Why Is My Citizen Eco-Drive or Seiko Skipping Seconds?

The Two-Second Tick Explained

If you own a Citizen Eco-Drive, Seiko Kinetic, or other solar-powered watch, seeing the second hand suddenly jump in two-second intervals can be alarming. Your watch isn't broken—it is actually trying to talk to you. This jumping motion is a built-in feature designed to warn you that the power reserve is critically low.

Step 1: The Sunlight Test for Solar

Before assuming your watch needs repair, you need to attempt a deep charge. Artificial indoor lighting is often not strong enough to revive a depleted solar watch.

• Pull the crown out to the setting position (this stops the movement and focuses all energy on charging).
• Place the watch on a sunny windowsill in direct natural sunlight for a full 24 to 48 hours. Do not let it get too hot.
• Push the crown back in. If it resumes ticking once per second, your issue is most likely solved!

Step 2: When to Replace the Capacitor

Solar and kinetic watches do not use standard disposable silver-oxide batteries. They use complex, rechargeable lithium-ion cells called capacitors (such as the Panasonic MT920). While they last much longer than standard batteries, they do eventually degrade—typically after 10 to 15 years.

You need a professional capacitor replacement if:

• The watch still does the two-second skip after 48 hours in direct sunlight.
• The watch runs fine during the day but stops completely overnight.
• The watch is completely dead and unresponsive to light.