The Secrets of Watch Regulation

In this video I am going to show you my process for regulating a watch movement for maximum accuracy using Seiko's NH35 Movement I am going to go over the principles of regulation as well as how to interpret the data from your timing machine.

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USED IN THIS VIDEO

MY MICROSCOPE SET-UP

** FULL LIST OF TOOLS & SUPPLIES I USE **

[bolgerguide]

The most in depth video on using a timegrapher to regulate a hairspring I've ever seen on YouTube. Great work Alex!

[JeffreyHalsak]

This was such a excellent tutorial!! Thank you for sharing this. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and I learned an incredible amount of information!! Keep the videos coming!!

[whatsstefon]

Thank you for explaining this. Often the Delta rate is not thought about at all. Like you said, folks aim for a 0s/d rate with the dial down position and post online for instant satisfaction and kudos from fellow amateurs. But it's not the actual regulation of the watch. The adjustment of the etachron is often ignored too.

I recently posted an old Seiko I restored on FB and the comments were mostly as to how I was able to get good amplitude in addition to a good rate. There are many tips and techniques to getting the most from these cheap movements.

Earlier on, in one of your other videos I learnt the value of ensuring you apply the same amount of oil to both capped jewels in the shock protection of a movement. This too gives you a more stable and similar beat error and amplitude in various positions, without straying too far from the end result.

Thank you Alex. Your videos are brilliant.

[asmobrat]

How can we do without your help Alex, especially people needing an alternative job like me...

I have learned and achieved many things with your help... Thank you very much 🙏🙏🙏

[mlsproject]

Still the best watchmaking video channel on YouTube. I learn so much from these, Alex. Thanks very much! For me, an amateur / hobbyist, I've approached "regulation" by getting the beat error where I'm happy (sub 1.0 ms) with it then working on the rate. I've been really happy with the watches that I've done this way. As an aside, those TMI NH series movements are pretty damn good out of the box, in my experience too. I've had good results with a Seagull ST3621 also.

[carlosgomis]

Honor and admiration for your work and explanations. Thank you

[tomholloway]

Thanks Alex, I’ve been trying to do it your way for a while though I go for beat error first. I am working on a regulation and testing process for myself to include simulated wearing too.

[normanrehme]

Alex, this video and your book, The Secrets of for Adjusting Watch Rates, has elevated by understanding of regulation by at least 10 times. Just yesterday a tip from the book and commentary from this video and your others on regulation helped me learn solve a long perplexing issue with vertical rates. Thanks for putting it together. Now I'm going to read it again to learn more about equalizing horizontal rates.

[leowatkins]

Good day Sir and many thanks. I have recently been striping, cleaning and lubricating the new movements (Seiko 35/36). I can confirm the lubrication from the factory does vary from " why did I strip this" to "was this movement actually lubricated?" I found it helpful to practice and learn skills on a movement that wasn't worn out (7009's for instance)
I've learned a lot from your tutorials, my favourites includes "looking after your tweezers" = saves your knees.

[steveuk]

Thank you. Just made myself a little regulator pusher from a piece of brass rod, just like yours. The days of using my tweezers for that will soon be long gone.

[TimTellsTime]

Excellent video and very well explained through each step. Really makes me appreciate the Etachron system compared to the vintage stuff I normally work on.

[educarmar]

Excellent video - best watch channel in youtube!

I would like him to explain the reasons why the next two observations:
1.- Amplitude drop on the 1st watch.
2.- changes on the relative rates on the 2nd watch. They were way better before making the regulation.

My theory for 1. is that the effective length of the hairspring is shorter and affects amplitude. For 2. I beleive has to do with the centering of the hairspring due to imperfect shaping of the terminal curve.

[johnvaluk]

Thank you Alex for another great and informative lesson.

[ashedinthewoods]

It’s just midnight, and I feel the strong urge to set up my time grapher and randomly regulate one of my Seikos. Nice one! 👍

[williamking]

Great job on the video big help thanks again 👍

[harrycee]

I have created a spreadsheet with positional weighing tuned to my weekly life. This helps me get a new watch or new movement with the initial setting. Then I track on an app to see how far from +1s/d we are at. Then I put it on the timegrapher to see what the crown down measurements are. Then I make a crown down adjust up or down equal to the how much we are off from +1s/d based on on wrist accuracy. It's an offset adjustment that matters most since all movements are a little different.

[rasoolbuxlashari]

Thank you so much sir, you are amazing teacher, i am just watch enthusiastic person, from Pakistan, love the way you explain, i watched all of your videos, learned a lot. Please don't stop making videos.

[Seftdelmer]

Superb, thank you for the effort you put into your videos. It's really encouraging to see an expert being able to explain concepts so clearly.

[nitennr]

Absolutely brilliant. Will be re-watching.

[LM-oy]

Thank you for putting up excellent videos. You make me a better tinkerer