Luxury watches can last a lifetime and even for generations. However, in order for your watch to last, you need to take care of it properly. There are many different aspects to watch care, including maintenance, storage, protection and servicing.
An automatic (self-winding) watch is powered by the natural movements of the wearer, which removes the need for a battery or daily winding. However, in order for an automatic watch to function properly, it must be wound manually when it is first received, and also whenever the power runs out due to lack of movement.
To manually wind an automatic watch, turn the winding crown (typically located at the 3 o’clock position) in an upward, clockwise direction for 20-40 revolutions, or until you feel that the spring is fully loaded. Note that a screw-down crown will need to be unscrewed before winding the watch. After this initiation process is completed, the watch will automatically maintain its power reserve as it moves about. An automatic watch should be worn at least eight hours a day to maximize the power reserve. If the watch has been sitting still for more than a day or so, the manual winding process will need to be repeated.
It is important to know that the date of an automatic watch must not be changed when the time on the watch is between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., as this may damage the mechanism.
The chronograph on a quartz (battery-powered) watch may need to be reset or recalibrated from time to time. For detailed video instructions, see Resetting Your Chronograph.
Watches should be stored in moderate temperatures. If it is too hot, the battery life may be cut short. If it is too cold, the watch may not be able to keep time accurately. Your watch should be kept in a soft cloth, face up.
Your watch should never sustain hits or blows of any kind. Before engaging in any sports activity, you should remove your watch, since it is not meant to endure such extreme stress. Damage resulting from sports activity is considered “excessive wear and tear” and will not be covered by our warranty.
If your watch is not water resistant and your watch comes into contact with water, wipe off the water immediately. Be sure to remove your watch before entering a situation in which it could get wet.
If your watch is water resistant with a rating of less than 50m, this means that it can withstand contact with water, but not water pressure. Such watches should not be worn when you are around water.
If your watch has a water resistance rating of 50m or more, then it can withstand water contact and pressure, but please be aware that it is protected only from small amounts of water and exposure. Continuous exposure and water pressure will eventually penetrate the watch. Additionally, moving parts (such as the bezel, crown and pushers) should not be used when the watch is wet.
Note that even if your watch has a rated resistance to water depth and pressure, the rating applies to a watch that is lying still in the water. When you wear a watch on your wrist underwater, there is more pressure than if the watch would simply be placed there.
A general guide to water resistance ratings in meters:
Sometimes watches are rated in units of ATM, which refers to the standard atmospheric pressure on land. Simply being underwater requires 2 ATM, and for every 10 meters below the surface, an additional 1 ATM must be added. This gives us the following guidelines:
A watch that has been immersed in chlorinated or salt water should be gently rinsed under a thin stream of tap water, and then carefully dried.
An additional point: If your watch has a leather band, you should try your very best not to get it wet. Leather doesn’t like hot and wet conditions. We would even recommend that if you wear cologne or perfume, you remove the watch before applying the liquid, until the perfume or cologne dries.
No matter how fine your timepiece is, it will require servicing. A watch that is worn daily should be serviced every 3 years. If you wear your watch only once in a while, you can wait longer between servicings. A telltale sign that your watch needs servicing is when it no longer keeps time accurately. Servicing your watch is important, because this will extend its life. Moreover, it will help protect your watch — for example, if your watch isn’t cleaned properly, dirt might clog the reverse side of the watch, and allow water to come in.
In general, you should refer to your watch manual for guidance. Each watch is different and has its own requirements. The manual should explain how to care for your watch and make it last a lifetime. Note that you should never open your watch on your own; give it to a qualified expert.