Keeping Your Luxury Watch in Good Working Order

If, like me, you have more than one good quality watch, you know that problems can easily arise when you haven’t worn a particular model for a while. If your watch works via motion, you’ll have to spend time powering it up, and if you wear one too much it requires regular maintenance to keep it looking great. My personal favourite is my Rolex GMT-Master II, and I take pride in its excellent upkeep.

Caring for your watch can be the difference between it lasting for years or decades. I still have a vintage Breitling and have been caring for it since it was given to me; it still runs perfectly and looks good as new. Watches are not only great technologies, but sentimental pieces which appeal to all different sorts of people. Of course, the best way to upkeep your watch is to wear it as much as possible and clean it daily, but follow these tips to keep it as good as new whenever you can.

Many watch wearers choose to clean their devices at least once a day. This helps keep them looking polished and new, as well as ensuring all the internal and external parts work. As a frequently used item, you will need to ensure each clean is long and vigorous to remove excess grease and dirt from the watch face, strap / bracelet, and clock face.

Before starting, ensure all external parts are tightly fixed on to watch, as you don’t want to lose any essential items. Use lukewarm water and ammonia free soap, as this will cloud up the glass on your watch, and gently clean away any dirt using only your hands.

Because of the vulnerable location where we all wear our watches, it’s guaranteed that eventually you’re going to accumulate a number of scratches across the strap and face of your watch. For this part, you’ll want to invest in a good quality polishing cloth used for cleaning up metals and jewellery; these clothes come pre-soaked in a special liquid that will preserve the quality of your watch.

Remember not to exert too much pressure, and scrub in very gentle motions by following the shape and curvature of the surface you are cleaning. Approximately a minute of scrubbing should be enough, although you should always check and see if the surface requires more work before moving on.

Most quality watches are perpetual movement powered, meaning that they automatically function through kinetic energy. After enough movement, a kinetic watch will normally last for, in my experience, an average of 44 to 48 hours before requiring further winding. Keep on top of this every day and ensure your watch is kept accurate.

If you have multiple mechanical watches, you can purchase a watch winder box to do it for you; this will ensure each of your watches is up to date whenever you need it. If your watch is battery powered instead, make sure you change the batteries promptly whenever required, as this will keep your watch accurate.

Every two years, get your watch looked at and serviced extensively by a professional jeweller or horologist. These specialists will take apart your watch concisely and clean the internal gears, replace any fractured parts, and ensure all the mechanisms are working fully.

Whilst you are visiting a professional watch up keeper, you should also keep in mind whether you need any further adjustments to your timepiece, including a change of watch face or adjustments to the length and quality of the strap or band.