What to do when your watch stops? Check this first.
Your watch has unexpectedly stopped and you have no idea what went wrong? Before you think about expensive repairs, check a few simple things that are often the cause of the problem. Whether you wear a quartz, mechanical, or automatic watch – many faults can be diagnosed by yourself. In this guide, we'll show you step by step what to check first and when it's actually worth going to a watchmaker.
Has your watch stopped? Check this before you rush to the watchmaker!
This doesn't have to mean a breakdown at all. Before you type "watch service nearby" into the search engine or pack your timepiece into a box, it's worth calmly analyzing the situation. Sometimes the reason why a watch stops is ridiculously simple – and you can handle it in a few seconds. Sounds unlikely? Well, actually. In the case of automatic and mechanical watches, very often a gentle tightening of the crown is enough to bring it back to life. It's a small detail, but if it's not properly pressed in, it interrupts the energy transmission to the movement. The result? The watch stops and appears dead.
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In quartz watches, the most common culprit is obviously the battery – but before you start replacing it, take a look at the contacts. Even a thin layer of dirt or deposits can effectively cut off power supply. Interestingly, some people decide to open the case back and replace the battery themselves – but if you don't have the right tools or experience, you might break more than you fix. On the WestWatches blog, you'll find a text that shows why it's better not to do this on your own and when it's worth going to a professional. But before you do that – check yourself what you can do. You might avoid unnecessary costs.
Not working? Maybe it's just the crown! Learn the hidden trick that saves watches
Surprisingly many watch owners don't push the crown all the way in, either fearing damage or simply forgetting that it's movable. Meanwhile, a loose crown is like open doors to interrupting energy transmission – the movement stops working because it doesn't receive the impulse to operate. If your mechanical watch stops for no apparent reason, checking the crown position should be the first thing you do. Just push it all the way in – but of course with care. If the hands start moving after a moment, you already know what the cause was.
For automatic watches, the situation is similar, though slightly more complex. If you haven't worn your model for a long time – for example, it lay in a drawer for several days – the mainspring might have simply discharged. Then a few crown turns will help – preferably 8 to 10 smooth ones, clockwise. Don't be afraid of this – proper winding of a watch won't damage the movement, as confirmed by experts in our blog post about the safety of winding automatics. If the crown resists, don't force it – it might indeed need service. But before you go to a watchmaker, it's worth performing these simple actions. Sometimes the solution is right at hand – and literally at your fingertip.
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Does your watch not tolerate magnetic fields? Here are the symptoms of magnetization that you're ignoring
This is one of those problems that is easy to overlook, but can effectively disrupt watch operation – or stop it completely. Mechanical and automatic watches are particularly vulnerable to magnetic field effects, as they have sensitive components such as the balance spring or balance wheel. It's enough to leave your watch next to a powerful speaker, laptop with magnets in the case, or even... a phone case. The result? The watch stops or starts acting strangely – it runs slow, fast, and the hands move irregularly.
If you suspect this might be your case, try a simple test – move the watch to different positions, gently move it around. If it responds but quickly stops working again – it might be magnetized. The best thing you can do then is use a demagnetizer – if you have one – or take the watch to a specialist. It's worth adding that magnetization can produce similar symptoms to simple watch gaining or losing time, so if you want to better understand the differences, check out our post: "Watch is running slow or fast – what to do?". Thanks to this, you'll learn to distinguish when you're dealing with a minor problem and when it's worth acting quickly.
Quartz watch not ticking? It's not always about the battery – check these points before replacing it!
When your quartz watch suddenly stops and goes silent for good, one thing immediately comes to mind – the battery. And indeed, this is the most common cause of the problem, but not always the only one. Before you head to the store for a new battery or start tinkering with the case back, pay attention to something else – was the watch exposed to moisture? Sometimes under the influence of sweat or rain, condensation appears inside the case, and in extreme cases – rust. 
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This is precisely why we published a guide on the WestWatches blog "Fogged watch crystal - what to do when condensation appears under the glass?", which will help recognize symptoms and prevent more serious damage.
Another underestimated issue is the battery contacts – if they're contaminated or slightly corroded, even a new battery won't work. In this case, gentle cleaning (e.g., with a cotton swab and isopropyl alcohol) and slight bending of the contact plate is enough to restore contact. But be careful – if you don't know exactly what you're doing, you might accidentally damage the movement. Battery replacement in a watch and manipulations inside the watch, despite looking simple, require precision and patience. If you have doubts, give up on DIY experiments – on our blog we explain why it's worth putting this in the hands of a professional. This way you'll save yourself stress – and often money too.
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The lifespan of a quartz watch – how long does it really last, and when is it no longer worth repairing?
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The second hand on a watch – why does it jump, move smoothly or stop?
The way the seconds hand moves can tell you a lot about a watch's movement, but it is not an infallible test. A single distinct jump per second most often points to quartz, several small movements per second are typical of a mechanical movement, and an almost continuous glide is associated with Spring Drive. There are exceptions, however: there is a quartz watch with a sweeping seconds hand, and a mechanical watch that makes exactly one jump per second. What is more, a stopped hand does not have to mean a fault. Check how to read these signals and when you really need a watchmaker's help.
How do you set an automatic watch? Date, time and time zone 21:00–3:00
An automatic watch does not need a battery, but it does require a little knowledge from its owner. Setting the time or date seems simple, yet the wrong moment or the wrong way of using the crown can affect how the movement works. Many questions concern changing the date at night, moving the hands backwards and restarting a watch after a longer break. Check how to set an automatic watch correctly, what to pay attention to with the crown and why people often talk about particular caution between 9:00 pm and 3:00 am.
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For years Rolex has been one of the most important style benchmarks in the watch world, but its price is not within everyone's reach. That is why it is worth looking at watches similar to Rolex and models inspired by its styling, which offer their own character, solid build quality and much more affordable prices. We are not talking about counterfeits here, but about legitimate watches from other brands that draw on similar solutions and design language. Check out watches inspired by Rolex's style and choose the model that suits your style and budget.
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