Please use this resource to troubleshoot and fix your clock. In most cases, a clock can be fixed at home, by you, without ever having to be returned to Newgate saving you time and money.
Slow Running Clocks
“If your quartz clock runs slow, it’s virtually always the battery, not the clock.”
If your quartz clock is running slow, the good news is that it’s almost never the clock itself that’s at fault. Quartz movements are very reliable and rarely develop timing problems. The real culprit, almost every time, is the battery.
Clocks need a truly fresh, good quality alkaline battery to keep accurate time. A battery that seems “fine” in another device often isn’t strong enough for a clock. Things like TV remotes or toys can keep working on a weak battery, but a clock is more demanding. With the constant movement of the hands, especially the second hand, it needs steady, reliable power. If the power isn’t there, the clock will usually start to lose time before it stops altogether.
Even batteries that are “new” but have been sitting in a drawer for years may not be fresh enough anymore. And sometimes, if all the batteries in a packet are from the same batch, they may all perform poorly in your clock. That’s why we always recommend starting with a brand new alkaline battery straight from the shop.
The size and weight of the hands also makes a difference. Light, narrow hands use less power, so the battery lasts longer. Larger or wider hands take more energy to move, and adding a second hand increases the demand even further, since it moves every single second of the day.
Most of the clocks that customers send back to us for “running slow” work perfectly once we put in a fresh battery. When the same clock is returned to the customer, if it runs slow again it’s almost always because the same old batch of batteries has been tried.
So, if your clock is losing time, the very first step is always to fit a brand new, high quality alkaline battery. In nearly every case, that solves the problem.
Disassembly Guides
The vast majority of Newgate clocks have been designed for easy disassembly and repair, it may be possible to carry out basic repairs at home without any specialist tools. In this section you will find disassembly guides for the main construction methods used in our wall and mantel clocks.
We don't currently provide any guides to disassemble alarm clocks. Due to the nature of their manufacture and size, they can prove tricky to repair and should be disassembled at your own risk.
Clock hand removal and re-alignment
If your clock has been bumped during a move, or the time has been adjusted too vigorously, then you might find your hands have become misaligned or have become loose.
The video in the dropdown below will take you through step by step on how to re-attach and fix your clocks hands at home.
Fixing broken glass
Accidents happen. Clocks can get dropped or bumped and glass lenses can crack.
Newgate Repair Centre
Newgate is pleased to offer a dedicated repairs center for our customers, available for a nominal fee. However, we encourage you to first utilize our comprehensive guides for a more immediate and cost-effective solution, reserving our repair service for more complex needs.
We are also able to provide spare parts such as movements or hands for a select number of our back catalogue of products. These are all subject to availability.