Time is precious—but sometimes your watch doesn’t seem to think so. Whether you’re checking the time before a meeting or planning your day down to the minute, a watch that runs slow (or fast) can throw everything off.
All watches—mechanical, quartz, or digital—are built with impressive precision, but none are immune to drift. From environmental conditions to aging components, there are several reasons your watch might lose time.
In this article, we’ll break down how watches track time, why they sometimes fall behind (or jump ahead), and what you can do to keep yours running accurately.
How Do Watches Track Time?
Watches keep time by measuring consistent, repeating intervals. The core mechanism behind this measurement varies depending on the type of watch—mechanical, automatic, or quartz—but the concept remains the same: a steady, predictable oscillation is counted and translated into the seconds, minutes, and hours we see on the dial.
Mechanical and Automatic Watches
Mechanical watches rely on a tightly wound mainspring inside the movement. As the spring unwinds, it transfers energy through a gear train to a balance wheel. This balance wheel oscillates back and forth at a precise rate, typically 5 to 10 times per second. A component called the escapement regulates this motion, ensuring each tick releases a small, measured amount of energy. The hands move accordingly, marking time.
Automatic watches function the same way but wind themselves using the motion of the wearer’s wrist. Despite the marvel of their design, they’re still susceptible to slight variations in timing due to factors such as gravity, temperature, and how recently they were serviced.
Quartz Watches
Quartz watches track time electronically. Inside, a tiny quartz crystal is connected to a battery and an electronic oscillator. When energized, the quartz crystal vibrates at a very stable frequency—32,768 times per second. A circuit counts these vibrations and converts them into one-second pulses that drive a motor, moving the watch hands or updating a digital display.
Because the quartz crystal's vibration is incredibly consistent, quartz watches are much more accurate than their mechanical counterparts. It usually loses or gains no more than 15 seconds per month.
Digital Watches
Digital watches are essentially quartz watches but with a different display format. Instead of using gears and hands, digital watches use an LCD or LED screen to show time. They still rely on the quartz crystal for timekeeping. However, instead of converting pulses into motor-driven movements, the circuitry directly updates the display.
Digital watches can also include microcontrollers and software-based time correction, alarms, time zone tracking, and syncing features such as Bluetooth or radio control, making them more resistant to manual drift. Battery life or software bugs can still occasionally cause inaccuracies though.
What Causes a Watch to Lose Time?
Even the most precisely engineered watches can lose time. While some drift is expected over long periods, several common factors contribute to inaccuracies, depending on the type of watch you’re wearing.
Mechanical and Automatic Watches
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Temperature fluctuations – Can expand or contract the balance spring, affecting oscillation speed
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Magnetism – Exposure to magnetic fields (phones, laptops, speakers) can disrupt the actions inside the movement
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Position variance – How the watch rests (crown-up, dial-down, etc.) can influence gravity's effect on parts.
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Wear and tear – Over time, oils inside dry out, and friction increases, reducing accuracy.
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Shocks and impacts – Physical jolts can knock the movement out of alignment.
Quartz Watches
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Temperature changes – Affects the frequency of the quartz crystal's vibrations
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Battery degradation – A weak battery may cause irregular electric pulses or delayed timing.
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Manufacturing variances – Slight imperfections in the crystal or circuitry can result in minor drift.
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Aging electronics – Over time, internal components can degrade and lose precision.
Digital Watches
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Battery issues – Low or fluctuating battery voltage can slow down or reset the internal clock.
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Software glitches – Faulty programming or bugs can cause incorrect timekeeping.
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Sync failures – Watches that rely on Bluetooth, GPS, or radio time signals can lose sync if the connection fails.
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Shock/static interference – Electrical discharge or sudden impact might affect digital stability or reset the system.
How Can You Fix a Watch That Loses Time?
How to fix a watch time? Fortunately, most timing issues can be easily corrected once you know what’s causing them. Here’s how to fix each type of watch problem.
Mechanical and Automatic Watches
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Keep the watch away from magnets – Avoid placing it near speakers, phones, magnetic clasps, or anything that has a strong magnetic field.
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Store it consistently – Lay it in the same position each night (e.g., crown-up) to manage daily variance.
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Get it serviced regularly – A full service every 3 to 5 years keeps the movement clean, lubricated, and accurate.
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Avoid harsh impacts – Remove your watch before high-impact activities such as sports or heavy lifting.
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Use a demagnetizer – If you suspect magnetism, a watch demagnetizer can restore normal function in seconds.
Quartz Watches
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Replace the battery – If your watch starts running slowly or erratically, a fresh battery is often the fix.
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Keep it cool – Try to avoid exposing the watch to high heat or extreme cold for prolonged periods.
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Have it inspected – If a battery swap doesn’t help, a watch tech can check for aging or faulty components.
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Invest in high-quality quartz – Premium quartz watches (like Grand Seiko or Citizen Eco-Drive) tend to be more stable over time.
Digital Watches
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Swap out the battery – Even before the display fades, a low battery can affect timing accuracy.
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Reset the watch – If you notice bugs or glitches, perform a full reset to restore normal operation.
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Sync regularly – For smart or radio-controlled watches, connect to Bluetooth or the time signal to recalibrate.
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Keep software updated – For smart digital models, firmware updates often fix bugs and improve timekeeping.
When Should You Look For Professional Help for Time Loss?
If your watch continues to lose time despite your efforts, it may be time to let a watch repair and restoration professional take a closer look.
Mechanical and Automatic Watches
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Consistent loss or gain of over 20 seconds per day, even after adjusting position or winding
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Watch stops frequently, even when fully wound or worn regularly
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Strange noises or grinding sounds when winding or moving the watch
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Overdue service – If it’s been 5+ years since the last service, accuracy issues are expected.
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Suspected magnetization, and you don’t have a demagnetizer
Quartz Watches
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The watch keeps stopping even with new battery.
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Hands move erratically or pause and jump unexpectedly.
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Display glitches or unresponsive hands despite a fresh battery.
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Water damage, especially in non-water-resistant models, can corrode internal parts.
Digital Watches
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Frequent resets or software crashes.
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Time desyncs repeatedly despite syncing with a phone, an atomic clock, or GPS
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Buttons become unresponsive or the display becomes unreliable
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Moisture under the screen, which may indicate internal condensation or a seal failure
Conclusion
Watches—whether mechanical marvels, quartz classics, or feature-rich digitals—are precision instruments that still rely on a bit of human care to stay accurate. A watch losing time can be frustrating, but understanding the root causes and knowing how to address them can save you from unnecessary stress (and trips to the watch shop).
With a few simple habits and timely check-ins, you can keep your watch ticking true and confidently rely on it, day after day. Whether it’s winding, syncing, or just keeping an eye on your battery, good maintenance is the secret to keeping perfect time.
