Top 5 Tips to Care for Your Jewelry Watches

One of the more common jewelry is watches.  Both men and women wear them.  Some people collect jewelry watches.  And for some men, watches are the only piece of jewelry they would wear aside from their wedding rings.  The price of owning a watch can range from negligible to very expensive.  Branded or designer watches like designer clothes can put quite a dent on your budget, but is well worth it.  If you protect your designer watch well, it can last for several years or decades even.  Some people even have the pleasure to pass on their watches as part of their family's heirloom.

Here are some tips on how to care for your watches, designer or not.

1. Beware of the magnet.

Do not place your watch near refrigerators, speakers or other appliances and areas that have magnetic fields.  Magnetized watches can cause it to tell incorrect time, and while watches have been improved over time to withstand weaker magnetic fields, you should still be careful.  If you find that your watch might have stayed too closed to a magnetic field, you can have your watch checked by a watchmaker who has demagnetizing equipment to get it back to normal.

2. Shockproof?

Nowadays, most expensive watches claim to be resistant to shock.  This might protect your watch from accidental bumps and drops, but there is no sense in deliberately dropping your watch to see just how shock resistant it is.  Remember that watches are made up of tiny components inside, and while it may not damage the watch itself, shock can cause these little components to dislodge and cause a range of problems from haywired timekeeping to mechanical failure.

3. Waterproof.

Waterproof watches are only waterproof to a certain degree.  Remember that your watch comes with a certain degree of waterproofing that is you can only swim at this depth of water, and it will be safe.  Keep this in mind.  Even so, it might be a good idea to wash your watch with warm water if you have submerged it in salty sea water.  You might also want to avoid getting your watch wet in order to protect it from deformation or discoloration.

4. Cleaning your timepieces.

Metal bracelets are best cleaned with soapy water and a toothbrush.  Dry your watch with a soft cloth.  It is best to avoid chemical cleaners that might oxidize the metal on your watch.  Try to get dirt, skin particles and grit from those hard to reach places: these things can cause premature wear for your watches.

When dealing with leather straps, make sure you test cleaning materials you plan to use on a small part of the inside strap before polishing away.  This would ensure that the cleaning would not discolor your leather strap.  Or you might want to have it professionally done.

Leather straps might be best taken cared of by prevention instead of maintenance.  Avoid exposing it to sunlight for too long.  Avoid contact with cosmetics and greasy stuff.  And most importantly, do not keep it wet for so long!

5. Have it undergo regular servicing.

Watches are mechanical pieces that still need to be fine tuned regularly.  These regular servicing can help your watch work perfectly and can differ from brand to brand, model to model, the owner's care and the climate within which the watch is being used.  Generally most jewelry watches need to be services in 4 to 5 years.  Remember that good quality watches may be very durable and can last up to fifteen years without attention or servicing.  Regular servicing every four to five years can help you stave off major repairs.

Also, for more used and abused watches, you might need to have it serviced in less time.  Imagine a diver who uses his or her diving watch daily, submerging it and keeping it in high water pressure almost daily.  As opposed to someone who uses the same diver’s watch as a regular watch.  Granting they both purchased the same model and watch at the same time, the diver would need servicing sooner than the other party.

Taking care of your jewelry watches can save you money and extend the life of your timepieces.   Sometimes all it takes is a simple common sense, but following these tips would help you ensure that your watches are better protected and well-maintained.