Whether you own a vintage Omega, a rare Patek Philippe, or a numerous collection of luxury timepieces, you will need to take care of them and help protect your investment. In this two-part discussion we will over tips that will help keep your luxury timepieces in top condition for the years to come.
Choose the Right Storage for Your Luxury Watch
When it comes to timepieces, the most damaging elements are humidity and dust. With that in mind, you will surely want to keep them in a dry, clean, temperature-regulated environment. If humidity gets inside of the timepiece, then that moisture can cause serious damage to the dials and can rust the movements.
Timepieces should be stored away from light. However, some unusual aging can help actually increase the value of a timepiece. For example, light can sometimes fade black dials on vintage timepieces. When faded they can appear, tropical or a sort of chocolate brown. Depending on the brand, model and aesthetics of these timepieces, the tropical dials for example can actually be worth significantly more than black ones.
Take Out Insurance on Valuable Timepieces
Unfortunately, since expensive luxury timepieces are significantly small, portable and liquid assets, they are often prime targets for theft. You may want to opt to have the timepieces stored in an actual bank vault rather than at home. For those collectors who prefer to keep them at home then you will most definitely want to look into purchasing a secure and reliable safe to have installed in your home.
Always keep a separate record of serial numbers and photographs of your timepieces so that you can pass along that information to the authorities and especially your insurance company should they ever be stolen. You can also submit the police reports directly to watch companies in the area, and the manufacturer themselves, so that if the timepiece is ever brought in for service, it can be returned to you.
You can also search the web for websites and forums where you can post information about a stolen timepiece, with its serial numbers. That way anyone that is potentially looking to buy a timepiece whom searches the serial numbers first before purchasing will be able to discover if it was stolen.
Should You Wear Valuable Timepieces to Begin With?
Some collectors choose not to do so, but others feel what is the point in even owning a vintage or new collectors edition luxury timepiece if you can’t wear it? Obviously, you should and can wear your timepiece, under the right circumstances, of course. However, if it is a very old, vintage timepiece, say, 100 years old or more, it could be very susceptible to humidity. Thus, it may not be in your best interest to actually wear it outside.
Water-resistant timepieces that have screw-down case backs usually hold up much better over the years. They help keep out water, oil and dust, whereas, vintage chronographs with square pushers are usually more prone to the effects of humidity and if worn more care should be adhered too to ensure they are not damaged.
Servicing Your Luxury Timepiece
Timepieces do not need to be serviced that often, but they do need to be serviced from time to time. You should have your watched serviced at least every few years by a reputable and professional specialist. Generally, experts suggest having watches that are frequently worn every three to five years. If you have a timepiece that you do not wear that often and you have it stored properly then it might not need to be serviced quite as often as a watch that you do wear on a frequent basis. However, timepieces that are more complex, such as, chronographs and minute repeaters, they may require more frequent and detailed attention if used on a regular basis.
There are many watch manufacturers that have their watches shipped back to them in order for them to provide in-house services.
Speak with the Watchmaker
Communication is critical when having your watched serviced. If you do not want parts replaced or the watch polished, then you will absolutely need to express to them ahead of time before servicing the timepiece. If you do not express this, then replacing parts and polishing the timepiece could significantly damage the timepiece’s value and unfortunately it cannot be undone.
This is why it is critical that you must communicate with the watchmaker or whomever you are having service the timepiece. Something as simple as polishing the vintage timepiece, could bring any collector to their knees, and this is just one of many reasons why it is essential to communicate, always.
About Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry
Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry has been providing quality products and professional services to the metropolitan Denver, CO area since 1951. The very first watch repair and service facility ever opened in Colorado. Dan Matheu, watchmaker, pioneered watch repair and services in Colorado. Today, Scott Matheu is at the helm steering Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry. With his vision, Scott opened a watch store in Highlands Ranch and has made Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry not only one of the largest watch stores to provide watch repair in Aurora, CO but also the entire state.
Whether you need watch repair in Aurora, CO, watch engraving, or even if you have an antique watch that you would like appraised, you can count on Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry to provide you with superior service each and every single time. All of our watchmakers are factory trained and we have CW21 Certified by the American Watchmakers and Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) on site. This certification has the most stringent standards for watchmakers performing repair, restoration, and service work on watches. With one of the largest service centers in the metropolitan Denver, CO we are not only able to provide watch repair in Aurora, CO but to the entire 50 states as well.
Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry is also a factory authorized service center for Cartier, Tag Heuer, Philip Stein, Swiss Army and many more brands. When you use Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry for your watch repair in Aurora, CO, you can rest assured knowing that you will receive our (3) three-year warranty on major watch repairs that we provide. If you are looking for the best watch repair service center throughout the United States, you cannot go wrong when you choose Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry. With certifications from not only AWCI but SAWTA too, we not only stand out from the pact; we lead it.
