Watchmaking
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Maintaining your timepiece is essential to keep it running smoothly and significantly increase its lifespan. Through two main themes: What are the essential gestures? and How to clean your watch? this article aims to help you keep your watch in the best possible condition so that it can accompany you through the years.
To preserve the integrity and good working order of your watch, it’s essential to adopt certain essential gestures. Whether it’s a question of water-resistance, cleanliness, or the proper maintenance of oils and movements, all these elements have an influence on the longevity of your timepiece.
For example, excessive exposure to sunlight, humidity (depending on the type of watch) or perfume can damage the seals. This will lead to a reduction in hermeticity, increasing the risk of condensation under the glass, a sign of moisture in the case – a scenario that every watchmaker or enthusiast dreads.
To preserve your watch through the years, even centuries, we recommend that you adopt the following behaviours:
When your watch is not being worn :
The seals, the integrity of the parts and the overall performance of your watch are not immutable over time. That’s why a service by a professional watchmaker is recommended as soon as a malfunction appears, or simply as part of regular maintenance of the mechanisms and case.
Even if there are no apparent signs of problems, a complete overhaul is recommended every 5 years. Over time, oils dry out, which can lead to premature wear of components. This service allows us to clean and re-lubricate the movement to ensure the precision and longevity of your watch.
During this overhaul, a qualified watchmaker performs a meticulous inspection of each part of the movement, replaces components or gaskets if necessary, performs oiling and checks chronometric performance.
A well-maintained watch can stand the test of time and be handed down from generation to generation. If you would like to overhaul your Initium watch yourself, under the supervision of one of our watchmakers, don’t hesitate to register for our dedicated workshop.
These tools differ from those used by professional watchmakers. In this article, we do not recommend the use of a blowing bulb or a rodico without the supervision of an expert. For more information on watchmaking tools, see our dedicated article.
First step before cleaningFor optimum cleaning of your timepiece, start by detaching the bracelet from the case, whatever the material (leather, steel, polymer, etc.). This step facilitates access to the lugs between the bracelets, and enables thorough cleaning of both bracelet and case. If your bracelet doesn’t have a quick-release system, use a pump plunger or a Y-shaped tool. Watches designed in Initium’s workshops mainly use traditional bars, requiring the use of a Y-shaped stylus for safe removal.
A well-maintained watch can be passed down from generation to generation.
Once the bracelet has been removed, clean the case carefully with a damp, lukewarm cloth, paying particular attention to the nooks and crannies. Then take a toothpick and a clean wipe.
To avoid scratching the watch, lightly cut the tip of the toothpick with scissors, then roll up the remaining end in the wipe and wipe the nooks and crannies of the case to remove embedded dirt. Be gentle so as not to damage the various surfaces. Finally, carefully wipe the case with a microfiber cloth to remove any remaining residue.
A watch is designed to be worn – make the most of it! Remember that watchmaking is a precision mechanism that requires care and maintenance. Whether you’re a watch owner or a watch enthusiast, we hope these few lines will help you keep your timepiece in perfect condition throughout your life, and for generations to come.
At Initium, we’re proud to be ambassadors of watchmaking, and we’re always delighted to share our passion with you.
Come and see us in one of our workshops, or visit our blog to find out more about Swiss mechanical watchmaking, its history, and its tools!
Call-to-action: To find out more about our workshops, visit our watchmaking courses pages.
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