Frequently asked questions

1 How often does a mechanical watch actually need servicing?

Most watchmakers suggest somewhere between three and seven years, depending on the movement and how it's worn. The interval is less about the watch stopping and more about oils changing viscosity well before they visibly fail.

2 What actually happens during a "full service"?

Full disassembly down to the individual plates and bridges, ultrasonic cleaning of every part, inspection of pivots and jewels, replacement of worn parts, reassembly with fresh oil at each lubrication point, and a period of timing on a machine across several positions.

3 My watch gains time on the wrist but loses it overnight on the nightstand. Is that normal?

Yes, and it's one of the more common questions we get. That's positional error at work — a watch worn on the wrist spends most of its time roughly vertical, while a watch left flat overnight sits horizontal. A rate difference between the two is expected in almost any mechanical movement.

4 Can I regulate my own watch at home without professional tools?

Basic regulation on a movement with an accessible regulator arm is within reach with patience, a case wrench, and a way to measure rate — even a smartphone microphone app can get you close. Anything involving disassembly is a different undertaking.

5 What's considered a healthy amplitude reading?

As a general tendency, 260–310° dial-up on a freshly serviced watch, dropping somewhat crown-down, is often cited as healthy. Numbers below roughly 180° tend to suggest a movement is due for attention, though the exact range depends on the caliber.

6 How do I tell if a problem is lubrication or regulation?

Regulation issues usually show a consistent rate error with normal amplitude. Lubrication problems tend to show low or erratic amplitude, sometimes paired with the watch stopping when worn loosely or lying still — because dried oil raises friction unevenly.

7 Does temperature change how a mechanical watch runs?

Yes, though modern alloys like Nivarox minimize it considerably. Older steel hairsprings are more temperature-sensitive, which is part of why some vintage pieces run noticeably differently between a warm pocket and a cold room.

8 Why do some watchmakers avoid touching the regulator on a free-sprung balance?

Free-sprung designs are regulated through small mass adjustments on the balance rim rather than a movable arm, which tends to hold its setting better once tuned. There simply isn't a regulator pin to nudge, so "just adjust the regulator" doesn't apply.

9 Is it worth restoring a very old movement or just servicing it as-is?

That depends on what's worn versus what's merely dirty. A cleaning and fresh oil often returns an old caliber to a very usable state; replacing parts is a separate decision that usually comes down to whether period-correct components can still be sourced.

10 What is the Beat Rate app, exactly?

It's a simple log for the numbers this journal talks about — amplitude, beat error, positional rate — attached to a specific watch over time, so a slow change becomes visible across services instead of being remembered loosely.

11 Do I need the app to read the journal?

Not at all. The journal is free to read on its own; the app is a separate, optional tool for anyone who wants to keep a running record of their own watches.

12 Is my watch data private if I use Beat Rate?

Entries are stored on your device by default and are never shared publicly. See our privacy policy for details on the optional backup feature.

13 I found an error in one of your articles — how do I report it?

Please write to contact@beatrate.shop. We post corrections openly and appreciate readers who take the time to point things out.