April 13, 2009

Luxury Watches ??” How to Extend the Life of your Watch

The luxury watch you have purchased must be the source of great pride and satisfaction. You certainly wish it would be functionally perfect and stay with you for as long time. Assuming that the watch you have purchased is of high quality and carries a reliable mechanical or quartz movement, you have nothing to worry about because these types of wrist watches typically last longer than others.

This does not mean to say that you can be neglectful with your watch. Even if you have bought an expensive, top of the line brand of watch, your timepiece still requires proper care and maintenance for it to last a lifetime and be the practical, functional and stylish accessory for you.

There are many factors that can easily shorten the life of any wrist watch. And if you want your watch to have a long life, it is imperative that you avoid these scenarios as they can be harmful to your favorite timepiece.

Here are some of the elements to avoid if you want your watch to last a long time:

Dropping
Dropping won’t instantly kill your watch especially if it is of high quality but even if occasional drops are not entirely fatal, you still need to avoid this as much as you can. Dropping can cause the parts inside the watch to loosen up and eventually make the watch break apart. Be careful when wearing or taking your watch off as these are commonly when most drops occur.

Strong magnetic forces
Many fine watches are said to be antimagnetic to some degree but this is not to say that these can withstand very strong magnetic forces without being adversely affected in the long run.

This is because a watch has many metal components inside it which are interacting in many ways to keep the watch running and operating smoothly. With this said, it is important to make sure that you keep your watch from any strong magnetic force such as audio speakers, computer monitors, and refrigerators because they can easily make most watches, even swiss watches especially those with mechanical movements run erratically or stop working.

If ever your watch becomes magnetized, bring it immediately to a service center and their demagnetizing equipment can get your watch back to normal working condition again.

Perfume and other chemical elements
While it’s common for people especially women to wear perfume under their ladies watches, it is highly advisable to avoid this. You will not notice the effect immediately but a long term effect of wearing perfume or cologne on the same wrist where you wear watch will cause for the alcohol in the perfume to affect the lubrication of the watch.

It is also best to avoid any direct contact with chemical products such as solvents, detergents, and other cosmetic products because they can damage the gasket, bracelet or case of the watch.

Sea water
If your watch is waterproof, it’s probable that you wouldn’t even think twice before dipping into the sea with your watch on. Of course, that’s all right since waterproof watches are specifically designed to be in contact with water. However, it is important that you are able to rinse the watch with warm water after exposing it to sea water. Some luxury watches for example have bands that can be discolored and deformed when constantly exposed to water and dampness.

Heat and Sunlight
Since you wear your watch all the time, it is understandably hard to avoid wearing it outdoors under the strong sunlight. However, it is still important that you avoid constantly exposing your watch to direct sunlight as the heat can have a negative effect on the watch’s lubricant or the age dials. It can also cause the color of the band to eventually fade. Also, your watch needs to stay away from sources of heat like saunas or steam baths. Moisture inside your watch is not good news.

Shocks
Your watch may be shock-resistant but it’s not okay to play with its shockproof abilities. Whatever kind of shock it is—thermal, vibration, sudden shock or whatever, it is always recommended that you avoid them for the sake of your watch. Constant exposure to shocks can eventually lead to mechanical failure.

Extreme temperatures
Avoid exposing your watch to extreme temperatures of above 60 degrees Celsius and below 0 degrees Celsius.

More Tips on Watch Care
• Store watches properly especially if you are not going to use it for a long time. Keep it in an appropriately sized watch box or in a Zip lock bag which is an effective way to keep the freshness of the watch.

• Have your watch serviced regularly. Service intervals largely depend on the brand of the watch but it usually takes about 5 years before you need to have it serviced again.

• Replace the battery once in 18 to 24 months. If the watch has stopped, be sure to take out the battery immediately as this can leak and damage the internal mechanisms of the watch.

• Read the watch manual carefully. This way, you will know the capabilities and limits of your watch and it will be easier for you to avoid abusing your timepiece.

• Clean your watch with a soft brush. You can soap and rinse the bracelet if it’s made of metal or plastic but if it is leather, gently wipe it with a dry cloth.

It is true that caring for your watch may require some effort. With so many things to avoid and so many things to do, it is understandable to forget a tip or two sometimes. But if you really want to make your watch last for a long time, you will be meticulous about its maintenance..

So whether it’s a designer watches or discount watches, it doesn’t matter. Whatever timepiece you have on your wrist, it is always advisable that you take proper care of it. After all wrist watches are one of the most useful and dependable accessories we own. They certainly deserve a bit of care and attention.