Watch Maintenance Myths To Look Out For

Your luxury timepiece likely holds both significant sentimental and monetary value for you. It’s imperative, then, to know how best to care for your watch at home and who to trust for professional servicing. We have put together a guide to some of the most common misconceptions about caring for these exquisite pieces.

Myth #1: Only Wear On Special Occasions

One of the most common misconceptions we encounter when maintaining a pristinely functioning and visually beautiful timepiece in our Hing Wa Lee Jewelers showrooms is the idea that infrequent wear is the best protection from damage. Timepieces are meant to be worn and to be seen. They have been specifically crafted with precision and high-quality materials to last a lifetime.

There are certain situations where it's best to leave your timepiece behind. Unless your watch is specifically designed to withstand water damage and pressure, activities that expose your watch to these things could result in irreparable harm. One of the best things you can do for an automatic watch is to wear it often. This will maintain regular tension on its springs, keeping it wound, and keeping the watches’ parts from breaking down.

Myth #2: You Need a Watch Winder

In recent years, watch winders have become popular with watch collectors. The idea behind these machines is that you need to keep the watch constantly moving and, thus, wound. While it is essential to wear your watch often, as discussed in the previous section, no timepiece is meant to be constantly wound.

Overwinding your watch puts undue wear on its inner workings, meaning it may break down prematurely and need significant repairs. Constant winding means your watch will also burn through its lubricating oils faster, requiring more frequent application.

Myth #3: You Can Only Trust the Watch’s Brand for Service

Often if you buy a timepiece directly from a designer or otherwise, you will hear it said that you need to bring it to the designer for maintenance. In most instances, though, your trusted local jeweler will have plenty of knowledge of the products from the brand to perform accurate repairs and maintenance on your luxury timepiece.

In some cases, taking your watch to the designer could be more costly and require more in-depth maintenance than you may have expected or needed.

Myth #4: You Must Use Only Natural Oils on Your Watch

Many watches require lubrication in the form of specified oils to keep them running smoothly and protect their mechanisms from wear. Jewelers, blogs, websites, etc., may have informed you that natural oil is best for your watch.

In reality, natural oils can become gummy over time and build up, interfering with your watch’s function. Most repair shops and specialists use synthetic oils. These are much more lightweight and will evaporate slightly over time.

Shop Luxury Timepieces at Hing Wa Lee Jewelers

At Hing Wa Lee Jewelers, we are proud to employ a staff of personnel that are highly experienced and knowledgeable in the world of watchmaking. Our Walnut and San Gabriel, California jewelry stores are stocked with timepiece collections from some of the industry’s most reputable designers.

Stop by one of our showrooms to browse our selection or inquire about watch maintenance practices. You can also request an appointment for a personalized consultation with one of our team members.