Adjusting a mechanical watch’s running rate to reduce how much time it gains or loses.
A watch’s daily rate measures how much time it gains or loses over 24 hours against a reference time. Regulation corrects that rate by adjusting the balance and balance spring system that controls the movement’s rhythm. Changing the active length of the balance spring changes its oscillation frequency and therefore the watch’s running rate. The adjustment can be extremely small. Horopedia gives an example in which correcting a loss of ten seconds a day requires shortening the spring by about 0.02 mm. Regulation concerns running accuracy, while setting the hands changes the displayed time.
In job listings
In job copy, regulation usually means rules set by an authority, so check the sense. At a watchmaker’s bench, it means adjusting the rate, a step in most services and something a client may ask about when a watch gains or loses time. Search local jobs for “watchmaker”.
