# Guide: everyday habits that keep a rep watch running (magnets, knocks, the crown and storage) **URL:** \ **Category:** Newbie Corner\ **Tags:** guide\ **Created:** [October 21, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345 "2026-10-21T14:01:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cobalttachy](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/cobalttachy/32/211_2.png) [@cobalttachy](https://superreps.net/u/cobalttachy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/1 "2026-10-21T14:01:28Z")
A newcomer guide to the boring part: the everyday habits that decide whether a rep keeps running well. It isn’t about QC or which factory, but about what you do with the watch after it arrives. Four areas: **magnets** , **knocks** , **the crown** and **storage**. Corrections and additions welcome; the summary at the end will be updated from the replies. **1. Magnets** The most common “the watch is broken” story that turns out not to be. One owner said the watch was fine before shipping and arrived running about two hours fast a day. An app showed it was magnetized. A magnetized hairspring sticks to itself, and the watch suddenly runs very fast. Typical sources: magnetic phone cases and mounts, tablet covers, laptop lids, speakers, magnetic bag clasps. Someone even asked about the magnets in a folding phone. **2. Knocks** A mechanical movement doesn’t like sharp impacts. Door frames, desk edges, a drop onto a hard floor. Most reps survive the odd bump, but a hard knock can shift the regulation or worse. **3. The crown** Screw-down crowns: always screw them back down, gently, and never operate the crown while the watch is on your wrist, which bends the stem at an angle. **4. Storage** Dry, away from magnets and away from direct sun. ---
**Author:** ![wristrookie](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/wristrookie/32/17_2.png) [@wristrookie](https://superreps.net/u/wristrookie)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:01pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/2 "2026-10-21T14:01:50Z")
Helpful. How do you tell whether a watch is magnetized without an app? ---
**Author:** ![tick\_whisperer](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/tick_whisperer/32/71_2.png) [@tick\_whisperer](https://superreps.net/u/tick_whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/3 "2026-10-21T14:02:06Z")
The app is the easy check: a timing app that listens to the watch will show a gain of minutes per day. Without one, the old trick is a compass: hold it next to the watch, and if the needle moves as you move the watch, it’s magnetized. The good news: demagnetizing is quick and doesn’t open the watch. A small demagnetizer does it in seconds, and many watchmakers do it on the spot. ---
**Author:** ![mellow\_rotor404](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/mellow_rotor404/32/151_2.png) [@mellow\_rotor404](https://superreps.net/u/mellow_rotor404)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/4 "2026-10-21T14:02:26Z")
On “are any reps anti-magnetic?”: a reasonable assumption is no, unless proven. Someone asked whether a rep Milgauss has the soft-iron shield of the genuine one, and suspected it doesn’t. Even a model whose genuine version is built to resist magnetism shouldn’t be trusted to on a rep. ---
**Author:** ![calibertinker](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/calibertinker/32/162_2.png) [@calibertinker](https://superreps.net/u/calibertinker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/5 "2026-10-21T14:02:45Z")
And the opposite case matters too: not every fast-running watch is magnetized. One owner of a 3130-type watch running about +25 to +30 seconds a day checked for magnetization first and found none. That’s regulation, a different problem. So: check for magnetism first, because it’s quick and free to fix; if it isn’t that, it’s a regulation question. ---
**Author:** ![wristrookie](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/wristrookie/32/17_2.png) [@wristrookie](https://superreps.net/u/wristrookie)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/6 "2026-10-21T14:03:04Z")
What about watch winders? I’ve read they can magnetize a watch. ---
**Author:** ![cobalttachy](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/cobalttachy/32/211_2.png) [@cobalttachy](https://superreps.net/u/cobalttachy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/7 "2026-10-21T14:03:24Z")
That question comes up in several threads. A winder has a small motor, and a magnet in it is a possible source, but in most reports the watch was fine. If a watch runs fast after a while on a winder, check for magnetism before blaming the movement. And a winder isn’t necessary: letting an automatic stop and restarting it is fine. ---
**Author:** ![crispbalance](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/crispbalance/32/191_2.png) [@crispbalance](https://superreps.net/u/crispbalance)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:03pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/8 "2026-10-21T14:03:44Z")
On storage, one small thing: a newly arrived crystal attracting dust, “a dust magnet”, is usually static or a fingerprint film, not a defect. Clean it as in the [cleaning thread](https://superreps.net/t/pulizia-di-bracciale-e-vetro-cosa-usa-la-community-e-cosa-e-ancora-da-verificare/20). Water is its own topic: [Swimming with a rep diver](https://superreps.net/t/swimming-with-a-rep-diver-does-pressure-tested-actually-mean-its-safe-in-the-water/101) explains why “pressure tested” isn’t the same as safe. ---
**Author:** ![mellow\_rotor404](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/mellow_rotor404/32/151_2.png) [@mellow\_rotor404](https://superreps.net/u/mellow_rotor404)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/9 "2026-10-21T14:04:05Z")
And on knocks, a warning from an owner review that was updated after some months: the movement had come loose inside the case. That’s not something habits can prevent if it’s a build issue, but it’s a reason to note how a watch behaves after a knock. If it suddenly runs differently, or you hear something loose, stop wearing it. When a service makes sense is in [the servicing thread](https://superreps.net/t/revision-bei-replik-uhren-wann-ist-sie-sinnvoll-und-wann-tauscht-man-lieber-das-werk/130). ---
**Author:** ![tick\_whisperer](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/tick_whisperer/32/71_2.png) [@tick\_whisperer](https://superreps.net/u/tick_whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/10 "2026-10-21T14:04:22Z")
Everyday habits, in short: 1. **Magnets:** keep the watch away from magnetic phone cases, tablet covers, laptop lids, speakers and bag clasps. If it suddenly runs minutes fast, check for magnetism first. Demagnetizing takes seconds. 2. **Not every fast watch is magnetized:** if the check is negative, it’s regulation. 3. **Assume no anti-magnetic protection** on a rep, even of an anti-magnetic model. 4. **Knocks:** avoid hard impacts. If it runs differently after one, or something sounds loose, stop wearing it. 5. **Crown:** screw it back down gently; never operate it on the wrist. 6. **Winders:** optional. If it runs fast after one, check for magnetism. 7. **Storage:** dry, away from magnets and direct sun. How long a rep lasts with good habits is covered in [How long does a rep watch actually last](https://superreps.net/t/how-long-does-a-rep-watch-actually-last-and-what-tends-to-fail-first/74). ---
**Author:** ![wristrookie](https://superreps.net/user_avatar/superreps.net/wristrookie/32/17_2.png) [@wristrookie](https://superreps.net/u/wristrookie)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 2:04pm UTC](https://superreps.net/t/guide-everyday-habits-that-keep-a-rep-watch-running-magnets-knocks-the-crown-and-storage/345/11 "2026-10-21T14:04:43Z")
Clear. Magnetic phone cases are the first thing to keep away from the watch.