It does not matter how expensive or even cheap your watch is, if you plan on keeping it for a very long time or passing it down to a loved one day, then it needs to be taken care of. With quartz watches it can be as simple as replacing the battery. However, with mechanical watches it can be a bit more complex. For newer, mechanical watches, replacing parts can be pretty easy. When dealing with antique mechanical watches, unfortunately, those parts typically need to be made completely from scratch. As you can imagine, that can become costly.
What are the most common mistakes people make with their watches?
Watches are very delicate items that can easily break if dropped for example. One of the most common mistakes people tend to make is that they use their watch for everything. You definitely should not be wearing a mechanical watch if you are playing tennis. Some mechanical watches, complex ones at that, can have anywhere between 300 – 500 parts inside that all work together. So, if you hit the watch against an object or drop it, you could very well break something.
Another common problem is when people put say lotions on and don’t bother to remove the watch. You can imagine the gunk that find its way on watches that owners do not really take good care of. People should take their watches off when they go to bed and give them a good wipe down at least once a week. If the watch is water resistant be careful because some water resistance can wear off over time.
How long do windable watches last?
How long a windable watch will last will very well depend on the person who owns said watch. There are people who have had watches for more than sixty years and they still look brand new, and then you have some watches that are only a few years old and look to be a hundred.
When luminous wears out can it be reapplied to a watch?
Luminous will typically fade after 15 to 20 years. To answer the question, yes it can be reapplied and it is a rather simple and easy procedure. However, with vintage watches reapplying luminous can sometimes affect the resale value of the timepiece. So, it may not be better to make those changes.
Can people make any repairs on their watches themselves?
Beyond wiping down the watch, it is highly recommended not too. You run the risk of causing real damage to the watch by doing so. Even something as simple as changing the battery can be disastrous for a complex mechanical watch. In a watch repair center, such as Matheu’s Fine Watches & Jewelry, our watchmakers are in a very sterile environment. It is much easier and safer to have the watch worked on in this environment than say the work bench in your garage or dining room table. Opening up the back of the watch to change the battery at home can result in a lot of dust, pet dander and other airborne particulates getting inside of the watch. If that happens and something goes wrong, you very well may have to disassemble and clean every single part of the watch.
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 Englewood, CO but also the entire state.
Whether you need watch repair in Englewood, 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 Englewood, 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 Englewood, 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.