5 Tips To Protect Your Watch

You buy a watch to tell the time, but many watches are also timeless pieces of jewellery. To extend the life of your favourite watch, follow these handy hints below.

1. Water Resistance

Check the water resistance of your watch. It will either be measured in metres, bar, or atmospheres (atm). Metres are easy to understand as the number shown is an accurate representation. If it is measured in bar or atm you should multiply the number shown by 10, which will then demonstrate the approximate resistance in metres. At the lower end, a water resistant 30m is ideal for water related work, whereas at the higher end 300m is used for helium dependant diving.

2. Battery Life

A regular watch battery will last approximately two years. Specialist timepieces such as limited edition Chronographs – available in many styles such as RAF watches, to those featuring the Flying Scotsman – work to small fractions of a second. It is important to keep the battery functioning properly, and to get the battery replaced as soon as it stops working. This is because dead battery cells can affect the movement of the watch, making time keeping inaccurate.

3. Temperature Change

Avoid going between extreme temperatures at one time. A rapid temperature change can affect the mechanics of the watch. This can let particles of water enter the mechanism and produce condensation on the face.

4. Scratches

The best idea to avoid scratches on the watch face or bracelet is to take it off when participating in physical activities. Many people decide to take their watch off while they sleep to ensure that it is stationary throughout the night. If you take your watch off while you sleep it is best to put it somewhere safe, such as in a cushioned box or flat on a dresser. If you do sustain scratches to the watch face, this can be repaired by specialists.

5. Servicing

To prolong the life of your watch, even when it seems to be functioning properly, it is wise to get it serviced approximately every three years. At this time they will make sure the seals are working, which correlates to water resistance. They will also clean the watch and do any other tests that are needed.

By: Philip Youngwood

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Philip Youngwood is a freelance writer with a a passion for beautiful jewellery, especially www.bradford.co.uk/index.php/cat/c52_Watches.html”>watches.