As the famous watch designer, Patek Philippe once said “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.” When cared for correctly, a mechanical watch is crafted to last you a lifetime and may even last the next generation their lifetime too. Looking after a luxury item such as a Patel Philippe or a Richard Mille watch is about a lot more than simply putting it away after you use it – here’s what you need to know.
Store your watch out of direct sunlight
Sunlight may make your watch shimmer and shine, but it can also damage the paintwork, dry up the internal lubricants and fade the leather of your strap. Always store your watch out of direct sunlight in a cool, dark area such as a jewellery box or drawer where the temperature will not fluctuate too much.
Wind your watch whether it needs it or not
Many luxury watches are now self-winding, but this doesn’t mean that they won’t benefit from a manual wind once a month or so. For most watches, 30 winds are considered to be a good number to aim for as this ensures that all of the internal workings remain lubricated and working as they should be.
Be wary of water resistance ratings
Water-resistance ratings such as 3 bar and 5 bar, etc. are designed to act as an indication of how water resistant your watch is. Although a 3 bar rating may say something about 30m or 100 feet, this doesn’t mean that you can take your watch scuba diving. Generally, a watch needs to be rated to 10bar or above to withstand snorkelling and general watersports, and 20bar or above for diving. It’s also important to remember that your watch received its water resistance rating when new, and so if it is second-hand, repaired, or antique, the seals may not be as tight as they used to be and you could be at risk of water damage.
Keep your watch clean
Dirt, grit, and grease not only tarnish the appearance of your watch but can also scratch the glass and begin to affect the inner workings too. It’s often best to leave cleaning your watch to the professionals as they have the tools they need to get inside all of the smaller nooks and crannies, however, a gentle wipe over with a soft cloth can provide a superficial clean at home and stop any larger pieces of grit from scratching the surface.
Have your watch serviced
Just like a car, watches are fine-tuned and can benefit from an annual service to make sure that they remain working at their best. Although servicing your watch may seem excessive for cheaper models, as you begin to invest more in your timepiece it becomes well worth it to help the watch maintain its value. If you’re going to have your luxury watch serviced, then be sure to have the service conducted by a reputable company that understands how to treat luxury items.
So there you have it – a quick guide to caring for a luxury watch to help it last you a lifetime. Do you own a luxury watch? Let me know how you care for it in the comments.
** This is a collaborative post
