How to care for your watch

Reading time | 3 min

Whether it's mechanical, automatic or quartz, your watch is exposed to the hazards of daily life (weather, water, perspiration, shocks, ultraviolet rays...). To keep your timepiece like new, regular care and cleaning are essential, and must comply with a few specific rules.

Basic rules for caring for your watch

Keep your watch away from moisture and light.
Don't take a bath or shower with your watch on your wrist.
Don't sleep with your watch
Clean it regularly
Rinse your watch after swimming in a pool (for chlorine) or in the sea (for salt).
Have the water-resistance of your watch checked every year
Have your watch serviced on average every 2 years for mechanical watches and every every 5 years for quartz watches.

Daily watch care

Watch wearers regularly make the mistake of waiting until their watch has a problem to take care of it. On the contrary, it's regularly that your watch needs your your attention.

For Quartz watches: take care with the battery

Don't wait until your watch stops working before changing the battery. A flat battery is very dangerous for the mechanism, which risks damage as it is no longer electrically stimulated. and risk damage. It is therefore highly recommended to change the battery of your watch every year (even if it's still working!).

For mechanical or automatic watches: the importance of the movement

To prevent your watch from wearing out, it's important to avoid immobility. Because your watch is powered by the movement of your wrist, it's important to wear it to ensure the efficiency of the winding mechanism. What's more, by regularly the oils in the movement to do their work. their work. To avoid wear and tear, we recommend that you have your watch serviced every 2 years.

Cleaning a watch

For a waterproof watch

Once you've checked that all the components are securely screwed in place, gently scrub your watch with a soft brush (you can use an old toothbrush) soaked in soap. soaked in soap. If the case is very dirty, don't hesitate to use washing-up liquid dishwashing liquid or any other household product, as long as you rinse well with clean water and wipe with a soft cloth to avoid damaging the watch. Never use solvent to care for your watch.

For a non-waterproof watch

Before you start cleaning your watch, be sure to remove your bracelet whenever possible, and protect it if it cannot be detached from the case. if it cannot be detached from the case. Then clean the case with a damp cloth a damp cloth and clean any nooks and crannies with a soft brush. It is essential to wipe and dry the case afterwards, using a soft cloth to avoid damaging it. For faster, safer cleaning, don't hesitate to soak a cotton bud in scarlet water to get into the nooks and crannies.

Cleaning your watch strap

Metal or rubber strap

Scrub your bracelet with a brush (preferably soft so as not to damage it) soaked in soap of varying strength. depending on the condition of the object. Rinse and dry with a soft cloth. cloth.

Leather strap

Fragile, leather bracelets require regular cleaning, but also, and above all, gentle care. gentle. So, after rinsing your bracelet in clear water, rub it with a non-abrasive brush brush and a small amount of soap to avoid staining. Wipe dry with a cloth and leave to dry at room temperature. Beware of heat sources, dangerous for the appearance of the leather!

Things to avoid when caring for your watch

Regular care and cleaning of your watch is essential, but certain actions can damage it and shorten its life. damage it and shorten its life.

As well as physically damaging your watch, knocks and blows can have a detrimental effect even on its mechanism. can have harmful effects even on its mechanism. It is therefore advisable not to not wear it during sporting activities or overly intense actions.

Chemical products
Only mild soap is allowed to come into contact with your watch (particularly cleaning). Chemical products, solvents or cosmetics are likely to deteriorate the quality of gaskets and case parts, as well as weakening the watch's water-resistance. of the watch.

Magnetic fields
To ensure that your watch functions properly and lasts as long as possible, avoid leaving it devices such as loudspeakers, mobile phones, refrigerators or microwaves. refrigerators or microwaves.

Don't open your case! When the dial fogs up or your watch malfunctions, it can be tempting to disassemble the case to see what's going on inside. tempting to dismantle the case to see what's going on inside. An intervention that we recommend you entrust to your watchmaker. Bijoutier-Horloger MATY, who alone knows the risks and the right thing to do.