If you’re a watch owner or someone just getting into the watch hobby, you should know that keeping your watches in the best condition possible is one of the most important aspects of owning a timepiece. So what exactly is a watch overhaul? After I had done the research, I found just the answer.
A watch overhaul is a watch service, which includes a full disassembling and inspection of the watch’s movement and components, deep cleaning or replacement of movement parts, reassembly of the movement, oiling of jewels, calibration of the movement, and final polishing of the case and bracelet.
Taking care of your timepieces is one of the most important parts of being a watch owner. Read the rest of the article as we’ll discuss the function of watch overhauls, what’s included if you ever get one, and why you should care about your watch being serviced by a qualified watch expert.
So What Is A Watch Overhaul?
One of the most popular topics in the watch industry is watch servicing and watch repair. It’s a large topic with tons of categories, but one of the most asked about is a watch overhaul.
When I first started getting into watches, I had no idea what watch servicing was or what a watch overhaul was. But after I had my watch overhauled and educated myself about watch servicing,
A watch overhaul is a complicated and intricate process that is performed by a professional who specializes in watch repair. It involves several specific steps to ensure the watch functions properly in the long run: the components of the movement are taken out, thoroughly cleaned, polished, and oiled as necessary before being reassembled and put back into good working order.
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What’s Included In A Watch Overhaul?
When you get an overhaul for a watch, there’s a long and in-depth process that comes with it. I have personally gotten one of my timepieces overhauled, my Panerai Luminor Chronograph Daylight, a couple of years ago, and I have learned the thorough process of an overhaul.
Without further ado, let’s dive into each step and explain why they are important, shall we?
1. Full Disassembly and Inspection
The first step that comes with a watch service is a complete disassembly of the watch’s internal movement and components. This means that a watch professional will completely dismantle everything including the movement, dial, and outer casing.
Why is this so important? Taking apart a watch into all of its components helps a watch professional inspect which parts need cleaning and which parts need to be replaced.
2. Deep Cleaning or Replacement Of Moving Parts
After disassembling a watch in its entirety, the next step that’s included in a watch overhaul is a deep cleaning of all aspects of the watch and any replacement of moving parts if necessary.
This step is important because it serves several purposes, since it:
- makes the watch run smoothly
- makes the watch look brand new
Keeping a watch’s movement and parts clean simultaneously helps it run smoothly and look just as good as new.
3. Reassembly of The Movement
The next step of a watch overhaul after cleaning or replacing a watch’s internal parts is putting the movement back together.
After disassembling and cleaning the interior movement, it’s now time to put the watch back together and make it whole again.
4. Oiling Jewels and Calibrating the Movement
After the movement is put back together and reassembled, the next step in the process of a watch overhaul is oiling the jewels and calibrating the movement.
Why is this important you might ask? This step is one of the most important procedures of a watch overhaul because it ensures that the watch runs smoothly and accurately. Properly oiled watch jewels help the timepiece run smoothly, and calibrating the movement makes sure that the watch is precise.
5. Final Polishing of The Case and Bracelet
The final step of a watch overhaul is to polish up the case and bracelet with a cloth and polishing paste.
This makes a watch look like it just came out of the box since polishing gives off a shiny and may help remove any scratches on the bracelet or case. This final touch-up makes a timepiece stand out when strapped on a wrist.
What’s The Difference Between An Overhaul and A General Watch Service?
A watch overhaul is a more in-depth version of general watch servicing.
A watch overhaul is a complete service of the movement and case, while a general watch repair may or may not service the movement. A watch overhaul fixes and cleans up all aspects of a watch both externally and internally, while a general watch service may include one or the other.
At first, I didn’t even know there was a difference between a watch overhaul and a watch service: I thought they were the same term. But, after I looked into it more, I learned that watch overhauls are much more thorough than regular watch servicing.
Why Is Watch Servicing Important?
Not only does watch servicing help keep your watch in working order, but it’s an integral part of making sure that your watch is as accurate as possible.
If you’ve ever owned a watch, then you know how important it is to have a reliable way to tell the time. But making sure that your watch stays accurate isn’t just about checking for the right time now and again—it’s about making sure that your watch is in working order. Watch servicing and watch overhauls help ensure that your watch movement runs smoothly and efficiently and that you’ll be able to continue using your favorite timepiece for years to come!
Conclusions
A watch overhaul is an in-depth watch service that includes a long list of steps to get a watch in the best condition possible. Watch overhauls improve the life span of a timepiece, and make them look just as good as new.
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