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- When the Eco-Drive watch stops, what should be done to restore it?
- Firstly expose the Eco-Drive to the light. Eco-Drive watches with quick start feature will start running in about 10 seconds. After confirming this movement, adjust the time.
- The second hand jumps in 2-second intervals. Why?
- This means the battery is yet to be charged enough. (Insufficient Charging Warning Feature). After having the battery fully charged, it will be back to the normal operation.
- The second hand moves at irregular set of intervals, such as 1- second, 1- second, and 2-second in turn. What does this mean?
(Irregular Two Second Interval Movement) - In this case, the watch tells you that the time shown is incorrect because the watch stopped once and started again. (Time Setting Warning Feature)After recharging and adjusting your watch it will be back to normal operation.
- Sometimes, the second hand has been seen running very quickly, then come back to normal operation.Why?
- This can happen when you produce the Eco-Drive watch with Power Saving .Feature from the drawer, or look at the watch which has been under your sleeve.Under those circumstances, such as being left in the dark, the watch goes in Power Saving Feature, and stops its hand in order to save energy. Once light gets on the watch, the watch catches up with the current time by moving the hands very quickly according to the information having been kept inside the watch.
- Can Eco-Drive watches be recharged under fluorescent lamps?
- Yes.As long as the dial gets light in daily life, it rarely stops.
- Does recharging time vary in respective seasons?
- Yes. It varies according to the illuminance from the source of light.That is, in winter the required time for recharging is longer than summer, because the illuminance of the sun is weak compare with the one in summer.Especially in winter, watches tend to be kept under sleeves of overcoats or thick jackets, that could cause the shortage of light energy to run watches.We recommend you expose your Eco-Drive to the sunlight from time to time.
- What are the life spans of solar cells and secondary batteries?
- According to the experimental data, both will last more than 10 years.It is also considered to loose up to around 20 % of their initial capacities in 20 years, however, we speculate, that won't cause trouble for the use of the watch.
- It is said there is no need of battery exchange for Eco-Drive watches. Does this mean Eco-Drive watches are completely maintenance free?
- As of the water resistant models, in order to maintain the water resistant quality,we recommend you replace the gaskets in regular intervals. Gaskets are aging and deteriorating while being used or just being kept in drawers as such.The gears in watches are also abrading little by little, so the maintenance in regular intervals at the qualified watchmakers or authorized service centers is recommended in order to extend the life of your watch.
- What does it mean Function of Power Save?
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When the solar cells stop generating electricity resulting from the lack of light energy, the watch stops its second hand at the position of 12 o'clock in order to avoid loosing energy. There are models which stop both the minute and second hands. (Power Save 1 mode) With getting light on the dial, the watch will come back to the normal operation.
If the above condition continues for 3 days, the watch stops the calendar as well as the second and minute hands to minimize the energy loss. (Power Save 2 mode)With getting light on the dial, the watch will come back to the normal operation. Please see the instruction manual on this function, because it varies in respective models.When you don't use your Eco-Drive watch for a long time, you could stop all the hands and calendar manually.(Manual Power Save mode) In this mode, the watch doesn't come back to the normal operation even when the dial gets light.
* In all the Power Save modes, the watch keeps the time inside.
* The functions vary in respective models. For further information, please see your instruction booklet.
- Why has the battery completely run down soon after the purchase?
- Except for Eco-Drive models, batteries in the new watches are installed before shipments in order to check if the functions are working as properly as being designed. Therefore, please be noted that those batteries can be running down to a certain extent by the time of purchase.
- How to clean adhering substances such as dirt, dust or perspiration off the band?
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<Metal band>Metal bands easily gather foreign substances such as dust or perspiration. If using the watch without removing those substances, the band could get rusted.In order to enjoy your watch for a longer period of time, we recommend you wipe off perspiration with soft cloth after daily use. We also recommend to rinse the band with mild detergent and a soft tooth brush from time to time, however please be sure not letting water touch the watch case or glass if your watch is not water resistant.
<Leather band>Wipe perspiration gently off the band with soft cloth after use.We also recommend you sometimes clean the reverse side of the band with soft cloth moistened with ethyl alcohol.
- The watch got foggy inside the glass. What kind of care is required?
- When such as rain drops adhere the glass surface, the inside can become foggy.This phenomenon is caused by the water outside on the glass, which cools the inner air around the glass, then makes it condensed.When the cloud disappears by a couple of minutes after drying the glass surface, there is no problem. However in the case the watch stays foggy for a longer time, there could be trouble with water sealing. Examination at an authorized service center is strongly recommended.
- Is it possible to wash a water resistant 10 bar watch with tap water?
- Yes. You can wash it with tap water.
- What are the differences between WR200(Water resistant 20 bar), and Diver's 200M(Air diver's 200m) watches?
- Diver's 200M(Air diver's 200m) watches are specifically qualified for diving , while WR200(Water resistant 20 bar) watches are designed for the people who touch waters very often in their daily lives.So, Diver's200M(Air diver's 200m) watches go through severe water resistant tests before shipment compare with WR200(Water resistant 20 bar) watches.
- What interval is recommended to exchange gaskets in the watch?
- Gaskets in your watch are deteriorating little by little as they are aging , and the damages to the sealing can cause the water leakage. After replacing battery at authorized service centers, the gaskets are also exchanged in order to maintain water resistant quality. However Eco-Drive watches, with no such occasions, we recommend you change the gaskets in regular intervals, once in 2 or 3 years. Please consult our authorized service center in your country for further information such as the repair procedure or the cost.
- When is a Leap Second introduced?
- A Leap Second is introduced in order to adjust the time difference between the uniform time defined by atomic clocks which use the frequency of the Cesium atom, and the Earth's actual rotational time.The International Earth Rotation Service (IERS) makes the decision of when to introduce a Leap Second in UTC (Coordinated Universal Time, the international time standard).Because the Earth's rotational time varies, a Leap Second is not introduced regularly, but first priority is given to the opportunities at the end of December and June, and the second priority to those at the end of March and September.Please note that when a Leap Second is introduced, your watch, except radio controlled watches, becomes one second ahead of UTC. (If needed, please make the adjustment.)
- Why is IIII used for indicating 4 o'clock instead of IV on the watch dial?
- It is said that the origin goes back to the year 1364 in Paris.When the then French king, Charles V, saw the numeral IV on the clock on the tower in his palace, he disliked the way to express 4 by the roman numeral IV, because it seemed to him like V minus I(5 minus 1). He immediately ordered to change the IV to IIII. Since then using IIII on the dial/face has become the standard among watch makers. This is one of the rarely known episodes in our history.