• Shocks. Although some watches are tested for impact resistance, you should still avoid violent shocks to your watch. Apart from damaging its appearance, this can cause premature wear in materials and components, which may affect the performance of the watch.
• Magnetic fields. Avoid leaving your watch close to equipment that can produce strong magnetic fields such as speakers, refrigerators, mobile phones, or magnets on bags or boxes, etc. as these may affect the performance of your watch. We also recommend that you remove your watch when you go through the body scanner at the airport.
To determine whether your mechanical watch is magnetised, place it near a traditional compass (not an electronical one) and see if the needle starts to move around. If it does, your watch is magnetized. In such cases we recommend you take it to Watchworks, where they will put your watch on a special device to restore it to working condition.
On a quartz watch, the effects are temporary: the watch stops when in contact with the magnetic field, continuing again when away from the field. But effects on an automatic watch are more damaging: the watch could stop altogether or have timekeeping difficulties until it is expertly repaired. Try and keep your watch at least 5cm away from magnetic devices.
| Object | Watch touching object | Watch more than 5cm from object |
|---|---|---|
|
Television |
40 Gauss |
4 Gauss |
|
Mobile phone |
85 Gauss |
4 Gauss |
|
Portable radio |
120 Gauss |
10 Gauss |
|
Magnetic handbag clasp |
120 Gauss |
4 Gauss |
|
Magnetic Refrigerator door |
850 Gauss |
100 Gauss |
Key: No disturbance, Possible disturbance
• Extreme temperatures. In cold conditions keep your watch on your wrist so that it remains close to your body temperature. Avoid exposing your watch to extreme temperatures (above 60℃/140℉, below 0’C/32’F) or to sudden temperature changes. A sharp change in temperature can cause condensation under the crystal of your watch. This will disappear shortly and does not affect your watch’s performance. If the condensation persists, please bring it to the nearest authorized service center.
• Strong sunshine. We recommend avoiding direct exposure to the sun’s rays because the temperature of the watch can rise above 60’C, risking damage to the movement. Prolonged UV exposure can also alter the colours of some parts (leather strap, dial).
• Chemical products. Contact with chemical products (solvents, detergents, cosmetics, etc.) may damage the external part of the watch as well as the water-resistance gaskets.
• Sand. Sand includes small minerals and can scratch the anti-reflective coating on a sapphire crystal, or the steel case/bracelet.
• Water. If you’re going to be in humid or wet conditions:
○ Check that the crown is fully pushed in (and screwed down, depending on the model) against the case.
○ Ensure that your watch is water-resistant, and has passed a water-resistance check during the last 12 months at one of our Service Centres.
○ If you have leather strap, we recommend that you prevent it from coming in contact with water, which can discolour or deform leather.
○ After exposure to salt water, rinse the watch carefully in fresh water then dry it.