How to Care for a Watch
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How to Care for a Rolex Watch |
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1.Why do watch manufacturers advise that mechanical watches should be serviced regularly even if the watches are working fine?
A mechanical watch needs to be lubricated regularly to keep it running smoothly, much like a car. Over time the oil will deteriorate and friction between the movement parts will cause abrasion which make the watch less accurate. The friction can also create a very fine dust that will itself act as an abrasive on the watch movement parts.
Depending on manufacturer's recommendations, every three to five years.
The watch is disassembled and the case and bracelet are cleaned and polished. The movement parts are cleaned chemically and closely inspected. Damaged parts are replaced. The movement is reassembled, lubricated and regulated. Water resistance is tested.
If the watch is under warranty, take it to a service center authorized by the manufacturer or warranty may be cancelled. The manufacturer will be happy to provide a list of authorized service centers. If the watch is no longer under warranty, take it to authorized service center or any reputable watch repair shop.
The cost varies, prices generally range from $150 to $400. Naturally, getting a Patek Philippe or Rolex watch serviced will cost more than a lesser brand.
Two or three weeks is a general average, greatly depends on the complication of the watch.
For the most part, no. Quartz watch movements have fewer moving parts and do not need nearly as much maintenance as a mechanical watch. A few rare quartz analog watch movements should be lubricated approximately every ten years.
The water resistance of a watch should be checked every time the caseback is removed, for example during a battery change. If a watch is frequently exposed to water, water resistance should be checked at least once a year.
Yes, the watch will run more efficiently if wound daily. A fully wound watch performs at maximum capability. Winding daily will prevent the movement's lubricants from congealing.
An automatic or self-winding watch need only be wound initially to get the movement started. If worn regularly no other winding is necessary.
Either direction is fine for the vast majority of mechanical watches. On complicated watches such as those with a calendar feature, the crown should only be turned clockwise. Most manufacturer's instructions will provide specific setting instructions.
Regarding quartz watches, the hands can be set in either direction.
Yes, heat and cold can affect the performance of a watch, especially watches with a quartz movement. Quartz watch movements are set to operate optimally at room temperature. A temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit will offset timing by approximately 1 second a day, as will temperatures of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
To a lesser degree, extreme temperature can affect the accuracy of a mechanical watch. Heat and cold can cause the metal parts of a watch movement to expand and contract and the viscosity of the oil that lubricates the movement can be altered. Technology in metal watch cases have made this much less of a problem than in the past.
Several factors can affect the accuracy of a mechanical watch, how long the watch is worn each day, how often watch is wound, and the position the watch is stored in when not being worn. A typical mechanical watch might gain or lose approximately 5 minutes a month. A watch can be adjusted to conform to an individual's habits, increasing accuracy.
Regarding quartz watches, temperature is the only variable that affects the accuracy of the movement.
For the most part, yes. Nearly all mechanical watches produced today are equipped with anti-shock devices that protect the watch movement from impact. For instance, these devices are usually effective enough to protect the watch from the shock it encounters when hitting a golf or tennis ball. On rare occasions an extremely hard impact could damage the watch movement.
A quartz movement does not contain the delicate movement parts found in a mechanical watch, therefore there is very little chance of damaging the movement of a quartz watch.
While a sapphire crystal is highly scratch resistant, it is by no means scratch proof. Despite its high rating, sapphire can be affected by some materials such as synthetic stone surfaces. Also, sapphire crystals are more likely to chip or shatter than on a conventional plastic crystal.
For a quartz watch, no. The position of a quartz watch has no bearing on its performance. For a mechanical watch, yes. A mechanical watch is factory set to be worn on the outside of the wrist. Unless adjusted, the watch will not be as accurate in other positions.
On average, a silver oxide battery will last two to three years, a lithium battery will last ten years or more. Please note that silver oxide and lithium batteries are not interchangeable. A quartz watch is designed to be used with one type of battery specifically.
Both situations are possible but highly unlikely. The crown stem would have to be pulled on extremely hard to damage the watch while setting the hands. In theory it is possible to overwind a mainspring so that it breaks, but this rarely happens.
Pulling out the stem can save approximately 75% of the watch's energy because the gears and hands are not turning. However, over long periods of time this inactivity can cause the watch movement lubricants to congeal.
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