As Christmas is but a distant memory, the novelty will have worn off. The presents we received so happily on Christmas morning have all become permanent fixtures in our lives. We’ve worn the many socks that people bought us, the perfumes have been used many times over, and the watches many of us received have been enjoyed day in, day out.
However, what this shouldn’t mean is that we neglect to take care of them. And, when it comes to luxury watches, it’s imperative that we do. Without proper care and maintenance they can age much quicker. If you’ve received a luxury watch for Christmas, take heed of the following tips. This is for you!
Think about how you store your watch
At the end of a long day, many of us are guilty of simply taking our watches off and putting them on the bedside table. This may sound harmless in theory, but it’s the most common way that luxury watches accumulate scratches, dints, and general damage. Many watches are precious and need a soft storage solution.
If your watch is made of silver, gold, or stainless steel then you definitely need something nice and soft for the watch to sit in. How about the original box the watch came in? There are plenty of luxury cases out there, but if you’re not willing to shell out then you can get a soft handkerchief or towel to place the watch before bed.
Do your best to avoid contact with chemicals
This is really important, especially if you have a leather strap. Cleaning chemicals can permanently stain the material of your watch, it can warp the shape of its leather and may even turn gold or silver into an unsightly shade of green. You definitely don’t want that! Take your watch off before the big spring clean.
Know your water resistance rating
If your watch has a water resistance, you should know its limits. Many watches have sadly been retired because its owner expected too much of its water resistance function. How do you know what’s safe if you’ve not looked at your watch’s rating?
Here’s a quick guide. For reference, ATM refers to the underwater atmosphere and rates the water-resistance of a watch under varying levels of water pressure.
Your watch is water resistant up to 3ATM/30 metres: Your watch can survive minor splashes, and reasonably small submersions.
Your watch is water resistant up to 5ATM/50 metres: Shallow swimming is fine, as are modest amounts of submersion.
Your watch is water resistant up to 10ATM/100 metres: You don’t need to worry about watersports. You’re fine for everything from swimming to snorkelling (except deep sea diving).
Your watch is water resistant up to 20ATM/200 metres: This means your watch is ideal for scuba diving.
Your watch is water resistant up to 30ATM/300 metres and above: This is a professional level waterproof watch which can be used for deep sea diving.
Try to avoid exposure to too much sunlight and heat
If your watch has a leather strap, prolonged exposure to sunlight will fade the colour and prematurely age the leather. This goes for significant heat levels, too. Heat exposure will damage battery life, which is something you definitely don’t want.
Clean your watch regularly
Your luxury watch will need regular cleaning to keep it looking its best and also to extend its life. Here are a few brief tips to take when you’re cleaning it.
- When cleaning, use a dampened soft cloth and lightly clean. Make sure you don’t get the leather strap of your watch wet.
- Avoid immersing the watch in hot water, as you’ll damage the internal workings.
- Scrub any diamonds with a soapy brush. Make sure you do it gently!
Looking after your luxury watch
If you look after your watch, your watch will look after you for years to come. All of the above tips are really important, but we’d place extra emphasis on the importance of storage. There are plenty of storage options to choose from, and some of the best are provided by the Case Farm.
Last of all, Happy New Year!
