Photo By victoras at Shutterstock
Because of how expensive and time-consuming watch repairs can be, it’s best to simply do your best to keep your watch in good condition. However, that’s easier said than done, especially when you consider all the ways you can damage your watch. You probably know about the common problems and the damage you can do from physical shock, but there are a lot of other little things that can go wrong with a mechanical watch. If you want to make sure you aren’t spending a fortune at a Littleton, CO, repair shop, here are some of the things you should watch out for.
Adjusting at the Wrong Time
As weird as it may sound, adjusting your watch at the wrong time is one of the quickest ways to cause problems. This is one of those basic things a lot of people don’t consider because they don’t take the time to read their instruction manual. Unfortunately, it can also leave you with a hefty watch repair bill.
To make sure you aren’t damaging your watch, you should only set the date or day of the week when the time on the watch is between 9:00 pm and 3:00 am. The actual time of day doesn’t matter, only the time on the watch. If you set your watch at the wrong time when the date changing mechanism is engaged, it can cause damage the gears.
One way to avoid this is to move the hour hand to the lower part of the dial before adjusting the day or date. This will ensure the time is set somewhere around 5 or 6 o’clock so you don’t have to worry about damaging anything.
Using a Chronograph Watch When Submerged
Chronograph watches are great if you want a little more function in your watch, but you shouldn’t use your chronograph under water. While we don’t see a lot of water-damaged chronographs at our Littleton, CO, watch repair shop, it’s a problem some certainly face.
For the most part, a chronograph watch is sturdy enough for use underwater. Most of the components of the watch are fairly sealed so you don’t have to worry about water damage. However, that all changes when you the pusher is engaged and the seal is broken. Unfortunately, that’s what you have to do to use your chronograph watch.
If you have a chronograph watch, it’s best to simply avoid taking it in the water. If it is in the water, make sure you aren’t engaging the pusher.
Recessed Pushers
Many watch owners haven’t even seen recessed pushers before, but you can find them on plenty of high-end watches. These are the same as the pushers you’ll find in other watches, except they sit flush with the watch. The biggest problem with these recessed pusher is that they’re difficult to push.
When you buy a watch with recessed pushers, you should get a stylus or pin to go with it. While this does the job for the most part, we have a lot of people visit our Littleton, CO, watch repair shop because the pusher is either stuck or doesn’t seem to be working when pushed in.
It’s important to make sure you’re pushing your recessed pusher all the way in and letting it come all the way out with each use. If you push on a pusher when it hasn’t fully come back up, it may get stuck in the middle. On the other hand, pushing too lightly means the pusher won’t do its job.
Magnetism
Magnetism is one of the first scientific principles you learn about in school, and it applies to watches just like it does anything else. The same way you can touch a paperclip to a magnet and then stick that paperclip to something, you can also magnetize small parts in your watch.
While magnetization isn’t the most common cause for watch repair calls, it can cause plenty of problems. When certain parts of your watch become magnetized, you may notice your watch becoming faster or slower. This might not be a huge deal for everybody, but it’s a cause for an immediate watch repair call for some.
You can test your watch for magnetism by waving it near a compass and seeing if the arrow on the compass moves. If it moves based on where your watch is in relation to the compass, you should call a watch repair shop to look at your watch.
Cross Threading
Watches that are designed for active use are often made with a screw-on crown. The purpose of this design is to keep things tightly sealed to keep water and dirt from getting inside your watch. However, these screw-on crowns only work if you have them properly screwed in.
Unfortunately, people often make the mistake of cross-threading their screw-on crown so it doesn’t do its job right. When you do this, the crown doesn’t seal tightly to the watch and you’re at a higher risk of letting things in. The good news is, a cross-threaded crown isn’t a big problem unless you do permanent damage to the threading.
To prevent costly watch repairs, make sure you take the time to line your threads up and properly screw your crown in. This will prevent damage to the threading and ensure your watch has a tight seal.
Last Resort
You should always do your best to take good care of your watch if you plan on having it a long time, but there can always be problems. This is why you should also have a good watch repair shop you can take your watch to.
The good news is, you don’t have to worry about spending a fortune or waiting a long to get your watch back when you chose Matheu’s Fine Watches in Littleton, CO. No matter what kind of watch repair you need, we can do the job the right way for a great price.
