If your automatic watch has stopped, it doesn't automatically mean it's faulty. In many cases, the power reserve has simply been fully used up.
Why does an automatic watch stop?
An automatic watch is wound automatically through movement on your wrist. As you move, the rotor inside the watch winds the mainspring of the movement.
If the watch isn't worn for a longer period of time, or is only moved a little, no new energy is generated. As soon as the power reserve is used up, the watch stops.
This is completely normal for a mechanical automatic watch.
What can I do if my automatic watch has stopped?
First, wind the watch manually using the crown:
- Take the watch off your wrist.
- Make sure the crown is in its normal position.
- Turn the crown slowly and evenly in a clockwise direction.
- Make around 30 to 40 turns.
- Afterwards, wear the watch on your wrist regularly again.
Usually, the watch should start running again during winding or shortly afterwards.
Can I start my automatic watch by shaking it?
While movement can cause the rotor inside the watch to generate energy, vigorous shaking isn't necessary and isn't recommended.
If the watch has stopped completely, it's better to first wind it in a controlled way using the crown and then wear it as normal.
Do I need to wind the watch manually every day?
No.
If you wear your automatic watch regularly and for long enough, it will be wound automatically through the movements of your arm.
How much energy is generated depends on your personal wearing habits. If you don't move around much during the day, or only wear the watch for a few hours a day, the power reserve may not be fully built up.
In this case, you can occasionally wind the watch additionally using the crown.
How long will my automatic watch keep running once I take it off?
This depends on the particular movement and on how fully wound it was beforehand.
If the power reserve is fully built up, the watch can keep running for quite a while after being taken off. If it was only partially wound, however, it may stop correspondingly sooner.
So, if your watch stops overnight, for example, this doesn't automatically mean that the stated power reserve isn't being achieved. What matters is how fully the movement was wound beforehand.
My watch keeps stopping at night
If your automatic watch runs during the day but regularly stops overnight, this is often because the power reserve hasn't been sufficiently built up.
Wind the watch fully using the crown once, then observe how long it keeps running after you take it off.
If it stops again after an unusually short time despite being sufficiently wound, the movement should be checked.
The watch doesn't start after winding
If the watch doesn't start after around 30 to 40 turns of the crown, you can gently move it a few times and then observe it again.
If it still doesn't run, despite being sufficiently wound, a technical check may be necessary.
The watch runs briefly and then stops again
If your automatic watch starts running after winding but stops again after a short time, there can be various causes.
Possible causes include:
- an insufficiently built-up power reserve
- unusually little movement while wearing it
- strong shocks or impacts
- a technical fault in the movement
First, wind the watch fully and observe its behaviour again.
If it repeatedly stops after a short time despite being fully wound, please contact our customer service.
Can I overwind an automatic watch?
In the movements used in our automatic watches, a so-called slipping clutch protects the mainspring during manual winding.
Once the maximum tension is reached, the spring can't simply keep being wound further. Careful manual winding using the crown is therefore always intended to be possible.
You should still always turn the crown slowly and without using force.
Do I need to reset the time and date after the watch has stopped?
Yes. If a mechanical watch has stopped completely, it no longer knows the current time and date.
After winding it again, you should therefore reset the time and, if applicable, the date.
For a watch with a date display, make sure not to use the quick date adjustment during the period when the automatic date change is already in progress.
When should I contact our customer service?
Please get in touch with us if:
- the watch doesn't start despite around 30 to 40 turns of the crown,
- it stops again after a very short time despite being fully wound,
- it regularly stops during normal wear,
- its behaviour has suddenly changed significantly,
- or the crown shows unusual resistance during winding, or can't be operated normally.
The following details are helpful in this case:
- the exact model of your watch
- your order number, if available
- approximately how many turns you wound the watch
- how long it kept running afterwards
- whether it stops while being worn or only after being taken off
- whether it was previously exposed to an impact or strong shock
This will help us better assess whether the power reserve was simply used up or whether a technical check makes sense.