The following is a general guideline for caring for your watch. Observing these simple tips can help ensure your timepiece’s longevity. Keep in mind, all watches are different. Please review your warranty for specific instructions about your particular watch. With a little bit of care, your watch can last a lifetime.
Need Service?
GENERAL CARE GUIDE
Maintenance
Like any other piece of machinery, a watch must be cleaned, oiled and serviced on a regular basis. Your warranty will advise you on cleaning, but when your watch begins to gain or lose time, or it stops completely, just bring your watch to Hyde Park for servicing. We will evaluate your watch and give you a free estimate. Hyde Park is authorized to work on Cartier, Baume & Mercier, Raymond Weil, Tag, Gucci and many more. Repairs are done on-site by our master watchmaker. Your watch will usually need cleaning every three to five years, but it depends on the watch.
Quartz Watches
Watches that are powered by batteries are known as quartz watches. Batteries will last anywhere from one to five years, but most last about eighteen months. Either your watch will stop or the second hand will begin jumping a few seconds at a time. When this happens, bring your watch to Hyde Park for a battery replacement. We replace batteries on-site and most can be ready within two days or sooner.
Exterior Cleaning
For regular cleaning of the bracelet on a water-resistant watch, use a toothbrush and warm soapy water. For diving watches, after swimming or diving in saltwater, make sure you rinse your watch with clean water. Over time, saltwater can build-up on the watch and damage the finish.
Water Resistance
Before exposing your water-resistant watch to moisture, make sure the crown is completely in the case. If you own a diving watch, most have screw-down crowns and case backs and you should make sure it is completely screwed down before submerging it in water. Otherwise, water could leak in and damage your movement. Water can get into your movement in three ways: through the crown, case back or crystal. Have your watch professionally checked on a regular basis to ensure the integrity of the watch, especially if you use your watch for diving.
Crystal
No crystal is truly scratch-proof. Therefore, you should take care of your crystal and carefully remove your watch at the end of the day. The more careful you are, the longer your crystal will last. Replace broken or cracked crystals immediately. Even a hairline crack can let dust or moisture into the movement. Sapphire crystals are the strongest and most scratch-resistant, but even they can scratch and crack.