How should I care for my watch?

A premium men’s wristwatch is an intricate instrument and should be treated as such. Too often, people assume that because they forked over $1,000 or more on a watch, they never have to take care of it. That’s like thinking that you never need to bring a Ferrari to a dealership for an oil change because you put down $200,000 to buy it.


The biggest misconception when it comes to a men’s wristwatch care is assuming that wristwatches can be waterproof. A wristwatch is not waterproof, nor is the most advanced submarine in the world. It is water resistant . Every watch carries a designation on how much water the moisture seals can withstand. Quality men’s wristwatches will offer resistance from 100 meters to 1,000 meters. Humans can’t go beyond 100 meters anyway, so high-depth ratings are more of a status symbol than of usefulness. If your watch does not have a depth indicator, do not take it into a pool or shower.

In fact, unless you’re a professional diver, don’t bother taking a wristwatch into a pool or sea. They contain more chlorine or salt than you ever want to expose your precious watch to. The elements can erode the lining of the case (consists of the essential parts of your watch, i.e. the dial, the face, etc.) and diminish the finish of your watch. If you must take your watch into water, make sure you rinse it with warm water immediately afterwards.

Some other tips:

# Wash your watch in warm soapy water occasionally, to maintain its luster. Use a toothbrush to clean the bracelet.
# Have your watch serviced every three to five years. Like any high-precision instrument, it needs a tune-up to work perfectly.
# Store your watch in a soft cloth to prevent it from getting scratched or chipped.
# Avoid extreme temperatures or extreme temperature changes that can cause condensation.
# No matter how shock resistant a watch claims to be, never drop it to test it. Shock resistant designations are given to timepieces that can remain intact when dropped three feet onto a wooden floor; take the manufacturer’s word for it.

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