Question about my watch

[mk.ultra]

...and before you say it I already posed the question in the quick question thread. however I'm assuming not many people look at it because its still unanswered.

My current watch is an automatic Seiko 5. I essentially know nothing about how it works, but I do know that it's powered by a pendulum that swings around with movement. How long will it stay powered for if I don't wear it every day? Would it's life significantly decrease if I only wore it say, once a week?

 

[JustChris]

Not sure about the movement in your watch specifically, but most automatics have a power reserve of about 40 hrs. Longevity shouldn't be significantly affected by infrequent wear.

 

[shanker]

10 and 72 hours is the range of the power reserve. As said, 40 is average.

For the health of your peice, it is best to keep it running. Keeps the lubricants from congealing and gives the best accuracy. Congealing is more of a concern in colder climates. Simply wind it once per day to keep it running. Takes less than 10 seconds.

Store it in either the crown down position or in the dial up position.

 

[Spencer]

Originally Posted by shanker

10 and 72 hours is the range of the power reserve. As said, 40 is average.

For the health of your peice, it is best to keep it running. Keeps the lubricants from congealing and gives the best accuracy. Congealing is more of a concern in colder climates. Simply wind it once per day to keep it running. Takes less than 10 seconds.

Store it in either the crown down position or in the dial up position.

Yeah probably about 48hrs.

 

[nerazzurri]

get a winder, problem solver.

 

[thunderthighs]

Originally Posted by shanker

For the health of your peice, it is best to keep it running. Keeps the lubricants from congealing and gives the best accuracy. Congealing is more of a concern in colder climates. Simply wind it once per day to keep it running. Takes less than 10 seconds. Store it in either the crown down position or in the dial up position.
Sorry but this is no longer true. The "congealing" issue might have been a problem with older lubricants but modern synthetic ones like those typically used by Seiko don't require constant running. The instructions for the 7s26 in particular (the movement most typically used in recent Seiko 5's, and also in the SKX007 diver I'm wearing now) don't even mention it, only recommending a service check every 2-3 years for the seals and gaskets if you actually use it for diving. Also, the 7s26 can't be wound anyway, and I don't think storage position matters. The 7s26 is a no-frills and inexpensively-made mass-produced movement that is designed for long and reliable service life, and doesn't need to be babied like some of the more expensive hand made ones (I've owned some of those too, such as a Piguet 1151 in my Blancpain Aqua Lung). It's as wear-it-and-forget-it as one can get in the automatic watch world.

 

[WhoKnewI]

Originally Posted by thunderthighs

Sorry but this is no longer true. The "congealing" issue might have been a problem with older lubricants but modern synthetic ones like those typically used by Seiko don't require constant running. The instructions for the 7s26 in particular (the movement most typically used in recent Seiko 5's, and also in the SKX007 diver I'm wearing now) don't even mention it, only recommending a service check every 2-3 years for the seals and gaskets if you actually use it for diving.

Also, the 7s26 can't be wound anyway, and I don't think storage position matters. The 7s26 is a no-frills and inexpensively-made mass-produced movement that is designed for long and reliable service life, and doesn't need to be babied like some of the more expensive hand made ones (I've owned some of those too, such as a Piguet 1151 in my Blancpain Aqua Lung). It's as wear-it-and-forget-it as one can get in the automatic watch world.

exactly this. +1,000,000

 

[deveandepot1]

Originally Posted by mk.ultra

...and before you say it I already posed the question in the quick question thread. however I'm assuming not many people look at it because its still unanswered.

My current watch is an automatic Seiko 5. I essentially know nothing about how it works, but I do know that it's powered by a pendulum that swings around with movement. How long will it stay powered for if I don't wear it every day? Would it's life significantly decrease if I only wore it say, once a week?

What model is it?