1. Why do watch manufacturers advise people to have their mechanical watches serviced regularly even if they're working fine?

A mechanical watch needs to be lubricated regularly to keep it running smoothly. Over time, the oil will deteriorate and friction between the moving parts will increase, causing abrasion and making the watch less accurate. In addition, the friction can create a very fine dust that will itself act as an abrasive on the watch movement parts. A mechanical watch need to be serviced every three to five years.

2. What happens to it when it goes for servicing?
The watch is taken apart and the bracelet and case are cleaned ultrasonically and polished. The moving parts are cleaned chemically and examined and worn parts are replaced. The movement is then reassembled, lubricated and regulated. Then, if the watch is water resistant, its water resistance is tested.

3. Where should you take your watch to have it repaired or overhauled?
Whether the watch is under warranty or not, it should be always taken to an authorized center or to a reputable repair shop.

4. Do quartz watches need to be serviced like mechanical ones?
Quartz watch movements do not need nearly as much maintenance as mechanical ones do. That's because they have far fewer moving parts just the gears that move the hands. On the other hand, a digital watch has no moving parts at all. Some expensive quartz analog watch movements should have their gear train lubricated every 8 to 10 years.

5. How often does a watch's water resistance need to be checked?
All water resistant watches need to have their water resistance checked every time the battery is changed or the case is opened for any other reason. When the case is opened, the caskets that keep the water out are dislodged. The watch must be tested with water-resistance testing equipment. If the watch is worn in the water, frequently or exposed to a lot of sweat, it should be checked at least Every two years

6. Does one need to wind a mechanical watch every day?
It is better if one does it as one always gets better performance from a watch when it's fully wound than when wound down. Even if one is not wearing the watch, it's best to wind it as it will prevent the movement's lubricants from congealing.

7. Does direction of winding matter when setting a watch?
On most mechanical watches it doesn't. On some, particularly those equipped with calendars, one should only move the hands clockwise. For further queries on the same, one should refer to manufacturer's instructions manual.

8. Will heat and cold affect a watch's accuracy?
Yes, extreme hot and cold conditions can affect the time-keeping ability of watch. Quartz crystals, whose extremely steady vibrations are responsible for the unrivaled accuracy of quartz watches, are cut so they perform optimally at room temperature. A temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit will throw the timing off by about 1 second a day, as will one of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Extreme temperatures also affect the accuracy of a mechanical watch, but not as much as other factors. Firstly, hot and cold extremes will cause the metal parts of a watch movement to expand and contract. Secondly, heat and cold affect the viscosity of the oil that lubricates the movement, and thereby affect the movement's accuracy.

9. Can a mechanical watch be worn playing sports?
Although nearly all mechanical watches manufactured today are equipped with anti-shock devices that protect the watch's balance-staff pivots - the part of the watch movement most vulnerable to damage from impact, a hard knock might damage not only the balance but the rotor axle, which is some automatic movements serves to secure the rotor to the watch movement.

There is very little chance of damaging the movement of a quartz watch while playing sports as it does not contain the delicate balance-staff pivots.

10. Will anything damage a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal?
Beware, for "scratch resistant" does not mean "scratch proof". Synthetic sapphire is used in making scratch-resistant crystals and despite its high rating on the hardness scale, it can be abraded by some materials. Brushing against a synthetic stone surface, like those found on some furniture or walls, for example, could cause a scratch. Also, the more scratch-resistant a material, the more brittle it is. You could actually end up chipping it than scratching.

11. Will wearing a watch on the inside of one’s wrist affect its accuracy?
Not in a quartz watch as the position of a quartz watch has no bearing on its time-keeping ability.
Mechanical watches are regulated at the factory to run optimally on a right-handed person who will wear the watch on the outside of his or her wrist -i.e. crown, dial up. The watch will not run as accurately in any other position, unless it is adjusted to do so.

12. How long does a quartz-watch battery last?
A silver oxide battery lasts two to three years. Lithium batteries last 10 years or more.

13. Can one damage a watch by pulling the crown out too hard or, in the case of a mechanical watch, winding it too much?
It is unlikely unless one pulls extremely hard on the stem to damage it while setting the watch. In theory it is possible to overwind a mainspring so that it breaks.

1. Why do watch manufacturers advise people to have their mechanical watches serviced regularly even if
they're working fine?
A mechanical watch needs to be lubricated regularly to keep it running smoothly. Over time, the oil will deteriorate and friction between the moving parts will increase, causing abrasion and making the watch less accurate. In addition, the friction can create a very fine dust that will itself act as an abrasive on the watch movement parts. A mechanical watch need to be serviced every three to five years.

2. What happens to it when it goes for servicing?
The watch is taken apart and the bracelet and case are cleaned ultrasonically and polished. The moving parts are cleaned chemically and examined and worn parts are replaced. The movement is then reassembled, lubricated and regulated. Then, if the watch is water resistant, its water resistance is tested.

3. Where should you take your watch to have it repaired or overhauled?
Whether the watch is under warranty or not, it should be always taken to an authorized center or to a reputable repair shop.

4. Do quartz watches need to be serviced like mechanical ones?
Quartz watch movements do not need nearly as much maintenance as mechanical ones do. That's because they have far fewer moving parts -just the gears that move the hands. On the other hand, a digital watch has no moving parts at all. Some expensive quartz analog watch movements should have their gear train lubricated every 8 to 10 years.

5. How often does a watch's water resistance need to be checked?
All water resistant watches need to have their water resistance checked every time the battery is changed or the case is opened for any other reason. When the case is opened, the caskets that keep the water out are dislodged. The watch must be tested with water-resistance testing equipment. If the watch is worn in the water, frequently or exposed to a lot of sweat, it should be checked at least Every two years

6. Does one need to wind a mechanical watch every day?
It is better if one does it as one always gets better performance from a watch when it's fully wound than when wound down. Even if one is not wearing the watch, it's best to wind it as it will prevent the movement's lubricants from congealing.

7. Does direction of winding matter when setting a watch?
On most mechanical watches it doesn't. On some, particularly those equipped with calendars, one should only move the hands clockwise. For further queries on the same, one should refer to manufacturer's instructions manual.

8. Will heat and cold affect a watch's accuracy?
Yes, extreme hot and cold conditions can affect the time-keeping ability of watch. Quartz crystals, whose extremely steady vibrations are responsible for the unrivaled accuracy of quartz watches, are cut so they perform optimally at room temperature. A temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit will throw the timing off by about 1 second a day, as will one of 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Extreme temperatures also affect the accuracy of a mechanical watch, but not as much as other factors. Firstly, hot and cold extremes will cause the metal parts of a watch movement to expand and contract. Secondly, heat and cold affect the viscosity of the oil that lubricates the movement, and thereby affect the movement's accuracy.

9. Can a mechanical watch be worn playing sports?
Although nearly all mechanical watches manufactured today are equipped with anti-shock devices that protect the watch's balance-staff pivots - the part of the watch movement most vulnerable to damage from impact, a hard knock might damage not only the balance but the rotor axle, which is some automatic movements serves to secure the rotor to the watch movement.

There is very little chance of damaging the movement of a quartz watch while playing sports as it does not contain the delicate balance-staff pivots.

10. Will anything damage a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal?
Beware, for "scratch resistant" does not mean "scratch proof". Synthetic sapphire is used in making scratch-resistant crystals and despite its high rating on the hardness scale, it can be abraded by some materials. Brushing against a synthetic stone surface, like those found on some furniture or walls, for example, could cause a scratch. Also, the more scratch-resistant a material, the more brittle it is. You could actually end up chipping it than scratching.

11. Will wearing a watch on the inside of one’s wrist affect its accuracy?
Not in a quartz watch as the position of a quartz watch has no bearing on its time-keeping ability.
Mechanical watches are regulated at the factory to run optimally on a right-handed person who will wear the watch on the outside of his or her wrist -i.e. crown, dial up. The watch will not run as accurately in any other position, unless it is adjusted to do so.

12. How long does a quartz-watch battery last?
A silver oxide battery lasts two to three years. Lithium batteries last 10 years or more.

13. Can one damage a watch by pulling the crown out too hard or, in the case of a mechanical watch, winding it too much?
It is unlikely unless one pulls extremely hard on the stem to damage it while setting the watch. In theory it is possible to overwind a mainspring so that it breaks.