Looking After a Watch So It Lasts
Most watches that fail early do so for three avoidable reasons. None of them require a service centre to prevent.
Water is not the enemy — pressure is
A 30m rating means splash resistance: rain, hand-washing. It does not mean swimming. A 100m rating will survive a pool. What kills a watch is operating the crown or a pusher while it is wet, which pushes water straight past the seal. Dry it first, always.
Take it off for three things
Perfume and aftershave, which attack the seals and dull a bracelet. Hot showers, where steam gets past gaskets that cold water would not. And any impact sport — a shock that would not bruise you can knock an automatic's balance out of adjustment.
Clean the bracelet, not just the glass
A steel bracelet collects skin oil and soap between the links, which is what makes an older watch look tired. Warm water, a drop of washing-up liquid, an old toothbrush, then dry it completely — including between the links — before you put it back on.
Storage
Flat in its box, away from speakers and laptop lids: magnets are the most common cause of an automatic suddenly running minutes fast. If a watch starts gaining badly, it is usually magnetism and it is usually a five-minute fix.
Battery changes, strap fitting, regulation and cleaning we do in-house. If a repair is not worth the cost, we will tell you that too.