How To Take Care Of Your Automatic Watch

Like any expensive item, an automatic watch also needs to be taken care of to maintain its robust condition and ensure it’s running perfectly without any issues. So, if you’re wondering how to take care of your automatic watch, keep reading! 

To take care of your automatic watch:

1. Keep the watch away from moisture
2. Keep it clean 
3. Have it serviced by a professional
4. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures
5. Wear it regularly or store in a watch winder
6. Don’t drop it 
7. Don’t place near strong magnets or electronics

1. Keep the watch away from moisture

One of the key things to remember while owning an automatic watch is that water can be its enemy. Now, this doesn’t mean that the watch cannot be in contact with water, especially as most of the watches available on the market have some water resistance. There are also dive watches with screw down crowns that are much more sturdy against water.

However, the main issue is with constant exposure to water, especially when it comes to storage of the watch. As an automatic watch is usually made out of steel, constant exposure to water can make rusting occur even for stainless steel.

If your watch does come into contact with water, wipe the watch and store it in a dry place after use. Take special attention to steel bracelets with many small crevices, as water can accumulate here and cause rust if not dried properly. 

With leather or cloth based straps, moisture is a great concern as it can significantly reduce the strength and durability of the material. Again, if wet, dry out the straps as soon as possible before storing it. 

2. Keep it clean 

Another thing you should be doing to take care of your automatic watch is regularly cleaning it. As you’re most likely wearing it often, dirt can build up quite easily. Luckily, most automatic watches are made of stainless steel so cleaning them is a walk in the park. If the watch isn’t water-resistant, grab a soft cloth and gently wipe it down. If it is water-resistant you can wipe it with a soft cloth dipped in a mix of gentle soap and water to remove any dust and grime. To maintain the accuracy of the watch, take extra care around the crown and push-pieces. Learn more about how to clean a metal watch bracelet here.

BERGEON Rodico Professional Cleaning Product

For precious materials, a Rodico Premium Cleaner is a great addition to your watch cleaning routine. This is a malleable substance reminiscent of modelling clay that removes marks, oils and stains while maintaining the integrity of your watch, thanks to its highly absorbent properties. 

As well as manually cleaning your watch, you should get it fully serviced by a professional, which brings us nicely onto our next point…

3. Have it serviced by a professional

Just like other mechanical items, automatic watches also need to be serviced to clean and re-oil the various parts. There is no exact timeframe in which you should have your watch serviced, as it depends on its age, quality, brand and the manufacturer’s recommendation (for example, Rolex have a new 10-year service recommendation). 

Typically speaking, a watch should receive a full service every 5 years or so and more often as it ages. If you’re unsure whether or not your watch is due for a service, this blog will help. 

4. Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures

Another key way in which you can take care of your automatic watch is by keeping it away from extreme temperatures, i.e. extreme heat or cold. By exposing the watch to these temperatures, the internal parts expand and contract, causing functionality issues. The temperatures will also cause oil and condensation-related issues.

With this in mind, we recommend that you avoid using an automatic watch when going into extreme temperature environments such as a jacuzzi, sauna, or freezing environment. Instead, you can find watches that have been specifically designed for these extreme temperatures.

5. Wear it regularly or store in a watch winder

If you leave an automatic watch unworn for long periods of time , it can cause the lubricants to stiffen. This causes inaccuracy and can even bring the watch to a standstill completely, so it’s recommended that you wear your automatic watch as often as you can.

However, if you alternate between a few watches or only wear the automatic watch every so often, you should look into investing in a quality watch winder, especially if it has a number of complications that will need resetting every time you wear it. A watch winder works by slowly rotating your watch in a way that mimics the motion of the wrist, to prevent it becoming dried up or coagulate if left dormant. 

To discover more about how a watch winder works, check out this blog. 

WOLF BRITISH RACING GREEN Single Watch Winder

This stunning handmade WOLF single watch winder features fine work detailing, including hand-pressed gold foil lines on vegan friendly pebble-grained leather. Gold hardware accents throughout with cushion close hinges and fluted bezel. BRG, another design first from WOLF. 

6. Don’t drop it

You don’t have to be a genius to know that dropping a watch won’t do it any good, especially an automatic movement made up of more than one hundred parts. 

Dropping the automatic watch on the floor, bumping it onto the wall, or dropping hard objects may result in major damage to not just delicate internal workings but also the assembly, not forgetting scratches that come with bashing something. 

7. Don’t place near strong magnets or electronics

Last but not least, avoid placing your automatic watch near strong magnets or electronics. This is because the watch is run on entirely by moving metal parts, so if magnetised, it can become severely disrupted and lose accuracy.

Our Top Automatic Watches 

ZENITH Defy Classic Titanium Automatic Watch

Powered by the Elite 670 automatic movement, the Defy Classic is presented in a 41mm titanium case with an integrated titanium bracelet, fitted with a blue sunray-patterned dial. Featuring a 50-hour power reserve and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, this is a solidly-crafted, reliable wrist watch that's a superb all-rounder. 

ROLEX Milgauss Automatic Watch

The Rolex Milgauss is a pioneering anti-magnetic watch designed to withstand high levels of electromagnetism, originally designed for scientists and engineers. Its design is handsomely understated, punctuated with instantly recognisable hallmarks like its stark orange 'lightning bolt' second-hand and the green sapphire crystal that pleasingly accents the dial beneath it.

OMEGA Seamaster No-Wave Automatic Watch

OMEGA’s sporty Seamaster collection is a tribute to the brand’s maritime legacy and adventurous pioneering spirit.

This automatic model features a blue dial with a date window at the 3 o’clock position. The distinctive dial is visible through a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The blue ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel is mounted on a 41mm stainless steel case with a helium-escape valve at 10 o'clock.

The watch is presented on a stainless steel bracelet and powered by the Co-Axial calibre 2500.

We are WatchObsession, your favourite watch strap store since 2010. Shop our luxury watches, watch straps and watch tools and accessories on our website and become #WObsessed. 

Written by Kate, for Watch Obsession.