Pocket watch owners guide to faults and maintenance

Pocket watch faults

1. Mainsprings can break at any time due to age or to sudden temperature changes.

2. Wear on the handset (really the cannon pinion or centre arbor) causes the hands to slip so that although the movement (the works) may be keeping good time the hands do not turn steadily.

3. Most pocket watch cases are not dustproof and dust or fluff getting into the movement may stop the watch.

4. Hands can catch on each other or on the dial or glass causing irregular running or stoppage.

5. Old oil in the movement becomes too sticky for the watch to run.

6. Pivots or pivot holes can become so worn as to stop the watch.

Maintenance

Pocket watches should be serviced every 2 years because the oil gradually evaporates and it becomes sticky. This sticky oil attracts dust to make a grinding paste which rapidly wears pivots and pivot holes, making expensive repair necessary. The service involves cleaning out the old oil and dust, polishing pivots and pivot holes, reassembly, lubricating and adjustment.