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If your watch gets water in the case, the gaskets may need replacing and the cost of repairs can increase depending on the watch’s condition. These things can still harm your Eco-Drive watch, so it is important to be aware of the water-resistance level of your watch as well as awareness of the temperatures you’re exposing your watch to, especially when charging it. If you check out our article on the 5 things to look for when troubleshooting your broken watch, you’ll see that there’s a lot out there that can damage your favorite timepiece, including water damage and extreme temperatures. Because of the nature of Eco-Drive watches, most issues stem from an uncharged watch, but as we’ll see, there are legitimate things to watch out for if your watch still isn’t functioning after trying the steps above. If you have fully charged your watch and the second hand continues to move in two-second intervals, you may need to do a reset of the watch. For analog models, you can do this by pulling the crown out to the time setting position for 30 seconds, then returning the crown to the closed position next to the case, after which you can set the time. If the watch isn’t charged in light that is bright enough (Citizen recommends charging 8 inches away from a 30-watt light), the watch may not charge at all.
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Eco-Drives can slow down, tick by two seconds at a time, and eventually stop ticking completely when in need of a charge. This is the single most common reason why Eco-Drive watches are brought in for servicing, and ironically, they still work perfectly fine. This is different from solar-powered watches because the Eco-Drive can be charged virtually anywhere where light is strong enough including indoors without the need for a battery. Over the years, they have gained a reputation for lasting forever, but as you’ll discover shortly, that’s not the case, as there are still reasons why the watches may need repairs and servicing. There’s a common belief that Citizen Eco-Drive watches last forever, but is this really the case? The Eco-Drive line of watches by Citizen is a popular type of watch which uses Citizen’s proprietary technology to allow you to use any kind of light, including office light or even dim light to recharge the timepiece.
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