While one-fourth of folks claim they do not even wear watches to tell time, they wear them as a fashion accessory. Watches have become increasingly popular as a fashion item, and they can reveal information regarding your way of living. Rolex mechanical watches are built to last a lifetime, and if properly cared for, they can withstand multiple lifetimes. Watches are subject to normal wear and tear from everyday use, which is why they should be serviced every 3-5 years. While these mechanical watches are engineered to survive normal wear, they can still be easily damaged and destroyed, causing extensive and costly repairs in a few clever ways. Here are some reasons watches became nonfunctional and broken.
1. Keeping It Uncleaned
Dirt can damage the condition of any device, including your Rolex watches. To keep it in proper working order, clean the strap and case of your watch regularly. If your watch is not water-resistant, wipe the case and strap with a dry, soft clean rag to eliminate any excess dirt. If your watch is water-resistant, clean it with a wet towel.
2. Exposing to Chemicals
Chemicals such as detergents, soap, perfumes, and cosmetics can harm your watch strap or case. Wear your watch after your creams or perfume have fully dried on your skin. Long-term exposure to direct sunlight can also induce vanishing on the watch, so avoid continuous exposure to the sun. If the strap is destroyed, you replace it without purchasing a new watch.
3. Not Servicing Your Watch
A mechanical watch should preferably be serviced every two years, whereas quartz watches should be fixed up every three years. Also, change a dead battery as quickly as possible to prevent leakage, which can cause significant injury to your watch. But keep in mind that you should never open your watch by yourself.
4. Scratches
It’s only a matter of time before your watch shows signs of scratches. Detach your watch during activities that could cause such a thing. Avoid wearing multiple bracelets on the same wrist since jewelry has the potential to scratch the sides of the glass watch.
5. Improper Storage
When you’re not wearing your watch, make sure it’s properly stored. Use the original box and packaging, or store it in a box with your other watches, to prevent moisture and dust. If you’re storing watches in a watch box, make sure they’re kept apart from each other to discourage friction wear. Also, avoid storing your watches face down.
6. Dropping
Dropping your watch is one of the most destructive ways to destroy it. Depending on the landing surface and how the watch falls, damage can result from a small fall or from a good distance. Any time the watch slams against a concrete floor, including when it is worn and collides with anything tough, it may sustain damage.
7. Setting Functions Wrong
Inaccurately setting your watch’s functions could also cause serious damage to the movement and gears. Positioning the date during the “danger zone” period may cause a misaligned date window and ruined parts in the movement. The danger zone for setting a watch is in the middle hours of 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Throughout that time, the gears are turning to change the date.
8. Winding A Watch
Though it may appear simple and efficient to wind or set the time on your watch while wearing it, you may do more harm than good. Wearing the watch while winding can cause the crown to be accidentally pulled out or trigger you to overwind. The angle at which you move the crown can put a strain on the movement.
9. Cross-threading the Crown
Aside from pulling it at an incorrect angle, threading it back in can also harm the crown. Not all watches have a screw-down crown, so be careful when closing it. The crown could become jammed, resulting in a permanent defect. Water can also enter the movement and dial through a crown that is marginally out of alignment, causing more damage.
10. Incorrectly Aligning the Pushers
Alongside dynamically adjusting the crown, you should also align the pushers. These pushers are most usually observed in more difficult watches, such as yearly calendars and perpetual. If you don’t push them all the way in prior to letting out, the complication may become trapped in the middle. When a complication becomes locked, the wheels may break or the complication may not progress correctly.
11. Exposing to Magnetic Fields
A magnetic field may appear to be an unwitting suspect capable of causing harm to your watch. The escapement may behave unpredictably or even seize. If you’re not acquainted with the escapement, it regulates your watch’s oscillations and helps ensure consistent timing.
Takeaway
Prohibiting damage to your luxury watch will keep it running smoothly and help you avoid any costly Rolex repair. While all watches should be serviced every year, they should be in excellent working order between visits. When not in use, keep the watch in its box or any safe place.