How To Care For Your Watch

When you invest in a brand new designer watch, you need to make sure it remains as impeccably presentable as the first day you bought it. Wearing your watch daily will inevitably predispose your timepiece to general ‘wear and tear’, from scratches to simple grime build up, so it’s important to be aware of the best ways to care for your watch. If you tend to save your favourite luxury watch for special occasions, it can still benefit from a quick clean to keep it in top condition.

Here are Hillier Jewellers we would like our customers to feel confident in the watch upkeep process, so we have put together a practical guide on how to care for your watch with plenty of tips on how to keep your watch in top condition. No matter how much you’ve spent on a watch, you’re going to want to keep it looking at its best!

Store your watch correctly

Keeping your watch protected whilst not in use is without a doubt half the battle in keeping it in the best condition, so storing them correctly is the first step in caring for your watch. Even storing a watch close to a magnet can negatively interfere with the timekeeping of a mechanical watch! So, rather than simply removing your watch at the end of the day and putting on your bedside table, where it’s liable to get scratched or knocked, it’s wise to invest in a purposely created watch box.

Our range of leather watch boxes at Hillier Jewellers includes many different styles of boxes designed to store watches and cufflinks, which are ideal for placing your designer watches in when not in use. The design of a classic watch box with specific areas for storing watches means that the watch bracelet will retain its shape, and the soft velvet fabric will protect against scratches. A pull down lid will help stop dust settling on your precious timepieces.

Looking after watch straps

Of course, the watch face is a major element to consider when taking care of your watch, but what about the actual strap which keeps it in place on your wrist? Our watch wrist straps can go through an awful lot with daily wear, so it’s a good idea to focus on them when cleaning or maintaining the condition of your luxury watch. Let’s take a look at how to clean leather straps and metal strap watches.

Leather strap watches

You’ll no doubt be aware of the great versatility of a leather strap watch and how they make a fantastic everyday watch option. However, the genuine leather aspect also means that they also require some careful attention to avoid smells and discolouration. So when it comes to cleaning your leather wrist strap, avoid using a chemical cleaner as this can ruin the surface of the leather. Stick to a lukewarm water and soap solution or a specialist leather cleaner product and use a white cloth to rub over the leather. Clean the inside and outside of the strap and leave to dry naturally.

Metal strap watches

Metal watches can come in various forms, whether it’s stainless steel or gold, and it’s a good idea to spend some time giving them a regular clean to avoid unsightly dirt build up which can accrue over time. When cleaning metal strap watches, avoid submerging in water as it can cause the metal to rust. It’s a good idea to use a dampened cloth to thoroughly clean the metal strap inside and out, and try to get in between any gaps and rivets. Dry with another dry cloth thoroughly so that there’s no water left sitting on the metal.

Some do’s and don’ts on how to care for your watch:

• Do store your watch properly to avoid damaging it – purchase a beautiful watch box to store your watch collection
• Don’t wear your watch in the shower or get it into contact with water for a prolonged period of time – no matter its water resistance, avoid immersing a watch in water
• Do clean your watch regularly to wipe away built-up grime – use a damp cloth or a specialist cleaner
• Don’t allow chemicals to have access to your watch – remove watch before spraying perfume to your wrist
• Do protect your watch by not leaving in the sunlight or close to magnets
• Don’t forget that you can get your watch cleaned and serviced professionally

At Hillier Jewellers we want our customers to be armed with the knowledge of how to care for your watches to reap the benefits of a great timepiece over its entire lifetime. In our women’s watches and men’s watches departments, you’ll find some impressive timepieces from popular designer brands such as Hugo Boss, Citizen and Seiko which are practical yet stylish. Keep your designer watch like brand new with regular cleaning and servicing!