Your watch has enemies. They include dirt, dust, moisture, and shocks, to say nothing about temperature extremes and UV radiation.
But still the front-line attack against these enemies must be done by the individual user. No fine mechanical watch will work well if it is maltreated, even inadvertently, and all mechanical watches are inherently intricate mechanisms, usually involving 200 to 400 movement parts, many of which are minuscule in size. To keep these parts running well requires care and maintenance.
Although one in four people say they don’t use their watches for telling the time, they certainly use them as a fashion accessory. Watches are becoming more and more a status symbol and they can tell something about your lifestyle. So here are some tips to take care of your watch and to keep it in perfect condition.
Learn how your watch works
Read your watch manual. Each watch has something specific, and these tips are likely to be listed in the watch manual.
Keep your watch working
A mechanical watch with automatic winding can operate for about 40-50 hours after the winding is completed, after which it will stop. Although the watch movement has lubricant on it, it will still be dry and this will cause the movement to wear out. That's why it's important to keep your watch running. If you are a watch collector, then you are no stranger to watch winders. When you own several watches, having a watch winder can extend the life of your watch.
Of course, for manually wound watches, it's a good habit to keep winding your watch at the same time every day. I try to do this early in the morning when I'm getting dressed. For 7- or 8-day movements, I recently learned a saying." Sunday is winding day."
Clean your watch
It’s no secret that it’s critically important to keep our hands as clean as possible these days. So it’s only natural to want to keep our wristwatches clean as well given their proximity to our hand. In fact, we recommend wearing water-resistant stainless steel watches for the time being as they are the easiest to clean and can withstand constant water exposure.
It goes without saying, since your watch is off your wrist and slippery from the soap, be very careful not to drop it into the sink as this can damage it! During the current situation of sheltering in place, if you do leave your house with a watch on, it’s best that you wash it with warm water and soap (just like your hands) immediately when you get home.
Avoid scratches
It’s only a matter of time before your watch glass or strap shows scratches. To avoid this, remove your watch during activities that could create scratches. Also, do not wear your bracelets on the same wrist. Wrist jewelry might scratch either the sides or the glass of your watch.And be careful, do not drop your watch on the ground! In addition to the possible scratches, unexpected impact may cause damage to the crystal, case, and the internal components.
Limiting sun exposure
Avoid extended exposure to sunlight. Sunlight can fade the color on your watch. Also, heat can shorten the battery life, so it’s best to prevent your watch from being placed in direct sunlight.
Staying away from chemicals
Avoid contact with chemicals, such as cleaning supplies. Also, it’s best to avoid contact between your watch and perfume, especially if the watch has a leather band. Perfume can damage the band, weakening it and potentially causing it to tear. When spraying perfume or cologne, let it completely dry before placing the watch on your wrist.
Keeping Away from Magnets
Avoid magnets. Some of you may not be aware that placing your watch close to a magnet can negatively affect the timekeeping of your watch.
Store your watch properly
When not wearing your watch,?store it properly.?To avoid humidity and dust, use the?original box and packaging?or store it in a box containing your other watches. If you're storing watches in a watch box, make sure they are?stored separately?from one another to avoid wear caused by friction. Also, do not store your watches face down.
