Watch stops working after a few seconds

This is certainly not normal. I had an automatic watch and because I wore it daily, I was unaware that is need any special treatment.

Automatic watches usually run for 2-3 days before stopping (if fully wound) and thrive on being used. My automatic watch was unsatisfactory when I bought it (new but very cheap) and I had it cleaned and it gave years of excellent service after that- perhaps that is your problem. I suggest that you contact their service center for advice.


If your watch is new then you should register it on their web site (go to http://www.invictawatch.com/invicta/services) and send it to them for repair.

If it is out of warranty, then you will see a price list on the above page (this is very unusual!) which will give you an indication of what you may have to pay to get it fixed.

It may require rather more than a bit of a shake! Some makers say that you have to swing it gently form side to side for 200-300 times to fully wind up the watch.

I bought one some years ago that didn't work well and I had it cleaned, after which it worked perfectly for years.

If giving your watch the shaking I described above it still does not work, try having it cleaned.

Automatic watches thrive on being used but should run for 2-3 days before stopping.

A self winding watch will run for 2-3 days if it is not worn (they thrive on being used) and it sounds as if you have not been using it; is this the case?

It could be that the winder does not operate on the spring (some watches don't), so to wind it up you need to activate the self winding mechanism.

You can do this by gently swinging the watch from side to side for a few minutes. This will simulate the normal operation when it is being worn.

If you continue to have trouble with it stopping, it could be that it needs cleaning. I had a similar problem with a watch I had some years ago.

Hi,

Sounds like your watch is in need of service. All watches need to be maintained and regular service is required. A watch is a tiny machine. So if you think about it a car needs regular maintenance to keep it running and so will any machine.

In a watch the oils dry out after about 3-5 years and they stop lubricating. Just like in a car when the oils stop lubricating the engine will stop, a watch will stop.

The reasons for this are 1) no lubrication means high friction on the moving parts. 2) the dried oils become gummy like glue and hold the gear train in place which keep the gears from moving.

The only answer is to have your watch serviced to get rid of the old lubrication, clean and replace any worn parts, then reassemble and lubricate, and finally adjust the timing.

This is something only a watchmaker should do as the parts in your watch are very small and very fragile. Improper handling can permanently damage the parts.

Hope this helps,

Ken
Yellowstone Watch, Inc.
www.yellowstonewatch.com

This may sound obvious but it needs to be repaired by a jeweler/watch repair shop. Although it is possible that the stop watch second hand is out of sync it would usually mean that the stop watch is starting at 3 seconds before 00:00 for 57 stop. If that's the case you should be able to readjust the start/stop position by pulling the crown out to 1st or 2nd position and then pressing the stop watch start stop buttons. One press, one position. Although I am not certain of the exact sequence.
However if you are unsure or it starts at the 00:00 position you need to find a jeweler you can trust to do the work. Check out a few places and ask to see the credentials of the watch repair person then compare and make an informed decision. Don't just use the jeweler at purchase point.
Most times, if it's a simple repair, like readjusting the hands a good jeweler will do it for nothing.

Good luck

The ECO series of Citizen's do not require battery replacement, as they are solar powered. If the watch stops due to a long period of non-use, there is a procedure in the manual as well as the Citizen website on how to get it running again. You will have to expose it to light for several hours (but not with lots of heat such as a car dash) to get it running. If you continue to have trouble, you may have a problem with the watch. I bought my wife a ladies ECO drive about 8 years ago and bought one for myself about 2 years ago and have not had a bit of problems with either. They are extremely good watches and it is nice not to have to worry about "when will the battery die?"

your watch needs a good service.disassembling cleaning oiling and reassembling!this must done every three to four years in automatic watches!try in a authorized seiko service center!

The shaking is not the best way to restart the automatic watch as it puts slight strain on watch balance wheel and hairspring (most delicate part in watch).
As watch balance wheel is positioned paralel(leveled) to watch dial, you have to spin your watch back and forth a few times quite quickly.
(Imagine you are turning steering wheel in your car- thats the right motion). Before doing that wind up your watch a few times manually.
Right after doing that observe the seconds hand and if it is ticking just a little bit or ticking back and forth and then stops- your watch has jammed gear train and this is the reason why it stops.
If you don't have seconds hand- after shaking your watch listen for ticking and again- if it stops after short run, the gear train is to blame. In this case you will need watchmakers help as special skills and tools are needed to sort this out.
Do not forget to rate, please.

There can be hundereds of causes why your watch isn't working properly, so, I'll not name them.
One is clear- without help of skilled watchmaker your watch will NEVER work properly.
NOTE: It may sound very strange, but mechanical watches do NOT like to be left without job.
Next time you decide to leave mechanical watch aside for long time- do not forget to wind it up once in a 2-3 days even if you are not wearing it.
This will help to prolong watch movements life and keep timekeeping steady and accurate.

Regards

Arthur

I have a similar solar modle Ive had since 1995 , about 4 years ago it started loosing time and the second hand started double ticking. I sat it down out side on a cool summer day for the hole day in the bright sun and never have had a problem since. knock on wood! It was also runover by a car last year and still works good. I wont ever get ride of it. Hopefully this helps u guys out