7 Essential Tips for Taking Care of Your Watch

It’s funny how many people will spend $500 on a watch and then treat it like it’s a plastic giveaway from a cereal box. Then they wonder why it’s running five minutes fast, smells like mildew, and the crown fell off.

Look—I’m not here to judge (okay, maybe a little), but if you’re going to flex a timepiece like it’s part of your identity, maybe treat it like it’s something you want to keep. And if you don’t know how? You’re in the right place.

These aren’t just watch care tips. This is a cheat code for not screwing up your investment. Even better: these tips work whether you’re rocking a Rolex Submariner or a no-name automatic that came free with a leather bracelet.

Let’s begin with the one thing people do thinking they’re being smart, but they’re actually burning their watch out slowly like a candle made of Swiss precision…

Watches are more than just accessories; they’re an investment in style and precision, so knowing how to properly care for them is essential. Whether you’re looking to preserve your watch’s aesthetics, maintain its movement, or extend its life span, these tips will help keep your watch ticking smoothly.

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1. Stop Using Automatic Winders. You’re Not Helping.

If you love your watch, let it nap. Seriously.

Watch winders are marketed like they’re some luxury lifehack—“Keep your watch running 24/7!”—as if your $1,200 Oris is a needy toddler that can’t sit still. Except this toddler has a fragile mainspring that wears out faster if you never give it a break.

Letting your watch rest when not in use actually helps preserve the oils inside and reduces wear on the escapement and rotor. And don’t come at me with “But the time will be wrong.” Yes. You might have to gasp set your watch when you wear it. It’s okay. You’ll survive.

Also, Rolex literally says you don’t need a winder. If that’s not enough, I can’t help you.

Pro Insight™: Rotate your watches. Store the off-duty ones in a padded box. You’ll extend their life—and your own, from not going insane over micro-scratches.

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2. Your Watch Hates Temperature Swings. Act Accordingly.

Your wrist isn’t a weather station. Don’t test your watch like it is.

Jumping from freezing cold into a hot shower might feel great for you, but it feels like an existential crisis for your timepiece. Sudden temperature changes cause internal condensation, especially in watches that aren’t pressure-tested often (read: most of yours).

That fogging you sometimes see under the crystal? That’s not a feature—it’s a cry for help. Moisture = corrosion. Corrosion = sadness. And yes, that includes dive watches. They’re water-resistant, not invincible.

So no saunas. No hot tubs. No leaving your watch in the sun like it’s tanning. And please don’t wear it while you bake banana bread at 450°.

Pro Insight™: If you wouldn’t put your phone through it, don’t put your mechanical watch through it either. And store your timepieces somewhere that doesn’t double as a greenhouse.

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3. There’s a Right Time to Set the Date (and You’re Probably Getting It Wrong)

Go ahead. Set the date between 10 PM and 2 AM. I dare you. Then enjoy explaining to your repair guy why the gears look like they’ve been through a blender.

Most watches enter “date change mode” around 10 PM. During that window, the gears are actively aligning to advance the date. Mess with them then, and you’re basically elbow-dropping a ballet dancer mid-performance.

Want to be safe? Push the hands past 6, then set the date. Want to be extra safe? Push the hands through a full 24-hour cycle to confirm AM/PM before touching the date wheel.

Pro Insight™: You know how people say “measure twice, cut once”? This is that. But with horology. And less blood.

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4. Don’t Use Your Chronograph Underwater (Unless You Know What You’re Doing)

Chronographs and water. The forbidden love story.

Pressing your pushers while submerged—even on a so-called “waterproof” watch—can send water rushing into your case like it’s auditioning for Titanic 2. Even if the crown is screwed down. Even if it says 100M on the dial.

Why? Because most chronograph pushers aren’t designed to handle pressure when pressed. It’s one thing to exist at 50 meters. It’s another to invite moisture in with an open button press.

Unless you’re wearing a true dive chronograph with screw-down pushers (and I mean actual screw-down, not “they kinda feel tight”), leave the chronograph untouched when wet.

Pro Insight™: If you just climbed out of the pool and want to time your protein shake steep, dry the watch off first. Function follows care.

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5. Dropped It? Assume It’s Broken (Even If It Looks Fine)

Watches are not phones. You can’t just drop them, pick them up, and call it a day.

You might not see damage, but inside? The balance wheel could be off, the hairspring bent, or the rotor might now be spinning like a drunk carousel horse. That’s not something you’ll fix with a microfiber cloth and good vibes.

If you drop your watch, pull the crown to stop the movement immediately. Then get it looked at. Yes, even if it landed on carpet. Yes, even if you’re emotionally fragile today.

Pro Insight™: Internal damage doesn’t always show up instantly. But when it does, it’s usually twice as expensive to fix. So go pro, early.

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6. Magnetic Fields Will Wreck Your Watch’s Sense of Time

Ever see your watch gain 5 minutes in a day and think, “Maybe I’m just winning at life?” You’re not. You’re magnetized.

Magnets are everywhere—phones, speakers, laptops, wireless chargers, your AirPods case. Place your watch too close to any of those, and the hairspring inside can magnetize. When that happens, your accuracy goes out the window.

Most watches aren’t anti-magnetic. Some are certified (ISO 764) to resist up to 4,800 A/m, but that’s not immunity—it’s resilience. A strong enough magnet will still throw it off.

The fix? A demagnetizer. They’re real, and they work. A good watchmaker can fix you up in 5 minutes flat.

Pro Insight™: If your watch suddenly starts acting like it drank a triple espresso, it’s probably not possessed. It’s magnetized.

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7. Clean It. Service It. Or Regret It.

You wouldn’t drive your car for ten years without an oil change. Why do you think your watch is special?

Watches are machines. Machines need maintenance. That means cleaning the case and bracelet regularly and getting the movement serviced every 3–5 years.

Servicing includes disassembling the movement, ultrasonic cleaning, oiling, adjusting, reassembling, resealing, pressure testing, and praying to the horology gods. It costs anywhere from $150 to $600 depending on brand, complexity, and whether or not you annoyed the technician.

Skip service and your watch will reward you with poor timekeeping, water damage, or a completely seized-up movement. Congratulations, you now own a very expensive paperweight.

Pro Insight™: Keep a service log. It helps with resale, insurance, and—most importantly—your own memory when you’re 50 and blaming the kids for losing your receipt.

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Final Thoughts

Final Thoughts: This Is an Investment, Not a Fidget Spinner

A well-loved, well-cared-for watch can outlive you, your dog, and your Netflix subscription. It’s more than an accessory—it’s a legacy. Something you pass down, something that speaks for you when you walk into the room or leave the world.

So yes, the care tips matter. But more importantly, they make you the kind of person who understands that longevity isn’t just about mechanics—it’s about intention. And that’s what makes your watch special.

Even if it didn’t cost five figures. Even if it runs on a battery. Even if it just makes you feel good.

Because if it matters to you, it’s worth protecting.

Pro Insight™: Take a picture of your watch. Log its service history. Write down its story. Someday, someone else will want to know it too.

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With these seven tips, you’re well on your way to mastering the art of watch care. Stick around, and you’ll pick up even more useful tips. After all, we’re in this watch journey together!