The second hand doesn't line up exactly with the minute markers

If the second hand of your quartz watch doesn't hit every minute or second marker exactly, that's not automatically a defect.

With analogue quartz watches, small deviations between the position of the second hand and the printed markers on the dial can occur due to the design.

Why doesn't the second hand always hit the markers exactly?

In a quartz watch, the second hand moves forward in individual steps.

For the hand to land exactly on a marker with every one of these steps, several components need to be very precisely matched to one another. Even the smallest manufacturing and assembly tolerances can cause the second hand to hit a marker slightly before or after its centre.

This can affect, for example:

• the position of the hand on its axis
• the gear play in the movement
• the positioning of the movement in the case
• the printing and alignment of the dial
• the angle you're viewing the watch from

Small deviations can therefore occur in analogue quartz watches for technical reasons.

Does this mean the watch runs inaccurately?

No.

The position of the second hand on the individual markers doesn't, on its own, say anything about the watch's actual accuracy.

A quartz watch can keep time very accurately even though the second hand doesn't visually hit individual markers exactly in their centre.

What's decisive for accuracy is whether the watch actually runs fast or slow over a longer period.

Why does the second hand hit some markers better than others?

This can happen too.

Due to minimal tolerances in how the hand, movement and dial work together, the deviation can be perceived differently depending on the position on the dial.

For example, the second hand might sit very precisely on the markers in the upper area and slightly before or after them at another point.

This alone doesn't automatically indicate a technical defect.

Can the viewing angle play a role too?

Yes.

There's a small gap between the second hand and the dial. If you look at the watch at an angle, this can create what's known as a parallax effect.

This can make it look as though the hand is next to a marker, even though it appears much more precisely aligned when viewed straight on from above.

It's therefore best to check the position by looking at the dial as straight on from above as possible.

How can I check whether the deviation is normal?

Observe the second hand while looking at the dial as straight on as possible.

A slight deviation, where the hand only hits the relevant marker slightly before or after its centre, can be due to the design.

It would be more noticeable, for example, if:

• the hand clearly stops between two markers
• the deviation is very large
• the hand moves irregularly
• individual second steps are skipped
• the hand gets stuck or visibly judders
• the behaviour has suddenly changed

In these cases, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Does this affect automatic watches too?

With mechanical automatic watches, the second hand moves differently to how it does in a classic quartz watch.

It makes several small steps per second, which makes it look visually much smoother. An exact match with every single second marker therefore can't be judged in the same way for a mechanical movement.

This article therefore mainly refers to quartz watches with a second hand that jumps forward once per second.

Can the second hand be adjusted afterwards?

The position of a hand can generally be checked and, if necessary, corrected as part of a technical inspection.

Whether this is needed depends on how large the deviation actually is. Small deviations can fall within the usual manufacturing and assembly tolerances and don't represent a technical fault.

Please don't try to open the case yourself or adjust the hand's position on your own.

When should I contact our customer service?

Please get in touch with us if:

• the second hand clearly misses the markers,
• it sometimes stops between two markers,
• it jumps irregularly or gets stuck,
• the behaviour has suddenly changed,
• or you're unsure whether the deviation is still within the normal range.

Please send us the following, if possible:

• the exact model of your watch
• your order number, if available
• a clear photo of the dial
• ideally, a short video showing several second steps

Please film the watch as straight on from above as possible. This helps us reduce the influence of the viewing angle and better assess whether an inspection makes sense.