Watches are built to last. When properly maintained, they can last for years and be passed down from one generation to the next. That’s if they are properly maintained, though. Follow these helpful tips if you want your new watch to last that long.
Clean Your Watch Regularly
First of all, you’ll need to keep your watch clean. Wipe the face and the band down with a soft cloth whenever you think it needs it to remove dirt and dust, and wash it thoroughly with soap and water if it’s safe to do so to loosen any dirt that may have settled into the band. This also means knowing how water-resistant your watch is. You might be able to safely submerge a watch into soapy water, but a less water-resistant watch should be carefully cleaned with a damp cloth instead.
Service Your Watch
A mechanical watch should be serviced every two or three years, while a quartz watch should be serviced every three or four years.
Avoid Magnets
Magnets can affect a watch’s ability to tell time, so don’t place your watch too close to one.
Keep the Crystal Safe
This should go without saying, but you should avoid banging the watch’s crystal face against anything if you can. Accidents can and will happen, but think twice about wearing your watch if you’re going to do anything that could cause anything to smack into it.
Save Your Box
The safest place for your watch when you’re not wearing it is back in its box. Keep your box and put your watch back in it if you have to go long periods without wearing it.
Leave the Maintenance to the Professionals
Unless you received the proper training and have the right tools for the job, never try to open your watch or take it apart by yourself. You could damage the smaller and delicate parts, lose a part altogether, or fail to reassemble your watch properly. This is a good way to ruin your expensive timepiece, so leave the more difficult maintenance to the professionals.