Understand the amount of lubricating oil used to lubricate the movement and demonstrate your professional knowledge of the watch. Many watch enthusiasts know that their watches need maintenance and repair, but they are not very familiar with "wash oil". What exactly is washing oil? Let's take a look together!

Why do we need to wash oil? Mechanical watches rely on winding to drive interlocking gears, and the long-term metal friction between gears and bearings requires lubricating oil to ensure stable operation. Otherwise, the lubricating oil will dry up and deteriorate over time, and even form oil stains that can damage the components of the movement. During the use of a watch, the lubricating oil gradually evaporates and dries up, and metal debris is generated by gear friction. Dust and fibers also enter through the gaps in the watch case, forming deposits. Therefore, after using the watch for a period of time, it is necessary to disassemble the movement parts for cleaning and reapply lubricating oil.

What is the frequency of oil washing? Mechanical watches require maintenance every 3 to 5 years, and one of the key steps is to clean the oil stains on the movement parts to extend the lifespan of the watch and ensure accurate operation. The friction between the components of the movement will produce tiny particles, which will affect the operation of precision machinery. Just like how car engines use lubricating oil to reduce wear, the principle of mechanical watch cleaning oil is similar. If a watch has complex functions such as a perpetual calendar, the number of parts that require lubrication may increase several times.

How much lubricating oil does the movement use? Only one thousandth of a milliliter of lubricating oil is enough to supply the entire movement. The process of oiling tests the patience of the watchmaker. A needle tip distributor with a thickness of less than 0.1 millimeters is needed to accurately drip lubricating oil into the groove of the gemstone bearing of the movement, and both hands must remain stable. Not all parts require lubrication, and some parts must not be contaminated with oil. Usually, a set of oil pens includes four types: red, blue, yellow, and green, selected according to the parts and lubricant model. There is also an automatic oil pen with adjustable oil output, suitable for applying thin lubricating oil to small parts.


The oil washing process involves the disassembly and cleaning of the movement components, which can be divided into two categories based on the degree of contamination:
Parts with less oil stains, such as clamps, gemstones, balance wheels, balance springs, escape forks, and springs, are more delicate and prone to damage.
Parts with heavy oil stains, such as gears, spring barrels, and screws, need to be cleaned step by step according to the movement status.
After washing the oil, adding oil is another technical challenge. After cleaning the movement, all old oil is removed and new oil needs to be accurately dripped onto every necessary part.