Congratulations, you’ve just purchased a new luxury watch! Or perhaps someone special purchased one for you? Even better! Whatever the case may be, we want you to enjoy the experience of owning and wearing a luxury watch to the fullest, which is why we have put together this quick guide on how to care for your new luxury watch. Follow our simple recommendations and you will be able to relish the experience of owning a high-end timepiece for years to come.

A lifetime of enjoyment

Luxury watches, particularly Swiss Made mechanical ones, are designed to last, and last, and…well, you get the picture. That’s why many people think of the purchase of a luxury watch as an investment. If taken care of correctly, a luxury watch can deliver a lifetime of enviable enjoyment and then some. You can even pass it down to the next generation to carry on the tradition. If you can stand to part with it, that is.

Fortunately, taking care of your new luxury watch to keep it in top condition is not particularly difficult. It just requires some common sense, attention to detail and a tiny bit of effort on your part. We promise though that the reward will make it all worthwhile, especially when you see your friends’ faces green with envy.

Read the instructions

This one seems so obvious that it feels like it should be omitted altogether, and unfortunately this step often is. Understanding how your new watch works, however, is critical to avoid inadvertently damaging it. As a general rule of thumb, the more complicated the watch is, the more delicate the movement inside, so it’s important to know what you’re doing. When you buy from Winsor Bishop, our expert staff at both our Norwich and Cambridge boutiques will be more than happy to show you how to set the time on your new watch, as well as adjust the date and any other functions it might have.

Keep it running

If you’re new luxury watch is fitted with a battery-powered, quartz movement, you can skip this step. If it is of the mechanical variety, however, with manual or automatic winding, then you need to pay attention. This is because there are a lot of moving parts in a mechanical watch movement and if they stay static for too long, the lubricants that help the gears run smoothly can begin to congeal, causing unwanted friction, which will not only affect the watch’s performance but may also lead to damage.

If you own a manually wound watch, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of winding it daily, ideally around the same time every day if possible. Be gentle and stop winding as soon as you feel any sort of resistance from the crown as you don’t want to damage the winding stem by applying too much force. It’s best to do this with the watch in your hands, as opposed to on your wrist.

For automatic watches, it’s just as important to keep the movement running regularly. This type of movement is equipped with a rotating mass that generates kinetic energy when you move your wrist, which is then stored for later use. Most modern automatic movements have a power reserve of at least 42 – 48 hours, however, for older models, this is generally less.

Clean your watch (often)

If you wear your new luxury watch every day, which we hope you will, it’s going to get exposed to a lot of dirt and dust. There’s nothing you can really do to stop this, so the next best thing is to give it a regular clean. Use a lint-free cloth to help prevent any build-up of grime, paying particular attention to where the case meets the bezel, between the links on the bracelet, and around the lens.

For those extra special occasions, Winsor Bishop also offers a valet service which is designed to remove scratches and scuffs that have occurred as a result of everyday wear. During this process, your watch is disassembled by our professionally trained in-house watch maker and cleaned and polished thoroughly, including an ultrasonic wave clean for the case and bracelet, before being reassembled. The end result is a watch that looks practically brand new again.

Have It Serviced Regularly

Regular servicing of your watch is essential to keep it happily ticking along. Depending on the make or model, you may need to have your new luxury watch serviced more or less often, but generally speaking every 3 -5 years is a good rule of thumb. This ensures that the oils remain lubricated, the accuracy of the watch stays within tolerance and the waterproofing seals are checked and replaced to maintain the watch’s stated water resistance rating (where applicable). Failure to service your watch regularly could lead to damage that may be irreversible or at the very least, very costly repair, so best to minimise the possibility of this occurring.

For watch maintenance, we recommend our in-house Master Watchmaker who will keep your valued timepieces in perfect working order. He has been trained directly by the leading watch houses and will service and valet watches on site wherever possible. For repairs under guarantee, your watch would be sent back to the watch-house. We have a strong relationship with all of our brands and endeavour to get your repair resolved and the watch back with you as quickly and as smoothly as possible.

If you follow these helpful tips and use common sense, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy every day with your new luxury watch. Just remember to; read the instructions, keep it running, clean it often, service it regularly and wear it in good health!

For more information about watch servicing and repairs at Winsor Bishop, please click here.