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Watches 101: Basics & Care

A watch can be a hefty investment. Ensuring that your timepiece will last for years to come can be a challenge. Rebag’s experts will guide you through the steps to care for your watch so that it will last and be passed down from generation to generation.

How to Care for Your Watch

  • Wind your watch. If a watch is unwound and unused, it can malfunction. 
  • Wear your watch regularly to maintain the viscosity of the movement’s lubricants. If you don’t wear it often, the lubricants can harden, cause friction, potentially damaging the movement. 
  • Service your watch every few years. 
  • Avoid exposing your watch to extreme heat or humidity. Don’t expose watches to direct sunlight. ​​Heat can shorten the battery life of a quartz watch. Sunlight can fade the color of the watch face or leather band. Humidity can cause your watch to rust. 
  • Keep your watch away from fragrances, chemicals, and lotions. They can get caught in the creases and cause dirt and debris to build up. Fragrances, chemicals, and lotions can cause leather to deteriorate.
  • Avoid magnets. They can damage your watch. 
  • Know your watch’s water resistance to avoid damaging it with water. Over time water resistance can decrease. Leather bands weaken if exposed to water. 

How to Clean Your Watch

  • For day-to-day cleaning, use a lint-free cloth to wipe down your watch from the dirt and oil that accumulates in the crevasses of the bracelet and the area that connects the case and bezel. 
  • Every other month, you should do a deeper clean. Remove the bracelet from the watch. Use a soft toothbrush and a little warm water to gently cleant the case. If need be, use mild dish soap. 
  • For a leather strap, soak it in warm water and white vinegar instead.
  • Make sure watch is dry before reassembling it.

How to Store Your Watch

  • The best way to store a watch is in a watch winder. Watch winders keep your timepiece safe and dry. It also keeps the gears moving, preventing the lubricant from drying. If you doon’t have a watch winder, use the original box or a watch roll. Make sure to wind your watch once a week. Keep it in a temperature-controlled, dry place.