Spinning with no effect
The crown has lost its connection to the movement. Usually the stem has sheared inside, or the winding parts have worn. On an automatic it can also be a broken mainspring, which feels exactly the same from the outside.
Will not turn at all
Often a screw-down crown that is still screwed down — it has to be unscrewed before it will pull out, and plenty of people have never been told that about their own watch. If it is not that, it is usually a seized stem, corrosion, or something jammed inside.
Do not force it. Forcing a screw-down crown strips the thread in the case, and that is a far bigger job than whatever you started with.
Worth mentioning when you bring it in
Has it been wet? Has it been dropped? Did it happen suddenly or gradually? Is it quartz or automatic? Each one points somewhere different and it saves time.
What we will do
Open it, look at the stem, the crown and the winding parts, and tell you what we find and what it would take. You decide from there.
Questions we get asked
My crown spins freely — what does that mean?
The connection to the movement has gone. Usually a sheared stem or worn winding parts.
My crown will not turn at all — is it broken?
Sometimes it is simply still screwed down. Do not force it, because forcing strips the case thread.
Is it worth repairing?
Often yes. We will tell you what we find and what it involves before you decide.
Could water have caused it?
Very possibly. Mention it when you come in, because it changes what we look for.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.