Watches are functional, complicated and beautiful pieces of art. They can be a daily reminder of your favorite memories, as well as a conversation starter wherever you go. If you own one or more watches in your collection, it's important to know how to care for it properly so that it lasts for years to come. Here are some tips from us on how you can take care of your watch:
Watch Maintenance Tip #1: Do not overwind
If you're wearing the watch and find that it stops running, do not try to wind it manually by hand. This can damage the mainspring and put undue stress on the gear train. Instead, reset the stem-winding mechanism by pulling out the crown and turning it clockwise until the rotor is fully wound up again. Do not use an automatic winding machine for this purpose because these devices are designed specifically for quartz movements only.
Over-winding can cause damage to your watch's balance spring and its escapement wheel. It also puts excess pressure on the mainspring, which can lead to early failure of the barrel pivot bushing or the crown tube — both vital parts of your watch's mechanism.
Watch Maintenance Tip #2: Avoid magnets
The magnetic field generated by most watches may cause the timepieces to lose accuracy. Magnetic fields can also damage the movement mechanism inside the watch. If you wear a medical alert bracelet, make sure that it is not made of any magnetic metals (e.g., steel).
Watch Maintenance Tip #3: Avoid extreme temperatures
Watch movements are very sensitive to temperature changes and can easily damage your watch if exposed to high or low temperatures for too long. Avoid leaving your watch in direct sunlight or in extreme heat or cold environments, such as near heaters or air conditioners or in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. These conditions can cause damage to your watch's movement, which will shorten its lifespan considerably.
Watch Maintenance Tip #4: Protect your watch from strong shock
The most important thing is to protect your watch from strong shocks. In order to avoid this type of accident, we recommend that you remove your watch before doing manual labor or any other activities that might involve physical contact with another person, such as playing sports.
Watch Maintenance Tip #5: Keep your watch clean
Your watch should be cleaned regularly, especially if it's a mechanical watch. This can be done by using a soft cloth and mild soap or jewelry cleaner. You can also dip the soft cloth or cotton swab in any mild solution to clean the face of your watch. Do not use paper towels or tissues, as they can scratch the glass. Avoid using any abrasive products as they could damage the watch case and strap. If there is visible dirt on the case back, gently scrub with a soft toothbrush and water to remove it. Be careful not to damage the gasket around the edge of the back plate or scratch the metal surface itself. To avoid cleaning your watch the wrong way, you can take your watch to Barrington Jewels and our experts will clean your watch the best way possible.
Watch Maintenance Tip #6: Keep it dry
A simple rule of thumb is to keep your watch away from water, perspiration (including swimming), and other sources of moisture. If it's not a waterproof watch, never wear it in the shower or while washing dishes or clothes.
If your watch isn't waterproof, avoid getting it wet as much as possible. If it does get wet, wipe off any moisture with a dry cloth then let the case air-dry before opening any case backs or crowns.
Avoid getting anything sticky, like lotion or sunscreen or even perfume, on your watch. The oils from your skin will seep into the workings of the watch and cause problems down the road. If you do get them on your watch, wipe them off with a soft cloth immediately!
Watch Maintenance Tip #7: Section: Look after the crown
Crowns can be made from several different materials, including brass, steel or gold. The best way to maintain the condition of your crown is to avoid knocking it against anything hard or sharp. If you do accidentally knock it against something hard or sharp, it's best to get it checked by a jeweler straight away in case there's any damage that needs repairing.
Watch Maintenance Tip #8: Take care of the metal straps
Taking care of your metal straps is just as important as taking care of the rest of your watch. The most common place for metal straps to get damaged is at the buckle, so it's important to take extra care when adjusting them. The best way to do this is by first loosening the strap from its lugs before using a spring bar tool to release it from the case. This prevents damage from occurring to either the lug holes or the strap itself.
If you're going to be wearing your watch for an extended period of time, make sure that it fits properly on your wrist. If it's too tight or too loose, then you may end up damaging it in other ways such as chaffing against your skin or getting caught on something while moving around freely during use.
Watch Maintenance Tip #9: Take care of the leather straps
Avoid contacting the leather strap with water, chemicals and perfume. Water can damage the leather strap, causing it to lose its luster and crack easily. Similarly, exposure to chemicals such as bleach will cause discoloration, while perfume or cologne will leave a sticky residue on your watch strap. You should avoid these substances at all costs.
If you want to keep your leather strap looking shiny and new, you should condition it regularly. Conditioner is available at most department stores or at any local pharmacy in the beauty aisle, where you’ll also find lotions and creams designed specifically for leather products like shoes or jackets. You just need a few drops on each side of the strap when doing so.
Watch Maintenance Tip #10: Store your watch in a suitable environment
It's important to store your watch in a suitable environment. The best place for storing a watch is a dark, cool and dry location. For example, if you are going to store your watch for a long period of time, make sure that there is no humidity or moisture inside the box. This will prevent damage to the movement and caseback. If you have several watches, you can get a watch winder that will rotate your timepiece so it stays wound without having to be worn.
Final Takeaway
We hope this post has been helpful to you. There's a lot to know about taking care of your watch collections, and it can take a while to get used to the new routine. But once you're in the swing of keeping your watches in good shape, they should all go smoothly and serve you well for years and years. However, if you have a watch that needs some repair, don't panic because Barrington Jewels offer the best watch repair service in Indianapolis for you.
