1.Watch manufacturers advise people to have their mechanical watches serviced regularly even if they're working fine. Why is that?
Like a car, a mechanical watch needs to be lubricated regularly to keep it running smoothly. Over time, the oil will deteriorate and friction between the movement's part will increase, causing abrasion and making the watch less accurate. In addition, the friction can create a very fine dust that will itself act as an abrasive on the watch movement parts.
2. How often does a mechanical watch need to be serviced?
Manufacturer's recommendations vary, but most range from every three to five years.
3. What happens to it when it goes in to be serviced?
The watch is taken apart and the bracelet and case are cleaned ultrasonically and polished. The pieces of the movement are cleaned chemically and examined. Worn parts are replaced. The movement is then reassembled, lubricated and regulated. Then, if the watch is water resistant, its water resistance is tested.
4. How often does a watch's water resistance need to be checked?
All water resistant watches need to have their water resistance checked ever time the battery is changed or the case is opened for any other reason. That's because when the case is opened, the gaskets that keep the water out of the case are dislodged. (These gaskets, or O rings, are located inside the case at the joints where the case meets the case back, crown and glass.) For this reason it's important that when the battery in a water-resistant watch needs to be changed, the watch be taken to a repair centre that has water-resistance testing equipment. In some instances, water-resistance should be checked between battery changes. If the watch is worn in the water, frequently or exposed to salt water or lot of sweat, it should be checked at least every two years and, if exposure to water is very frequent, every year. Rinse your watch after swimming in the sea. Do not touch the crown and the push-buttons under the water. If your watch has the screw-down type of crown, always keep it tight. WATER RESISTANCE LEVELS Look for resistance levels on the dial or case back of the watch. An absence of any indication indicates extra caution should exercised when wearing the watch to avoid any contact with moisture. This is true in expensive dress watches. Refer to the warranty sheet for further restrictions. If no such sheet is available the chart below is fairly standard. NO INDICATION: Not resistant to splashing or other accidental contact with moisture of any kind. WATER RESISTANT (30M): Will resist moisture from accidental splashing, rain, sweat, etc. WATER RESISTANT (50M) Will resist moisture from accidental splashing, rain, and if the case-back is clip on type, it is not suitable for swimming.. WATER RESISTANT (100M) Watch may be worn for swimming.. WATER RESISTANT (200M) Watch may be worn during standard scuba diving. Alternate depth designations other than meters (M) will likely be indicated as Feet or ATM's or Bars. 1 Bar =1Atmosphere. 1 Atmosphere=14.696 1lbs/sq. in. 1 Atmosphere=33.899 feet or 10.33 Meters below surface of water. In general terms 1 ATM is NOT signifying a diving depth, it refers to the rate of the pressure test .
5. Do you need to wind a mechanical watch every day?
The watch will run better if you do. "You always get better performance from a watch when it's fully wound than when it's wound down. It's best to wind it even if you don't intend to wear it. That will prevent the movement's lubricants from congealing. This doesn't, of course, apply to an automatic, or self-winding watch. This type of watch should be wound initially to get it started. If the wearer is reasonably active and wears the watch for 12 to 15 hours a day, it will remain fully wound.
6. How long will a quartz-watch battery last?
A silver oxide battery will last two to three years. Lithium batteries will last 5-10 years or more. (They aren't inter chargeable. Watches are designed to use either silver oxide or lithium batteries.)
7. It is true you can preserve a quartz watch's battery power by pulling out the stem if you won't be wearing the watch for a few days?
Pulling out the stem saves 75% to 80% of the watch's energy because the gears and hands aren't turning. However, the savings is marginal when you consider that a silver oxide battery will lose 5% to 8% of its power a year just sitting unused. Another argument against trying to save battery power this way is that if the gears in the gear train sit stationary for a long time, the lubricants congeal.