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Watch Care Guide: How to Keep His Gift Looking New
You gave him a beautiful watch. Here's how to make sure it stays that way for years — even decades.
Updated: March 2026 · By: WristNerd Editorial Team · Read time: 6 minutes
Why This Guide Matters
A quality watch can last 20, 30, even 50+ years — but only with basic care. Most watch damage isn't dramatic (dropping it off a cliff) — it's mundane (leaving it near a magnet, swimming with a dress watch, never cleaning the bracelet). This guide covers the simple habits that protect his gift.
Print this or bookmark it — it's the perfect companion to include with a watch gift.
Daily Care Habits
Put It On Last, Take It Off First
Watches should be the last thing he puts on when getting dressed and the first thing he removes when undressing. Why? Cologne, lotion, hairspray, and soap can damage seals, dull finishes, and degrade leather straps. Putting the watch on after grooming products have dried protects it from chemical exposure.
Avoid Magnets
Magnets are the silent enemy of mechanical watches. A magnetized watch runs fast, sometimes gaining minutes per day. Common household magnets:
- Laptop speakers
- iPad/tablet magnetic covers
- Magnetic phone mounts
- Refrigerator magnets (if placed directly on the watch)
- Purse/bag magnetic clasps
The fix: Don't rest the watch on or near these items. If the watch starts running fast, a watchmaker can demagnetize it in 30 seconds for $10–$20.
Note: Quartz and solar watches are less susceptible to magnetism than mechanical watches, but it's still best practice to keep them separated.
Wipe Down After Wearing
At the end of each day, give the watch a quick wipe with a soft microfiber cloth. This removes:
- Sweat and skin oils (which corrode steel over time)
- Dust and lint
- Minor smudges and fingerprints
Takes 10 seconds. Extends the life of the finish by years.
Weekly Care
Clean the Bracelet (Steel Bracelets)
Steel bracelets accumulate grime between links — a combination of dead skin, sweat, soap, and dust. Once a week (or when visible):
- Remove the watch from the bracelet if possible (or be careful around the case)
- Use a soft toothbrush with warm water and a tiny drop of dish soap
- Gently scrub between the links
- Rinse under lukewarm running water (only if water resistance is 50m+)
- Pat dry thoroughly with a microfiber cloth
For leather straps: Don't use water. Wipe with a dry microfiber cloth. For deeper cleaning, use a leather-specific cleaner/conditioner once a month.
Check the Crown
Make sure the crown (the knob on the side) is fully pushed in and, if screw-down, screwed tight. A loose crown is the #1 cause of water damage in watches rated for water resistance.
Monthly Care
Leather Strap Conditioning
If the watch has a leather strap, apply a small amount of leather conditioner monthly to prevent drying, cracking, and brittleness. Leather straps typically last 1–2 years with care, 6–12 months without.
Best leather conditioners for watch straps: Saphir Renovateur, Bickmore Bick 4, or any unscented leather conditioner. Apply a thin layer, let it absorb for 10 minutes, then buff with a cloth.
Rotation (If He Has Multiple Watches)
If he has multiple watches, rotating them prevents any single watch from accumulating excess wear. For automatic watches, regular rotation also keeps the movements running — but watches that sit for extended periods will simply need winding when picked up again.
Care by Movement Type
Automatic Watch Care
Automatic watches (like the Seiko Presage SRPD37 or Orient Bambino) need slightly more attention:
- Wear regularly: At least 8 hours/day to keep the mainspring wound
- Wind gently: If the watch stops, wind the crown clockwise 20–30 turns to restart. Don't force it.
- Service every 5–7 years: A professional service ($100–$200) involves disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, and regulation. This keeps the movement accurate and extends its life indefinitely.
- Avoid shock: While most modern automatics are shock-resistant, avoid wearing them during high-impact activities (golf, boxing, construction)
Quartz Watch Care
Quartz watches are lower-maintenance:
- Replace batteries promptly: When the seconds hand starts skipping (2-second intervals), the battery is dying. Replace within a month — a dead battery can leak and damage the movement.
- Have water resistance tested: After any battery replacement, have the water resistance re-tested ($10–$20). Opening the caseback can compromise the gasket.
- No servicing needed: Unlike automatics, quartz watches don't need regular mechanical servicing. A battery change every 2–5 years is typically the only maintenance.
Solar Watch Care (Eco-Drive / Seiko Solar)
Solar watches are the easiest to maintain:
- Expose to light regularly: Even indoor light charges the cell. If stored in darkness for months, it may enter power-saving mode.
- No battery changes: The rechargeable cell lasts 15–20+ years
- Service rarely: Solar watches can go 10+ years without service
- Keep clean: Same daily wipe-down routine as any watch
Storage Best Practices
At Night
Place the watch in a consistent spot — a valet tray, watch box, or dedicated drawer spot. Avoid:
- Dropping it on hard surfaces (scratches the crystal and case)
- Stacking it with other jewelry (metal-on-metal scratches)
- Leaving it dial-down (scratches the crystal)
Long-Term Storage
If the watch won't be worn for weeks or months:
- Store in the original box or a padded watch case
- Include a silica gel packet to absorb moisture
- For automatics: let it run down naturally — no need for a watch winder unless he has 3+ automatic watches in regular rotation
- Keep away from direct sunlight (can fade dials and dry leather)
- Keep away from extreme temperatures (not in cars, attics, or basements)
Water Resistance Quick Guide
Water resistance ratings are often misunderstood. Here's what they actually mean:
| Rating | Real-World Meaning | Safe For | |--------|-------------------|----------| | 30m / 3ATM | Splash-proof only | Rain, hand-washing | | 50m / 5ATM | Light water contact | Splashes, brief immersion | | 100m / 10ATM | Swimming-safe | Swimming, snorkeling, water sports | | 200m / 20ATM | Diving-safe | Recreational diving |
Important: Water resistance degrades over time as gaskets age. Have it tested every 2–3 years if he swims with the watch regularly, or after any impact to the case.
Never press buttons underwater (chronograph pushers, for example) unless the watch is specifically designed for it.
When to See a Professional
Take the watch to a professional watchmaker if:
- It's gaining or losing more than 30 seconds per day (automatic)
- The seconds hand is skipping beats (quartz — battery dying)
- Moisture appears under the crystal
- The crown feels loose or won't screw down
- The crystal is cracked or deeply scratched
- It's been 5–7 years since the last service (automatic)
Finding a watchmaker: Search for "independent watchmaker" or "watch repair" in your area. Avoid mall kiosks for anything beyond battery changes. For Seiko, Citizen, and Tissot, the brands offer official service through their websites.
FAQ
How often should a watch be serviced?
Automatic/mechanical watches: every 5–7 years. Quartz watches: battery changes as needed (every 2–5 years), no regular servicing required. Solar watches: rarely — every 10+ years if at all.
Can I shower with my watch?
We don't recommend showering with any watch, even those rated 100m+. Soap reduces the surface tension of water, allowing it to penetrate gaskets more easily. Hot water and steam can also degrade gaskets faster. It's a low risk per shower, but the cumulative effect shortens water resistance life.
What's a watch winder, and does he need one?
A watch winder is a motorized device that rotates an automatic watch to keep it wound when not worn. He only needs one if he has 3+ automatic watches in rotation and finds resetting them inconvenient. For 1–2 watches, manual winding when needed is simpler and cheaper.
My watch crystal has a small scratch — can it be fixed?
- Sapphire crystal: Extremely scratch-resistant; significant scratches require professional polishing or replacement ($50–$150)
- Mineral crystal: Moderate scratches can be buffed out with polyWatch crystal polishing paste ($10) — a DIY fix. Deep scratches require replacement ($20–$50)
- Hardlex (Seiko): Similar to mineral crystal — polyWatch works for light scratches
Include This Guide with Your Gift
Consider printing this guide (or bookmarking the URL) and including it with the watch gift. It shows thoughtfulness beyond the watch itself — you're giving him the knowledge to enjoy it for decades.