The watch slipped off the table and hit the floor. Before you panic, run these checks. Many watches survive a drop, and the ones that don’t usually tell you quickly.
How tough is a watch?
Most modern mechanical watches have shock protection on the balance pivots, the most fragile part. Seiko’s version is called Diashock. The ISO 1413 shock-resistance test simulates a fall from 1 metre onto a hardwood floor.
Checklist after a drop
| Check | OK | Not OK |
|---|---|---|
| Is it running? | Seconds hand moving smoothly | Stopped or stuttering |
| Hands | All in place, not touching | Loose or touching each other |
| Sound | Normal tick, rotor whirr | Rattle or clunk |
| Crystal and crown | No cracks, crown works | Crack or bent crown |
| Accuracy over 2 to 3 days | Same as before | Big change |
What Seiko says
Seiko’s troubleshooting guide lists dropping or hitting the watch as a cause of gaining or losing time. Its advice: reset the time, and if accuracy doesn’t return, consult the retailer.
Next steps
- Measure accuracy for a few days with our home accuracy test.
- If anything rattles or the hands moved, stop wearing it and see a watchmaker.
- A cracked crystal lets in moisture. Replace it before wearing the watch near water.
Frequently asked questions
Can a dropped watch be fine?
Often yes. Shock protection systems protect the balance pivots, and the ISO 1413 test simulates a fall from 1 m onto hardwood.
My watch runs but gains or loses a lot after a drop. Why?
The hairspring may be disturbed or the balance knocked. Seiko says if accuracy doesn’t recover after resetting, consult a repair shop.
Should I keep wearing it?
If anything rattles, the hands moved, or it stopped, don’t. A loose part can cause more damage.
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