Keeping your watch running smoothly isn’t always that easy. No matter how much care you put into setting it up and keeping it clean, there will come a time when all the moisture inside the dial and case dries up, leaving behind some stubborn gunk.
While it may seem like something that can be easily fixed with a quick wipe and some oil, not every brand of watch is designed to be serviced by an average watch enthusiast. And since there are so many different types of repairs that need to be made, we’ve compiled five helpful tips on how to service your watch.
How to Service A Mechanical Watch
Mechanical watches are different from quartz watches in that they are powered by a physical mechanism that drives the movement of the watch. As such, servicing mechanical watches is a lot more difficult than servicing quartz watches, as it requires you to take the watch completely apart.
Mechanical watch servicing involves the following:
- Remove the back of the watch by unscrewing the winding crown.
- Cleaning and oiling the crown and movement.
- Replacing the battery.
- Reassembling the watch.
How to Service An Automatic Watch
Automatic watches are typically powered by a small watch module that uses alternating metal contacts to drive the mechanism inside the watch. You don’t need to take a watch module apart when servicing an automatic watch as all you need to do is clean the metal contacts and oil the watch module.
Automatic watch servicing involves the following:
- Clearing the watch of dust and debris by removing the back and cleaning out the watch. You can use a watch brush to remove the debris. Make sure the brush isn’t too aggressive as you don’t want to scratch the watch’s surface.
- Wiping the watch clean with a soft cloth.
- Replacing the watch’s battery.
- Oiling the in-built mechanism.
- Placing the watch back on the wrist.
How to Service A quartz watch
Quartz watches are powered by a tiny quartz module that’s controlled by electrical signals sent from a quartz movement inside the watch. When all the moisture inside the watch dries up, the quartz module is left with no way to get the power it needs to keep the watch running. And since quartz watches aren’t meant to be disassembled, you need to take the watch to a professional watch repair shop to get it serviced.
Quartz watch servicing involves the following:
- Cleaning the watch with a soft cloth and water.
- Dismantling the watch. You’ll need a watch screwdriver to open the watch.
- Checking and replacing the watch’s battery.
- Replacing any parts that have dried up.
- Reassembling the watch.
How to service a digital watch
Digital watches are powered by a miniature rechargeable battery inside the watch. When the watch battery runs out, the watch stops working. Although most digital watches can be serviced by an average watch enthusiast, some digital models need to be serviced by a professional watch repair shop.
Digital watch servicing involves the following:
- Clearing the watch of dust and debris by removing the back and cleaning out the watch.
- You can use a watch brush to remove the debris. Make sure the brush isn’t too aggressive as you don’t want to scratch the watch’s surface.
- Replacing the watch’s battery by unscrewing the back and exposing the battery. Make sure to use the correct type of battery depending on the model of the watch.
- Checking the watch’s operation by making sure the second hand is moving and the hour and minute hands are positioned correctly.
- Replacing any parts that have dried up.
- Reassembling the watch.
How to service an expensive watch
The cost of a watch is only a small part of its overall value. Sure, it’s nice to have an expensive watch, but it’s also nice to take care of an expensive watch. That’s why we suggest taking your expensive watch to a watch repair shop for servicing and maintenance.
There are a few things you can do to help keep your expensive watch running smoothly.
- Periodically clean the watch with a soft cloth and water.
- Don’t wear your watch while bathing or showering.
- Don’t wear your watch while exercising.
- Don’t wear your watch while sleeping.
- Don’t expose your watch to extreme temperatures.
- Don’t bang your watch against hard surfaces.
- Don’t drop your watch.
Conclusion
Watches are an amazing way to tell the time. But after a while, even the most well-maintained watches can start to show signs of wear and tear. If your watch isn’t running smoothly anymore, you may need to have it serviced. This can be done by taking it to a watch repair shop. Many different types of repairs need to be made.
Depending on the problem, it may be necessary to take your watch completely apart. While most repairs can be done by an average watch enthusiast, some repairs require more specialized skills and knowledge. That’s why it’s important to know how to service your watch.
With these tips and tricks, servicing your watch will be a breeze.
