Essential Tips for Watch Care

Many people own more than one watch, so while one may go unused for months, another might be worn daily. Whether rarely worn or subjected to intensive use, all watches will show signs of wear over time — be it general deterioration or damage to straps (which may be leather, rubber, or synthetic materials), depleted batteries that have lost their charge or even leaked, moisture issues, scratches, and more.

What steps should you follow to care for your watch?

At Joyería Sendra, we offer 10 simple steps to help keep your wristwatch in perfect condition — a true companion that accompanies you throughout life.

1. Temperature: Avoid exposing your watch to extreme temperatures, whether below 0ºC or above 60ºC. Sudden temperature changes are also best avoided. Extreme heat or cold can cause organic materials such as oils and gaskets to degrade, plastic components to crack or even break, and metal parts to suffer what is known as thermal stress. Ultimately, this leads to premature ageing of the watch.

2. Buttons and pushers: Never operate the pushers underwater, as this could let water into the case. Although this may seem obvious, it happens more often than you'd think — usually by accident, but sometimes due to a lack of awareness or caution.

3. Crown: Always make sure the crown is pushed back into its natural position, so that moisture and dust cannot get in. If you're lucky enough to own a watch with a screw-down crown, make sure it's properly screwed in. Keep in mind that the crown should always be screwed by hand — never use any tool to screw or unscrew it. If your watch has a problem and the crown won't operate normally, it's time to take it to a trusted watchmaker.

4. Impacts: Avoid exposing your watch to hard knocks or activities involving sudden, rough movements (such as golf, mountain biking, gardening, or DIY work). Mechanical and automatic watches are particularly vulnerable to impacts, while digital watches, having no mechanical components, are affected much less.

5. Salt water/chlorinated water: After contact with salt water or heavily chlorinated water, it's highly advisable to rinse the watch with fresh water. This prevents salt from building up in the crevices of the case, such as around the crown and pushers. Keep in mind that salt is corrosive and, even if it isn't visible, will eventually damage the gaskets as well.

6. Chemical products: Avoid contact with chemical substances such as solvents, detergents, perfumes, cosmetics, and any products that could damage the gaskets, strap, or case. If this happens, rinse with lukewarm water as soon as possible.

7. Water resistance: A watch's water resistance can never be guaranteed unless certain factors are taken into account. For example, keep in mind that the water-resistance rating is expressed in metres of pressure the watch can withstand, not an actual diving depth. Only watches with DIVER's certification are suitable for diving and scuba activities. Watches rated water resistant 30m are suitable for everyday use — meaning they can withstand splashes of water, such as when washing your hands. At 50m, they can be used more safely around water in the bathroom, although we recommend not showering with them, since soap residue, steam, and hot water will gradually damage the gaskets and other components. Finally, a water resistant 100m rating makes a watch suitable for light water sports.

8. Cleaning: Use a toothbrush and soapy water, but only if the watch is at least minimally water-resistant and in good condition. Otherwise, use only a dry or slightly dampened cloth. Note that these water-based tips are not recommended for leather straps, which should be removed beforehand if you want them to last.

9. Magnetic fields: Watches are, after all, precision instruments, and as such, they are delicate. That's why they're protected by sturdy, intricately engineered cases made from the hardest steel, manufactured to strict standards that guarantee outstanding water-resistance sealing. However, most watches can be seriously affected by exposure to strong magnetic fields, especially over a prolonged period — this is particularly true for mechanical and automatic watches, as well as older models. Avoid them whenever possible.

10. Regular maintenance: No tool stays in good condition for long if it's used constantly without at least minimal care. Quartz watches need a battery change from time to time; solar-powered watches can go much longer between changes, but may eventually need the accumulator replaced or the charging system checked. Mechanical watches contain lubricants that dry out over time and require periodic cleaning, oiling, and regulation, depending on their condition. Keep in mind that whenever a watch is opened, it is exposed and in a delicate state. That's why it's essential that this work be carried out by qualified, experienced professionals with a workshop equipped with the right tools.

Fine, but some might say they've changed the battery themselves, or had it done at a shopping centre kiosk or market stall, and no water got in. Is that possible? And if so, how can we justify defending the work of a traditional watchmaker?

When we change a battery, there are two things we can do:

1. Just change the battery
2. Change the battery, replace the gaskets, and carry out the full water-resistance service

The difference is that with the first option, we cannot guarantee that water won't get in — but we can guarantee that it won't if we've done the complete job. Sometimes a watch is in good enough condition that simply changing the battery will maintain its level of water resistance. But even in some workshops (not ours, nor any truly professional one) that want to cut corners, they'll only change the battery and run the test. That might work for the moment, but since the gaskets are old, the watch may no longer be water-resistant within a couple of months — and even more so after having been opened, not only because of the state of the gaskets, but because at the time of testing, a gasket might already have a tiny pore that's temporarily sealed by grease and dirt, which will wash away after prolonged exposure to water.

On the other hand, if the full job has been done, the watch is clean, the gaskets are new and coated with silicone grease in excellent condition, and the test confirms that the work has been done properly — without any grime "sealing" it deceptively for a short while. That way, we can easily guarantee that your watch is in good condition, so you have nothing to worry about.

The thing is, this takes time, and time translates into money. It may be that a customer owns an inexpensive watch, or one that, after years of use, no longer justifies the cost of a full service. In that case, it's understandable to simply change the battery, take a bit of care, and hope for the best. That's perfectly normal — the watch has already had its life, or was an affordable option to begin with. But it would be a shame not to give proper care to something truly worth preserving: a watch from a brand that deserves it, one with real value, that has been with you through so many moments that it has only grown more meaningful — or that forms part of your family's history, whose value has become priceless. In cases like these, we honestly believe your watch deserves proper periodic maintenance — which, after all, is only needed every so often — and above all, a little extra care.

We hope this has helped you understand how to choose wisely, and why one option comes at one price and another at a different one.