watch runs fast

[fffffg]

i gave my son an elgin open face gold plated watch for his birthday in november. it timed up very nice and was within 2 minuts a week... a couple days ago the balance wheel got stuck, it was stuck pretty solid, and i gave it a nudge and now it runs very fast about a half hour a day...
i was under the impression that a watch would run according to the weight of the balance wheel.. how could it change time so much so abrubtly???? any comments would be appreciated...thanks dave schlick.. ffffgdave@yahoo.com.

[fffffg]

i gave my son an elgin open face gold plated watch for his birthday in november. it timed up very nice and was within 2 minuts a week... a couple days ago the balance wheel got stuck, it was stuck pretty solid, and i gave it a nudge and now it runs very fast about a half hour a day...
i was under the impression that a watch would run according to the weight of the balance wheel.. how could it change time so much so abrubtly???? any comments would be appreciated...thanks dave schlick.. ffffgdave@yahoo.com.

[doug sinclair]

Dave,

A bump could cause the hairspring to tangle.
It could have become magnetized.

Junior coulda messed with the hairspring, damaging it.

Oil on the hairspring will cause watches to behave this way.

A loose screw on the rim of the balance wheel "bumping" against something can cause it to gain.

It could have shed a balance screw, lightening the balance wheel (as you suggested would affect timing).

A mainspring that is too strong can cause a watch to gain, but the description of events leading up to the gaining problem would seem to preclude that.

In short, it would seem that an event of some sort has happened, and that identifying what is likely to prove to be a specific cause will be necessary to cure the problem. If you are unsure, and you hope the watch has a future, get it professionally done.

Regards,
Doug S.

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