11 Things You Should NEVER Do With Your Watch

In this article, we will review 11 things you should never do with your watch if you want to keep it alive and ticking for many years to come. Watches are more than just tools that measure time. They can be statement pieces, jewelry, and a way to remember a loved one who may have passed down their watch to you. 

Housed inside the case sits a little engine consisting of many small parts, all working in unison to let us know if we're late for an appointment or a date. Like anything in life, we must take extra precautions to avoid damaging the things we cherish. Watches are no exception.

Do Not Leave Your Watch In Direct Sunlight

Unless your watch is solar powered, it's best to keep it out of direct sunlight. UV rays and the increased temperature can cause the dial to crack and/or discolour, the leather bands to dry and crack, and the metals inside the movement to expand and cause tension and binding.

During hotter months when you are likely wearing short-sleeved shirts, avoid direct sunlight by spending time in the shade or turning yourself away from the sun whenever possible.

Not Storing Your Watches Properly When They Aren't Being Worn

Watches should be properly stored when not on your wrist. Resist the urge to toss them in a drawer or on your nightstand. Instead, put them back in their original boxes or invest in a watch box that will protect from direct sunlight, dust, and other debris that may be in the air.

Don't Be Rough With Your Watches. Handle Them With Care!

Some watches, like G Shocks, can be used and abused for long periods of time. Their resin cases allow them to survive strong impacts and vibrations. Most other watches, especially dress watches, should be taken off your wrist before starting any activity involving impact, like hammering, mowing the lawn, and playing most sports.

If you are looking for an everyday beater watch, look no further than the Casio F91-W. It's an affordable digital watch that can withstand practically anything. Read our full review if you are interested in learning more about a dependable, affordable, low maintenance watch.

Vintage watches require even more delicate care. If you own a vintage watch, plan on getting one, or will be receiving one, be sure to read and review our article How To Care For Your Vintage Watch to ensure your piece will remain ticking for many years to come!

Over Winding Manual Movements 

Unlike quartz watches, manual wind watches require you to turn the crown until the mainspring is entirely wound. You will feel the crown become more resistant, and this is your sign to stop. Winding the crown past this point will cause the teeth on the gear train to shear off, breaking the watch movement.

We also recommend winding the crown of an automatic watch to start it, instead of violently shaking it until it starts running. This will minimize the risk of loosening small parts and will help ensure longevity.

Avoid Magnets - They Can Destroy Your Watch

Watches with automatic or manual wind movements rely on springs, gears, and levers to run. Exposing these movements to magnets and magnetic fields will cause the mainspring to bind and shorten, making the watch run faster than normal.

Common objects containing magnets include microwaves, refrigerators, televisions, audio speakers, and even your mobile phone. If you are in close contact with any of these devices for an extended period, whether it's repairing, tinkering, or just hanging out by the microwave like the cool kids do, be extra careful and remove your watch.

Do Not Leave The Crown Open On Your Watch

When you aren't setting the date and/or time on your watch, you should keep the crown in the closed position. Some watches have screw-down crowns while others just click in place.

Leaving the crown open lets dirt, moisture, and other foreign debris into the watch case, which can severely damage the movement and will cost you money to fix. Once water has gotten in, it's nearly impossible to reverse the damage without replacing everything it's touched. That will result in a hefty bill if the watch in question was rare, vintage, or a luxury piece.

If you want to learn more about the dangers of leaving the crown open on your watch, our article Should You Pull The Crown Out Of Your Quartz Watch To Save Battery Life? goes into more depth and answers more questions about the damage it can do to your watch.

Avoid Overtightening A Screw Down Crown 

Some watches, especially diving watches, feature a screw-down crown which increases the watch's water resistance. Overtightening the crown can cause cross-threading and damage the seals and gaskets that protect the movement.

When screwing down the crown, only turn until you feel resistance. Look between the case of the watch and the crown to ensure they are touching. If you can't see any light between the case and the crown, you are good to go.

Not All Watches Are Waterproof!

Technically speaking, no watch is 100% waterproof. To provide an approximate measurement of water resistance, brands provide ratings in ATM (standard atmospheric pressure) , FT (feet), and M (water depth in meters). These measurements are typically printed on the dial. If you don't see a measurement, assume the watch has zero water resistance.

A quick way to calculate ATM into M is 1 ATM = 10 M

It is important to remember that if your watch does not have a water resistance rating, you should avoid water at all costs. It will likely survive a few drops of rain, but it won't survive a shower or a swim.

A good rule of thumb is to avoid exposing anything rated less than 5ATM/50M to water. Never go by the direct rating on the watch. These ratings are static measurements taken in ideal lab conditions. They don't include other real-world factors affecting pressure on the watch, like temperature, degradation of gaskets and seals, or the movement of water across the watch that might occur while swimming.

Avoid Setting The Date Between 9pm And 3am On Your Watch

Most watches that have a day or day/date complication likely have a date wheel. Every day, a special gear inside the watch engages with the date wheel around 9pm and disengages around 3am, once the date has fully changed.

If you change the date between these times, you risk shearing teeth from the date wheel or the mechanisms that move it. We have written a full article on the dangers of setting your watch between 9pm and 3am.

Avoid Setting The Time And/Or Date With Your Watch On Your Wrist

You should always remove your watch from your wrist while setting the date and/or time. Doing so will prevent unnecessary stress on the crown and stem. If the crown or stem breaks off inside the watch, it can damage the movement and reduce the water resistance to zero.

If you notice the crown stem of your watch is a bit crooked, do not try to fix it yourself. Take your watch to a reputable watch repair shop and have them fix it for you. Attempting to fix it yourself may result in more broken or missing parts.

Be Sure To Get Your Watch Serviced Regularly

Just like a car, your watch has an engine. The movement inside your watch is constantly running, and it too requires an inspection every now and then. Parts can get gunked up, worn out, or rusted. Getting your watch regularly serviced will ensure it lasts for many years.

Services can be as simple as a battery change for a quartz watch, all the way up to a complete disassembly, ultrasonic cleaning, and reassembly for more complicated movements. Depending on the price, complications, and brand of the watch, services can cost anywhere from a few dollars to hundreds or even thousands.

For most watches, the service cost is relative to the overall cost of the watch (within reason). You won't be forking out hundreds of dollars to replace a battery in a Timex or Casio.

Summary

Following the tips listed in this article will ensure that your watch stays in tip-top condition. Your watch, although a tool, requires love and respect. Respect it, and it will be with you for many years through thick and thin.

Did you enjoy this article? Learn something new? Share it with a friend and follow Esteemed Gentleman on social media to stay up to date with new articles and posts!

Links:

Facebook

Instagram

Don't forget to sign up below to stay up to date on new articles and reviews we publish!