The Watch Oil That Belongs in Drops, Not Floods
Low-viscosity oils for jewels and pivots — quantity is the skill, chemistry is only half the story.
Specification
| Viscosity grades | Low · medium · high (product-specific) |
|---|---|
| Application points | Jewel bearings · pallet faces |
| Typical quantity | Partial fill of the oil sink |
| Temperature range | −10 °C to +60 °C typical |
| Shelf life, sealed | 2 – 5 years |
| Shelf life, opened | 1 – 2 years |
| Migration resistance | Formulated to resist spreading |
| Base | Synthetic, non-oxidising |
Overview
Watch oils reduce friction at pivots and jewels where metal would otherwise grind. Modern synthetics stay stable longer than older formulas, but the wrong oil in the wrong place still ruins amplitude.
The classic mistake is generosity. A jewel cup wants a controlled film, not a lake that creeps onto the plate. Train your oiler until a ‘drop’ means the same thing every time.
Shelf life and contamination matter. Caps left open collect dust that becomes grit inside a jewel.
What matters about it
- Viscosity must match the contact
- Too much oil migrates and attracts dirt
- Clean surfaces before oiling — oil does not clean
- Different oils for different train sections
- Labelling bottles prevents expensive mix-ups
Practical notes
- Oil after cleaning and inspection, never to hide noise.
- Wipe the oiler tip between different grades.
- Follow caliber charts when they exist; guess less.
- Store upright, capped, away from heat.
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