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
“Wonder job – Great thanks”
“I’ve had my Swiss Army watch for 19 years & realized the case was worn & it just looked a little shabby. I was referred
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“I’ve had my Swiss Army watch for 19 years & realized the case was worn & it just looked a little shabby. I was referred to My Jewelry Repair by my local watch repairman. I was skeptical & thought that they’d charge me a fortune. Man-o-man was I pleasantly surprised when they quoted a very reasonable price.
I just opened it & they did a Great job.
I am throughly satisfied.
I won’t hesitate to use them again.”
“I received my order and I am so happy with the work that you do. I was so pleased to have found your Service and
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“I received my order and I am so happy with the work that you do. I was so pleased to have found your Service and will continue to use if needed Thank you so much . Inez”
“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 ring to be resized–my estimate also suggested a stone resetting. I hadn’t planned on repairing the stone, and settled for just
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“I sent in a ring to be resized–my estimate also suggested a stone resetting. I hadn’t planned on repairing the stone, and settled for just the resizing. After accepting the repair, I had issues with my credit card going through on the website…we went back and forth with them bank and customer service team (for days) but when I was starting to feel hopeless about getting it resolved (and playing phone tag) I was informed my ring had already been shipped out free of charge, resized, and with a stone reset!
The customer service team is amazing despite being a mostly online service center. if you ever need anything resolved, ask for Eboni. she works wonders. thank you thank you thank you!”
Turtle Lake, ND
“The repair job they did on the ring… is little short of astounding”
“I searched the country for someone to repair my University of Michigan athletic championship ring, but had given up hope when I stumbled on My
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“I searched the country for someone to repair my University of Michigan athletic championship ring, but had given up hope when I stumbled on My Jewelry Repair via the Internet. The repair job they did on the ring, which in 55 years had gone through some hard use (the center stone had cracked and was lost), is little short of astounding; it seems to be better than when I won it in 1962. The staff at MJR was incredibly helpful, and the final cost was about half what I expected. I couldn’t be more pleased, or grateful.”
Apple Valley, CA
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Recently I sent you my Bulova watch for cleaning and overhaul. I was unable to find any jeweler in
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“Thank you, thank you, thank you. Recently I sent you my Bulova watch for cleaning and overhaul. I was unable to find any jeweler in my immediate area, the Little Rock, AR area or the Memphis, TN area to do the work. I found you online and with some hesitation and apprehension, sent you my watch. You did acknowledge receipt and did provide an analysis of necessary repairs. I did call a couple of times and was a little concerned that repairs would require more time than I thought and that parts needed to be ordered. My apprehension grew. You had my watch and my payment. Then you notified me that my watch had shipped and when it arrived a couple of days ago I could not have been more impressed with your packaging and more so with the results. My watch looks better than new and now is keeping perfect time. I am absolutely satisfied with your work and will without hesitation recommend MyJewelryRepair to any and everyone that may need your services. You deserve the highest rating for a job well done!”
Edgemont, AR
“I was a little skeptical about having my jewelry fixed through a company via internet, however, every part of the process was excellent! They walk
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“I was a little skeptical about having my jewelry fixed through a company via internet, however, every part of the process was excellent! They walk you through entire process and it is secure and turn around was quick. They fixed a necklace I had worn only twice and polished it and returned back to me within 2 weeks time. Price was very affordable as well. I HIGHLY Recommend this company for all your jewelry repairs.”
“They look ten times better then when we bought them”
“Just got my rings back and they look ten times better then when we bought them. They fit perfectly and you can’t tell they were
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“Just got my rings back and they look ten times better then when we bought them. They fit perfectly and you can’t tell they were resized at all. I’m so thankful for the work My Jewelry Repair did after being told by multiple places they wouldn’t or couldn’t resize my rings because of the material or the jewels in the bands.”
Tipton, IN
“Submitted a vintage Swiss Army watch that I have worn for over 30 years. It had a lot of wear and tear over this time
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“Submitted a vintage Swiss Army watch that I have worn for over 30 years. It had a lot of wear and tear over this time and was in need of service. They replaced the crystal which was chipped and installed a new battery. When I got the watch back it didn’t even look like the one I sent to them.It was so new and fresh looking I could’t believe it, all polished up and shiny. Great service, and I would recommend them to anyone”
