Your watch is a very intricate piece of engineering. As a general rule, we recommend service intervals of 3-5 years for mechanical watches and automatic watches (with self-winding movements).

Quartz watches (powered by batteries) need servicing only when required.

These services are not to be confused with maintenance services that would include the annual replacement of gaskets on all types of watches, and certified testing for water resistance.

Batteries may last between 1-3 years depending on the condition of the movement. To ensure the longevity of the time piece, batteries should only be replaced by the manufacturer or approved service agent.

Leather straps deteriorate depending on climatic conditions, acidity of perspiration and levels of general wear and tear. A leather strap should, however, last for a period of at least 6 months before replacement is necessary.

Avoid knocking or dropping your watch (a precision instrument) on any hard surface. Even though watches are manufactured to withstand a certain amount of shock, it is never advisable to subject a timepiece to constant vibrations or hard impacts.

Avoid chemical substances, gasses, mercury and direct contact with sprays such as hairsprays, perfumes or detergents as this may cause discolouration and deterioration of the seals.

As a general rule of thumb quartz watches are not affected by magnetism, but analogue watches use a tiny electric motor to turn the hands and can therefore be affected by powerful magnetic fields.

Due to the numerous metal parts that make up the movement of a mechanical watch, the performance can be affected by magnetism.

If your watch came into contact with a magnetic field it might be necessary to have it serviced and de-magnetized for it to function optimally again.

Metal bracelets should be cleaned using a soft brush, mild soap and water. Rinse with water and carefully dry with a soft cloth. If your watch is not water resistant, ensure that you get no water on the case. Clean the case, wiping gently with a slightly moist, soft cloth.

Store watches in a safe place that is dry, has a steady temperature and is free from dust.

The indicated resistance depth (e.g. 30 meters) refers to the static pressure that the watch can handle. A 30 meter water-resistant watch is in fact only splash resistant and should never be submerged in water. Impact pressure can greatly increase as the watch hits or moves through water at speed and can simulate higher pressure than the watch was designed to withstand. Therefore only use watches rated to withstand a pressure of 200 meters or more when practicing active water sports.

• Always make sure the buttons on your watch are pushed or screwed in before exposure to water.
• Buttons must not be pressed and the crown must not be pulled out, whilst a water resistant watch is under water or still wet.
• If a watch is exposed to seawater, it should be washed well in fresh water and wiped dry.
• A watch is tested for water-resistance and not to withstand high humidity. Remove your watch before showering or using a sauna as steam or humidity may compromise the water resistance or deteriorate the seals over time.
• Avoid sudden temperature changes. It may cause condensation inside the watch.

Watch guarantees only apply to manufacturing defects. The manufacturer will not compensate for accidents, negligence and ordinary wear and tear.

The time keeping of quartz watches are extremely accurate and would rarely need adjustment.

Mechanical watches (automatic / manual wind) are not as accurate as their quartz counterparts. In general, mechanical watches could have a timekeeping tolerance of about -6/+15 seconds per day. This means a mechanical watch can lose up to 3 minutes per month and still be rated accurate within the factory tolerance.

High-end Swiss watches that are COSC certified will be accurate to -4/+6 seconds per day. These watches are called Chronometers and are tested and certified for accuracy by an independent Swiss company – Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres.

In addition to this standardized test, some manufacturers have their own stringent in-house testing done to set their product apart from the rest.

After passing multiple tests in the course of 15 days, all Rolex watches receive the coveted status of Superlative Chronometer. This certifies the accuracy of a Rolex watch to a phenomenal -2/+2 seconds per day.

Omega Master Chronometer watches undergo eight Master Chronometer tests set by the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS) with a time keeping criteria of 0/+5 seconds per day.

When a mechanical watch start to gain or lose more than the factory tolerance, it is an indication that it might require a service.

If the movement is still new or recently serviced, it might be possible to have the timing adjusted through a movement regulation at the official workshop.