The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I bought my SOH a few weeks ago, and recently noticed my watch was running fast (as compared to official time at time.gov). I reset the watch this weekend and after 24 hours it was 3 minutes fast. Now at 48 hours since the reset it is only 4 minutes fast. So it appears the fast time is not at a constant rate.

I use a laptop at work everyday, and I take the same laptop home and typically use it an additional 2 hours. I generally keep my watch on all the time and I only take it off while I'm at the gym or playing hockey. The speakers are in the front, alongside the front edge (facing me). My watch is only about 1-2 inches from the speakers. The magnets for the speakers are strong enough to hold a paper clip.

I've read on this forum about new watches needing some time to "settle" or "adjust." I've also read that magnetic fields from electronics can magnetize a watch and cause it to run fast.

(1) Is it more likely I have a magnetic problem or new watch adjusting problem?

(2) If my watch is magnetized, shouldn't it run fast at a constant rate?

(3) Can typical magnetism cause damage to the watch?

(4) How much time does it take for a new watch to adjust and what is involved in a new watch adjusting?

I think I may take the watch in soon to an AD and ask them to demagnetize the watch.

Thanks for the help!

Well if it is magnetised I would be slightly surprised - that generally results in the watch running hours fast per day, but it's definitely a possibility. Magnetism does no permanent damage and can be rectified by a watchmaker with a demagnetiser within seconds.

2 - 3 minutes a day is a lot for a watch that is just settling though. It does take a watch a while to adjust to constant movement, being run full time vs. sitting in a display case, etc and it's not unusual to see it outside of COSC specs for the first 6 - 8 weeks, but it shouldn't be minutes out.

No watch will run exactly consistent in terms of erro, but a difference of a minute per day is excessive for any kind of normal variation.

I think that a trip to the AD is in order, have them time it before and after demagnetising to see if there was any element of being magnetised, but I think that there may be something else going on.

Notwithstanding your opinion that my watch would normally be hours fast as opposed to only minutes if magnetized, is it your opinion that magnets for laptop speakers are too weak to magnetize the watch?

I just reset my watch again for another test (wishfully hoping something will change). Instead of winding the hands backward, I simply waited 4 minutes to allow time to catch up. Is there anything wrong with that? I've read posts on here from some users who prefer only to wind the hands forward.

Thanks.

Any magnet can magnetise your watch - the speakers in your laptop could be culprits if the watch is magnetised.

Nothing wrong with stopping the watch, but in Breitlings you can safely wind time backwards as long as the indicated time is not between the hours of 8pm and 3am.

Except for the B01. Correct?

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Do we have to have this discussion on every single thread where date change is mentioned???????

As I have said in response to multiple questions from you about this......

It doesn't apply to watches with an instant date change mechanism - Cockpit, 6.75 and B01.

Didn't want to get you cross, Roff

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I confirmed my watch was magnetized. I had it demagnetized, then used it for a few days, taking it off when I used my laptop, and it kept time accurately. Then I kept it on while using my laptop and it began to run fast again. Thanks for the help.

Glad that you got it sorted. Sounds like it may be time for a new laptop as well