[Norwolf]

I apologize, i know this topic has been beaten to death on this forum. (I think i'm obsessed with the topic.) Anyway, found this video from Marc (Long Island Watch) Watch and Learn. He gives a little bit of info from an engineer's point of view. I respect Marc -- i think he is a good guy and quite intelligent.

 

[Bassopotamus]

I’ve worn mine everywhere including shooting guns with no issues

 

[Nokie]

Watches are much more resilient than most people realize.

 

[Norwolf]

My extremely unscientific research of reading people's anecdotal comments, on this forum and other watch forums, concludes that: 85% of people who claim they have been rough with their mechanical watch claim they experienced no damage to their movement. While 15% of people who have been rough with their mechanical watch claim they have damaged their movement -- mostly the balance wheel. And some damaged was fixed by re-regulating the watch.

 

[MissileExpert]

I saw the same video today browsing YouTube. I trust Marc and his judgment. He's very pragmatic and that's a good thing. Sometimes we engineers get too technical and ignore real life experience.

 

[MX793]

And some damaged was fixed by re-regulating the watch.

A hard knock can cause the regulator to shift. That is not "damage". No part of the movement is bent or broken.

 

[ExpiredWatchdog]

While 15% of people who have been rough with their mechanical watch claim they have damaged their movement...

When I got to this sentence, my thought was "Yeah, the damage started with a case wrench". I see you agree.

 

[Norwolf]

A hard knock can cause the regulator to shift. That is not "damage". No part of the movement is bent or broken.

Yes. Not the right word. The "damage" in those watches was the accuracy going from a few seconds (+ -) to 30 or 40 seconds.

 

[oprhodium39]

A hard knock can cause the regulator to shift. That is not "damage". No part of the movement is bent or broken.

As after the knock the watch needs to be opened/fixed, it is a damage.

 

[sticky]

Just goes to show that mechanical watches aren’t the delicate little flowers they’re often made out to be.

 

[MX793]

As after the knock the watch needs to be opened/fixed, it is a damage.

If you bump into your stereo and the volume knob gets turned way down, was your stereo damaged?

 

[oprhodium39]

If you bump into your stereo and the volume knob gets turned way down, was your stereo damaged?

No, but you don’t need disassemble the amplifier and special tools to turn ithe volume back -with a watch, you need case opener, timegrapher and the skills to do it right. So yes, the bump damaged the watch in this case..

 

[supersilent]

You may or may not want to call it “damage”, but it is certainly a problem. Even more so if like most people you need to take it to a professional to get it fixed.
In my case I would have to send it overseas, meaning my watch would be out for weeks at best, more probably for months. So yeah, definitely a PITA of a problem. Maybe even a dealbreaker,

 

[thewatchidiot]

Most people seem to be careful. My watches seem so delicate that I’m careful waving my arm around. So far, no damage!

 

[GregB]

My AD once confided in me his personal view that COSC was pointless for most people, especially those who use their sports watches as intended. He said one bump and now it’s 30sec a day slow. What are you gonna do - get it regulated every time you bump it out of spec? He shared all of his personal Rolexes got off spec rather quickly back in the day when he lived a very active lifestyle. As long as it’s within a minute a day he can’t be bothered to get them serviced anymore.

 

[vmgotit]

My thinking for many years was a Diver was built to take more shock from damage caused by blows to the Watch. These were professional Divers at the time. Now the biggest shock my Watches get is if I hit a door nob, while wearing my Watches. Ouch! Vance.

 

[supersilent]

My thinking for many years was a Diver was built to take more shock from damage caused by blows to the Watch. These were professional Divers at the time. Now the biggest shock my Watches get is if I hit a door nob, while wearing my Watches. Ouch! Vance.

True story: a few years ago, I cracked the sapphire crystal of my dive watch at the end of a scuba diving trip to a remote part of Indonesia.

How? I hit a granite countertop in the airport lounge while wearing my watch.

Danger IS everywhere!

 

[MX793]

My AD once confided in me his personal view that COSC was pointless for most people, especially those who use their sports watches as intended. He said one bump and now it’s 30sec a day slow. What are you gonna do - get it regulated every time you bump it out of spec? He shared all of his personal Rolexes got off spec rather quickly back in the day when he lived a very active lifestyle. As long as it’s within a minute a day he can’t be bothered to get them serviced anymore.

Free sprung balances shouldn't be as susceptible to timekeeping error from bumps since there's no regulator arm to shift.