Any watch or timepiece is a worthy investment. As such, one must be diligent and responsible enough to care for their horological investments. To be a worthy owner of a watch or timepiece like a Seiko Yachtmaster means shouldering some responsibilities. However, you can avoid an expensive watch repair job by doing so properly. Here are some responsible watch care reminders for anyone interested in horology.
Important Watch Care Reminders
Wear it as often as possible.
Use and enjoy your watch on a regular basis, if you can. Doing so will make any watch or timepiece run smoothly and help maintain the lubrication of the inside of your watch or timepiece. Remember, the lubricants inside your watch will eventually harden if you don't manage to wear your watch regularly. The friction that hardened lubricants cause can be very damaging to the watch movement.
Wind it up!
One of the essential steps in watch maintenance is winding. Although regular winding can seem to the casual watch wearer like something responsible horologists do, it is important to wind to avoid watch or timepiece malfunction. And, of course, no one wants to pay for costly watch repairs. Winding is important for both automatic and manual watches. Additionally, if you need more winding guidance, you can always check out videos made by the horology enthusiast community.
Remove the band or bracelet when cleaning.
Yes, cleaning your watch or
timepiece is important in horological care. However, do remember to remove its
band or bracelet when cleaning, if you can. Bracelet straps can be placed in a
warm water bowl with mild soap. For leather straps, please place them in a warm
water bowl with some white vinegar. You can also use a leather cleaner instead.
Let your straps soak in the water. Depending on the dirt build-up, soaking can take a few minutes to a couple of hours. Use a soft-bristled brush or baby toothbrush for gently scrubbing your straps after soaking. Rinse and dry the straps well. Reattach the strap onto the watch case once it is completely dry. Make sure everything is dry to prevent mildew on your watch or timepiece.
When in doubt, read the manual.
Quite basic, but it must be said as most casual watch wearers don't have much experience or knowledge with taking care of more premium watches or timepieces. It must be noted that certain concepts are specific only to each kind of watch or timepiece and that each watch or timepiece is different. You will most likely find such tips within the manual your watch or timepiece came with. Therefore, you should always consult your watch manual before doing anything to your watch. If you don't have the original manual, plenty of online resources are available online. You can always consult a certified horology specialist for more specific advice, if ever.
If you're not sure, don't do it.
Lastly, it is strongly recommended that you should never open your watch or timepiece by your lonesome. If you do so, opening the case means exposing its movement to dust and moisture, causing harm to your watch or timepiece. Even if your watch or timepiece needs a repair or a more specific type of service, you should never attempt to do it alone unless you have the skills and knowledge. Leave it all to the watchmakers and horology experts. The damage you can do by opening your watch and exposing the movement to dust and other particles that can get inside it is not worth your curiosity. Just get your watch or timepiece serviced. It is also essential to test their vitals (amplitude, beat error, beat rate, and time delta).
A watch or a timepiece is an
investment that does more than telling the time. It is a personal investment
because of the memories you can make with it. And, if taken care of properly,
you can pass your watch or timepiece on to the next generation. In addition,
watches are built to last, and it's not difficult to responsibly care for them
to keep them up and running for life - and the lives to come.
Author’s
Bio:
William Ross is often
described as a jack of all trades. He loves to explore new things and cultivate
his knowledge everywhere he goes. These days, he spends most of his free time
writing about watches and watch accessories, as he is a collector himself.
