Watch Care & Maintenance

Watch Care

Like everything in life, watches endure a significant amount of wear and tear over time. Precision Watches & Jewelry’s watch Service and Repair experts have provided some professional advice to help keep your watch in the same condition in which it was bought. Proper watch care & maintenance are important to ensure your watch functions correctly.

General Cleaning
Maintenance Schedule
Winding and Setting
Batteries
Water Resistance
Things to Avoid

General Cleaning

This is the most important, as you need to do this regularly. Keeping your watch clean on the outside reduces the chance of it getting dirty on the inside. Wipe off your watch periodically in order to remove any dust, dirt, or moisture.

How to clean a non water-resistant watch:

Avoid exposure to any water or liquid cleaners.
Wipe the watch with a dry soft cloth.

How to clean a water-resistant watch:

Using a damp soft cloth, clean the head of the watch, wiping it off with a dry soft cloth.
Metal bracelets can be cleaned using soapy water and a soft bristled toothbrush.

Maintenance & Watch Care Schedule

A complete movement overhaul is recommended every three to five years to keep your watch in perfect working order.

Winding & Setting

This is only a factor in some mechanical watches, but it is safe to avoid setting the date for any watches between 9 pm and 3 am – doing so can damage the movement.

For Manual Watches:

Wind your manual watch fully at the same time each day.
Never force the crown. When it stops, or you feel resistance – stop winding. You don’t want to do any damage to the movement.

For Automatic Watches:

For best performance, the automatic watch should be word every day, remaining “active.”

To power up automatic watches, give the crown 20-30 turns, and put the watch on.
If the watch you own has a screw-down crown, be sure to screw it all the way in after winding to ensure water-resistance.
If the watch is worn daily, be sure to wind it once every two weeks. Wind it twice a week if you do not wear it daily. This can be avoided by purchasing a watch winder.

Batteries

A quartz battery found in a watch lasts roughly one to three years. The life is dependent on a wide variety of factors, including age, condition, and type of watch. The more functions a watch has, the more the need for battery replacements. When batteries can no longer power the watch, be sure to change it promptly. The battery could leak, causing damage to the mechanism.

Water Resistance

Not all watches are water resistant, and even then, there are various degrees of it. Water resistance is not permanent. It needs to be tested and renewed by a professional watchmaker. Gaskets and seals deteriorate, leaving your watch vulnerable to water damage. Have watches tested every one to two years. Bring your watch to a Precision Watches & Jewelry store for repair if there is ever condensation or signs of oxidation inside the watch.

Swimming with a watch:

If your watch was designed for it – there is no problem here. Be sure the crown is pushed down and screwed in tightly.
While in moist environments or underwater (duh), do not operate or adjust the crown or push buttons.
After coming into contact with chlorine or salt water, be sure to immediately clean the watch with fresh water.
If your watch has a rotating bezel, be sure to spin it while cleaning, so as to dislodge any debris.

Things to Avoid

1. Impacts

Shocks and impacts to watches can result in permanent damage. When this happens you may need to get your watch serviced or repaired. There are times when an impact will leave no physical evidence but could have been devastating to the inner workings of a watch. Only authorized service centers with trained expert watchmakers can diagnose the cause and advise you on a course of action to correct the problem.

2. Extreme Temperatures

Drastic temperature changes or temperature extremes (above 140°F and below 32°F) can affect your watch and it’s water resistance.

3. Magnetic Fields

Magnets can and will cause a watch to run incorrectly. Avoid placing your watch near any magnets, including those found in speakers, computers, even cell phones. The watch could run fast, slow, or even stop altogether if it becomes magnetized. Bring your watch to a Precision Watches & Jewelry service expert to have it demagnetized. If the watch is severely magnetized, a complete maintenance of the movement may be necessary.

4. Chemicals

Avoid any direct contact with chemicals, including cosmetics, perfumes, detergents, and more. These can damage your case, the gaskets, any leather or fabric straps, or even the finish on your metal bracelets and cases.