Have you ever wondered what makes a mechanical watch tick so precisely and smoothly? The secret lies in the watch oil. Similar to your car’s engine needing oil to protect internal moving parts, your watch needs oil for the same reasons. Oils help to reduce friction by creating a barrier that cushions the microscopic imperfections between two objects. Without the proper application of watch oil, your watch may not function correctly, and its parts could potentially suffer from premature wear and tear. If you want to keep your watch running smoothly and accurately for years to come, understanding the importance of watch oil is crucial.
Watch Oils
A Guide to Choosing the Right Viscosity
There are multiple oils with different viscosity ranges available on the market for car engines. Similarly, watches require different oils and lubricants for their moving parts. The most common oils used at My Jewelry Repair are the Moebius Brand: HP 1300, 9010, and 9415. The difference between these oils comes down to viscosity and application. During the clean and overhaul process, the heavier 1300 may be used to oil the gear train jewels, while the lighter 9010 is recommended for balance staff lubrication and 9415 is used to lubricate the more critical components of the escapement. Without the proper lubrication, excess friction will cause severe damage, which will result in a costly replacement of internal moving parts.
How Often Should You Oil Your Mechanical Watch or Quartz Movement?
Depending on the manufacturer guidelines of your watch, you can expect to have your mechanical watch serviced every 3 to 5 years. If your watch is a quartz, oil is also used to lubricate moving parts. However, clean and overhaul services are not performed as frequently due to the cost-effectiveness of movement replacements.
If your quartz movement is vintage and/or has been discontinued, cleaning and overhaul may be required to restore function. Similar to servicing your vehicle, your watch will be oiled as part of a clean, overhaul, and adjustment service.
The Evolution of Watch and Automotive Oils: From Organic Materials to Synthetic Formulas
In the early days of timekeeping, watchmakers sourced oils from organic materials like plants and animals. Oil manufacturers now have the technology to produce synthetic oils to meet the needs of watch and automotive manufacturers. For example, Fomblin grease is used to lubricate gaskets and is common in both the watchmaking and automotive industries. It can be used in extreme temperatures ranging from -30 to 150 C (-22 to 302 F). You would use this on parts subject to friction when mineral and standard synthetic lubricants break down. This is mainly due to temperature changes and exposure to air. If you plan on climbing Mount Everest or deep diving into the cold ocean, the oils in your watch will most likely have a thinner consistency to accommodate for the colder temperatures.
Updated 6/17/23
My Jewelry Repair
Premier Watch Repair Services
When your watch needs quality care and repair, we are here to provide it. With our online mail-in service, you can have your timepiece serviced by certified watchmakers in elite environments. You can send in your watch from anywhere in the country without leaving the house. To learn more about our watch repair services, visit our Watch Repair Services page.
Certified Watchmakers
Our team of Experienced Watchmakers has many Certifications, including:
WOSTEP
CW21
SAWTA
SWATCH Group
“Glad that I found you”
“I very much appreciated the opportunity to find you and for the efficient and reasonable turn-around of getting the broken crystal on my watch repaired.
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“I very much appreciated the opportunity to find you and for the efficient and reasonable turn-around of getting the broken crystal on my watch repaired. Glad that I found you. Who knows for what service or product I may next call upon MyJewelryRepair.”
San Francisco, CA
“I am 100% satisfied with the craftsmanship and quality of the work that was done on my charm. If ever i need any of my
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“I am 100% satisfied with the craftsmanship and quality of the work that was done on my charm. If ever i need any of my jewelry repaired again i will be coming back. I’m very happy”
“Sent a Lorus mickey mouse pocket watch purchased at Disneyworld in 1988. Meant a great deal to me because it was our honeymoon. Watch was
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“Sent a Lorus mickey mouse pocket watch purchased at Disneyworld in 1988. Meant a great deal to me because it was our honeymoon. Watch
was perfect for 34 years and then stopped working.
Sent to MJR. It was repaired promptly and returned. Happy man! Thanks”
“I was a little hesitant to pack up my expensive watch and send it. But these guys walk me through it, gave me a quote
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“I was a little hesitant to pack up my expensive watch and send it. But these guys walk me through it, gave me a quote to approve before work, gave me status updates, and notified me when they were sending it back with a signature required. It arrived safe and sound in perfect condition, I couldn’t be happier with this transaction.”
“I sent in a men’s Ebel Sports Wave watch to have some repairs done to it, the strap adjusted and the clasp made tighter. It
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“I sent in a men’s Ebel Sports Wave watch to have some repairs done to it, the strap adjusted and the clasp made tighter. It came back looking like a brand new watch! It was polished and made to look perfect. Needless to say it runs great and I am very happy with the result. With great service like this, I will most definitely be using this great company again. I highly recommend My Jewelry Repair and suggest you place your trust in them too!”
CA
“They handled my situation extremely fast and I had my ring back before their estimated time. I am extremely pleased with how my ring looks,
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“They handled my situation extremely fast and I had my ring back before their estimated time. I am extremely pleased with how my ring looks, and with the level of professionalism this companies employees showed. I highly recommend them.”
San Francisco, CA
“The repair was fantastic! Looks beautiful, retired to better than new condition. Cost was extremely reasonable. Be patient, whole process took a little over 60
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“The repair was fantastic! Looks beautiful, retired to better than new condition. Cost was extremely reasonable. Be patient, whole process took a little over 60 days. Customer service was very responsive to my inquiries. Process for sending item and returning was easy and secure. We are very happy customers.”
“I had my grandfather‘s old Pilsar courts watch fixed there was a numeral missing on the face. My jewelry repair did an awesome job I
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“I had my grandfather‘s old Pilsar courts watch fixed there was a numeral missing on the face. My jewelry repair did an awesome job I know it’s not the most expensive piece to come across the table but the fact that they were going to help me was bar none!”
“My swiss Elgin watch is 40 + years old and it had never been serviced. I recently took it out of the drawer and started
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“My swiss Elgin watch is 40 + years old and it had never been serviced. I recently took it out of the drawer and started wearing it and after a few days realized that it was not self-winding. Sent it to MJR and explained that it probably just needed serviced. It had only been gone from my house about 18 days total and today it is back in my hands working like new again. The 18 days includes my shipping time and their shipping time to return it plus their time to repair it. All in all that is super-fast! Very happy with MJR service and will always use them from now on. Thanks a million!”