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| Learning center |
| How watches work......Glossary of watch terms ......Automatic watch maintenance.....FAQs |
| Sizing your watch . .. . Care&Cleaning....................Buying guide ............................Water resistance and watches |
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| Care & Cleaning |
| watch138.com has put together a few simple guidelines to help you care for your watch.Following these simple steps |
| will help you ensure it's long life. |
| Water-Resistant Versus Waterproof |
| A watch marked as water resistant without a depth indication is designed to withstand accidental splashes of water only. |
| Do not submerge such a watch. Higher levels of water resistance are indicated by increasingly higher acceptable depths, |
| usually indicated in meters. |
| There are a variety of ways to make a watch water resistant. All such watches use rubber gaskets or "O" rings to seal the |
| case back. A watch with a back that screws onto the case provides a higher degree of water resistance.Some crowns |
| (the "winding stem") actually screw into the case to further increase water resistance. |
| Usage Recommendations |
| The following usage recommendations are suggested by the Seiko Corporation of America. |
| 1.Water-resistant to 30 meters (100 feet).Will withstand splashes of water or rain but should not be worn while swimming |
| or diving. |
| 2.Water-tested to 50 meters (165 feet). Suitable for showering or swimming in shallow water. |
| 3.Water-tested to 100 meters (330 feet). Suitable for swimming and snorkeling. |
| 4.Water-tested to 150 meters (500 feet). Suitable for snorkeling. |
| 5.Water-tested to 200 meters (660 feet). Suitable for skin diving. |
| 6.Diver's 150 meters (500 feet). Meets ISO standards and is suitable for scuba diving. |
| 7.Diver's 200 meters (660 feet). Meets ISO standards and is suitable for scuba diving. |
| Please note that we do not recommend swimming or diving with your watch unless it has a screw-down crown (also |
| known as ‘screw-lock' or ‘screw-in' crown) and is water-resistant to at least 100 meters. |
| Keeping Your Watch Dry |
| Always make sure your watch is dry after it has been exposed to water. By taking a few minutes and thoroughly drying |
| your watch with a lint-free cloth, you will prevent rust from forming.This is a key point in ensuring the long life of your |
| watch. |
| Caring for the Crystal |
| The crystal is the transparent part of the watch through which you tell time.As we discussed with water,a watch may have |
| scratch-resistant crystal,however no crystal is truly scratch proof.Therefore, it is not advisable that you toss your watch |
| a onto the dresser or into a drawer at the end of the day. It's better for the watch to store or wrap it in a soft cloth before |
| placing it down.The more care you take with the watch,the less scratches you will end up with.Replace broken or scratched |
| crystals immediately.Even a hairline crack can let dust or moisture into the mechanism, threatening its accuracy.If you |
| place the watch in a drawer with other jewelry, this too may scratch the watch, as it might rub against the other pieces. |
| another suggestion would be to store the watch in its original case,since these cases are generally soft and made |
| specifically for the watch. |
| Metal Versus Leather Bands |
| If you participate in activities that cause excessive sweat or perspiration,you may want to consider getting a watch with a |
| metal bracelet or rubber strap,instead of a leather strap.Watches that have natural and genuine leather straps will |
| gradually deteriorate with constant exposure to perspiration. Metal bracelets would best be classified as “dress” watches. |
| Battery Replacement |
| Watches that run on batteries are known as 'Quartz' watches.The batteries will last anywhere from one to several years. |
| How will you know when the watch needs the battery changed? Most of the watches sold by watch138.com come with |
| free lifetime battery replacement.Send the watch in with your receipt,and watch138.com will replace the battery.if a |
| watch was not purchased from watch138.com or did not come with free lifetime battery replacement, consider taking it |
| to a local watch professional for battery replacement. |
| Watches that do not need battery replacement include automatic (self-winding) watches and solar-powered watches(which |
| have a rechargeable battery).You may want to consult the watch's manual if you're not sure what type of watch you have. |
| Cleaning Your Watch |
| The best way to clean your watch is by using a lint-free cloth and a toothpick. Use the toothpick to clean out any dirt |
| buildup in the bracelet or casing of the watch and the cloth to wipe it clean. If it is water-resistant, give it an occasional |
| cleaning with a mixture of warm water and a mild soap. If the strap is leather or non-metal, clean only the case. |
| Servicing Your Watch |
| Like any other piece of machinery, a watch must be cleaned, oiled, and serviced. Every couple of years, you may notice |
| the watch losing time or running fast—or it may stop working altogether. Just take your watch to a local watch |
| professional for servicing. |
| Automatic Watch Maintenance |
| Although automatic mechanical watches do not have batteries,some easy-to-follow maintenance is necessary for |
| continued and long-lasting good use. |
| Self-winding automatic watches depend on the movement of the arm to operate and do require some winding,even if you |
| wear your watch on a daily basis. |
| If you wear your Automatic watch everyday , it is best to wind it once, every two weeks to keep the wheels in motion and |
| oil fluid. Simply wind the crown (the same knob used to adjust the time and date) until you meet slight resistance. |
| If you do not wear your Automatic watch everyday , you should try to wind it at least twice a week to ensure continuous |
| operation, as well as keeping the inside mechanism in complete running order. |
| Try to wind your mechanical watch at the same time every day. This is extremely beneficial for the mechanism. You may |
| want to make it a routine, winding it every morning when you wake up. |
| Avoid setting the day and/or date (if your watch has these functions) at night. The day-date mechanism is activated during |
| the nighttime hours and could be disrupted if set at this time. |
| And, always avoid wearing your mechanical watch, if you are playing a sport requiring continuous arm motion (e.g. tennis, |
| baseball, golf), since continuous arm motion could damage the movement. |
