Daily Care — Do's and Don'ts
Good daily care is mostly about small, consistent habits: keep the crown sealed, wipe the watch down, and keep it away from magnets and chemicals. Do those few things and a well-made watch will look and run beautifully for decades.
How should I clean my watch?
Everyday grime — skin oils, dust, sunscreen — builds up faster than most people think, especially in the gaps between the lugs and bracelet links. A quick wipe after each wear does more good than an occasional deep clean.
- Wipe the case and crystal with a soft microfiber cloth after wearing
- For a water-resistant steel or titanium watch, use a soft toothbrush with lukewarm soapy water on the bracelet, then dry thoroughly
- Rinse with fresh water after any contact with salt water, chlorine, or sweat
- Never use solvents, alcohol, or abrasive cleaners — they attack gaskets and coatings
- Keep the crown screwed down or fully pushed in before the watch goes anywhere near water
What should I never do to my watch?
A few habits cause the majority of avoidable repairs. Most are easy to break once you understand why they matter.
- Never change the date between roughly 8 PM and 2 AM — the date mechanism is engaged and forcing it can strip teeth
- Never operate the crown or chronograph pushers underwater
- Never wear a watch in a sauna, hot tub, or hot shower — heat and steam degrade gaskets and can pull moisture inside
- Never leave a dead battery in a quartz watch; it can leak and corrode the movement
- Apply perfume, cologne, and sunscreen first, let them dry, then put the watch on
Why does my watch suddenly run fast?
The usual culprit is magnetism. Modern life is full of magnets — laptop lids, phone cases and stands, tablet covers, speaker grilles, handbag clasps — and a magnetized hairspring makes a mechanical watch gain minutes a day.
The fix is painless: any watchmaker can demagnetize a watch in seconds, and inexpensive demagnetizing tools exist for home use. If your watch is still fast or slow after demagnetizing, or the timekeeping keeps drifting, that points to a service issue rather than a magnet.
How do I care for straps and bracelets?
- Leather straps hate water and sweat — keep them dry and rotate straps so they can breathe
- Rubber and fabric straps are the practical choice for swimming and sport
- Rinse metal bracelets periodically; trapped grit acts like sandpaper and wears the links
- Check the spring bars once or twice a year — a tired spring bar is the most common way a watch hits the floor
Can an app help me look after my watch?
Good care starts with knowing exactly what you own — the correct model, its water-resistance rating, and its service needs all follow from that. If you are unsure what a watch is, the AI Watch Identifier app can identify the brand, model, and likely reference from a single photo, which is a fast way to look up the right care and water-resistance guidance for your specific piece.
Treat the app's model match and any value estimate as an AI-generated starting point rather than a professional appraisal — confirm the reference and service history with the brand or a trusted watchmaker before making decisions. Store the watch safely when it is off your wrist, keep the crown sealed, and book a service the moment winding feels gritty or moisture appears under the crystal.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I take care of my watch day to day?
- Wipe it regularly with a soft microfiber cloth, rinse steel or titanium watches with fresh water after swimming, and always make sure the crown is pushed in or screwed down. Store it in a watch box or pouch, and remove it before applying perfume or sunscreen.
- Why shouldn't I change the date between 8 PM and 2 AM?
- During that window the movement's date-change mechanism is already engaged, and forcing the date manually can damage the tiny gears. It is one of the most important don'ts in watch care, along with avoiding strong magnetic fields and never pressing chronograph pushers underwater.
- Why is my watch suddenly running fast?
- A watch that runs fast is very often magnetized. Everyday culprits include iPad covers, handbag clasps, and refrigerator doors, and the fix is simple: a watchmaker can demagnetize it in seconds. Avoid leaving your watch near strong magnetic fields to prevent it recurring.
- Can I shower or swim in my watch?
- Only if its water resistance allows it, and even then never operate the crown or pushers while wet and keep leather straps out of water. Make sure the crown is fully pushed in or screwed down first, and avoid extreme temperature changes like hot tubs and saunas.