Caring for your watch is an important factor in committing to a fine timepiece. As a reflection of personal style, craftsmanship, and heritage, your watch is an extension of you, and should be treated with great care and cleaned as such.
Whether you own a Swiss automatic, a quartz movement, or a vintage manual watch, proper timepiece care is essential to preserve both its beauty and precision. Similar to that of luxury jewellery, maintaining the exterior cleanliness of your timepiece not only keeps the ingenious detailing sparkling, but also it helps to not compromise the interior through hidden slips of dirt and grime.
Need not fear, in this article, we delve into the art of caring for your timepiece from cleaning techniques to storage solutions, and why it is key to keep your treasured piece in top condition.
Honouring Horological Ingenuity from Geneva
At Michael Spiers, we are proud to host our timepiece legacy families. The history of Swiss watchmaking is a testament to centuries of innovation and craftsmanship.
In the 16th century, Geneva's goldsmiths, constrained by religious reforms, transitioned from jewellery to horology, laying the foundation for a new industry. Over time, Swiss watchmakers introduced groundbreaking innovations, from Abraham-Louis Breguet's balance spring to Patek Philippe's early wristwatches.
The essence of having time in the palm of your hand became more than a physical object, but a movement of pace, life and identity. With finite details and constantly improving calibres and mechanisms, the intricacies of today’s Swiss watches ensures the high-quality precision and elegant detailing of the leaders in the industry, timing every motion of your day with sophistication and care.
How to Distinguish Your Watch Movement
Manual timepieces are mechanical watches that are powered by hand-winding the crown located primarily on the right-hand side of the case. The winding creates tension on the mainspring, that is then slowly released throughout the day to power the intricate components of the watch. A notable factor of a mechanical timepiece is that it typically beats eight times per second for a smooth, sweeping motion.
Automatic timepieces are also mechanical watches, however they are self-winding and power is maintained by the movement of your wrist. Each movement, such as walking or moving your hand, is registered by a weighted rotor that sweeps and winds the interior mainspring to help create an energy reserve.
Quartz timepieces are non-mechanical battery-operated and known for their exceptional accuracy and minimal maintenance. A battery sends an electrical current through the quartz crystal, electrifying the crystal and creating vibrations, which keeps the timepiece powered. A quartz watch typically beats once per second.
Before you delve into Cleaning
You should check the water resistance on your timepiece, so you don’t end up accidentally damaging your model while attempting to clean it. Most watches with a resistance of 50m will be fine to clean, however, timepieces with a lower resistance may require special considerations when thinking about cleaning.
Remember that not all watches are the same. We suggest taking the time to seek your watches’ specifications to fully understand how it can or can’t be cleaned. Make note of the strap or bracelet, as leather straps should not be cleaned with water. Polished steel bracelets are more durable, but if using the wrong equipment, they could be damaged in the cleaning process.
Evaluate the type of cleaning your watch requires. A simple clean could be done at home, but it may be best to get in touch with a professional who can fully service your watch, and get it back to the sparkling gleam as it was the day you purchased it.
Related: Watch Care Guide
How to Clean Your Timepiece
Ensuring that your timepiece is clean and maintained means that you can ensure it's longevity and function. Your watch is an extension of you, and, over time could potentially lose value or become damaged if not taken care of.
Manual Timepieces
Manual watches are delicate and should be handled with care. Their winding components can become damaged if you attempt to open the casing, so be sure to focus on the exterior, or, get in touch with a trusted professional for a complete watch service.
If you would like to clean your manual watch yourself, we suggest using a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe down the case and strap. You can also use a dry, soft toothbrush to gently remove dirt from intricate parts, but be sure not to place too much pressure to avoid unwanted damage.
We suggest avoiding using water directly; instead, lightly dampen the cloth if truly necessary. Always ensure the crown is pushed in before any cleaning begins, so that dirt and water does not seep into the interior of the mechanisms.
Automatic Timepieces
Automatic watches, while robust, still require careful maintenance. We suggest following a similar practise to that of the manual watch, but take extra care to avoid exposure to magnetic fields, which may affect the timekeeping accuracy. Dust and moisture can also cause issues to arise within an automatic watch, so take care in ensuring your timepiece is stored safely, and dry.
Proper watch care for automatics includes regular use or safe storage to prevent the movement from stopping. If the movement was to stop for a longer time, the power reserve could potentially deplete and the watch will stop running.
We suggest investing in your legacy with WOLF Watch Winders. With Patented innovation - Every WOLF winder counts the precise number of rotations, meaning that if you were to choose a different watch for the day, you can feel secure in knowing that your timepiece is secure and cared for.
Quartz Timepieces
Though Quartz watches are low-maintenance, a routine cleaning is still recommended due to daily wear. Remove the strap if possible, especially if it’s leather or fabric, and gently clean the exterior with a slightly damp cloth to bring your timepiece back to its original shine.
We suggest in not attempting to open the case of your timepiece, nor replacing the batteries if you are not trained to do so, as this could potentially cause yourself harm. If you would like to replace the battery within your timepiece, our trained watchmakers at Michael Spiers can help.
Storing Your Timepiece
Regular winding, usually once a day, is key to keeping your manual timepiece in proper working order. Complemented with a Watch storage box from WOLF, you can ensure your manual watch is protected from unwanted dust, potential moisture or accidents.
For automatic watches, regular winding is important to help retain the energy reserve within the watch. WOLF Watch Winders are a great, stylish option to keep your timepieces secure and taken care of.
For quartz or manual timepieces, WOLF watch boxes and rolls provide an excellent housing for various sizes, and their elegant design emphasises the luxury of the timepieces inside.
Servicing Your Timepiece at Michael Spiers
If you are looking for a more in-depth clean for your timepiece, we welcome you to get in touch with our watch experts at Michael Spiers who will be able to discuss your options for servicing.
If you would like to discover more regarding any of the timepieces or storage mentioned above, we invite you to our showrooms in Truro, Plymouth, Exeter and Taunton where our friendly teams can help you find a timepiece that is perfect for you.
