1. Moisture
If you notice even the slightest amount of moisture inside the watch case, take it in immediately. Even the smallest drop of water can do irreparable damage to the 100’s of moving parts inside. Water causes corrosion of the watch pieces and leads to rust building upon them, as well as washing away the much-needed lubrication. Once the water has affected even one piece, it needs to be taken care of immediately.
Experts say, that if you take your watch in right away, you have much less chance of any damage being done. Do not, however, put your watch into a bag of rice or use a blow dryer because neither of those things can act inside the back of the water where the water needs to be dried up. They do suggest putting it on a hot plate, or a hot lamp to pull the moisture away from the moving parts until you can take it in. It is also wise to wear your watch at all times, even at night, in hopes that your body temperature will have the same effect. But as soon as possible, take your watch in to be dried out and checked for damage by a professional.
2. Vacation
You may not be the only one suffering from jet lag when you get home from your latest vacation. All kinds of substances and outside influences can affect your timepiece and cause problems. From airport security magnetization to sand, vacations can be deadly if you aren’t proactive about caring for your watch. The best defense is a good offense, and if you’d like to keep your watch running smoothly it’s best to take it in before you leave to make sure that everything is well lubricated, the water resistance is still intact, and everything is tightened or parts replaced if necessary. This way you can prevent problems before they even happen.
3. Rattling
If you notice any part of your watchmaking a “different” noise or if the hands seem to be loose, you should probably take it in just to be safe. There are over 100 moving parts inside the tiny machine you wear on your wrist that are constantly jostled and scraped as you go about your day. Most times, they can take a good deal of damage on the outside without having any on the inside. As a matter of fact, that is hopefully the case all the time. However, sometimes the smallest movement at just the wrong angle can force a screw out of place or move a spring slightly to the right. Just to be safe, you should take your watch in if you notice any change that might indicate that your watch isn’t ticking the same way.
4. Skipping
If you have a quartz movement watch, meaning it’s battery-operated, it is not uncommon for the second hand to start skipping every 2-5 seconds when the battery is low. When the battery voltage drops beneath a certain level most watches have a way to keep track and notify you through the second hand skipping every now and then. Once you notice this movement, get a replacement to prevent any inconvenience of your watch stopping altogether or the threat of battery acid leaking into the case. Which, needless to say, would be very bad.
5. Fast or Slow
Everyday life can cause your watch to be up to 4 seconds slow or 6 seconds fast, according to quality control standards set by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute. Some watch companies have even stricter quality control standards that allow even less of a margin of error. So if you notice that your watch is running slower or faster than this by the end of the day, something is not working right. This could be due to magnetization from a cell phone, computer, or a security checkpoint. Or it could simply be that the lubrication within the watch is getting old and not as slick anymore. Watches are tiny machines and any number of things could go wrong that might cause it to run slower or faster so if you notice this start to happen, take it in to be checked out just in case. It’s better to be safe than sorry and end up losing your investment altogether.
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