A luxury watch is a solid object, but it is also a precision instrument. Certain everyday situations can damage it, sometimes in a discreet and gradual way: worn seals, misaligned movement, scratches, shocks. The good news is that it generally only takes a few habit adjustments. Here are the situations to be aware of, along with the right reflexes.
A preliminary point: specific recommendations vary according to the brand, model, and age of the watch. In case of doubt, consult your watch's booklet or a watchmaker.
Impact and high vibration sports
Tennis, squash, rugby, golf: these activities expose the watch to repeated shocks and vibrations, which can disrupt the movement, damage fragile components or harm the case and glass.
The right reflex: remove your watch for contact sports and racquet sports. For weight training.
Softer activities, such as walking, swimming, or leisurely cycling, pose much less of a problem for a robust watch.
The sauna, steam room, and very hot baths
Intense heat and steam weaken the seals, which are generally made of rubber or synthetic material. A damaged seal can allow moisture to enter, which can sometimes cause costly damage to the movement. Sudden temperature variations can also promote condensation inside the case.
The right reflex: remove the watch before the sauna, steam room, jacuzzi or a hot bath, even if it is advertised as waterproof. The same advice applies to prolonged very hot showers.
Water, when waterproofing is not guaranteed
"Waterproof" does not mean the same thing for all watches. Some are designed for diving, others only resist splashes. And waterproofing decreases over time, as the seals age.
The right reflexes:
- Check the waterproof depth indicated for your model.
- Ensure that the crown is properly screwed down (on models with a screw-down crown) before any contact with water.
- Never operate the crown or pushers underwater, unless the model is explicitly designed for that.
- Have the waterproofing checked regularly by a watchmaker, especially for an old or second-hand watch.
- Avoid water for vintage watches whose waterproofing is no longer guaranteed.
After a sea bath, rinse the watch with fresh water: salt can affect the seals and the strap.
Magnetic fields
Magnetic fields can magnetise the mechanical movement and cause significant time deviations: the watch may gain or lose several minutes per day. This risk mainly concerns vintage watches. Today, most watches are protected against this.
Sources to watch out for: magnetic clasps of bags or cases, speakers, bluetooth speakers, tablets and phones with magnetic accessories, kitchen magnets, certain medical equipment.
The right reflex: avoid placing the watch next to these objects. If it experiences a sudden deviation, a watchmaker can quickly demagnetise it with suitable equipment, generally at no significant cost.
For medical examinations such as MRI, always remove your watch.
What to remember
Avoid all "extreme" activities with your watch. Adapt your activities to the type of watch you have. They all have different features, and there's a reason for that!
Some models are more robust than others. For example, a Richard Mille is often designed to withstand much greater shocks than most other brands.