Are you looking after your watch? You don’t know? Well it can be hard sometimes to understand whether or not you’re harming or benefitting your watch – and this comes down to the simplest of things, such as cleaning it or wearing it on the wrong occasions etc.
So to help you understand what things you SHOULD be doing and what things you SHOULD NOT be doing, we’ll go through 6 steps in which guide you and give you tips on how to properly look after your watch.
What are the 6 steps to look after your watch properly?
- Don’t damage your watch by exceeding it’s capabilities.
- Keeping the watch wound as often as possible.
- Clean your watch with water (NOT soap)
- Use cloths regularly to remove dirt/ dust
- Servicing your watch
- Enjoy your watch
1. DON’T DAMAGE YOUR WATCH BY EXCEEDING IT’S CAPABILITIES
It’s all good telling you not to damage your watch – as it’s a very obvious note to touch on. But it’s an important one. This is because some people don’t understand the value in which a few simple tips can help increase the longevity and performance of their watch.
Saying DON’T damage your watch isn’t really a helpful and useful tip to take away, but if we break it down into things you shouldn’t do to your watch, it’ll become much clearer and more apparent as to what the damaging culprits are.
Things you shouldn’t do, which will damage your watch:
– Exceed it’s limits
What we mean by this is the fact that exceeding the limits in which the watch has the capability of reaching, can be extremely damaging to it’s features and overall performance. An example of this would be diving to 50m with a watch which only has a 30m water resistant depth. Not only could it potentially stop the watch from working, but it’ll also cost you money in terms of when you come to sell it, or the fact you’ll need to now service it.
– Hit it off walls etc
This one is a little bit more tricky – I have hit my watch off the wall or table too many times to count, but since I started to really improve my care for the watches I wear, I now subconsciously move my hand when lifting or moving my arms etc. Now this is always going to be a factor of damage when wearing a watch, and it’s hard to not make this mistake, but if you apply all of these tips it should, over time help benefit the decrease of scratch marks etc.
– Underwater fiddling
You might have a diving watch such as the Bremont Supermarine S2000, in which case you’ll be equipped with a valve and a screw down crown and pushers. However, if you’re exploring the waters with your Rolex Datejust, we’d recommend not pulling the crown. You know what waters like – it’ll creep into any crevasse possible in which it can lay there and rust the materials away.
2. KEEPING THE WATCH WOUND AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
Why should you keep your watch wound?
Keeping your watch wound has many benefits. Apart from the time-saving element in which you save by not having the hassle of winding the watch – it also allows for lubricants to freely flow and keep components providing as little friction as possible. This will prove incredibly beneficial in the long-term, and will have an increase in longevity from a watch that wasn’t kept wound.
Why you need to invest in a watch winder?
If you have an extensive watch collection, you’re not going to be wearing them all on a daily basis… unless you are, then this doesn’t really apply to you – but if you don’t, I would recommend investing in a watch winder, and we say investing, because you’re exchanging that one time, two-time purchase for your own time back.
Why are watch winders good to own/ use?
Watch winders offer a great range of customisable features, including different settings to choose from as well as safety attributes such as combinations and fire proof materials etc. If you want to see the fireproof watch safe then read this… Read more.
And they offer all of these different features and attributes, so your watch can be wound to your own liking at it’s own TPD (turns per day) rate – which is perfect for when you’re not wearing your watch or you are going to be away etc.
3. CLEAN YOUR WATCH WITH WATER (NOT SOAP)
Why is it important to wash your watches with water?
Washing your watch with water on a regular occasion is an important part of owning a watch. It allows for dirt and debris to be cleared and for your watch to be looking in tip top condition. But one thing we do stress, is not using soap – using soap with water allows tiny molecules to creep their way into the smallest of crevasses and gaps, which cause problems later down the line.
Lots of people use soap to wash their watches with, which isn’t the best idea because of the long-term affects it could cause. This is why, when cleaning antique clocks they use specialist soaps such as Vulpex. I know we’re talking about watches, but those clocks have been around for 100s of years, and the experts are highlighting their lack of support for cleaning these items with dish soap.
4. USE CLOTHS REGULARLY TO REMOVE DUST/ DIRT
Why should you use cloths on your watches?
When using cloths to remove any dirt or dust, it allows your watch to really shine (especially in the light) and especially if the cloth has a cleaning and a polishing side in which you can alternate for the best results. This method just means that when you’re attending that party, meeting or interview, you can quickly clean your watch and continue to progress onwards -knowing your watch is dancing in the light. A product in which we would recommend, is the “Pride & Pinion ultrasoft watch cloth”. This comes with the cleaning and polishing side.
What’s the importance of using the cloth on your watch?
When wearing your watch all day everyday it’s bound to collect some dust etc. So making sure that when you’re attending anything, your watch will be looking in it’s top condition – and this can happen anytime you want. It also stops the build up of dirt over time, especially if you do it on a regular basis. Subsequently, the use of this tip can increase the longevity of your watches, in particular the case and bracelet etc.
5. SERVICING YOUR WATCH
Why do you need to service your watch?
First of all, I think most watches will need a service at one point in their lifetime. It’ll all depend on movement types, the use of wear, how you look after your watch and many other factors. But servicing your watch, even though you’ll have to pay for it, can make all the difference to it’s performance – overall, affecting the long term life and the durability of the watch in which it’ll maintain for years to come.
How much will a service cost?
You’re looking at around £5 – £10 for a battery replacement, and all the way up to £300 for a basic automatic chronograph service. It will all depend on the condition of your watch, but on average, it’ll be in between these figures.
6. ENJOY YOUR WATCH
Overall, you want to enjoy your watch – you want to enjoy wearing it, you want to enjoy showcasing it, you want to enjoy experiences whilst wearing it. There are so many opportunities in which watches allow to happen – such as being used as a diving instrument. Another way to look at your watch, is at the history in which it holds, this gives you an extra incentive as to looking after it, and making sure that your kids, or grandkids will be able to continue all of that rich history but also create their own for the next generations to come – so the takeaway point is… look after your watch.
