My vintage Omega Speedmaster just stopped working. I took it to the watchmaker. “The mainspring snapped,” he said. Cost: $700. I filed an insurance claim. Denied. “Mechanical Breakdown and Wear & Tear are excluded.”
Key Takeaways
- Standard Exclusion: Property insurance covers “External Causes” (drops, fire, theft). It excludes “Internal Causes” (mechanical failure, battery leakage, spring fatigue).
- The “Drop” Loophole: If the spring snapped because you dropped the watch, it is covered. You must be able to tie the failure to an event. If it just stopped while sitting on the dresser, it is not covered.
- Service Warranties: If you recently serviced the watch, the watchmaker’s 1-2 year service warranty is your coverage for this.
- Extended Warranties: Some retailers (WatchBox, Tourneau) sell extended mechanical warranties. These cover mainsprings. Insurance does not.
The “Why” (The Trap)
The trap is “Maintenance.”
A mainspring is a consumable part. It wears out. Insurance doesn’t pay for tires on your car; they don’t pay for mainsprings in your watch.
Unless the damage was caused by a “Covered Peril” (Impact), you are expected to pay for maintenance.
The Investigation (My Analysis of the “Stop”)
I checked where the line is drawn.
The “Impact” Diagnosis
- The Test: A watchmaker looks at the pivots. If the balance staff is broken and the mainspring is snapped, it implies a drop (Impact).
- The Claim: You file for “Accidental Damage (Drop).” Covered.
The “Fatigue” Diagnosis
- The Test: Everything looks fine, but the spring is broken.
- The Claim: “It stopped running.”
- The Result: Denied.
Hodinkee / JM
- The Consensus: Both exclude mechanical breakdown.
[IMAGE: Photo of a disassembled movement showing a snapped mainspring coil]
Comparison Table
| Failure Mode | Insurance | Service Warranty | Owner’s Wallet |
| Dropped (Shock) | Covered | Void (Abuse) | Deductible |
| Old Age (Wear) | Denied | Covered | Pay Full Cost |
| Water (User Error) | Covered | Denied | Deductible |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Diagnose First: Don’t file a claim until the watchmaker tells you why it broke.
- Check Service History: Is it under warranty from the last service? That is your first call.
- Recall Events: Did you bang your wrist against a door frame yesterday? If so, that might be the cause. Report the accident, not the symptom.
- Service Regularly: The only way to prevent this is servicing every 5-7 years. Factor $800 into your cost of ownership.
FAQ
Does insurance cover magnetization?
No. That is easily fixed (demagnetizer) and considered maintenance.
What if the rotor falls off?
If caused by a drop, yes. If the screw just backed out over time, no.
Is a battery leak covered?
Usually no. “Leakage” is a specific exclusion. Remove batteries from quartz watches in storage!