Troubleshooting

Why did my automatic watch stop overnight?

Almost always because it was never fully wound. A day at a desk doesn't move the rotor enough to fill the mainspring, so the watch goes to bed with a few hours of reserve and stops before morning. It's rarely a fault, and it's easy to fix.

1. It wasn't wound enough

An automatic charges from wrist movement, and it charges slowly. On an average day it gains roughly 4 hours of reserve for every hour you wear it. Quiet days, like office work, driving or a sick day, charge much less. If you put a stopped watch on at 9am and take it off at 6pm, it may only have enough for the evening.

Fix: Before you put a stopped automatic on, wind it 30 to 40 turns by the crown (if it hand-winds). That gives the rotor a full tank to top up rather than an empty one.

2. Its reserve is shorter than you think

Plenty of popular automatics only run about 40 hours when full. The Seiko 4R35 is rated for 41, the ETA 2824 for 38. A watch taken off Friday evening won't make it to Monday, and one that wasn't full may not make it through the night. Look up your movement's reserve.

3. It needs a service

As oils age and a mainspring tires, a watch runs for less time than it used to. If it stops sooner than it used to, even after a full wind, it's time for a service.

4. The winding system is faulty

A rotor you can hear rattling or scraping, or one that spins freely without winding, means a worn bearing or winding wheel. That also needs a watchmaker.

Test it yourself

1. Wind the watch fully by the crown, 40 turns or more, until it has definitely run a long while. If it doesn't hand-wind, wear it actively for a full day.
2. Note the time, take it off and leave it flat, dial up, without moving it.
3. Check when it stops, and compare that with its rated reserve.

Close to the rated figure? The watch is fine; it just needs more winding. Well short, say 25 hours on a 40-hour movement? It needs a service.

Keep it from stopping

• Top it up by the crown in the morning if yesterday was quiet.
• Wear it longer, or on active days, if it doesn't hand-wind.
• Leave it off the wrist no longer than its reserve. The calculator tells you when it will stop.
• If it has stopped, reset the date safely.

Watch Winder estimates how much each automatic charges while you wear it and reminds you before it runs out, so a desk day doesn't catch you out.

FAQ

Why does my automatic watch stop when I don't wear it?

An automatic only winds while it's moving. Off the wrist, it runs on its power reserve, usually 38 to 80 hours, and then stops. That's normal.

Why did my automatic watch stop even though I wore it all day?

Wrist movement charges an automatic slowly, and a desk day charges it even less. If it started the day low, a day's wear may only give it enough for the evening. Wind it by the crown before putting it on.

How long do I need to wear an automatic watch to fully wind it?

On an average day, about 4 hours of reserve per hour of wear, so a 40-hour movement needs around 10 hours of active wear from empty. Winding it by the crown first is much quicker.

Is it bad for an automatic watch to stop?

No. Stopping does no harm. The only risk is setting the date carelessly when you restart it; avoid the quick-set between 9pm and 3am.

How do I restart an automatic watch that has stopped?

Wind it 30 to 40 turns by the crown, or gently swirl it if it can't be hand-wound. Then set the date and time, and put it on.

Does a stopping automatic need a service?

Only if it runs well short of its rated power reserve after a full wind, or the rotor is noisy. Otherwise it just needs more winding.