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.

 

Automatic mechanical watches, or those that rely on gears and mechanics to operate, have seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years after a boom of quartz watches.

Also known as self-winding or perpetual, automatic watches wind themselves using an internal moving weight that winds or rotates when the wearer moves their arm, transferring energy to a power reserve and keeping the watch working.

These watches require no batteries and can be considered “clean energy,” powered by humans. While they do not require daily winding, it is a good idea to wind an automatic watch every so often to ensure that they keep accurate time and enjoy a long life.

First, Winding your Watch

1. Keep your arm moving.
The automatic watch is built with an oscillating metal weight, or rotor, that tracks movement. The oscillating rotor is attached to gears inside the watch that are in turn attached to the mainspring. When the rotor moves, it moves the gears which, in turn, winds the mainspring. This stores energy in the mainspring so that the watch continues ticking. If the watch is not being moved in regular, everyday motion, the mainspring’s energy winds down. If you wear your watch and keep your arm in regular movement, this should be enough to keep the rotor moving and winding up the mainspring. This doesn’t mean, however, that your arm needs to be in constant motion. Automatic watches are built to respond to average, everyday movement in order to keep them working

2. Take the watch off your wrist.
While an automatic watch is intended to restore its energy by the rotor winding the mainspring through the motion of your arm, it does also require periodic manual winding to keep the mainspring tight. In order to ensure that the crown is not overly strained when you pull it out and wind it, you should take it off your wrist. Then you will be able to have the right leverage and angle to carefully pull the crown out.

3. Locate the crown.

4.Turn the crown clockwise.

5. Always set the time by moving forward.

6. Make sure the crown is pushed all the way in.

7. Compare your watch’s timekeeping with another watch.

Second, Using a Watch Winder

1. Choose which kind of watch winder you need.
A watch winder is a device that keeps automatic watches wound when they are not being worn by moving the watch in a circular pattern to mimic the movement of a human’s arm. These can range in price from $50 to $400, with top-of-the-line models costing up to $8,000. There are functional, elegant and extravagant models of watch winders.

2. Choose how many watches you want to wind at a time.
There are winders for single watches or for multiple watches. If you have a rotation of watches that you wear frequently, you may opt to get a watch winder that can hold several watches at once. If you have just one watch that you wear frequently, a single watch winder might be more useful.

3. Determine the direction of the watch winder rotation.
Many automatic watches rely on clockwise motion, while others rely on counter-clockwise or bi-directional movement. Check with your watch’s manufacturer to figure out which motion your watch needs.

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A Swiss watch has come to be known as an often expensive, precise, and luxurious accessory. When it comes to Swiss watches, there are a range of choices available, from the plastic Swatch to a luxury item costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Understanding your budget, the type of watch you want, and how to verify a Swiss watches’ authenticity are all important steps before spending any money.

First, Choosing a Style for Your Swiss Watch

1. Set your budget before starting your search.

Because Swiss watches range so much in price, costing anywhere from thousands dollars to millions of dollars, it is important to know how much you are willing to spend before considering which features you are looking for. Set your budget first and don’t allow yourself to buy a watch you can’t afford.
There are many things that dictate the price of a Swiss watch, and once you’ve set a budget you can prioritize which features are most important to you.

2. Purchase a Swiss Made watch if you are willing to spend more.

Definitely the more expensive option, purchasing a Swiss Made watch means that the movement was manufactured, cased, and inspected by the manufacturer in Switzerland. This label also means that at least 50% of all the watch’s components were made, assembled, and inspected in Switzerland.

• The movement on a Swiss Made watch should be smaller than 50mm in diameter and 12mm in thickness. If your watch exceeds these parameters, it is probably counterfeit.

3. Buy a Swiss Movement watch if you want to save money.

Watches with the Swiss Movement label are often much cheaper than Swiss Made watches, as it means that the only thing Swiss about the watch is the movement. Many watches are mass-produced with Swiss movements, and this does not guarantee that you are purchasing a good watch. If you are buying on a budget, buying a Swiss Movement watch is the way to go.

• These watches can be found for as low as 20 dollars, but could reach as high as thousands of dollars, depending on the brand and the materials that make up the watch.

4. Select a mechanical watch for a classic feel.

Often thought of as works of art, mechanical watches are the classic type of Swiss watch movement and are often more expensive than other movements. Mechanical movements must be wound periodically and are not nearly as accurate as quartz watches, but they are popular because of their beautiful and unique craftsmanship.

5. Get an automatic watch if you are looking for accuracy and simplicity.

Although automatic watches resemble mechanical movements in their beauty and craftsmanship, they take much less effort to maintain. An automatic calibre uses the movement of your wrist to wind the mainspring, which in turn powers the watch, instead of relying on you to wind it every day.

• This is a great option for someone who does not care too much about the classical mechanics of a Swiss watch but is still looking for a high end, expensive watch.

6. Buy a quartz watch if you are on a budget.

Quartz movements are set and regulated by a small piece of quartz and a small battery. Quartz movements are often found in high end street watches because they are accurate and cheap to make.

• Quartz movements are a great choice if the mechanics of the watch are less important to you than a watch’s aesthetic and accessories, as you can save money to put toward more of a flashy watch.

Second, Confirming the Authenticity

1. Make sure the price is reasonable and realistic.

Because Swiss watches are so popular and so expensive, it is common for scammers to sell counterfeit watches. Look at the price right away, and decide if it is reasonable, or too good to be true. Use a search engine like Google to compare the price of the watch to what is typical seen online. If it is much cheaper, it is probably a scam.

• When in doubt, it is better to walk away from a purchase if you think there is a chance you could be buying a counterfeit Swiss watch.

2. Clarify the watch’s markings.

Every Swiss watch, whether it is a Swiss Made watch or a Swiss Movement watch, will have official markings on the dial. These markings will be below the watch’s brand name, and will be in small writing. If you notice that the watch has a variant of one of these terms, such as “Made in Switzerland,” then it is not an authentic Swiss watch.

3. Verify that the watch seller has the watch certificate.

While buying a Swiss watch, ask a shop assistant or store employee to show you the certificate of conformance and health certificate of the watch you plan to purchase. Only authentic Swiss watches will have these certifications and, if the store is unable to show them to you, it is best not to buy the watch.

• If you are buying the watch online, request to have photos of the certification sent via email before you purchase the watch.

4. Find the watch in an online catalog and look for flaws in your watch.

If you have your eyes set on a specific watch, visit the brand’s website and search for photographs of the watch. Many brands will have up close, clear photographs of their watches. Compare these photos with the watch you are thinking about purchasing and search for inaccuracies or flaws. If you find any glaring differences, it might mean it is a counterfeit.

• Look closely to the detail in the dial, the materials used, and things like the stitching on the strap.
• If you find anything that stands out between the two, chances are the watch you are purchasing is a counterfeit, as Swiss watch producers are very consistent.

5. Ask about the watch’s warranty.

Swiss watches have a strict two to three year warranty, no matter what watch you are purchasing. If a store clerk or shop employee offers you a ten-year warranty, chances are the watch is not an authentic Swiss watch but a counterfeit.

Third, Purchasing the Swiss Watch

1. Buy your watch directly from the watchmaker.

Stores like Swatch, which is an authentic Swiss watchmaker, have many storefronts for you to visit, which will allow you to choose a watch in person with the help of a professional company. If you have a brand of Swiss watch in mind, search for their website online to see if they have a store near you.

• Purchasing your watch directly from the Swiss watchmaking company ensures that the watch you are getting is legitimate and that you are speaking with a professional.

2. Visit a department store like Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, or Selfridge’s. Many department stores have a wide collection of Swiss watches, and you can ask a customer service representative to show you which models are Swiss.

Many department stores will have watches with quartz movements, and will have watches priced at the lower end of the Swiss watch market.

• Although buying a watch at a department store limits your chances of customizability, with slimmer options than online, you will be able feel the watch and decide if it is a good fit for you.

3. Purchase a luxury mechanical or automatic watch at a jewelry store. Jewelers like Harold Freeman and Tiffany & Co. will be able to recommend the best, most accurate Swiss watches.

They may also be able to suggest vintage watches that have been repaired and are collector’s items, if your budget allows for it.

• These high-end jewelers also have online stores for you to browse watches before you decide to enter a store, or if there are no stores near you.

4. Purchase your watch online through a classic brand.

Many of the companies that have already been mentioned will have online stores from which you can purchase Swiss watches without leaving home.
This is a great option if a company has a watch you are interested in stock, but there is not a storefront near you.

• The only downside to purchasing a Swiss watch online is that you won’t be able to try the watch on yourself. Be sure to ask if the company has a return policy, and send the watch back if it does not fit properly.

5. Purchase your Swiss watch online from a private dealer or auction.

Websites like eBay are continually auctioning Swiss watches from private dealers, with the price being set by the public.
Many people consider classic mechanical movements to be works of art, and an online auction is a great place to find a used, classic time piece from an independent seller.

• When purchasing from an independent seller, it is very important to clarify the watch’s authenticity, as these private sellers could be selling counterfeits.