The installation process of the hands in a Quartz watch is a crucial step affecting timekeeping accuracy and aesthetic quality. It requires strict material selection, tool compatibility, standardized operating procedures, and rigorous adjustments to ensure stable hand operation. Before installation, the compatibility between the hands and the movement must be confirmed. Different quartz movement models have specific requirements for hand length, aperture, and weight. For example, ultra-thin movements require lightweight hands to avoid excessive gear load, while sports Quartz watches may use thicker hands for enhanced visual impact. In terms of materials, hour and minute hands are typically made of copper or aluminum alloy, while the second hand often uses lightweight aluminum to reduce the impact of rotational inertia on the movement.
The precision of the installation tools directly affects the stability of the hands. Professional repair technicians use magnetic tweezers to handle the hands, avoiding direct contact with fingers that could lead to static electricity or oil contamination of the movement. The tweezer tips must be polished to prevent scratching the coating on the hand surface or the movement's pivot points. For hands with luminescent coatings, anti-static tweezers and fingerprint-resistant gloves must be used to prevent the luminescent material from peeling off or oxidizing. During installation, the movement must be secured to a specialized fixture, ensuring the dial is parallel to the work surface to prevent hand misalignment due to tilting.
The hands should be installed in the order of "shortest to longest, static to moving." Install the hour hand first, as it rotates the least, causing minimal wear on the pivot point; then install the minute hand, and finally the second hand. When installing the hour hand, align the hand hole with the movement's hour hand pivot and gently press until the bottom of the hand contacts the dial, avoiding excessive force that could bend the pivot point. For the minute hand, ensure a uniform gap between it and the hour hand, typically controlled between 0.1-0.2 mm, to prevent friction during operation. For the second hand, use a specialized pressing tool to gently press it to the top of the pivot point, ensuring the second hand is parallel to the dial and free from wobble.
Adjusting the hand's level is crucial for stable operation. After installation, observe the gap between the hands and the dial under a microscope. If the hour or minute hand is in contact with the dial, adjust the hand hole diameter or replace it with a thinner hand shim. For the second hand, its perpendicularity to the second wheel axis needs to be checked. This can be determined by gently shaking the dial and observing whether the second hand swings. If swinging occurs, the second hand needs to be reinstalled or the position of the second wheel axis adjusted.
The stability test of the hands needs to be conducted under both static and dynamic conditions. In the static test, the dial is placed horizontally, and the hands are observed to maintain a constant speed of rotation for 3 minutes without any stuttering or stopping. In the dynamic test, the dial is placed vertically or a simulated wrist-wearing state is used to check whether the hands can maintain stable operation under gravity. For Quartz watches with a calendar function, the hands also need to be tested for any impact during the date change to ensure that the calendar mechanism and the hand drive mechanism do not interfere with each other.
Environmental factors have a significant impact on the stability of the hands. The assembly workshop must maintain a constant temperature and humidity, with the temperature controlled between 20-25℃ and the humidity between 40%-60%, to prevent deformation of the movement parts due to thermal expansion and contraction. In addition, the workshop must be equipped with anti-static equipment, such as ion fans, to prevent static electricity from damaging the electronic components of the movement. The work surface should be covered with an anti-static mat and cleaned regularly to remove dust and prevent tiny particles from entering the movement and affecting the hands.
Long-term stability maintenance requires regular servicing. After 1-2 years of use, a professional watchmaker should disassemble the movement, clean the gear system, and relubricate it to reduce the impact of component wear on the hands. At the same time, check if the hand-fixing screws are loose and tighten them if necessary. For hands with luminous coating, regularly check for coating peeling to prevent loose particles from getting stuck in the gear system and causing the hands to stop. Through strict installation procedures and regular maintenance, the long-term stable operation of the Quartz watch hands can be ensured, and the timekeeping accuracy meets industry standards.
