As a modern watch wearer, you don’t get enough instructions about watch maintenance. That can put your ticker in jeopardy. While a quality wristwatch is built to last, its lifespan can be extended with proper service.
Here’s your introduction to watch preservation.
When Should a Watch Be Serviced?
That depends on what kind of timepiece you wear, whether it’s quartz or mechanical.
- Quartz watches have a battery that needs to be replaced every 2 to 3 years.
- Mechanical watches need service every 3 to 5 years.
If you wear your watch a lot, servicing may have to take place more frequently. This is the thriftier option, as watches that don’t get serviced enough can later require repairs. Servicing a watch is generally less expensive than getting it fixed.
What Does a Watch Service Entail?
Watch service is an intensive process. A horologist (watch maker) must take the piece apart. The movement (the inner workings) needs to be lubricated. The components therein must be screened for damage and replaced when necessary.
The Kinds of Damage Watches Suffer
These are problems a watch specialist can fix:
Grime and Grit Accumulation
Watches frequently worn outdoors can accrue exterior pitted dirt that doesn’t wipe off. This can be unattractive and often precedes interior problems.
Hand or Dial Damage
Dirt under the crystal makes your watch look beat up and ugly. Attempting to undo this problem yourself will do more harm than good. Never try to remove the crystal.
Bracelet or Strap Breakage
You can perhaps replace it yourself, but a professional will do a better job.
Crown and Stem Problems
These items are crucial to the functionality of your watch. Under no circumstances should you attempt to correct these yourself.
Movement Issues
The heart of your watch also requires a trained specialist with the right equipment to sort out any problems, like damaged parts.
These are the types of problems that can normally be avoided with a regular watch service. However, accidents happen, and sometimes a watch needs to be repaired. Even without a traumatic event, your watch may need fixing.
When Does a Watch Need Repairs
There are telltale signs that your ticker needs some professional attention.
- Adjusting the date or time becomes difficult.
- Your watch stops keeping accurate time.
- The second hand begins skipping.
- Moisture or fog forms under the crystal.
- Your watch stops completely.
- New sounds form, a rattling.
While repairs can cost more than a watch service, the good news is that either way, your timepiece will hold its value with sufficient maintenance.
Let Leduc Goldsmiths Service or Repair Your Watch!
We’re proud to have served the community of Leduc, Alberta since 1989. Our reputation keeps customers coming back! As a family business with a highly developed range of skills in metals, jewelry and watches, we’ve acquired technical excellence in timepiece service and repair.
We also design, sell, and engrave watches. As members of the Better Business Bureau and the Canadian Jewelers Association, you can count on our quality work and product line. Contact us today if you need your watch serviced or repaired.