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There’s nothing quite like having a good watch on your wrist at all times. Not only are watches a great stylish accent to your outfit, they also give you a convenient way to keep an eye on the time. Unfortunately, watches don’t last forever. If your watch always has the wrong time or doesn’t seem to be working at all, you need to take it to a shop in to have somebody look at it. If you’re thinking about taking your watch to a watch repair shop in the near future, here’s what you need to know before you go.
When Are Repairs Necessary?
The first thing you need to figure out if you’re considering taking your watch to a repair shop is whether or not repairs are actually necessary. While there are a lot of watch problems that require the help of a professional to sort out, there are also plenty of simple reasons your watch could be having problems. In these cases, you probably don’t need to visit a watch repair shop.
If your watch has the wrong time, try setting it to the correct time and see if the problem persists. If it takes a few days before your watch is a couple minutes slow or fast, you might simply need to wind your watch more often. Mechanical watches should be wound once a day if you can remember to do it.
Battery problems are also notoriously easy to fix and don’t necessarily require the help of a watch repair shop. As long as you can easily get to the battery in your watch, taking the old battery out and swapping it for a new battery is easy.
Repairing vs Replacing
While some people buy cheap watches that are mostly used to tell the time, a lot of people treat watches like cars. Not only is having a beautiful watch a great feeling, that watch becomes a part of you over time. Many watch owners have a hard time parting with their watch, opting instead to pay for repairs over and over again. However, there comes a time when it’s simply not worth going to a watch repair shop over replacing your watch.
In some cases, repairing your watch isn’t worth it because you could replace your watch for less. This is sometimes the case with entry-level mechanical watches that aren’t quite as expensive. It’s important to consider how much the watch means to you in these cases. High watch repair costs may be worth it if it means you get to keep a watch that was passed down by a loved one.
There are also times when a watch problem isn’t easily fixable. If major components of the watch are severely damaged or the case is rusted and starting to fall apart, there may not be a whole lot a watch repair shop can do to get your watch looking and functioning like new again.
Common Watch Problems
Understanding some of the common watch problems is one of the best ways to keep your watch in good shape. Once you notice one of the symptoms of a watch problem, you know it’s time to pay a visit to an Aurora, CO, watch repair shop to have some work done.
Some of those most common watch problems are related to the time on your watch. It could be that you simply need to wind your watch or that you’ve wound it wrong and done some sort of damage. If your watch only works when it’s off your wrist, chances are there’s a problem with the circuitry. A second hand that skips is a telltale sign of a bad watch battery. A watch repair expert can help you figure out exactly what’s wrong with your watch.
If your watch has stopped working completely, the solution could be as simple as replacing the battery to get the watch going again. If you’ve recently had a new battery installed and it isn’t working, it could be an issue with the contact spring. Knowing about some of these common problems helps you determine when it’s time to take your watch to a specialist.
Routine Watch Maintenance
Spending money a nice mechanical watch only to have it fail in a short period of time is a bad feeling. The problem is, a lot of people invest in a watch without knowing what they have to do to take care of it. As is the case with most things in life, you need to keep up with regular maintenance if you want to keep your watch in good shape.
Winding your watch is one of the most important things you can do. When the mainspring is above half tension, watches do their best at keeping time. For the best results, you should wind your watch up every day before you put it on. Keep in mind that winding your watch when the date mechanism is engaged can cause serious damage, so it’s best to avoid winding your watch within 3 hours of midnight.
Cleaning your watch is also a big part of avoiding costly trips to the watch repair shop. Watches have a lot of little moving pieces, and dirt and grime that gets caught in them can cause them to stop working and damage other parts of the watch.
The Simple Fix
Whether you already own a nice mechanical watch or you’re thinking about making an investment, it’s important to understand watch care. Having a watch repair expert you can visit regularly is a great way to keep your watch in better shape for longer.
At Matheu’s Fine Watches, we know how to take care of your watch. Not only can we help keep your watch clean and maintained, we can also handle just about any repair job. If you’ve got a watch you need fixed in the Aurora, CO, area, give Matheu’s Fine Watches a call at (303) 471-8463.
