How do I avoid damage to my watch?

The new watch should provide us with loyal service for as long as possible, so it requires proper care and handling of the respective situation.

Is the model you bought really waterproof? (see table below). Is the model a fashion accessory or is it a real sports watch?

Our tips will help you to avoid damage and to enjoy your watch for a very long time.

We do not recommend using the watch while swimming, even if it has an explicit water resistance of 10 BAR / 10 ATM. This water column pressure is often exceeded simply by jumping into the water or accidentally pressing one of the buttons on the watch below the surface of the water.

Please note:

The seller is responsible for the water resistance specified by the manufacturer for the respective product. In the event of a complaint, the watch is tested in a rod chamber at 5 BAR, 10 BAR or 20 BAR / ATM according to the product specification. However, it is no longer possible to trace the reason why moisture has entered the watch. If the watch passes the pressure test based on the bar test report, the watchesare rated for water resistance as without defects.

As a retailer, we recommend that you do not wear the watch while swimming, as even models with a specified water resistance of 10 BAR / ATM that pass the rod test, water can penetrate for the reasons stated in this information sheet.

  1. Do not use the crown or buttons when the watch is wet or underwater. If you accidentally press one of the watch buttons, the water resistance will be lost at that moment.
  2. When the crown of your watch is screwed on, it must always be tightened firmly, the other controls must be in the basic position.
  3. Never use the watch while bathing, showering, or washing hands in warm water. Due to the thermal expansion of metals, water resistance can be negatively affected. In these cases stones also fall out.
  4. A loss of water resistance can also occur, for example, when a sun-heated watch cools down quickly in cold water (due to the different expansion of different parts of the watch).
  5. If, after following these guidelines, water or condensation gets inside the watch, pull out the crown and have the watch inspected immediately. Quick intervention can help avoding the clockwork damage. However, never postpone the service of the affected watch.
  6. Even a watch with a water resistance of 10 ATM (100 meters) that you can swim with, does not have to withstand the increased water pressure when jumping into the water or in the waves in the sea.

RECOMMENDATION:

If you do not need to wear the watch in the water, it is advisable to put the watch away before swimming. This extends the life of the watch and avoids unnecessary possible complications.

Watches with a leather strap are rather unsuitable for contact with water, as they soften due to their constant contact with water and then harden when drying. This promotes wear and tear and is excluded from the guarantee.

Fashion watches are also unsuitable for swimming, as fashion accessories such as rhinestones can fall out.

The general rule:

  • Check the water resistance of your watch
  • Which degree of water resistance are specified?
  • Avoid splashing water or rain
  • Avoid contact with water when washing hands
  • no swimming / no divering

 Check the water resistance of your watch

Degree of watertightness

Mark

Splash water, rain

Washing hands

Swimming

Divering

WR 0 m

unmarked

NO

NO

NO

NO

WR 30 m

3 ATM/3 BAR

YES

NO

NO

NO

WR 50 m

5 ATM/5 BAR

YES

YES

NO

NO

WR 100 m

10 ATM/10 BAR

YES

YES

ANO (with a risk)

NO

WR 200 m

20 ATM/20 BAR

 YES

YES

YES

 YES

WR 300 m

30 ATM/30 BAR

 YES YES

YES

YES

WR 500 m

50 ATM/50 BAR

YES

YES

YES

YES

WR 1 000 m

100 ATM/100 BAR

YES

YES

 YES YES

 

Leather straps

All the leather straps we sell are made from real leather, but even that is very susceptible to damage from improper use or excessive stress.

Please follow our advice.

  1. Be extra careful with reinforced or lacquered armbands when attaching them. Excessive stress on the bracelet at the endpoints can lead to it being teared.
  2. You can significantly extend the life of the bracelet if you avoid the watch coming into contact with sweat (e.g. during sports, physical exertion at high temperatures).
  3. Keep the bracelet away from water and moisture and extend the life of the bracelet.
  4. If you sweat heavily, bracelets can discolour and therefore change color slightly. This cannot be regarded as a material defect and excludes any guarantee.


Be careful not to lose any screws

If there are screws on your watch, either on the back cover or as part of the bracelet, attaching the bracelet to the case of the watch. Regularly check the tightened threads at least once a month. The thread can loosen over time and the screws can be lost. The loss of a loose screw cannot be regarded as a reason for a complaint. After receiving the goods, first check that all screws are tightened.

In the warmer months, we recommend checking the screws that secure the watch case to the bracelet once a week.

To avoid checking the screws, the screw cap can be glued to the bracelet. Be careful, in this case the replacement of the bracelet is always time-consuming and can lead to complications when replacing it in the future.

Be careful not to bend the shaft on the watch crown

Particularly on models with a larger crown, the shaft that leads from the crown to the watch unit for setting the time and date can be damaged. In the event of an accidental collision, a force can be exerted on the crown, damaging the shaft or the entire movement. Classically, this bend manifests itself in the impossibility of setting the time, or in the straight case of the crown.

If you want to avoid these potential complications, we recommend wearing a fashion watch with a large crown on your right hand.


A high temperature can also be harmful

Protect the watch from unnecessary direct sunlight and do not leave it in an extremely hot or cold environment for too long. Also, avoid sudden changes in temperature (never use the watch in the sauna, in the shower, do not leave it on the dashboard of the car, or jump from the beach into cold water with the warm watch).


Paints, detergents and other substances

Protect the watch from contact with chemicals and gases. Contact with them may change the color of the case, watch or strap of the watch, corrode the surface, or affect the watch water resistance.
Do not use detergents such as thinner, benzene, solvents, or other chemicals to clean the watch.

Protect the watch from contact with:

Hair sprays - nail polish remover - detergents - thinners and solvents - hydrogen peroxides - paints - other chemicals

RECOMMENDATION:
If you have a gold-plated wristwatch or a watch with a similar finish, remove it before starting work.
Note that this surface treatment is more prone to mechanical wear.
You can significantly extend the life of the gold plating by avoiding contact of the watch with sweat (e.g. during sports or other strenuous work)

The sweating of the skin on the leather strap can affect the change in its color as the sweat salts react with the surface of the leather strap.


Battery

The battery life is calculated at the factory from the time it is inserted into the watch and is only used for inspection purposes. The guarantee does not apply to replacing the battery. We will be happy to replace the battery in your watch on request. You can also have the watch battery replaced by a local watchmaker near you. A waterproof pressure test is required for a waterproof watch.

Checking the wateprrofness of the watch after changing the battery is the sole responsibility of the watchmaker you hire.