The Breitling Watch Source Forums

My chrono evo has always run +3s/day. But the other day I noticed it was fast, so I set it. That was 2 days ago and today it is 0:01:40 fast! I thought watches only slowed down Does anyone have any idea what could cause this? Will I have to send it in? Since it is only 18 months old, I am a little surprised by this. I thought a $5,000.00 watch would keep better time, for longer, than that

Hmm.

Well it is too soon for a service. It could have got a knock, or it could have become magnetised (I would expect less gain with a knock and more with magnetising). Either way I would take it to your AD and get them to look at it. If they can't fix it first time then it is still under warranty so Breitling will take care of it.

"...it could have become magnetized..."

Thanks Roffensian. I am a little confused about this diagnosis. As far as I remember from physics class, stainless steal is not magnetic. For example, magnets don't stick to stainless steal pans or the stainless steal door of a refrigerator. So what do you mean by this? Are there Iron, Nickel or Cobalt parts in the watch? Thanks.

Stainless steel is magnetic but watches ussually slow down when they are magnetized.

I'd go with the magnetised diagnosis too.

Watches definitely can speed up when they're magnetised - I remember seeing something from Watchmakeress to that effect.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

I have been putting my chrono on a shelf that sometimes also stores a high powered magnet. The kind used for picking up lost nails and screws. It is quite possible that the watch and the magnet were in very close proximity recently.
Is watchmakeress still around? I would like to know if it is possible to have a watch run +50s/day after becoming magnetized. How do you "unmagnetize" a watch?

Thanks.

I think that is a simple procedure for a watchmaker.

Far too much time on my hands this afternoon

http://chestofbooks.com/crafts/popular-mechanics/The-Boy-Mechanic-1000-Things-for-Boys-to-Do/How-to-Demagnetize-a-Watch.html

Pretty interesting stuff, Sharky! Good find.

* Still think I'd leave it for a pro though! *

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Yes good find. But even the home remedy sounds scary

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Yeah I bet if I did it, the string would unwind completely and the watch would end up wacking on the floor! At least it wouldn't be magnetised though!

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Driver8

Site Moderator