How to extend the lifespan of your watch?

　　What factors should you pay attention to if you want to extend the lifespan of your watch? Let us take a look below.

　　Methods to extend watch lifespan

　　Temperature: beware of thermal expansion and contraction

　　No watch should be used in environments with drastic temperature fluctuations. You should avoid wearing it while taking hot baths or using saunas. Because the waterproof rubber gaskets will expand and contract due to temperature changes, creating gaps and accelerating ageing, this can cause water ingress and condensation inside the watch, potentially damaging the movement in severe cases. Increased temperatures can also affect watch timing accuracy, so try to avoid exposing your watch to strong sunlight. As it is currently winter, you should especially refrain from wearing your watch during saunas or high-temperature yoga activities.

　　Strap: sweat is the greatest enemy

　　Although it is currently winter and you are less likely to sweat, it is important to remember that sweat from your wrist is the primary factor that damages a watch. Leather straps are extremely difficult to clean from sweat stains, and prolonged wear will produce odours or cause them to harden; steel bracelets can also become very slippery when exposed to sweat.

　　Magnetic fields: do not use in strong magnetic field environments

　　Both mechanical and quartz watches are vulnerable to magnetic fields. For mechanical watches, most movement components are made of steel and are easily disrupted by magnetic fields. Although quartz watches do not contain as many steel parts as mechanical ones, they are still affected. Therefore, in daily life, do not place your watch on radios or televisions, nor near the magnetic clasps of handbags or belts; you should keep your watch far away from such items.

　　Dust: clean the case appropriately

　　As editors, we believe that although we do not come into high-density contact with dust in everyday life, checking the case properly is still quite useful, as at least it keeps the appearance looking clearer.

　　Shocks: Avoid severe vibrations and impacts

　　Although watches have a certain degree of shock resistance, it is limited. Exceeding this limit can cause damage to the watch. Many watch exterior components already use materials such as ceramics, hard metals, and sapphire crystal. Although these materials have high hardness and wear resistance, they can still crack under sudden drops or impacts. Therefore, it is best not to wear a watch during activities involving intense movement. For example, do not wear any watch other than a professional golf watch while playing golf.

　　Storage: Keep winding or remove the battery

　　Even if you do not use a watch for a long time, you cannot simply neglect it. For a mechanical watch, wind it at least once every 1-2 month(s), while for a quartz watch, you need to take out the battery. This is because quartz watches basically use silver oxide batteries, which still consume power even when not in use. Once the battery runs out, it is prone to liquid leakage, which is highly corrosive and has a negative impact on the quartz watch.

　　Water resistance: It is not all-powerful

　　In our daily lives, the water resistance of ordinary watches is only 30M to 50M, and the 30M rating in water resistance standards is only splash-proof, allowing you to wear it while washing your hands and face. While a 50M rating can handle being rinsed with a small amount of water, it is still not recommended, and it must not be immersed. A 100M water resistance can be used in swimming pools or at the surface of the sea, and diving is only permitted at 200M and above.