Common Signs Your Watch Needs Immediate Repair

September 22, 2025

As a luxury watch owner, you should take your watch in for regular service. But there are signs that tell you that a watch repair is needed right away. If you don’t pay attention to these symptoms, they could worsen and become a bigger problem.

This article will review the common signs telling you to repair your watch immediately.

Common Signs of Watch Repair

You should repair your watch if you notice:

Irregular Timekeeping

Luxury watches are known for their accuracy, but sometimes, they can slow down or speed up. You may notice the time is wrong or see your second hand jumping or moving too slowly or swiftly.

There are several reasons this may happen. For example, mechanical watches may become inaccurate due to the following factors:

Gravity: The passage of time is not universal. Instead, it’s relative to the strength of the gravitational field you are in. Moving to a different gravitational field could impact your watch’s ability to tell time accurately.
Temperature changes can cause a watch’s metal parts to expand or contract, altering their oscillation frequency.
Magnetism: Exposure to magnetic fields can alter the watch’s movement.
Wear and Tear: Mechanical parts can lose lubrication and break down over time.
Mainspring Power: The wound spring, which provides power to the gear train, can unwind.

Quartz watches can lose time due to:

Quartz Crystal Instability: Quartz watches feature crystals that measure time. These crystals can drift as the watch ages, leading to inaccuracies.
Temperature: Fluctuating temperatures can also impact the crystal’s frequency.
Battery Power: Watches can lose time because the battery is weakening.

A technician will determine the source of inaccurate timekeeping and return your watch to working order.

Moisture or Fog Inside the Dial

Many luxury watches are water-resistant, with seals and gaskets that keep moisture out. However, if you see fog or condensation inside your luxury watch, it indicates that these components have weakened, and moisture has gotten through. A watch repair is necessary to ensure the humidity does not harm the movement and destroy sensitive internal components.

A technician typically addresses moisture or fog as follows:

Diagnosis: They will first diagnose how the moisture has entered the watch.
Disassembly: The technician will disassemble the watch and dry and clean the components.
Replacement: They will replace compromised components, typically the seals and gaskets, and lubricate the new components to ensure long-lasting functionality.
Reassembly: The watch is reassembled and returned to the owner.

Stiff or Unresponsive Crowns and Pushers

A crown is a tiny knob that sets the time and winds the watch. Pushers describe date setting and chronography buttons. These components may feel sticky or rigid or refuse to rotate smoothly while setting the watch, typically due to internal friction, dried-out lubricants, or debris within the mechanism.

Watches that aren’t setting smoothly require attention right away. If you don’t repair your watch promptly, problematic mechanisms could break completely, leading to more expensive issues. You may also encounter the following problems:

Reduced Water Resistance: The crown and case tube it screws into are part of the watch’s water resistance seal. If these are damaged, dirt, water, and dust can enter the watch more easily.
Internal Damage: If the crown is open, there is an increased risk of hitting it on something and damaging the movement. If you own a chronograph, a half-pressed or misaligned pusher can damage the watch’s internal gears.
Aesthetic Issues: Crowns and pushers are visible parts of the watch, and damage can impact its appearance.
Thread Damage: If your watch features a screw-down crown, you can damage the cross threading when you attempt to screw it in. You may strip the thread, leading to permanent damage.

A technician will typically address damaged crowns and pushers by disassembling the watch and replacing damaged components. Additionally, you can prevent these issues with regular service and lubrication.

Unusual Noises

A mechanical watch should tick gently. However, you may notice louder sounds, including grinding, scraping, or rattling. These noises indicate that you may be dealing with a damaged gear, a worn-out rotor, or a loose screw.

Technicians typically address the issue based on the noise they hear. For example:

Ratting and Scraping: These noises are typically related to a loose automatic winding rotor rubbing against the caseback or movement. The technician may tighten the rotor, secure it with a threadlocker, or replace it if necessary.
Grinding or Crunching: Debris in the gear train or mainspring, worn-out gears, and loose parts can cause components to grind and scrape against each other. The technician will typically disassemble the watch and clean the components with an ultrasonic cleaner. Worn or damaged components may be replaced.
Clicking and Pinging: These sounds are often caused by a loose screw rattling around the movement, often due to a hairspring contacting another watch part. The technician will conduct an inspection to locate and secure loose parts.
Irregular or Loud Ticking: These sounds are typically due to a worn pallet fork or incorrectly adjusted balance wheel, often indicating the watch has been magnetized. If necessary, the technician will use a timegrapher to demagnetize the watch, regulate the balance wheel, or lubricate the escapement.

Visible Exterior Wear and Tear

Though not always serious, exterior damage, such as cracks and openings, can let in dust and moisture, leading to bigger issues. The technician will inspect the watch and replace damaged components where necessary.

Why Watch Repairing with an Expert Is Necessary

It is possible to DIY your watch repair, or take it into any old jeweler, but if you own a luxury watch, certified repair is necessary. An expert will:

Be familiar with your watch’s intricate movements, ensuring efficient and reliable repairs
Provide authentic parts to avoid devaluing the watch
Repair the watch without voiding the warranty

Precision Watches is a watch repair expert you can trust. We are an authorized Swiss watch retailer with over 75 years of experience. Our team can handle all types of watch repair, including crown and stem services, movement overhaul, and battery replacement. We also buy, sell, and trade a wide selection of luxury watches.