While “water resistance” is a fairly common feature of most watches, there is a lot more to it than most people are aware of. Whether you’re a diving enthusiast, headed for a beach vacation, or just curious about water resistance, here are some advice and recommended precautions to help you keep your watch safe and protected for years to come.

WATERPROOF VS WATER RESISTANT

What does it mean for a watch to be “waterproof?”
The truth is that no watch is waterproof. There is always a limit to how much water pressure a watch can handle. The term “waterproof” implies that a watch can’t leak under any circumstance—that no moisture will permeate the case and get into the movement. However, under certain circumstances anything can leak. Therefore, in the watch industry, we refer to a watch’s ability to withstand water pressure as water resistance.

What does it mean if the back of my watch is stamped with “Water Resistant?”
A watch stamped with “Water Resistant” means that it is humidity-protected. It can endure a bit of water splashes from washing your hands or being caught in the rain. However, water resistance does not mean you should swim or shower with your watch on.

Water is the biggest enemy of a watch. If you go swimming or play sports, you should have your watch checked for an accurate reading of its water resistance levels every year. The outside case may look rugged and big, but the movement is very tiny and very delicate. The only thing that stands between your watch and water is a small gasket, a tiny O-ring that is usually made of rubber or silicon. Gaskets form seals around the stem of the crown, pushers, and correctors and sit inside the case and the crystal. Over time, they dry out and lose elasticity and the ability to form a proper seal. This explains why regular testing is so important for maintaining the water resistance of a watch.

What is an atmosphere or a bar?
These are the measurements used by the watch industry to denote the amount of pressure a watch can withstand, not the depth to which the watch can be worn. ATM stands for atmosphere. 1 atmosphere is equal to about 10 meters or roughly 30 feet. A bar is just another way of stating atmospheres.

How is a diver’s watch different from a complicated watch?
Diving watches are specifically engineered for heavy water usage and can withstand depths of at least 200 meters. They have minimal openings for water to permeate through with only one screw-down crown, sturdy case, extra heavy gaskets around the crystal, and extra heavy gaskets around the case back. If you are planning to regularly swim, dive, surf or boat while wearing your watch, a diving watch is an excellent option to consider.

WATER RESISTANCE TESTING

How often should I have my watch tested?
We suggest having a watch tested at least once a year, but much of this depends on one’s lifestyle. For example, a person who surfs regularly—going in and out of salt water and in and out of sandy places—should have his/her watch tested a few times a year. Salt water especially causes a lot of corrosion and wear and tear on all parts of the watch, which ultimately causes the water resistance level of the watch to drop over time.

What happens during a water resistance test?
Each watch is tested a little bit differently, but the most important thing is to first make sure that all the gaskets are sealed and water resistant. Over time, the gaskets will need to be replaced and lubricated.

SWIMMING & SHOWERING

What should I do if I accidentally go swimming with my expensive watch?
One drop of water inside the watch can do major damage. The first thing to do is place the watch on a lamp or hot plate or even a radiator to warm up the back. This will move the moisture away from the delicate moving parts. You should also continue to wear your watch all the time—even at night. Your body temperature will provide enough warmth to keep the moisture away from the movement. Once you get home, bring the watch to your nearest store to have it opened, dried and cleaned, and repaired of any water damage.

Can I shower with my watch on?
It is strongly advisable not to shower with your watch on. Shampoo, soaps and other liquids are highly corrosive to a watch’s delicate components and will wear it out much sooner. If you accidentally expose your watch to soap, you should rinse it off with fresh water and dry it as quickly as possible.

Can I go swimming with my chronograph?
While chronographs are very well-crafted timepieces and typically water resistant, they are not intended for swimming or diving. A chronograph is a complicated watch, which actually has several openings for water to enter: 2 push buttons, a crown, the crystal, and the case back gasket. At each of these points, there is a gasket that forms a seal, which protects the movement from water damage.

Here are some tips for protecting your chronograph when near water:

Never turn the bezel, adjust the crown, or push the pushers while underwater as this will break the seal of the gasket, leaving the watch open for water to enter.
Always check to make sure the crown is properly pushed in or screwed down to ensure that the gasket is fully sealed.
My watch says it’s water resistant up to 100 meters; can I dive into the pool wearing it?
Diving into a pool causes an immediate change in pressure—even though it only lasts for a few seconds—and can cause a major shock to a watch that is not meant for diving. Water resistance is all about pressure; the moment you hit the water, there is an immediate shift in pressure, which forces the watch to go above its recommended water resistance level. Diving into the pool multiple times (and smacking the water’s surface each time) will eventually push the amount of pressure applied to the watch over its limit, at which point water will be forced through the gaskets and into the movement.

Can I get my leather strap wet?
Leather straps should never get wet. Exposure to moisture, high humidity, direct intense light, cosmetic or oil products will cause the leather to deteriorate prematurely as well as stain or discolor the strap. If your leather strap accidentally comes in contact with any of these elements, dry the strap immediately with a soft absorbent cloth to help reduce any further damage.

Traditionally, gold has been the standard material used for watches, but over the years styles and looks have changed. Materials widely used in the automotive, medical, and aerospace industries have permeated horology, inspiring watchmakers to experiment with new lightweight elements and fusions such as:

Let’s see their difference:

STAINLESS STEEL

Made of iron-carbon alloy mixed with chromium and nickel

Features

• Lightweight
• Affordable
• Highly corrosion-resistant

Other uses

Architecture, monuments, bridges, automotive and aerospace structures, surgical instruments

• EXPLORE:  https://anyreplicawatches.net/item.php?item_id=8451&category_id=560

CERAMIC

Made of zirconium oxide, a non-metallic material created by the action of heating and cooling

Features

• Durable, lightweight, scratch-resistant, smooth and modern
• Can be produced in a variety of hues and finishes

Other uses

Jet engines, heat shield that protects NASA space shuttle

• EXPLORE: https://anyreplicawatches.net/category.php?category_id=163&page=g

TITANIUM

Titanium alloyed with iron, aluminum, vanadium, molybdenum, or other metals

Features

• Lightweight, durable, dent and corrosion-resistant
• Non-allergenic
• Highest strength-to-weight ratio

Other uses

Aerospace, naval ships, performance/racing automotive, wide range of medical instruments and sporting goods

• EXPLORE: https://anyreplicawatches.net/item.php?item_id=6055&page=3

CARBON FIBER

Carbon thermally decomposed into braided fibers and surrounded by resin

Features

• Tough
• Lightweight
• Contemporary style

Other uses

Aviation, military, space, aeronautic, and medical instruments

PHYSICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION (PVD)

Steel with a vacuum coating of oxides, carbides or nitrides, deposited by ionic attraction

Features

• Increased durability
• Reduced friction on metal components

Other uses

Military, automotive, and aerospace

DIAMOND-LIKE CARBON (DLC)

Carbon coating with similar properties to diamond

Features

• Ultra-hard with strong resistance to wear and scratches
• Low friction; slick
• Resilient to damage or coating dents from physical shock

Other uses

Engines of modern super sport motorcycles, Formula 1 race cars, NASCAR vehicles, aeronautics

A metal in which fineness (the percentage of pure gold versus the percentage of base metals) is expressed in karats. 18 karat gold (75 percent pure gold) is standard for watch cases and high grade jewelry in white, yellow, rose and red gold. This is obtained by adjusting the proportions of copper and silver in the 25% of the alloy not consisting of gold.

Yellow Gold

To create the beautiful color of yellow gold, pure gold is alloyed with a combination of silver and copper. The bold color creates a timeless and classic look for a fine timepiece that will never go out of style.

White Gold

To create the stunning color of white gold, pure gold is alloyed with a combination of nickel, copper, zinc and palladium. A common color choice in watches, white gold is a more subtle look over yellow gold.

Red/Pink/Everose Gold

• EXPLORE: https://anyreplicawatches.net/item.php?item_id=5383&page=g&category_id=187

RUBBER/SILICONE

A rubber-like material comprised of silicon, carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

Features

• Heat and cold resistant
• Good weatherability
• Water repellent
• Pleasant to the touch with a high-grade feel

Other uses

Medical applications, consumer electronics, office automation, automobiles, electrical wiring, food

You’d never wear the same pair of socks every day without washing them. The same goes with shirts and just about everything else we put on our bodies. However, there’s often one exception: a watch Opens a New Window. —specifically the strap. Just like any other material, your watch strap can get dirty, smell, and even be ruined without proper cleanings.

Here’s how to safely clean your watch bracelet or strap at home.

Noted: Please be careful of your watch to avoid the water inside, scratches or damage when you’re cleaning.

Step 1: Separate the band

If you have a removable band on your watch, it is a good idea to separate it from the face and the mechanical part of the watch for the cleaning. This is because you should avoid getting those parts of your watch wet.
If you aren’t able to remove it, don’t worry. You just need to make sure that you don’t damage to working parts when you apply the cleaner.

Watch Band style:

* Clean a Metal Watch Bracelet with Soap and Water

Most watch bracelets can be quickly cleaned with a polishing cloth. Work a polishing cloth in between the alternating links by bending the bracelet and rubbing the cloth against the grooves. This should easily loosen and wipe away any surface dirt.

* Clean a Leather Watch Strap

After you have removed the leather strap from the watch, gently rub a leather cleaner—a little bit goes a long way—into the leather strap with a clean, lint-free cloth. Always do a patch test in a discreet area of the watch strap before using it all over.

To preserve the integrity of your leather watch strap, limit the number of times you clean it with a leather cleaner. Heavy duty leather cleaners like saddle soap can soften (and eventually weaken) the leather so do not use it more than twice a year. Instead, get in the habit of regularly wiping it down with a soft, lint-free cloth and swiping a damp cloth over it when you need a deeper clean.

* Clean an Exotic Leather Watch Strap

Although saddle soap is a reliable cleaning agent for smooth calfskin leather, skip it if you have an exotic leather watch strap. Saddle soap can get trapped in the thin grooves of a textured alligator, crocodile or lizard leather strap, leaving behind a white crust. Instead, use a cleaning product specifically made for exotic leather.

Beeswax is an alternative gentle cleaner. Simply rub the beeswax onto the watch strap with a soft, lint-free cloth. Let the strap dry away from direct sunlight. Once dry, buff it with a soft cloth. But, before you coat your alligator watch strap in beeswax, do a patch test in a discreet area of the watch strap to ensure it does not discolor the leather.

If you’re nervous about cleaning the exotic leather, safe yourself the stress and bring it to a professional watchmaker for a safe cleaning.

* Clean a NATO Watch Strap

A fabric NATO strap is the easiest watch strap to clean—lucky you. Simply use a little mild dish soap and warm water and gently scrub the strap. Rinse it thoroughly and set it on a flat surface, away from direct sunlight, to air dry.

Do not use any kind of heater or hair dryer to try and expedite the drying process. You run a serious risk of melting or burning the strap. Be patient and let it just air dry.

Step 2: Choose a cleanser

You should use a mild soap or rubbing alcohol for most types of watches. If you have a gold watch, or it is made of silver or a platinum material, you might consider using a small amount of jewelry cleaner. Using water alone is not going to be very effective.
If you do use some water, make sure that it is mixed with a mild soap (such as dish soap) and don’t get the inside wet.

Step 3: Use a soft cloth or a soft toothbrush

Don’t use a scrubber sponge, a hard bristle toothbrush or paper towel. Abrasive materials can add scratches to your watch that you don’t want. Make sure that you use a soft material to wipe away stains, oils and germs. Rub gently in a circular motion to clean your watch.

Step 4: Make sure it’s dry

It is important to make sure that you remove all of the moisture from the band of the watch, and any other part of the watch that may have gotten wet. Even though you do not use very much liquid during the cleaning process, you will want to make sure that there isn’t any moisture left.

If you leave it wet, mildew might develop, and you don’t want that on your watch! Also, depending on the material it is made out of, wetness can cause rust. Make sure that you take a smooth, dry cloth and dry your watch well.

That is all. Now you can put your watch band back on and wear your watch. You might want to leave it alone for a while since you put the work into cleaning it, however. Anyway, that is all there is to it, and you can clean your watch every couple of months to keep it shiny and nice.

By the way, To clean the inner workings, take the watch to a professional.

When you’re choosing a watch, there are many decisions you need to make. One of the most crucial choices is which type of movement. For those of you who are not familiar, the movement of a watch refers to the mechanism behind how it ticks.

A movement is what makes a watch “go.” （It’s also known as a “calibre”) is the engine of a watch that acts as the powerhouse to make the watch and its functions work.

Below listed 3 Common Watch Movements

1. Quartz Movement
An easy way to differentiate a quartz from a mechanical movement is by looking at the second hand. On a quartz watch, the second hand has the tick-tick motion that moves once per second while mechanical watches have a smooth, sweeping seconds motion.
It’s powered by a battery.

Quartz movements are very accurate and require minimal maintenance aside from battery replacements. They tend to be low cost since they are battery powered and have few moving parts. Quartz watches aren’t as desirable to most watch enthusiasts because they lack the technical craftsmanship and engineering that mechanical timepieces have. Quartz movements in fine Swiss watch brands。

2. Manual-Wind Movement
Considered to be the most traditional movement, manual movements are the oldest type of watch movement. Manual-wind watches that we carry are often loved for their beautiful display of the watch movement, which can usually be seen through the case-back. These movements are often referred to as “hand-wound movements” because they have to be manually wound by hand to create energy in the watch’s mainspring.

Manual-wind watches have a fixed power reserve and need to be wound relatively frequently since there is no automatic or self-winding element to the movement.

3. Automatic/Self-winding Movement
Movement is a mechanical movement first marketed in the beginning decades of the 20th century. It winds itself while worn on the wrist, eliminating the need for daily hand winding. However, if not worn for some time, the watch will stop and require a manual winding. This does not include taking the watch off before bed.

Watches with automatic movements are very popular because the wearer doesn’t have to worry about winding the watch daily to ensure constant operation. As long as the watch is worn regularly, it will maintain power without requiring winding.

Protecting your watch is essential to the effective operation and long life of any watch. Making your favorite timepiece last is simply a matter of regular awareness and regular maintenance.

First, Avoiding Harm

1. Wear any bracelets or chains on your other wrist

Wrist jewelry has the potential to scratch either the sides or the face of your watch. Only fabric or thin leather bracelets would be acceptable along with a watch. Avoid metal on the same wrist, no matter what. Friendship bracelets, knitted and crocheted bracelets are not harmful either.

2. Keep it out of extreme temperatures

 
Specifically no warmer than 140 °F (60 °C) and no colder than 32 degrees. High heat or cold may affect how lubricants inside the mechanics of the watch allow it to operate.
The temperature doesn’t have to be extreme to be harmful. For example, the considerable heat generated by a warm shower along with the humidity involved make a dangerous environment for a watch.

3. Take it off for high activity

If you know you’re going to play sports or go rock climbing, leave your watch off to avoid damage. While most watches can take some hits, too many will add up to serious damage. This too is why you must always avoid dropping the watch. The mechanics inside it can also get banged-up too much.

Alternatively, purchase an inexpensive watch that you wouldn’t mind getting dirty or scratched. There are also more pricey options designed for wear and tear if you’re unable to avoid high activity entirely.

4. Leave it off when applying fragrance or cosmetics

While acceptable to the human body, some chemicals in cosmetics may interfere with water resistance or the operation of the watch. Keep your watches out of your bathroom while you ready yourself for the day. As a rule, have the watch be the last thing you put on when dressing.

5. Keep your watch away from magnets

Usually found in televisions or laptops, keep your watch away from common electromagnetic devices. Never allow your watch to rest on your laptop. Magnets may adversely affect how the metal components inside the watch work which in turn will affect its operation. This will not apply to digital watches, or any watch which does not rely on gear mechanics.

If unavoidable, look for “anti-magnetic” watches which include technology to prevent damage from magnets.

Second, Maintaining and Storing Your Watch

1. Get regular maintenance
Take your watch to a professional to be serviced every three to four years. Make sure to have your water resistance tested after every battery change; the act of changing the battery compromises the water resistant seal. If your watch is a Quartz time piece, you may want to consider having it serviced entirely after every battery change.

2. Keep your mechanical watch wound
If you have a mechanical watch (it should not say “quartz,” “kinetic,” or “eco-drive” on the face) it will need to be rewound every once and a while to maintain the time. Unscrew the crown of the watch (if necessary) and begin to turn it clockwise (away from you). This may take anywhere from 20 to 40 turns. Stop winding once you encounter resistance, then turn back the crown five or six turns to reset the lubricant and reduce some of the strain on the watch’s mechanics.

3. Clean your watch often
Dip your watch in warm, slightly soapy water. Rinse it with clean water and dry it with a soft cloth. Do this every couple of weeks, or whenever your watch gets dirty. Regular brushing with a soft toothbrush is also helpful to get rid of tiny debris or anything stuck in the wrist band.

4. Store in a dry place
Humidity and dust are the two main dangers in storing your watches. Have designated dry place (away from your bathroom is a general tip) and try to keep the original packaging of all your watches for an easy storage space. Never store your watches face down to prevent scratching the face. Be sure to wear any one of your watches from time to time to monitor their operation; don’t let a broken watch gather dust.
If you’re storing watches near one another, make sure to have something to keep them from contact, to avoid scratches. For something on the cheap use acid-free tissue paper wadded up as an effective barrier.
Don’t use bubble wrap as protective storing. The packaging can retain moisture, causing rust or other damage.