• Apprentice
    26 Apr 2012, 6:19 a.m.

    Hi,

    I have recently bought a IW3714, I love it so much and I keep staring at it. However, yesterday I noticed that when the second-hand rotate once(60 seconds), the minute-hand just moved half step, I expected it to move one full step as it is one minute.

    Then I tried to wind my watch, after I wind it 20 times, everything seems alright again.

    May I know is there anything wrong with my watch or it is expected?

    I originally thought if I don't wind my watch, it is the whole watch will move slower (the second, minute and the hour hands), however in my case, it seems that the second-hand is fine, but not the minute-hand.

    Thank you very much for your help!

    Cheers,
    Steven

  • Connoisseur
    28 Apr 2012, 3:48 p.m.

    Hi Steven,
    With all analogue watches there is a small ammount of free-play between the teeth of each wheel and the leaves of the pinions they are in motion with. When a watch is wound from stopped and the hands set on time(clockwize), this tiny ammount of free-play between each wheel adds-up to a small, but noticeable, difference between the minute hand and seconds hand. The seconds hand in a 3714 is 6 wheels away from the pinion to which the minute hand is attached.
    The solution to this quirk is simple..
    When setting your watch up for wear, stop the seconds hand at 60, advance the hour and minute hand to the correct time + 5 minutes and then turn the hands back(anticlockwise) to the correct minute and push in the crown when that minute is reached. This will take up the free-play and ensure your hands are in sync.
    I have assumed your question related to the timekeeping part of your watch, should the problem relate to the chronograph minutes and seconds, it needs to be adjusted by your friendly, neighbourhood IWC watchmaker.
    Leo