What a Watch MOT actually checks.

A mechanical watch will usually tell you when something is wrong — it runs fast, or slow, or stops when you leave it dial-up on the nightstand. What it won’t tell you is why, or how urgent it is. That’s what the MOT is for: a structured health check, performed before anyone talks about a full service.

Timing in five positions

We measure the watch on a timegrapher in five positions — dial up, dial down, and three crown positions. A healthy movement keeps its rate consistent as gravity moves around it; a big spread between positions points to wear in the balance pivots, a bent hairspring, or old lubrication.

Amplitude and beat error

Amplitude is how far the balance wheel swings, and it is the single best indicator of a movement’s health — low amplitude usually means dried oils or friction where there shouldn’t be any. Beat error tells us whether the balance is swinging symmetrically. Together they say more about the state of a movement than the time it keeps on the wrist.

Case, seals and honesty

We inspect the case and gaskets, assess water resistance where appropriate, and look for anything that needs attention now versus things that can safely wait. Then it all goes into a written report with photographs — and an honest recommendation. Sometimes that recommendation is a full service. Quite often it’s “your watch is healthy; wear it and come back in a few years”. We’d rather tell you that than invent work.

The Watch MOT starts at £399, and it’s the front door to everything else we do at the bench. If you’ve got a watch you’re wondering about, book it in — or just get in touch and describe it. We love this stuff.

Broad Arrow Watchworks — from the bench