No matter how you look at it, buying a watch is an investment. A good timepiece can be a trustworthy companion for years even decades. The value of some high-end luxury watches even tends to appreciate over time. Whether you’re buying a watch to sell in the future, to expand your collection or to have something to leave for future generations, watch care is incredibly important. Without properly looking after your timepiece it’ll be a miracle if it survives even 5 years. However, if you put the time and effort into looking after your watch, it is sure to repay you. Even seasoned watch collectors might not know the proper way to care for a watch. Avoid compromising your favourite watches and carry on reading our guide on watch care below.
Storing a Watch Properly
Whether your watch is powered by a quartz, a solar or an automatic movement, it should always be stored properly. Moisture and dust are among the biggest offenders when it comes to harming your timepiece. Though these days most watches are quite well protected, it’s still better to be safe than sorry. Moisture can erode the movement compromise the working of the watch, while dust and general grime are unpleasant to deal with. Watches should be stored away from direct sunlight as that can dry the leather or discolour elements of your timepiece.
Ideally should also be stored securely in their boxes. Most watch enthusiasts, however, especially those with larger collections, want to see their watches. Also, it’s quite the hassle having to go through a number of boxes, just to find that one perfect timepiece. That is why we suggest you invest in a good quality watch box. It will not only present your watch in a very pleasing manner but they are specifically designed to protect your precious pieces from dust and moisture. Depending on the size of your collection, or your ambitions for it, we suggest getting one of the WOLF Blake Black Pebble 5 Piece Watch Box or if you’d like something larger a the WOLF Memento Mori Red 10 Piece Watch Box. If you’d like to be extra careful we also suggest storing the watches with small silica gel packets as well.
Winding and Setting the Watch
It’s inevitable that you will need to wind or set your watch. How often you have to do it would depend on the size of your collection and how often you wear your watch. If you’re incorrectly using the crown it could misalign the movement and lead to some expensive repairs or even make the watch unusable. To properly wind or set a watch, the timepiece needs to be off your wrist to avoid bending the crown.
Cleaning Your Timepiece
Something easy everyone can do to keep on top of their watch care is lightly clean the piece after each use. Watches can accumulate a lot of grime as they are exposed to a lot during the day. Same as with your clothes and shoes, they need a regular clean.
For a daily clean using a soft cleaning cloth, or even a microfiber towel to wipe down the larger dust and dirt particles will preserve the appeal of your watch for longer. A deeper clean is recommended once a week, especially if you wear the watch more often. With lukewarm soapy water and a soft cloth, the softer the better, you can gently wipe down the metal elements such as the buckle, the case and lugs, as well as the bracelet if the watch has one. To remove the soap and finish the cleaning, run the cloth under lukewarm clean water and wipe the piece before drying it completely. For more thorough cleaning, however, we encourage you to seek the help of a professional.
When to Service a Watch
Most experts recommend quartz watches be fully serviced once every 5 years. Though the battery might need changing more often, the mechanism would still need to be lubricated. When it comes to automatic timepieces some say it’s even better to service them once every 3 years, to ensure everything is working as it should be. This however is more of a precaution so you can wait 5 years before servicing automatic pieces as well. It is also recommended you check the water-resistance of a timepiece. Often even a little bit of water can damage it. After a more serious hit, a battery change or annually is best for this.
Did you learn anything new from this guide on watch care? Let us know in the comments below.
