A mechanical watch is known for its craftsmanship, efficiency, and durability; hence it’s a timepiece that many buy to pass down to their next of kin. Naturally, those reasons also drive up its pricing. However, investing in a luxury mechanical watch is so much more than what it’s worth because you’re all set with a long-lasting, functional timepiece.
Although crafted to last decades, mechanical watches are just like every other piece of machinery. They need maintenance to continue functioning well throughout years of usage. It’s your responsibility to keep it in good condition so you’ll have to learn how to do it and use it with care.
Fortunately, it’s not that difficult to take care of a small device. You just need to make it a routine for maximum effectiveness. So here are those useful tips for maintaining a mechanical watch you can follow to keep yours running flawlessly.
Polish its crystal
Mechanical watches are made with crystals, most of them either sapphire or acrylic. Watchmakers include sapphire crystals because they resist scratches. On the other hand, acrylic isn’t, which is why you have to polish them regularly.
For polishing watch crystals, you can use commonly endorsed polishing brands such as Polywatch and Brasso. For alternatives, you can use automobile headlamp lens cleaners or toothpaste. Use a clean and soft polishing rag to wipe the crystal with the cleaning agent of your choice.
Cover up the bezel with tape to avoid damaging it well polishing. Remember that you shouldn’t polish your watch’s crystal unless necessary because you’re removing material when you do. Also, polishing devalues watches, and when you’re looking at Seiko watches prices for buying a new one, those are already polished before they’re put out in the market.
Wash it from time to time
99% of watches nowadays are water-resistant, so it’s safe to wash them. Washing your mechanical watch is practical, especially if you wear it regularly. Don’t forget to clean it once in a while to keep it looking brand new.
A toothbrush and running water are enough to wash off the dirt from your mechanical watch. When washing it, you should focus especially on the case back and around the strap lugs since they’re the ones that come in contact with your skin.
Keep your straps clean
Although watch straps are disposable, you should still maintain them because they’re still an important component of your watch. Regardless of the material your watch’s straps are made of, you can keep them looking good by cleaning them properly. Each material has its advantages and drawbacks, so start from learning those.
Leather straps can’t be exposed to water, so you use leather oils and waterproofing products on them. On the contrary, rubber straps are great for wet wear but can degrade from sun exposure. So keep them rinsed off and regularly check them for tears, specifically around the buckles and springbars.
As for metal bracelets, you can have them last as long as your watch with some simple polishing.
Be mindful when you wear it
This one’s a basic requirement when wearing an expensive device like a mechanical watch. Avoid anything that can damage it, and you can use it for as long as it’s supposed to last. While most watches nowadays are built to withstand punishment, it won’t hurt to be extra cautious because there are limits to how much they can absorb.
For instance, a mechanical watch isn’t built for physical activities like golfing. It won’t withstand the shock it’ll absorb during such an activity, so don’t wear it while doing them.
Besides shock, magnetism is another factor you should be mindful of. Never place your mechanical watch near televisions, speakers, iPads, and other devices with magnets that can affect its precision.
Take it off when winding
Take off your watch when you need to wind it. Winding it while it’s on your wrist puts your watch in an awkward angle which puts lateral stress on its winding system. Understand that a mechanical timepiece has a delicate winding system that can sustain damage if not taken care of.
Another thing to note is to avoid overwinding your mechanical watch. Stop winding once you feel resistance to prevent applying too much tension on the mainspring, the part of your watch that provides its power. If you’re using an automatic, let it wind itself.
Wrapping up
With the amount it cost you to purchase it, your mechanical watch deserves to be maintained well. Although it’s already built to last for many years, keeping it in fine condition will ultimately be the one that gives that benefit to you. So take care of it because it’s your prized possession, and it has so much value when at its best.
Author’s Bio:
Luther Abrams is quite a jack of all trades type of guy. He loves exploring new things and cultivating his knowledge every now and then. Today, he grows more and more interested in jewelry and watches and even writes about such things in his free time.
