Taking care of time - how to take care of your wristwatch

Wrist Watch

A wristwatch is a complex technical device and, like all such objects, it needs regular maintenance. You take care of your car, and periodically take it to a service station altogether - the same must be done with the watch. What exactly to do?

To begin with, just like with a car, you need to change the oil on time. This applies to all types of watches that have moving mechanical parts. Even if the watch is quartz: if there are at least hands, then the mechanism necessarily contains gear wheels, etc., and their axes are mounted on supports, called stones in watchmaking (these are, as a rule, artificial rubies). Inevitably, there is friction, which is softened by oil - so it must be replaced periodically. It should be done, of course, in a specialized workshop. How often? It is best to focus on the instructions that are in the operating instructions for your watch, but in principle, the frequency of maintenance is primarily related to the properties of the lubricant. The service limit of mineral oil is about 3 years, synthetic oil is about 5, then it thickens and needs to be changed.

However, if your watch is completely electronic - both the "engine" is quartz, and the indication is purely digital (such as LED), then, nevertheless, THAT is still recommended. Because there are buttons on the case, which means there are gaskets that provide at least minimal water resistance. These pads can dry out over time and begin to allow moisture to pass through.

Some experts advise checking the watch for water resistance (and changing the gaskets if necessary) once a year, but if the use is not too extreme, the watch is enough, I think, the same 3-5 years. Of course, also in a specialized service. And, of course, this applies equally to watches with mechanical components.

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And more about the oil. It so happens that a person does not use a watch for a long time. Naturally, they stop. If the watch is on for too long, then the grease again thickens, and this is not good. It is recommended to wind the watch at least once every 2-3 months, and preferably more often. It is easy to see that here we have moved on to the topic of personal watch care, which is not associated with a trip to the workshop. What can (and should) be done with a clock at home? Everything here is quite simple and comes down, in general, to elementary hygiene.

  • Dirt and dust should be avoided, and if it was not possible to avoid, then do not leave "as is", but remove the pollution. Of course, there is no need to wash in water - not a car, after all - remove the dirt with a clean soft cloth moistened only slightly, and then wipe dry.
  • You can use bracelets more boldly: rinse in soapy water, rinse in clean water and also wipe dry. If stains remain on the rubber strap, then it is permissible to clean it in a warm solution of soda using a brush with medium hard bristles.
  • It is recommended to gently wash your watch with fresh water only in one case - if you swam with it in the sea. Salt has a destructive effect on the aforementioned pads, so it is worth washing, but, we repeat, very carefully, even gently!

That is, perhaps, all that needs to be done with the clock. In conclusion, about some things that, on the contrary, do not need to be done.

  • When winding the watch, do not turn the crown all the way: the mainspring may be damaged.
  • Do not adjust the date between 21:00 and 03:00.
  • Protect the watch from extreme temperatures: do not take the watch to the bathhouse and do not leave it in severe frost (in the latter case, it is better to keep it on your hand, it is warm).
  • Beware of getting close to devices that generate strong magnetic fields. By the way, in order to determine whether the watch is magnetized or not, it is enough to bring it to an ordinary compass: if magnetized, the arrow will "indign".
  • And, of course, avoid exposing the watch to drops, shocks, strong vibrations. Although there are watches with a reputation for being "unkillable", this term is still somewhat exaggerated.
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If you can not risk it, then it is better not to risk it. After all, watches are not only for business, they are also for the soul!

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