Watches, Time on Your Hands
Watches are more than a useful tool to tell time watches also have personality. So dress to impress or show what kind of mood you rare in that day.Watches make great gifts for friend and family, co-workers or clients, or even for yourself.

We carry these great brands:
Accutron • Boccia • Bulova • Chase-Durer• Colibri Pocket Watches • Wittnauer

Maintenance
These simple maintenance and care tips to will help you care for your watch and avoid costly repairs. Please refer to your manufacturer’s guide for specific instructions for your watch.

Moisture Control
1. Pay attention to your watch’s moisture rating.
In general, a watch rated WR30m is designed to withstand being splashed with water, a WR50m watch is suitable for light swimming but not prolonged immersion, a WR100m watch is fine for swimming and a WR200m can be considered a “diver’s watch.”

2. Regardless of the water rating, avoid dunking your watch in hot water.
The seals can be damaged by heat from showers, baths and hot tubs, eventually causing corrosion of internal parts.

3. Do not leave your watch in the bathroom while showering.
The temperature difference can cause steam to be drawn into the case and cause internal damage.

4. Avoid salt water.
Salt-water corrosion can set in quickly. If the watch comes in contact with salt water, rinse thoroughly with warm—not hot—water to remove any traces of salt.

5. Sweat can also be harmful to your watch.
The heat created by your body during vigorous activity can cause damage similar to submersing your watch in hot water. Sweat is also corrosive to exterior components and can cause premature wear. If a watch must be worn in these conditions, make sure to clean it regularly.

6. Avoid chemicals.
There are many chemicals that can cause premature wear and damage to your watch. These include: Perspiration, chlorine, lawn-care products, household cleaners, hair products, perfume, paint thinner and many more. Be sure to clean your watch regularly to avoid permanent damage.

7. Do not push any buttons on your watch while it is wet.
This can allow moisture into the watch and cause internal damage.

8. If your watch does get wet inside, take it to a jeweler immediately.
Any moisture left inside a watch will cause the watch to corrode. Even if your watch seems to have “dried out” and moisture is not visible, moisture may still be present and can cause damage.

Servicing
1. Remove and replace dead batteries as soon as possible.
Dead batteries can leak and cause damage to the watch.

2. Test for water resistance.
When changing a battery for a watch rated WR30m or higher, a pressure test will be needed to validate the water resistance rating. Without this test, the water resistance level cannot be verified. Over time, gaskets and seals can wear, causing lower resistance to water leakage. This test will tell if those seals need servicing. Watches used for diving should have a water-pressure test done every six months or prior to each dive trip to ensure water-resistance levels.

3. The push buttons and stem/crown require regular maintenance.
These parts have rubber seals that can dry out or become covered with dirt and debris, resulting in a malfunction or leak. They should be cleaned and lubricated every two years to maintain water resistance.

4. Regular internal cleaning is important.
Watches should be cleaned internally and lubricated every five years. Oils within your watch can gel with age, eventually causing the watch to stop functioning. Dirt inside the watch can also accelerate the wear of internal parts.

5. External cleaning prevents unnecessary wear.
It is recommended to have your watch professionally cleaned at least once every two years or when debris build-up becomes visible. Dirt, body oils, lotions and sweat can build up and accelerate damage. Germs can also collect on your watch so it is vital that you maintain a proper cleaning schedule. Watches with a WR50m or higher can easily be cleaned at home a mild detergent, warm water and a soft toothbrush.

6. Make sure you have the proper band size.
Most metal-type bands have the ability to be sized. Wearing a band that does not fit properly can cause unnecessary wear and tear to the band, pins, buckles, case and crystal of a watch. Having your watch properly sized by a jeweler/watchmaker can help prolong the life of all your watch components.

7. Guidelines for winding mechanical, manual-wind watches.
First, take the watch off. This will reduce the strain on the stem and crown. Second, wind the watch slowly and consistently. Wind in one direction only, not back and forth. When the watch is fully wound, you will feel a slight resistance in the stem. Stop winding; forcing it will damage the watch. Try to wind your watch at the same time each morning to give it consistent power throughout the day.

8. Guidelines for automatic watches.
There are different types of automatic watches. Some charge a capacitor (kinetic or solar) and others wind a mainspring. Some offer a manual wind and others do not. Read the manufacturer’s instruction manual carefully to be sure which type you have. Generally, automatic watches can be wound by gently swinging the watch in an arc-like motion for a minute or so. The normal arm motion of an active person should be enough to keep the watch wound. You can also purchase watch-winding storage boxes that can wind your watch for you.

FAQs
Is my watch waterproof?
No watch is waterproof. There are only varying degrees of water resistance. See “Moisture Control” above for water-resistance rating samples.

Can I shower in my watch?
You should never shower in your watch or subject it to hot water or steam. Steam and hot water can damage the rubber seals of a watch and can leak through microscopic openings. Soap, body oils, shed skin and hair can also collect on the watch case and band, causing build-up that can damage seals, pins, the metal finish and even internal components. This debris can also cause skin irritation and foul odor as the germs and contaminants build up on the watch.

I never take my watch off. Could I be doing damage?
In general, dirt and debris cause damage. If you aren’t cleaning your watch as recommended, you will shorten the life of your watch. Check the water-resistance level of your watch and follow the guidelines for maintenance, servicing and cleaning.

What about heat and sunlight?
Extreme heat can damage your watch. Heating the lubricants inside a watch to extreme temperatures can cause them to malfunction and damage the parts they are meant to protect.

Rapid temperature changes can also cause damage to your watch. If you wear your watch in a sauna then submerse it in a swimming pool, the watch can contract rapidly, causing the already softened seals to malfunction and allow moisture in your watch. Also, any watch will have a small level of moisture in it simply because it has air in it. Rapid cooling can cause this air to condense on the crystal and other parts of the watch.

You might know the extreme heat of direct sunlight can damage your watch. But did you know sunlight can prematurely age the face and dials? Sunlight can also cause the lacquers and adhesives to bubble or dry and crack so try to avoid direct sunlight when possible.

Is my watch shock-proof?
It might be shock-resistant (check your manufacturer’s user guide), but it is best not to test its ability to withstand shock. Always try to limit sudden shocks, vibration and dropping. At the very least, these can cause the hands or dial markers to fall off and, at the worst, cause the watch to stop functioning.

Do magnets really damage watches?
Most watches can withstand small levels of magnetism, however, the internal working parts of a watch are made of interacting metal parts. If a watch comes in contact with a magnetic field, it can cause these parts to malfunction. Sometimes this is temporary and the watch will re-adjust itself once the magnet is removed. Other times, it can cause the watch to fail. Try to avoid these common magnetic sources: Stereo speakers, computer drives and monitors and the magnetic seal around your freezer door.

How does dust affect my watch?
Even the smallest particle of dust is enough to stop your watch from running. Dust can enter a watch through cracked or chipped crystals, seals that are worn or through a damaged crown. Proper care and maintenance reduces the possibility of dust or other debris from entering the watch and causing problems.

Do I need to do anything to maintain my watchband?
Bands can be made from a variety of materials and require different levels of care.

Avoid getting a leather band wet, whether from water, perspiration or even perfumes and hairspray. If your leather band does get wet, let it completely dry before wearing. To clean your leather band, wipe both sides with a clean, dry cloth to remove contaminants.

Metal bands can come in many different types of metal, with the most common being stainless steel. Stainless steel is “stainless” because of an oxide layer covering the surface. When dust and dirt or fatty acids and salt (from perspiration) are left on the surface, it blocks the oxygen from getting to the oxide layer and rust can form. Rinse the band and use a soft toothbrush to get in between the links to remove surface dirt and perspiration. Then dry completely with a soft cloth.

For rubber watch bands, the softer and dryer the better. Clean these bands with mild detergent and a soft toothbrush. Be sure to completely rinse off any soap residue and dry thoroughly. A rubber protectant should also be used.