We have assembled some interesting facts about watches based on our watchmaker’s forty plus years of experience in the trade.
“Overwinding”
Technically speaking, it is impossible to “wind too tight” or to “over-wind” a watch. There is no device in the movement of a watch which will cause it to stop when fully wound. If your watch is fully wound and does not function there is either something broken, worn out or it just simply needs servicing.
“Self Winding Watches”
Self winding, or automatic, watches do not wind themselves completely when worn. The automatic winding device was invented to maintain constant power on the mainspring of a watch. Consistent power supply equals better timekeeping. Running fully wound constantly equals best possible timekeeping. Although your automatic watch will likely run just by wearing it (if it is in good condition) you will get much better accuracy by fully winding it manually before wearing it.
“If it isn’t broken…”
All moving parts in a watch require lubrication to reduce friction. The life expectancy of the synthetic oils used in watches is approximately five years. To replenish the oil in a watch involves a complete disassembly of the movement. The parts are then cleaned thoroughly to remove old lubrication and then reassembled adding new oil and grease along the way. This is a simple overhaul.
“Don’t fix it.”
Allowing your watch to run with old oil – or no oil – causes wear. Wear causes breakdown. Broken parts are very expensive to replace in watches. We recommend maintenance overhauls every five years to avoid expensive repairs.
“Waterproof”
Here is the secret code used by the watch industry to tell you what those depth ratings really mean:
(Note: 30 meters = accidental splashing)
“I like to wear it loose.”
Because watches have delicate instruments inside the case we need to be aware of subjecting them to excessive damage. A watch worn loose tends to hit on table or desk tops more often. The pins holding the bracelet together can be bent or broken when the watch is worn against the back of your hand. Wearing your watch on the inside of your wrist will cause extra damage to the crystal since we more often lay our hands down on the bottoms.
“Mineral vs. Sapphire”
Mineral crystals made of tempered, hardened glass are very scratch resistant and when found in thicknesses of 2mm or more can be extremely break proof. Sapphire crystals, made of synthetic sapphire, can only be scratched by other sapphires or diamonds. But unless they are at least 2mm thick they are more prone to breakage.
Here’s a good video showing how a watch works: