All-makes maintenance

MATY provides maintenance and repair services for MATY watches as well as many other brand-name watches. Some services are performed right in the jewelry store—while you wait or within a few days—such as strap replacement, size adjustments, and cleaning. Others, which are more technical, are handled in our watchmaking workshops, including movement servicing, repairs, and water resistance testing. In all cases, a consultant will begin by examining your watch to recommend the best solution, and every service performed by MATY is covered by a one-year warranty on parts and labor, subject to normal use.

Below you will find details about each service, current rates, estimated turnaround times, and answers to the most common questions about watch maintenance.

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Contents

• What MATY Offers

• What is the treatment process like at MATY?

• Do I need to make an appointment?

• Maintenance, cleaning, repair, servicing: these aren't the same thing

• Replacing Your Watch Band

• Adjust the size of your bracelet

• What procedures can be performed right in the jewelry store?

• Which services require a visit to the repair shop?

• Daily watch care

• Things to Avoid to Keep Your Watch in Good Condition

• Automatic, quartz, mechanical, solar-powered, or smartwatches: each has its own requirements

• When should you have your watch serviced?

• What should you do if your watch gets wet?

• Our Workshop Inspection Steps

• Known Rates and Deadlines

• A one-year warranty on our services

• FAQ

What MATY Offers

What is the treatment process like at MATY?

It's not rocket science, but it's good to know what to expect before walking into a jewelry store.

1. Bring your watch to any MATY jewelry store of your choice—you don't necessarily need an appointment to get an initial assessment.

2. A consultant will examine the watch with you and determine what it needs: a simple strap adjustment, a cleaning, a battery replacement, or something more extensive.

3. If the procedure is simple, it is performed on-site, often right away.

4. If the watch requires more advanced watchmaking expertise, it is sent to our watchmaking workshops, which service both MATY watches and most other brand-name watches.

5. We'll provide you with an estimated time frame or a quote before any work is done in the shop, so you'll know what to expect.

6. The watch is inspected before it is returned to ensure that everything is working as expected.

For brand-name watches that require a specific part or must be sent to the manufacturer, your advisor will let you know as soon as the diagnosis is complete, rather than making you wait unnecessarily.

Do I need to make an appointment?

For an initial assessment, cleaning, or resizing of a standard model, you can usually just walk into a jewelry store. However, for a watch from a specific brand, a special part that needs to be ordered, or if you want to make sure a watchmaker is available when you visit, it’s best to call the jewelry store closest to you before heading over. This avoids unnecessary trips back and forth, especially if your watch requires a quote before any work is done.

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Maintenance, cleaning, repair, servicing: these aren't the same thing

These four words come up often, but they don't all mean the same thing, and that's exactly what can cause confusion when you're looking for help with your watch.

• Cleaning is limited to the exterior—the case and band—to remove dust, fingerprints, or residue.

• Watch care involves the everyday habits that help preserve your watch over time: wearing it regularly if it's an automatic watch, replacing the battery on time if it's a quartz watch, and avoiding impacts and excessive moisture.

• Repairs are needed when something goes wrong: a broken part, a jammed mechanism, or a hand that won't move.

• The overhaul goes a step further: it involves a complete inspection of the movement, including adjustments, internal cleaning, and a test run to verify that everything is functioning properly after the work is completed.

• A water resistance test is a separate inspection, often required after the case has been opened or after prolonged exposure to water.

Just keep this in mind: cleaning and resizing can be done in a few minutes at a jewelry store, but repairs and servicing require a visit to the workshop.

Replacing Your Watch Band

A worn-out strap can completely change the look of a watch—and sometimes how comfortable it is to wear every day. There are several signs to watch for: cracked or discolored leather, a link that catches on things, a clasp that no longer fastens properly, or simply the desire to change your style.

At MATY, your sales associate will show you a wide selection of straps to match your watch. If the model you’re looking for is in stock, we can swap it out right away. If it’s not, we can order it for you: please allow about 15 to 30 days for a MATY watchband. For a very specific watchband from a partner brand, the delivery time will depend on the brand in question and cannot be guaranteed in advance.

One technical detail to keep in mind before making your choice: the lug-to-lug width—that is, the space between the two lugs on the case—determines which straps are compatible with your watch. Your sales associate will measure it for you, so there’s no need to worry about it beforehand.

Which bracelet should I choose?

Each material has its own use and style:

• Leather is ideal for an elegant look, especially for urban or office settings, but it doesn't hold up well against water and sweat.

• Steel stands up well to everyday wear, is easy to maintain, and appeals to those who want a watch they’ll never take off.

• Silicone and rubber are designed for sports and water activities; they are water- and sweat-resistant.

• The strap—especially the NATO strap—adds a casual touch and can be easily changed to suit your mood each day.

• The Milanese mesh offers a supple, elegant look that strikes a balance between classic and sophisticated.

The color, buckle, and width of the strap also affect the final look: feel free to discuss these options with your sales consultant, who knows which ones are compatible with your watch case model.

Adjust the size of your bracelet

A watch that slips around your wrist—or, conversely, one that’s too tight—takes away from the pleasure of wearing it. Adjusting the size involves removing or adding links for a metal bracelet, or punching a new hole for a leather strap.

At MATY Jewelry, the cost is €10 to resize a steel bracelet, and €19 for alterations and resizing of other watch straps. Our watchmakers will perform the work on-site, based on your wrist size and your preferences.

Here’s a tip if you’re having links removed—whether you do it yourself or at a jewelry store: keep them. They may come in handy later if you lend the watch to someone, sell it, or if your wrist size changes over time. On some models, adjusting the fit is more complicated than simply removing a link; your watchmaker will let you know if that’s the case.

What procedures can be performed right in the jewelry store?

To save you an unnecessary trip, here are the issues that can generally be resolved on the spot, without having to take your vehicle to the shop:

• strap replacement, if the desired model is in stock;

• adjusting the size of a steel bracelet;

• adjusting a watchband to fit the watch model;

• advice on choosing a new bracelet;

• an initial visual inspection, with referral to the repair shop if necessary.

However, some requests are beyond the scope of rapid service: a very specific brand of bracelet that needs to be ordered, or a watch that requires further examination.

Which services require a visit to the repair shop?

Other processes require the expertise and tools of our watchmaking workshops:

• a complete overhaul of the movement;

• repairing a malfunctioning mechanism;

• checking or restoring the seal;

• replacing specific parts inside the housing;

• repair of a brand-name watch, depending on the circumstances and the availability of parts;

• any work on an automatic or mechanical watch that requires disassembly;

• repairs following a water leak;

• a more thorough diagnosis when the cause of the malfunction is not obvious.

In these situations, your advisor will send the watch to the repair shop and get back to you with an estimated completion time—or even a quote, if the repair warrants it.

Daily watch care

Cleaning the Case

First and foremost, check your watch's water resistance: this determines how you can clean it safely. If in doubt, simply stop by a MATY jewelry store to have the water resistance level confirmed.

Cleaning the Bracelet

The correct method depends entirely on the material of the strap.

A simple rule of thumb to remember: metal and silicone can withstand soapy water, while leather and fabric are much less tolerant of it.

Things to Avoid to Keep Your Watch in Good Condition

Some habits, which may seem harmless at first glance, can end up damaging a watch faster than you might think:

• clean a watch that isn't very water-resistant with water;

• failing to screw the crown back on or push it back in before coming into contact with water;

• submerge a leather or fabric bracelet;

• use a household cleaner or strong detergent on the case;

• Exposing the watch to extreme heat, such as on a radiator or in a car in direct sunlight;

• leaving an automatic watch unused for long periods of time without wearing it or winding it;

• keeping a dead battery in a quartz watch rather than having it replaced right away;

• opening the case yourself, even out of curiosity;

• operating the pushers on a chronograph underwater;

• Ignore the fog under the glass, telling yourself it will go away on its own.

Automatic, quartz, mechanical, solar-powered, or smartwatches: each has its own requirements

With an automatic watch, inactivity is exactly what you want to avoid: simply wearing the watch regularly is enough to keep it running and minimizes wear and tear. Even so, a service is generally recommended about every two years, as a general guideline—though this interval may vary depending on the brand, model, and how often you wear it. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations as well.

For a quartz watch, the general guideline is to replace the battery once a year, without waiting for the watch to stop completely: a dead battery that remains in place can leak and damage the mechanism, sometimes irreversibly. Again, the exact frequency depends on the model and the power consumption specific to each movement, so consider this guideline as a rough estimate rather than a strict rule.

When should you have your watch serviced?

There are certain signs that should prompt you to visit a jewelry store or contact MATY without delay:

• the watch runs noticeably fast or slow;

• an automatic watch stops running shortly after being worn;

• The power reserve seems to have decreased;

• the crown becomes difficult to operate or screw in;

• an unusual noise can be heard coming from the movement;

• condensation appears under the glass;

• The watch suffered a significant impact;

• Several years have passed since the last revision;

• The battery has been replaced, but the watch still isn't working.

In each of these cases, a visit to your MATY advisor will allow for an initial assessment and a decision on whether the item needs to be sent to the repair shop.

What should you do if your watch gets wet?

It's often the first few minutes that make all the difference.

7. Remove the watch from your wrist as soon as possible—don't wait.

8. Do not touch the crown or the pushers while the watch is wet.

9. Never open the case yourself, even to "let the inside dry out."

10. Avoid using a hair dryer or any direct heat source.

11. Stop by a jewelry store soon to have it checked for leaks.

12. Do not wear the watch until its water resistance has been checked by a professional.

The faster you act, the more you limit the risks to the mechanism. Persistent fogging under the glass is often the most visible sign of moisture intrusion—don't ignore it.

Our Workshop Inspection Steps

When your watch needs a complete service, our MATY watchmakers follow a four-step process:

13. Diagnosis: Analysis of the product to precisely identify the malfunction or wear and tear.

14. Service: repair, adjustment, or replacement of defective parts.

15. Cleaning: thorough cleaning of the movement, both inside and out.

16. Note: A testing phase following adjustments to ensure that everything is functioning properly over the long term before we return the watch to you.

For a MATY watch, the entire process takes place in our own workshops. For a brand-name watch, the service may be performed at a MATY workshop or sent directly to the brand, depending on the model and the parts required.

Known Rates and Deadlines

For services without a fixed price, such as a tune-up or repair, we will provide you with an estimate before any work is performed in the shop.

A one-year warranty on our services

All services performed by MATY—whether it’s a strap replacement, resizing, or servicing—are covered by a one-year warranty on parts and labor, subject to normal use of the watch. This is a simple way to ensure that the work done will stand the test of time, so you won’t have to worry about it once you get your watch back.

FAQ

Where can I have my watch serviced?

You can have your watch serviced at any MATY jewelry store. A watch specialist will inspect your watch on-site—checking the movement, strap, water resistance, and condition of the case—and then recommend the best solution: a quick service right in the store, or sending it to the workshop for more technical procedures, such as a complete overhaul or a mechanical repair.

Does MATY service watches from all brands?

Yes: No matter what brand your watch is, MATY can usually handle it. Simple services (battery replacement, strap adjustment, cleaning) are performed right in the jewelry store, while more technical repairs and servicing are handled by the watchmaking workshop. 

What procedures are covered?

All services performed by MATY—whether a repair, a service, or a strap replacement—are covered by a one-year warranty, including parts and labor, under normal use of the watch. This warranty covers mechanical, automatic, and quartz watches alike.

How do you change a watch strap?

Simply visit a MATY jewelry store with your watch. If the strap you want is in stock, we can replace it right there on the spot. If it’s not in stock, your sales associate can order it for you; please allow an average of 15 to 30 days, depending on the model and the supplier’s availability.

How do you clean a watch case?

The method depends on the watch’s water resistance rating. A watch with low water resistance (or one whose water resistance is not guaranteed) should be cleaned only with a dry, soft cloth, without ever using water. A sufficiently water-resistant watch, on the other hand, can be cleaned with lukewarm, slightly soapy water, provided that the crown is securely screwed down and pushed in before any contact with water, in order to maintain the case’s water resistance.

How do you clean a leather watch strap?

A leather watch strap should be cleaned only with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid using water and soap, as they may stain the leather, cause it to stiffen, or cause permanent damage. Regular cleaning with a cloth will help preserve the strap’s suppleness and appearance.

How often should an automatic watch be serviced?

The generally accepted guideline is to have an automatic watch serviced approximately every two years. However, this frequency is only a general guideline: it varies depending on the brand, the movement caliber, the watch’s age, and its daily use (regular wear, exposure to impacts, humidity, etc.). A MATY advisor can assess more precisely whether a service is necessary.

When should you replace the battery in a quartz watch?

It is recommended that you replace the battery in a quartz watch about once a year, on average, without waiting for the watch to stop completely. A dead battery can leak inside the case and damage the mechanism, resulting in repairs that are more expensive than a simple battery replacement.

What should you do if a watch gets wet?

If water gets inside the watch, immediately remove it from your wrist. Do not adjust the crown or pushers, as this could cause more water to enter. Also, do not try to dry it with a hair dryer, as the heat could damage the movement. Visit a MATY jewelry store as soon as possible to have the watch’s water resistance checked and, if necessary, serviced in the workshop before moisture causes lasting damage to the mechanism.

What is the difference between watch maintenance, repair, and servicing?

• Maintenance includes routine tasks such as cleaning the case and bracelet, adjusting the size, and performing a visual inspection.
• Repairs are performed to address a specific, identified problem: a malfunction, a broken part, or a watch that has stopped.
• A service is a comprehensive, preventive inspection of the movement, including disassembly, internal cleaning of the components, and precision adjustments: a procedure recommended on a regular basis, particularly for automatic and mechanical watches.

Do I need to make an appointment to have a watch repaired?

For an initial assessment, an appointment is generally not required: you can simply walk into any MATY jewelry store. However, for a specific brand of watch or a particular technical service, we recommend calling the store in advance to check service availability and plan for any potential wait times.

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