Watch Care Guide
A well-made watch is designed to be worn and enjoyed, but a few simple precautions can help preserve its appearance, performance, and reliability over time.
The guidance below applies generally to watch care. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions supplied with your particular watch, as construction, movement, materials, and water-resistance specifications vary between models.
Water Resistance
Water resistance is not permanent.
Seals, gaskets, crowns, and other components can deteriorate through age, wear, servicing, or accidental impact. A watch that was water resistant when new may therefore require periodic inspection to help maintain its original level of protection.
Always use your watch within its confirmed water-resistance rating and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the specific model.
For a more detailed explanation of common ratings, please see our Water Resistance Guide.
Hot Water, Steam, and Temperature Changes
Avoid exposing your watch to very hot water, steam rooms, saunas, or hot tubs unless the manufacturer specifically confirms that the watch is suitable for those conditions.
Extreme or sudden temperature changes can affect seals and other components and may create conditions that compromise water resistance or cause condensation.
A watch rated for water resistance should not automatically be assumed suitable for exposure to hot water or steam.
Crowns and Pushers
Do not operate the crown, pushers, or other controls underwater or while the watch is wet unless the manufacturer expressly confirms that they are designed for that use.
If your watch has a screw-down crown, make sure that the crown is correctly and securely screwed into the case before exposing the watch to water.
Never force a crown, pusher, bezel, or other control if it does not move normally.
After Exposure to Salt Water
If a suitably water-resistant watch has been exposed to salt water, sand, or mud, follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.
Where the watch is suitable for rinsing, fresh water can help remove salt and particles that might otherwise accumulate around the case, bezel, crown, or bracelet.
Dry the watch carefully afterward using a clean, soft cloth.
Do not rinse or immerse a watch unless its confirmed water-resistance rating and manufacturer instructions make this appropriate.
Leather Straps
Leather is naturally more sensitive to moisture than many metal or synthetic bracelet and strap materials.
Regular exposure to water, perspiration, oils, cosmetics, and chemicals can cause leather to discolor, harden, soften, crack, stain, or deteriorate.
If a leather strap becomes damp, gently dry it with a soft cloth and allow it to dry naturally at room temperature.
Do not use direct heat, hair dryers, radiators, or other artificial heat sources to dry a leather strap.
Remember that a water-resistant watch case does not necessarily mean that the strap fitted to the watch is suitable for water exposure.
Impact and Shock
Watches are designed to withstand normal everyday use, but severe impacts, falls, or knocks against hard surfaces can damage the movement, crystal, case, crown, bracelet, strap, or other components.
Impact may also affect seals and therefore reduce a watch's water resistance.
If your watch receives a significant impact and you are concerned about its operation or water resistance, have it assessed before further exposure to water.
Chemicals, Perfume, and Cosmetics
Avoid unnecessary direct contact between your watch and strong chemicals, solvents, detergents, cleaning products, perfumes, cosmetics, or similar substances.
Depending on the material, these substances may affect finishes, coatings, seals, lubricants, leather, rubber, adhesives, or other components.
Where possible, allow perfumes, lotions, sunscreen, and other cosmetic products to dry before putting on your watch.
Cleaning Your Watch
For routine care, gently wipe the watch with a clean, soft, and dry cloth.
More extensive cleaning methods should only be used when compatible with the watch's materials, construction, and water-resistance rating.
Do not use abrasive cleaners, harsh chemicals, rough cloths, brushes, or other materials that could scratch or damage the case, crystal, bezel, bracelet, or strap.
Always follow manufacturer-specific cleaning instructions where available.
Magnetism
Strong magnetic fields can affect the performance of certain mechanical and electronic watches.
Where practical, avoid prolonged close contact with powerful magnets, magnetic clasps, speakers, industrial equipment, or other strongly magnetic sources.
If a mechanical watch suddenly begins gaining or losing an unusual amount of time after exposure to a strong magnetic source, it may require professional assessment.
Changing the Date
Some watches with mechanical calendar mechanisms have a period during which the movement is already engaging the automatic date-change mechanism.
Manually using a quick-set date function during that period can damage certain movements.
The restricted period varies by movement, so there is no universal time window that applies to every watch.
Always consult the manufacturer's manual before manually adjusting the date, day, moon phase, annual calendar, perpetual calendar, or other calendar functions.
Automatic and Mechanical Watches
An automatic mechanical watch may stop after it has not been worn for a period of time. This is normal and does not necessarily indicate a fault.
The movement stores a limited amount of energy when wound. Once that power reserve is exhausted, the watch will stop until it is wound or worn again.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for winding, setting, and operating your particular movement.
Do not force the crown or winding mechanism if you feel unusual resistance.
Mechanical watches may also display normal variations in timekeeping. The expected accuracy depends on the individual movement and the manufacturer's specifications.
Quartz Watches and Batteries
Quartz watches rely on a battery or another electrical power source, depending on the movement and technology used.
Battery life varies according to the movement, functions, operating conditions, and frequency of use.
When a conventional quartz battery requires replacement, we recommend having it replaced by an appropriate watch service professional rather than attempting to open the watch yourself.
Leaving a depleted battery inside a watch for an unnecessarily long period may increase the risk of leakage or internal damage.
If the watch is water resistant, appropriate inspection and testing of the seals and water resistance may be advisable after the case has been opened.
Condensation
A brief mist may occasionally appear following a sudden temperature change, but persistent condensation or visible droplets beneath the crystal should not be ignored.
If moisture remains visible inside the watch, stop exposing the watch to water and seek professional assistance as soon as reasonably possible.
Persistent moisture inside the case may indicate that the watch's water resistance has been compromised.
Bracelets and Clasps
Metal bracelets and clasps can accumulate dust, perspiration, oils, and other residue through normal wear.
Clean them only using methods appropriate for the materials and water-resistance specification of the watch.
Periodically inspect the bracelet, clasp, spring bars, screws, and other attachment points for unusual looseness, damage, or wear.
If a bracelet, clasp, or attachment point appears damaged or insecure, discontinue use until it has been assessed.
Storage
When your watch is not being worn, store it in a clean, dry environment away from excessive heat, moisture, direct sunlight, and strong temperature fluctuations.
Where possible, avoid storing the watch in prolonged contact with strong magnetic sources, chemicals, or materials that may cause scratches.
The original watch box or another suitable protective watch case can provide additional protection during storage.
If storing multiple watches together, keep them separated where practical to reduce the risk of cases, crystals, bracelets, or clasps scratching one another.
Do Not Attempt Repairs Yourself
Do not open, dismantle, modify, or attempt to repair a watch yourself unless you are appropriately qualified to do so.
Watches contain small and precisely fitted components, and improper intervention can cause additional damage, affect accuracy, or compromise water resistance.
Unauthorized repair, alteration, modification, or servicing may also affect applicable warranty coverage where the work causes or contributes to a fault.
Professional Servicing
Mechanical and electronic watches may require periodic maintenance depending on the movement, construction, frequency of use, environmental exposure, and manufacturer recommendations.
There is no single servicing interval that applies to every watch.
Follow the manufacturer's recommended service schedule for your particular model and seek professional assessment if you notice unusual timekeeping, resistance when operating controls, moisture inside the case, abnormal noises, reduced power reserve, or other unexpected behavior.
Water Damage and Warranty
Water damage resulting from use inconsistent with the watch's confirmed water-resistance specification, manufacturer instructions, intended use, improper operation, unauthorized alteration, or misuse may not be covered by the applicable warranty.
Water resistance should never be assumed where a confirmed rating has not been stated for the watch.
Warranty coverage varies by product. Certain watches are covered by an official manufacturer warranty, while other eligible watches are covered by the Stalder & Reid 5-Year Movement Warranty.
For complete information regarding coverage, conditions, limitations, and exclusions, please see our Warranty.
Manufacturer Instructions Come First
Watches vary significantly in their construction, movement, materials, functions, water resistance, and resistance to external conditions.
Always read and follow the manufacturer's manual, warranty documentation, or product instructions supplied with your particular watch.
Where manufacturer guidance differs from the general information contained in this guide, the instructions applicable to your specific watch should be followed.
Need Help With Your Watch?
If you purchased your watch from Stalder & Reid and need assistance with its care, operation, specifications, or warranty, please contact:
Stalder & Reid Client Services
Email: clientservices@stalderandreidus.com
Where possible, include your order number and the watch name or manufacturer reference number so that we can assist you more efficiently.
Last updated: September 8, 2026