How hand stack height problems develop and the risk of damage when hands scrape one another.
If the seconds hand visibly scrapes the minute or hour hand, or hesitates at the same crossing point, hand-stack clearance is too tight. Do not bend the hands yourself — have height and alignment corrected.
Hands need vertical clearance. If one is fitted too low or bent, it can rub another hand at certain dial angles. That contact can mark the hands and disturb smooth motion.
Only proper hand work can safely reset stack height. Home bending is a common way to make this worse.
Why are my watch hands rubbing each other?Stack height error, bent hands, impact, or post-service seating issues are common causes.
Is it bad if the seconds hand hits the minute hand?Yes. It can score hands and cause hesitation.
Can I bend the hands apart myself?No. Leave hand work to a watchmaker.
What should I do if watch hands are touching?Reduce wear if motion is affected and get hand height corrected.