subject: Taking Care Of Your Watches [print this page] A lot of people faithfully wear all kinds of watches, from those that cost under $10 to those that are hundreds or even thousands of dollars in price. Depending on its durability, quality and the care that you treat your timepiece with, your watch can last for many years before you need to replace it. Have you ever stopped to think about those family heirloom timepieces that many people have in their possession that have been passed down through generations and they still work? This is because of a combination of high quality craftsmanship and a lot of care that has been given to the timepiece.
First of all, it is really important that you treat your timepiece according to its water resistance rating. Even the watches that are not water resistant have a water resistance rating! Most watches today, however, can resist water damage up to a certain depth of feet. However, many of the digital watches will suffer from damaged faces if they are submitted, so if you have a digital watch you are going to need to be careful. Do not expose your timepiece to rapid temperature changed, either. This means you should not wear it in a whirlpool or sauna or in a cold plunge pool. Temperature changes cause materials to contract, and if the seal changes size it will completely void any water resistance that it does have.
Be careful not to knock your timepiece, either. Shocks and bumps can really damage the internal workings and also scratch the face glass, of course. Usually people do not recommend that one be worn during sports, unless it is specifically designed for it. This all is even more important if yours has moving parts. Digital pieces have no moving parts, so hard knocks will only scratch the face.
You should avoid wearing lotions, moisturizers and perfumes on your wrist, because cosmetics can corrode leather, internal workings and components. Make sure that you check the straps and clasps regularly to make sure that nothing is lose or worn. You can make minor repairs easily by taking it to a local jeweler. Make sure that you always keep your timepiece clean to remove cosmetics and dirt that can cause corrosion and even scratch the face. Be sure that you clean in between the links with a toothbrush, too.
Finally, you should make sure that you change the battery of your watch regularly. Here is a tip that few people know: even if you are not planning on wearing the watch for a while, instead of pulling the knob out to stop it and save the battery, many people recommend that you keep it running so that the mechanisms do not seize up on the inside.
