There are many important tools in a watchmaker’s toolkit, but a compass is arguably the least obvious. A handy addition to your collection, a compass can be extremely beneficial to a watchmaker and is worthwhile including in your tools. A cheap tool that some watchmakers may already have around the house, a compass is an affordable alternative to taking the watch to a professional watchmaker.
Why do Watchmakers Use a Compass?
Many watchmakers choose to use a compass during their servicing and repairs as it is a great way to check for magnetism. Magnetism can be detrimental to timepieces as it disrupts the delicate balance and precision of a watch movement by altering the reliability of the balance spring. When the movement is affected, the accuracy of the watch’s timekeeping is impacted and the timepiece may even stop working altogether. A high degree of inaccuracy, whether the watch is running too fast, ticking too slow or has stopped altogether is a sign of magnetism. Although magnetism of a watch is frustrating, thankfully it can be easily identified and resolved, restoring your timepiece to its optimal performance and accuracy.
One of the best and most convenient ways to test for magnetism is using a compass. A compass uses the Earth’s magnetic field for directional purposes, but can also serve a purpose in watchmaking. It easily showcases whether a watch is magnetised, acting quickly and efficiently. If a watch is magnetised, the timepiece will react, as noticed by the movement of the needle.
Some watchmakers choose to simply go ahead and demagnetise if they believe a timepiece is magnetised. However, this is only convenient if you have a demagnetiser on hand. Watchmakers who do not have a demagnetiser may choose to use a compass as an at-home DIY method of checking for magnetism before paying for a professional watchmaker’s time.
What is a Timegrapher?
A timegrapher is a watchmaking tool that diagnoses the performance of a watch. By listening to the ticking of the timepiece, a timegrapher can provide precise data on how it’s working. It measures the rate, amplitude and beat error to assess accuracy and identify issues such as magnetism.
The watch is placed on a microphone sensor for the timegrapher to detect the ticking sounds and convert them into numerical data for watchmakers to analyse. It is a useful tool in watch repair and servicing to regulate a part of a watch’s functionality that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Although it is a useful tool that experienced watchmakers rely on for identifying magnetism, some choose to use a compass to detect magnetism.
Benefits of Using a Compass in Watchmaking
With the advancement of technology and our constant interaction with electronic devices, in the 21st century, timepieces are particularly susceptible to magnetism. Even simple things like prolonged contact with your phone or going through an airport scanner can magnetise your timepiece. The possibility of magnetism is extremely likely and timegraphers are a way to check for magnetism.
As an alternative to a timegrapher, a compass allows you to conduct a simple at home test to check for magnetism before you proceed with demagnetising or paying for a professional watchmaker. Using a compass is a quick and budget-friendly magnetism test.
How to Use a Compass in Watchmaking
If you believe your timepiece may be magnetised, you may first want to check if you are correct. The most obvious signs for magnetism are that you begin to experience your watch behaving erratically, whether that is running too fast, too slow or stopping altogether. Any indication that your watch is not performing accurately is a sign that it may be magnetised, so grab a compass to confirm.
By placing the compass near the watch, you want to see whether the needle of the compass is attracted to the watch. The same as when the needle of the compass moves to indicate north, if a watch has magnetism, the needle will move when your timepiece is placed near it.
If you receive a positive result for magnetism from the compass, you will need to proceed with demagnetising the watch. You will need a watch demagnetiser to perform this task. If you do not have a demagnetiser, you can take your timepiece to a local professional watchmaker who will demagnetise the timepiece for you. If you do not have a compass, there are also apps, such as Lepsi, that you can download which use the phone’s compass to analyse your watch for magnetism. However, for speed and reliability, it is worth adding an affordable compass to your watchmaking toolkit.
It is worth having a demagnetiser in your watchmaking toolkit if you have multiple timepieces, are advancing in your watchmaking journey or frequently discover the need to demagnetise your timepiece. With our constant proximity to magnetic fields in electronic devices, there is regularly a need for demagnetisation.
After demagnetising your watch, you want to protect it from further magnetism. Ensure you try to stay away from strong magnetic fields such as microwaves and speakers, in addition to avoiding prolonged magnetic exposure to electronics with a lower magnetic field like phones and other portable devices.
Why do Watchmakers Use a Compass FAQ
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