Watch collections come in all shapes and sizes and we know that if you consider yourself a watch collector, then your watches are very special to you. No matter the cost or brand of your watches, you want to be able to enjoy your watches for as long as possible.
First let’s explain the two main types of watches: battery operated and automatic. Battery operated watches are most commonly made using a quartz movement and require power from the battery to run. Automatic watches run off of your bodies’ movement and they do not need to be manually wound before wearing. Also, automatic watches do not require a battery so in many ways this makes them less maintenance than battery operated watches. Automatic timepieces are usually but not always luxury watches.
Not sure if your watch is battery operated or automatic? Check the back of the watch and see if it has any engravings that might indicate what type of movement is in the watch. The movement type might also appear on the dial or face of the watch as well. If you still can’t tell, try checking the manual or bring it into a local jeweler and they can help you identify the watch properly.
These are some tips for caring for your watch collection:
1. Make sure that the crown is screwed all the way down- The crown is the side button that usually allows you to set the watch. On most water resistant watches, the crown must be screwed down or pushed in all the way to prevent water from seeping into the movement. If water or moisture gets into the movement of the watch, it can cause permanent damage to your watch and may require the movement to be replaced. Most watch companies do not include water damage from misuse in their warranty and this may be a very expensive repair charge to get your watch in working condition again. If the dial or face of the watch looks foggy or hazy, this may be a sign that water or moisture has gotten into the watch and you should take it into a local jeweler as soon as possible to have it repaired before the moisture causes permanent damage. Have a watch that needs to be repaired? Kiefer Jewelers conducts all minor watch repairs on-site! Click here to make an appointment now to meet with our watch maker! 
2. Never take your watch off over a tile floor- Taking your watch off over a tile floor or other hard surface may lead to the watch accidentally dropping on the floor or surface. Even a high-end timepiece with a synthetic sapphire crystal can be damaged severely from an impact like this. A hard impact can not only shatter the crystal but it can also cause damage the dial/face of the watch as well as damage to the case and bracelet. This is another example of damage that would not be covered by a watchmaker's warranty and could be a very costly repair charge. What we recommend instead is to take your watch off over carpet floor, rug or the bed. Have a watch that needs to be repaired? Kiefer Jewelers conducts all minor watch repaires on-site. Click here to make an appointment now to meet with our watchmaker!
3. Keep your watches running as much as possible- Automatic movements run off of your bodies’ movement and do not require a battery to operate. Most automatic timepieces will have a power reserve of at least 24 hours, meaning that the watch can run up to 24 hours with no movement before it stops running. If the watch stops running, this means it will need to reset to display the accurate time again. Not only is this inconvenient to the owner as they will need to reset the watch and manually wind it before wearing it, but it’s bad for the movement as well. The lubricants inside of the movement tend to dry up faster when the movement starts and stops frequently. This may lead to the watch not keeping as accurate of time and it may mean that the watch needs to be serviced more often. If you aren’t going to wear your automatic watch regularly, we recommend to keep it in a watch winder that will keep the watch running when you are not wearing it. This will also keep the watch from getting dirty as it will be enclosed and not open to dust particles in the air. For battery operated watches, some watchmakers recommend to force the watch to stop running by pulling the crown and stem out when you are not wearing it. However, this is not true of all brands and by keeping the crown and stem open, you may be allowing moisture from the air to enter the watch, which is harmful to the movement, so we do not recommend this tactic. It’s best to keep battery operated watches running at all times and try to get them into your local jeweler as soon as possible when you notice that the battery has stopped. When an old battery sits in a watch for too long, it may leak battery acid into the movement causing permanent damage. Click here to shop our watch winders!
Single Watch Winder $259 or 4 interest-free payments of $64.75
4. Make sure your watch fits you properly- When a watch is too loose on your wrist, this may lead to the watch flopping around on your wrist and can lead to more knicks and dents in the watch. This may lead to the watch needing more refinishings and polishes than normal which can thin out the metal over time. It can also affect the accuracy of the movement when the watch slides all over your wrist. You may also need more frequent servings of your movement if the watch's accuracy is affected. To avoid this or if you aren’t sure if you have the proper fit, we recommend going into a local jeweler that you trust to have the watch properly fitted for your wrist. Most likely this repair will just require a few links to be added or removed which should be less than $30. Click here to make an appointment to have your watch fitted by one of our experts! 
5. Keep your watches stored properly- When not wearing your watch, it’s best to keep them stored in either their original box or in a watch presentation box or watch winder. This will not only keep your watches from literally collecting dust, but it will eliminate the possibilities of the watch falling from a shelf or table and possibly getting damaged. The watches also just look better when displayed properly versus just being thrown on the dresser. Just keep in mind that if it’s a watch that runs off of eco-drive, that means that the watch requires exposure to light to continue to run so make sure not to store those in a dark place. Click here to shop all of our Eco-Drive watches!
5 Piece Watch Presentation Box $139 or 4 interest-free payments of $34.75
6.Save original boxes and paperwork- It’s best to save all original boxes and warranty information and/or other paperwork for your watches as you never know when you may need to reference that information. The watch manual can provide assistance with re-setting your watch when needed. If you ever want to sell your watch, a buyer will pay more for a watch that has all of the original box and paperwork as well.
Have specific questions on caring for your watch collection or looking to expand your watch collection? Contact us now to speak with one of our watch specialists.