To restart an automatic watch that has stopped for months, wind it gently by hand with about thirty turns of the crown, set the time, and leave it dial up for twenty-four hours to see how it keeps time — do not shake it back to life. If it makes an unusual noise, shows condensation under the crystal or has a stiff crown, take it to a watchmaker instead. Take five extra minutes before putting it back on your wrist.
What happens inside a stopped movement
First, the reassuring part: a stopped watch does not deteriorate. There is no active damage, no part that breaks by itself.
What changes is the lubrication. Watch oils thicken, migrate away from the points where they were applied, and eventually partly evaporate. A movement that has been idle for five years has pivots running dry, or nearly so.
Running it in this state does not cause an immediate breakdown. It does create mechanical wear, and that wear is permanent. That is the only reason not to restart it without thinking.
How to restart an automatic watch: the 24-hour test
If the watch is not of great value and you simply want to know where you stand, here is a reasonable test.
Wind it manually by the crown, about thirty turns, without forcing. Avoid shaking it: that is rough on the rotor.
Set the time and leave it resting dial up for twenty-four hours, without wearing it.
The next day, compare. A drift of a few seconds is normal. A drift of several minutes, an early stop or irregular running means it needs to see a watchmaker before regular use.
Three signs it needs a watchmaker
An unusual noise. A grinding sound, an irregular clicking, or a rotor that rubs. Stop everything.
Condensation under the crystal. It signals lost water resistance, and often moisture already inside. This is the most urgent case: corrosion progresses on its own.
A stiff crown, or one that turns freely without winding. Never force it. The winding stem pinion is a fragile part and replacing it is expensive.
Add the obvious case: if the piece has real sentimental or financial value, do not test anything at all. Go straight to a professional.
Servicing: cost and frequency
The price depends entirely on the movement. A common calibre can be serviced for a reasonable sum; a chronograph or an in-house manufacture movement costs several times more. Always ask for a quote before any work.
As for frequency, brand recommendations are generally around five to seven years. In practice, many independent watchmakers consider that a watch that runs well and keeps good time does not need to be opened. The useful criterion is how the watch behaves, not the calendar.
Stopping it happening again
The problem is not the stopping itself — a properly stored watch can wait. It is being forgotten.
A watch you no longer see is a watch you no longer wear, and it ages in a drawer. Visible, orderly storage makes a real difference to how often a collection is rotated: a watch box with a glass lid reminds you every morning of what you own. Our guide on how to store watches covers the options.
And if you alternate between several automatics, a watch winder keeps them wound and on time. You no longer have to reset them, so you no longer put off wearing them.