Magnetism, Misfire’s and How to protect your Mechanical Timepiece

Magnetism, Misfires & How to Protect Your Timepiece : How Modern Technology Is Affecting Mechanical Watches

Mechanical watches have survived world wars, deep oceans, mountain summits, and the arrival of the quartz revolution. Yet one of their most surprising modern threats is something far more ordinary and invisible: magnetism.

In today’s tech-saturated world—packed with smartphones, laptops, wireless chargers, speakers, tablets, induction hobs, and even magnetic clasps on handbags—your watch encounters more magnetic fields in a single day than a mid-century watch experienced in a year. And while most modern mechanical watches include anti-magnetic components, no watch is completely immune.

Let’s explore why magnetism happens, how it affects mechanical movements, and—most importantly—what you can do to prevent and fix it.

Why Mechanical Watches Become Magnetised

Mechanical watches operate through a delicate dance of metal components—especially the hairspring, one of the most critical parts of the movement. When a watch encounters a strong enough magnetic field, these components can become magnetised.

The biggest culprit?

The hairspring coils “stick” together or expand unevenly.

This throws off the oscillation rate and causes:

• The watch to run significantly fast (most common symptom)
• Inconsistent timekeeping or wild rate fluctuations
• Reduced amplitude
• In rare cases, complete stoppage

It doesn’t take an MRI machine to cause trouble. Everyday sources of magnetism include:

• Laptop speakers
• Smartphone cases with magnetic clasps
• Wireless chargers
• Smart tablet covers
• Headphones and Bluetooth speakers
• Induction stovetops
• Security scanner gates
• Refrigerator magnets
• Electric motors (hairdryers, power tools, etc.)

Even a brief, close exposure can be enough.

Signs Your Watch Has Become Magnetised

If your watch is running fast—sometimes by minutes per day—magnetism is the prime suspect.

Common symptoms include:

• Running extremely fast (10–60+ seconds/day)
• Sudden irregular timekeeping
• Changes that happen overnight or very suddenly
• The second hand “jumping” or behaving erratically

A watchmaker can confirm the issue in seconds using a timing machine or magnetism tester, but you can often diagnose it yourself by comparing it against an atomic clock app over a few hours.

How to Prevent Your Watch from Becoming Magnetised

While modern life is full of magnetic fields, you don’t need to live like a hermit to protect your timepiece. Here are practical, simple precautions:

1. Avoid placing your watch on or near electronics

Especially:

• Laptop speakers
• Wireless chargers (big culprit!)
• Tablets with magnetic covers
• Smart devices with magnetic docks

If your watch is near something that “clicks” magnetically, keep it away.

2. Keep watches off charging mats

Qi chargers and MagSafe systems use strong electromagnetic fields.

Never place a mechanical watch on them—even for a moment.

3. Store watches safely

A watch box or case placed away from electronics reduces risk significantly.

4. Be cautious with handbags or cases with magnetic closures

These magnetic clasps are surprisingly strong and a known cause of magnetised movements.

5. Know when anti-magnetic help is built in

Some modern watches use silicon hairsprings or soft-iron inner cases (like the Seiko ISO-certified divers that utilise anti-magnetic standards), which drastically reduce the risk—but do not eliminate it.

How to Fix a Magnetised Watch

Good news:

It’s one of the easiest watch problems to fix.

1. Use a demagnetiser

A demagnetiser is an inexpensive tool that removes magnetism from the watch’s metal components. It works in seconds. Simply:

1. Place the watch on the demagnetiser.
2. Press the button.
3. Lift the watch away slowly.

Seconds later, the watch is back to normal.

2. Take it to a watchmaker

Any competent watchmaker can demagnetise a watch in under a minute—often at low or no cost.

3. Re-check accuracy

After demagnetisation, take a time reading over the next 12–24 hours.

If it still runs fast or slow, the watch may need:

• Regulation
• Lubrication
• Or inspection of the hairspring alignment

But in most cases, demagnetising solves everything .

Can Magnetism Permanently Damage a Watch?

In most cases: No.

Magnetism usually affects only the hairspring and is fully reversible.

Permanent damage is rare unless:

• The watch was exposed to an extremely strong field (industrial equipment, MRI machines, etc.)
• Or the movement was previously compromised

For everyday tech-induced magnetism, a quick demagnetising session solves the issue 99% of the time.

Final Thoughts
Mechanical watches are remarkable pieces of engineering that have endured for centuries. But in a world filled with magnets—both intentional and unintentional—they face new challenges.

Understanding the risks and taking a few simple precautions can keep your timepiece running with the accuracy and reliability it was built for. And if magnetism does strike? Don’t panic. It’s one of the easiest watch issues to remedy.