How to Demagnetize a Watch (Comparing 3 types of demagnetizers)
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- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- In this video lesson, we'll cover how to test for magnetism and how to demagnetize a watch using 3 different types of demagnetizers. With the omnipresence of electronic devices nowadays, mechanical watches are easily magnetized, which usually causes a watch to run exceedingly fast. This is why knowing how to check for magnetism and how to degauss a watch is essential to watch enthusiasts, and is a frequently performed procedure in watch repair.
Related videos:
How to Regulate a Watch using Timegrapher (and Improve Watch Accuracy WITHOUT a Timegrapher): ( • How to Regulate a Watc... )
Key content timestamps:
▶ 00:00 - Introduction
▶ 00:27 - Symptoms of a magnetized watch on a timegrapher
▶ 00:52 - Using a compass to test for magnetism
▶ 01:15 - Using apps to test for magnetism
▶ 01:46 - First type of demagnetizer: Cheap option
▶ 02:33 - Second type of demagnetizer: Best value
▶ 02:57 - Third type of demagnetizer: Professional’s choice
DWC watch shown in this video: DWC-D01 with Seiko NH35 with D02 dial upgrade and bezel change (shop.diywatch.club/collection...)
Watchmaking tools/equipment required for this video:
▶Demagnetizer (shop.diywatch.club/collection...)
▶Timegrapher (shop.diywatch.club/collection...)
▶Compass
Demagnetizers featured in the video:
▶Blue Demagnetizer (www.amazon.com/Screwdriver-Me...)
▶White Demagnetizer (shop.diywatch.club/collection...)
▶Elma Antimag (www.elma-ultrasonic.com/en/pr...|p188:downloads)
Apps used in this video:
▶Lepsi (apps.apple.com/hk/app/lepsi-w...)
▶Gauss Meter (play.google.com/store/apps/de...)
Join us to explore the possibilities of at-home watchmaking! We are working on everything from assembling/modding watches, regulating movements, and even bluing your own steel watch hands at home!
▶At-home watchmaker's shop: shop.diywatch.club/
▶Instagram (@diywatchclub): / diywatchclub (we have a weekly giveaway)
▶Facebook: / diywatchclub
Happy watchmaking! - Jak na to + styl
Really interesting and nicely done. How does a watch get magnetised in the first place? I assume demagnatising is something a jewel or watchmaker would do when servicing a watch??
We have a blog post on this: diywatch.club/en/blog/how-to-Demagnetize-a-watch. But long story short, the watch gets magnetized when it comes into contact with magnetic field, that includes magnets (of course), electrical appliances, or scanning machine at the airport custom. So it's far more common than you think. And yes, demagnetizing is easily done in a service if a watchmaker notices signs of magnetism
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In daily wear its usually coming too close and long with refrigerator doors, typing on a laptop for too long especially with models that have speaker units near your watch wearing hand, or placinc the watch in contact with ur phone for too long, i.e on a night stand while u sleep. Get a watch with silicon hairspring or a soft metal casing outside the movement
My Navitimer 01 from 2019 had its subdial move twice during a minute. Thought it was broken and had to send it in.
Tried the cheaper demagnetizer. Had to run it like 5 times but god damn it works! Saved me months of waiting at Breitling!
With the magnetic phones (Qi and Magsafe) and all the accessories like charging cables, stands, magnetic wallets etc., this is needed more than ever! Thanks
My watch registered a magnetic field and was running 25s fast per day. I believe it arrived in that condition as none of my other watches are magnetized.
The more expensive white degausser was dead on arrival. It looked heavily used too! I bought the cheaper blue one. It looked new, hummed and seemed to be good. Tried demagnetizing a screwdriver. Worked! I use an Android app to confirm the magnitude of magnetism 😊
I then used the process on my watch. It no longer registered a level of magnetism greater than the ambient level.
I checked the regulation over the next day. 0s/day!
👍👍👍👍
Hold the watch just above the pad, stay there for 10s or so while pressing button, then SLOWLY lift the watch up vertically to an arm's length above the degausser and let go the button. You may need a couple attempts to demagnetize the watch. I just needed one attempt
Awesome video. Great explanation...now I know how to test all my watches..
감사해요~
도움이 많이 되었습니다
Great video, just won an eBay auction on a vintage ring type demagnetiser. Thanks for the straight forward explanation!
Have fun with it!
Thanks for showing various types of demagnetizers.
Glad you find it useful!
Great info for anyone who owns a mechanical/Automatic watch. They magnetize easily by many things, even by sleeping while wearing them by the static from the sheets, So the second demagnetizer is a must-have for this type of watch. 👍👍
In my case I was working at a bench wearing my watch and with a quite powerful magnet which had attached itself to a steel rule !
this afternoon one of those cheap blue demagnetizers arrived after I thought I might as well try it before heading for jewellers repair shop, and it worked
( I did have to repeat the process during afternoon, checking how watch kept time after each attempt mind)
Good one
Nice info, thanks :)
Great information thanks
Glad it was helpful!
In regard to the blue box, you should hold the watch aprox 5mm above the "plate" for ten seconds then slowly lift away vertically, yes it takes more skill to do it properly but thats its the cheapest, it works beyond dispute but YOU need to be knowing what you are dealing with.
I left the watch (I mean 0 mm above) then I switched on the blue box. It vibrated due to magnets then I slowly removed it. Should I keep minimum 5 mm?
@ if you're question was directed at me ? Well all I can say is try it at that distance till the magnetic " symptoms" disappear. In my case it was the chronograph needle jumping.
Interesting and informative video! Do you think doing multiple passes with the blue one would compensate for its lower power? Or would it not make a difference?
Bought one of the cheap blue ones as my Seiko Alpinist suddenly started running a few minutes fast - after a few passes it’s cured. Now running well within spec! thanks
Always glad to hear it works!
Thank you.
Thank YOU for your support!
I just picked up a cheap blue one from amazon and I’m finding it requires several passes with the tool to get it to filly demag a watch. Not a big seal because in the end, it still works.
Good video.. I have the first one and it’s ok. Work good
Yeah, the first one is actually quite serviceable in a lot of cases
Hi, thanks for the video.. does the blue cheap one work for rolex watches?
Subbed… very cool video
Thanks for the sub!
First of all, thanks for such a great, complete, instructive video! There's so much contradictory info, and written explanations that are anything but clear... Yours is to the point, and the easiest one yet in terms of what to do. 👍
I have the "donut" one, and I've tried it on all my watches, it demagnetises most of them, but a couple just won't demag all the way... It lowers the magnetism (ie the compass stops going crazy), but by no means does it stop it, no matter what I try. When using the Gauss Meter on my phone, on one I notice the value go up, on the other it goes down. Have you found that some watches just won't demag with the "donut" one? Is it perhaps not strong enough? Or maybe is there any other position or technique I can use with stubbornly magnetised watches?
Which country is the lepsi watch app available on? I cannot find it in Canada?
Nice article but what have a sense Android/Apple applications measuring watch accuracy and magnetic field of the watches have when the smartphone itself is a strong source of a magnetic field?
Is it magnetic safe to watch in your opinion? I did an experiment two Galaxy S21 with magnetometer (can't find lepsi) and I measured the magnetic field of each phone using another one. In the bottom right corner of the phones, the measure ranged from 1300 to 2500 µT. Now I'm afraid to pick up the phone with a watch on my wrist ;). Similar to Laptop it has I measured the magnetic field of each phone using another one. In the bottom right corner of the phone, it ranged from 1300 to 2500 micro teslas. Similar situations with laptop it has several places with magnetic field. Now I'm afraid to pick up the phone with a watch on ;).
For the white tunnel, does it matter if i inseet from the front or back?
I also see anither channek, he went in from 1 skde bht passthrough to the other, which is kindda hard with 1 hand
Hi! And thank you for the video, it's great!
Do you think that a very powerful magnetic source like near a stadium concert speaker could irreversible damage a mechanical watch? I mean like cannot be demagnetized no.metter the demag device we're using? Or the magnetization could cause other damges that will remain even after demagnetization?
It'll take VERY strong magnetic force to permanently deform the hairspring. I'm not familiar with concert speaker, but in theory you'll need VERY strong (emphasis again on the very), like industrial strength magnetism before permanent damage is done to the watch
@@DIYWatchClub Thanks! So a deformation must occurs. Then I don't think it's my case, But I think my bracelet is magnetized. I'll put a strap and see in a day.
And of course, I just ordered one of those cheap demagnetizers. Hope will do the work. If it's not the bracelet I will write here the detailed symptoms, because I will be having no idea about the cause 😆
You should’ve left the watch on the cheaper demagnetizer a little longer before lifting up and off.
Actually if you did that you would magnetise the watch. The watch shouldn’t touch the device. It should preferably be passed left right and up and down over the demagnetiser a few times
@@ThePurple1968 the watch always starts off touching the demagnetizer. And you slowly lift up.
Hello. Thanks for the video, I bought the blue one. I know you mentioned it was weak. My watch gains about 1.5s per minute, so about 40 mins per day. Ran it over a few times and I’m going to let it run to see if it’s holding time. How many times would you expect me to need to use it to demagnetise 40 mins per day?
One good demagnetization should do the job, if that is the cause
Lol 3:36 this is oretty pretty good accuracy. I have been getting 30 sec gain and beat error of 0.2ms. i am good
30 sec gain is pretty normal, within specs for many movements
Thanks for share. I believe when you take your watch close to cel Phone, it is magnetized. Do you think?
The magnetic field from a phone is pretty weak, so that's usually not a problem. But the magnetic flaps of some phone cases, and wireless charger, those could be strong magnetic sources. So it's best to stay away from them
Will a watch get damaged if you demagnetize it even if it is not magnetized? The reason I am asking is because I am thinking about demagnetizing my watch periodically (whether it is magnetized or not) if this won't damage the watch.
It won't damage your watch if it's not magnetized
@@DIYWatchClub thank you for your quick response
When I put the watch on the compass, the hand deviates 20 degrees, next I did the same test after one hour the deviation was under 10 degrees it magnetized?
Max 56uT, average 49uT in App for android.
I would also check if the watch is running accurately. If the daily rate is more or less accurate (under +30s per day to be generous) then I won't worry about magnetism.
How would this work with tuning fork watches, my bulova accutron spaceview is running 1 minute on the watch to 30 seconds real time
Don't do this on an Accutron. This video is for mechanical watches only. An accutron works WITH the magnetic field it generates. So it is counterintuitive to demagnetize it. It's a pretty vintage watch, so it might be a good idea to take it to a servicing.
@@DIYWatchClub yeah I’m gonna I’ve already been in talks with the bulova company themselves to get a full restoration I’m just new to the watch world so I’m asking questions and soaking up information.
Thank you for the knowledge.
@@BilboBaggins026 No problem at all! The Accutron is a fantastic watch. I'm sure you'll enjoy it a lot after a full restoration
what other reasons are there for a watch that runs too fast? i tried demagnetizing my watch but it still runs pretty fast.
A brand new watch arrived and was gaining almost 4 hours a day. I used the blue type demagnetizer and after a lot of attempts the watch yielded good time. I left it alone for a da and the time was still spot on. Then I put on the watch. It started gaining time. I demagnetized it again. Then I spun it a little and the spinning rotor (it's an automatic) seemed to magnetize it again. Any ideas? Maybe a better demagnetizer like the one with oval hole would work better?
4 hours per day is insane! I would do a few more tests to see if it is caused by other problems, like after demag, put it in different positions (i.e. dial up, dial down etc.) and see if it triggers the problem. And also see if it's remagnetized in any way.
In general, the oval shaped demagnetizer is much stronger than the blue one. And the blue one sometimes isn't strong enough to demag the parts inside a watch case. So if you cannot weed out other problems, I'd say go for the oval shaped demagnetizer.
@@DIYWatchClub Hard to believe, my watch was getting magnetized all the time, till I found the culprit: * my bracelet* I found out that the bracelet got magnetized, and even the spring bars. After demagnetizing the bracelet, and spring bars, the problem is gone.
That happens more often than you imagine you know
Actually,, it was gaining about 7 seconds per minute, or approx. 2.8 hours a day. Compass didn't deflect, but it's a liquid filled one so it's damped quite a bit. However, I bought the oval hole demagnetizer and after 1 swipe, everything is fine now. Interestingly, the red light didn't come on when I pressed the green button. Just a small flash when I first pressed the button. No doubt because the oval hole demagnetizer will work from 110 to 220 VAC and I only plugged it in to 110.
Glad you managed to sort it out! Interesting bit about liquid filled watch. I don't have one myself but it would be interesting test out!
So what’s the result of the second method/device?
same effect as the first but stronger
my boliva manual wind is running 5 hours fast a day. is it magnetized.?
This is likely the reason, but it's better to test to be sure
My watch has a low amplitude and is running slow by about 100 seconds. Beat error is 0.1ms. Because it's running slow and not fast, would this indicate that magnetization isn't an issue?
With low amplitude and slow rate, this usually indicates unusually high friction or low energy, and there could be many reasons to that. A usual reason is the lubricant has dried up. Good idea to get it to a watchmaker to check.
@@DIYWatchClub Thank you very much! Considering the history of my watch it's probably because of dried up lubricant.
I used to fear getting my watch near magnets but no more after I bought a cheap demagnetiser online. Cheap doesn't matter, just repeat until all the magnetism is gone.
the blue or white one
I did this with the cheapest one. It was running fast 25 seconds a day, now is running slow 8 seconds a day. Should I introduce a magnet again slightly to try and balance it out?!
Any tips? Anybody?
is the white one still reliable? i just bought it after seeing this video
Yes it very much reliable
The big donut ones are the best. It will demagnetize an 18s pocket watch in 1 pass
I have a trouble with my Seiko Automatic watch.When I wear it it just stop Leave on the bedside for 3 days and runs perfect Give me some advice
Does it stop running in a certain position? (dial up, dial down, crown up/down etc.)
@@DIYWatchClub The watch run but when I put it on it stop.I placed it with face upwards Will try to check if I turn it upside down.
My watch here says *Antimagnetic* , does it mean it won't get magnetized?
If it is truly antimagnetic, it won't get magnetized
I used a demagnetiser on my Amphibia before trying to regulate it with a timegrapher, and the watch has stopped completely... Does anyone know what's wrong? Someone told me the watch became magnetised after being placed on the demagnetiser, but no matter how many times I try and demagnetise it, nothing works... I've tried in various positions and even tried taking the movement out of the watch and passing it through the demag.... I'm at a loss... It's really annoying, too, as it's my favourite watch......... Any ideas?
Sorry to hear that. It's pretty tough to help you diagnose the watch without the watch itself, but I'll try my best. Usually we run it through a series of troubleshooting to figure out the problem. First run a test on magnetism (like the compass or the phone in the video). You'll then know if magnetism is the culprit or not. If not, secondly, do a visual check on the movement: is the hairspring still in proper shape (concentric circles), is there anything stuck in the gear train (most often some loose screws, which would move due to the demag, get caught between escapement), any loose jewel or loose anything, any broken wheels etc. Third, are the hands caught in the way of one another. Fourth, I'll test for the integrity of the whole gear train (does turning one wheel turn the other wheels in the chain?) The key is to systematically eliminate possible causes one by one. Then you'll know what solution you need. Hope this helps!
Very nice 😍💋 💝💖♥️❤️
I was told that when you demagnetize a watch, the watch needs to be 100% dead, but in your video it wasn't. Does it really matter if the watch is wound or not?
No it does not need to be dead. Would be interested in hearing the reasoning behind that claim though.
@@DIYWatchClub it was another CZcamsr that said it, he didn't give a reason so I'm not quite sure
@@joeg5023 It's most probably erring on the side of caution. Some people do prefer hacking the second or letting it run dead before demagnetizing. For myself, I've demaged countless watches while they are running. Not one problem found. It could be one of those myths that has its root in more ancient watchmaking traditions, probably?
@@DIYWatchClub thanks for the reply. It more than likely was him just being safe but I'm glad that it doesn't matter. Thanks for the vids, I checked out your site and I'm going to get one of your kits with the pro tools box, it looks amazing
@@joeg5023 no problem. have fun with the kit!
I'm afraid you're using the blue demagnetizer wrong:
First, never let is sit on top of it, always start from some millimeters above.
Second you must elevate it higher at a more or less constant rate. At least 30 or 40 centimeters up.
Third, repeat those steps at least twice.
Once it's done the watch will be fully demagnetized.
Works for digital watch?? Stop working when I went to a MRI room
Nice article but what have a sense Android/Apple applications measuring watch accuracy and magnetic field of the watches have when the smartphone itself is a strong source of a magnetic field?
Is it magnetic safe to watch in your opinion? I did an experiment two Galaxy S21 with magnetometer (can't find lepsi) and I measured the magnetic field of each phone using another one. In the bottom right corner of the phones, the measure ranged from 1300 to 2500 µT. Now I'm afraid to pick up the phone with a watch on my wrist ;). Similar to Laptop it has I measured the magnetic field of each phone using another one. In the bottom right corner of the phone, it ranged from 1300 to 2500 micro teslas. Similar situations with laptop it has several places with magnetic field. Now I'm afraid to pick up the phone with a watch on ;).