Most watches are not ruined by accidents. They are worn down slowly by small habits. These are the ones worth fixing.

Water is the main risk

Water resistance ratings are more conservative than they sound. As a working guide:

• 30m — splashes and rain only, not swimming
• 50m — brief contact with water, still not swimming
• 100m — swimming is fine, diving is not
• 200m and above — genuinely swim and dive rated

Never operate the crown or pushers while the watch is wet, and never take a leather strap into water.

Heat and magnets

Do not leave a watch on a car dashboard or a sunny windowsill. Heat degrades seals and lubricants. Keep watches away from speakers, laptop lids and magnetic phone mounts — magnetism makes a mechanical watch run fast and needs a technician to fix.

Cleaning

Once a month, wipe the case and bracelet with a soft damp cloth and dry it properly. For a steel bracelet, a soft toothbrush and a drop of mild soap removes the grey film that builds up in the links. Dry it fully before wearing.

Leather straps need the opposite treatment: keep them dry, and let them air out rather than wearing the same one every day.

Storage

Keep watches out of direct sunlight, away from damp, and not loose in a drawer where they can knock against each other. The box it arrived in is fine.

Servicing

A quartz watch needs a battery every one to three years. Change it promptly — a dead battery left inside can leak and damage the movement. An automatic benefits from a service every few years if you wear it regularly.