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Fine Watches

It’s funny how watches give us time but we on the other hand, could hardly give time to our watches. Sometimes, with our busy lives and hectic schedules, it is very easy to take these little time pieces for granted. We overlook their significance in our lives—how by telling us what time it is, wrist watches contribute on making our lives easier and more manageable. We forget how essential a watch’s job is. That is until our watches break apart and we remember how hard it is to guess or ask people or look around for public clocks for time.

The truth is, you really should not wait for your watch to be broken before you take action in taking care of it. As with any other accessory, watches require some amount of careful usage and proper maintenance to ensure that they last a long time. Actually, your watch requires even more because it has a complex mechanism that your other jewelry such as necklaces and earrings do not have.

DAILY USAGE

Wearing your watch on a daily basis can result to intense wear and tear. This is why, it is of utmost importance that you know the proper usage of your watch to minimize deterioration. Here are some usage tips that you will find helpful:

Winding

A manual winding mechanical watch requires care and attention when winding to avoid over-winding which can break the spring. Take it off before winding and stop winding when you feel that the spring has reached its maximum tension. With an automatic watch, it is recommended to wind your fine watches by hand once a month or after 35 hours of not using it.

Setting the time and date

In order to set the time, you should unscrew the crown and pull it as far as it can go. After you’ve set the hands to the right time, push the crown down and screw it back. Now in changing the date, you also do the same thing except you only pull it up to the first notch only. Most watches can only have the dates adjusted forward so if you miss the right date, turn it again until the right date appears. A good idea is to stop one day before the right date and use the hands to adjust it.

CLEANING

Since the watch is on our wrists every day, it is unavoidable for the watch to accumulate dust and dirt. Because of this, it is necessary that you know how to clean your watch properly. Different kinds of watches require different cleaning methods. Be sure to read thoroughly the manufacturer’s cleaning directions. Below is an example of a step-by-step procedure on cleaning a watch. This will teach you how to give even your large face watches with metal or rubber bracelets a much-needed bath.

In cleaning your favorite timepiece, you will need a mild soap, water, soft-bristled toothbrush, and a lint-free cloth.

Watch Cleaning Step 1:

First, try to remove the bracelet from the watch. If it’s not possible for you to remove it, just take extra caution not to get any soap or water on the watch while you clean the bracelet even if it is water-resistant.

Watch Cleaning Step 2:

Dip the soft-bristled brush in a mixture of mild soap and water. Remove dirt and debris from both sides of the bracelet by rubbing the brush.

Watch Cleaning Step 3:

Use a lint-free cloth to dry the bracelet. Attach it back to the watch. Use the same cloth to wipe the surface of the watch, taking care not to get it damp.

Watch Cleaning Step 4:

Voila, it’s as easy as that. The last step is to marvel at your good as new watch.

HANDLING AND MAINTENANCE

How you handle and maintain your watch is another crucial aspect of caring for your watch. The following are practical suggestions on watch handling and maintenance:

Store properly

Store watches in appropriate sized watch boxes. If you plan to store expensive watches like heirloom womens watches for a long time, make use of a zip lock bag to seal in the freshness of the watches and to keep it safe from elements. Bring them out occasionally to let them breathe especially if their bracelets are made of leather.

Take your watch to a regular service.

By regular, we mean service intervals between 4 to 5 years depending on the usage of the watch. But if there is a sign of poor performance, have the watch checked up sooner.

Replace the battery

For quartz watches, the recommendation for battery replacement is once in 18 to 24 months except if your battery has a longer life. If you find your watched has stopped, be sure to take out the battery immediately. Leaving a dead battery inside for some time will cause for it to leak and damage the watch’s movement.

Here are other things you have to watch out for:

Avoid dropping your watch. This hardly requires any more explanation as we all know that intense impact can damage a watch’s mechanism.
Avoid getting your watch wet. Never allow your watch to get soaked in hot water. Even if your watches are water-resistant, the heat can damage the internal components.
Avoid exposure to strong magnetic forces. Try not to get it near magnets, speakers, computers and refrigerators. If any of its inside components become magnetized, it may cause for the watch to run irregularly or to stop working.
Avoid putting perfume (especially alcohol based ones) on the wrist where you wear your watch.
After swimming in a pool or ocean, be sure to rinse out chlorine or salt off your waterproof watch with fresh water.
When going outdoors, avoid wearing your watch when the sunlight is intensely strong. Keep your wristwatch in your pocket until some clouds cover up the sun.
Keep your watch away from chemical products like solvents, perfumes, detergents, alcohol and many others.

Proper usage, handling and maintenance are some of the effective ways in ensuring that your valuable timepieces last a long time with you.

require some amount of careful usage and proper maintenance to ensure that they last a long time. Actually, your watch requires even more because it has a complex mechanism that your other jewelry such as necklaces and earrings do not have.