out ... by definition. This happens when the overall resistance in the movement overcomes the power remaining in the mainspring. At that point, moving or shaking the watch, pulling out the crown, etc. might get it running again for a short time.

Overall, if the power reserve as decreased significantly, that's one sign that a service is due.

[sgwatchobsession]

Originally Posted by Dan S

When the watch stops, the power reserve has run out ... by definition. This happens when the overall resistance in the movement overcomes the power remaining in the mainspring. At that point, moving or shaking the watch, pulling out the crown, etc. might get it running again for a short time.

Overall, if the power reserve as decreased significantly, that's one sign that a service is due.

Hey Dan, thanks for the response! In this case I think there is still power in the power reserve for the watch, hence when I set the time, the watch hands become "Unstuck" and begin moving again even without any movement.

I guess it is due a service...

[Tools]

Originally Posted by sgwatchobsession

Hey Dan, thanks for the response! In this case I think there is still power in the power reserve for the watch, hence when I set the time, the watch hands become "Unstuck" and begin moving again even without any movement.

I guess it is due a service...

This is fairly normal. A mainspring is not a switch that turns off, even when apparently run down there is still potential energy there. It takes very little to overcome the friction that keeps that stored potential left from reengaging.

It may or may not need a service, but it will likely always have some potential remaining any time it is left to run down

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by sgwatchobsession

Hey Dan, thanks for the response! In this case I think there is still power in the power reserve for the watch, hence when I set the time, the watch hands become "Unstuck" and begin moving again even without any movement.

I guess it is due a service...

Sorry, maybe I wasn't clear, and maybe you will think this is semantics. But this is often a point of confusion. A watch always stops when there is still power remaining in the spring. The "power reserve" is defined as the time after which the resistance equals the remaining power. Hence, the power reserve decreases as the lubrication degrades, which increases the resistance. Not necessarily because the mainspring holds less power, but because there is more resistance. Apologies for the physics lesson.

[sgwatchobsession]

Understood, thanks for the advice all! Will be sending the piece out to a watchmaker soon.