Question. Balance spring out of position

I've been told by Seiko UK that the balance spring on a Seiko 5 is out of position, and that it needs a service, rather than merely regulating. Does this sound correct?

Thanks

Seikos can be prone to problems with the hairspring becoming snagged if the watch gets a knock. If the watch is fairly new it shouldn’t need a service, I’ve fixed this fault by carefully removing and refitting the balance, I prefer this rather than trying to free the spring using the fine tweezers. Removing the balance allows the spring to be inspected, if it looks OK no correction or truing up is needed and the watch should run OK. This can be confirmed on the timegrapher, if amplitude and positional agreement are OK minor regulation may be needed but that’s all, in most cases the snagging of the spring doesn’t result in any changes in how the watch runs.

The watch may need a service if its a few years old and it may need the beat error correcting, Seikos are notorious for being slightly out of beat, but that’s an east adjustment tgat can be made when regulating the watch.

Thanks very much Paul. I’ll mention that to them and see if it changes things.

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Originally Posted by OldHooky

Thanks very much Paul. I’ll mention that to them and see if it changes things.

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Unless the watch is still under warranty you’d be better sending it elsewhere.

From my recent experience with Seiko servicing I think they just replace movements. I sent a watch in that was within warranty for regulation and they replaced the movement. When I got it back it was still out of spec so I sent it back and they again replaced the whole movement. They did at least check the timing on the second movement.