Watch Care & Maintenance
Looking after a watch is mostly simple, regular habits -- a wipe with a soft cloth, keeping leather dry, storing it away from magnets and heat -- plus a few jobs best left to a professional, like battery changes, servicing and water-resistance checks. This hub groups every care task into three areas: routine care you do at home, service & testing for the workshop, and storage & protection for when a watch is off the wrist. As a high-street jeweller in St Helens, OD's works with official watch repairers for battery replacement, water-resistance checks, pressure testing and servicing -- so wherever a job needs a watchmaker, bring it in and we will get you a quote and advice.
Watch care at a glance
| Task | How often | DIY or professional | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wipe with soft cloth | Daily | DIY | Lifts oils and dust, protects the finish |
| Gentle damp clean | Weekly (if water resistant) | DIY | Keeps case and bracelet bright |
| Leather strap conditioning | Every few months | DIY | Keeps the strap supple, extends its life |
| Battery replacement | Every 1-3 years (quartz) | Professional | Protects seals and water resistance |
| Water-resistance check | Yearly, and before swimming | Professional | Seals perish with age |
| Pressure test | After any battery or seal work | Professional | Confirms the watch is truly sealed |
| Full service | Every 3-5 years (mechanical) | Professional | Re-oils and restores accuracy |
Bring your watch into OD's for a battery change, water-resistance check, pressure test or full service -- we work with official watch repairers and can get you a quote and advice. 41 Barrow Street, St Helens · 01744 730985.
Routine Care
Cleaning
A quick wipe keeps a watch looking its best and protects the movement. A soft cloth daily, a gentle damp clean weekly -- but only ever use water on a watch you know is water resistant.
Everyday cleaning
Get into the habit of wiping your watch with a soft, lint-free microfibre cloth at the end of each day. It lifts skin oils, dust and sweat off the case, crystal and bracelet before they build up and dull the finish. This dry wipe is safe for every watch, water resistant or not, and takes seconds.
A deeper weekly clean
Once a week, if your watch carries a water-resistance rating of at least 5 ATM (50 metres) and the crown is fully pushed in or screwed down, you can wipe it with a cloth dampened in lukewarm water and dried straight after. Never run a leather-strapped or non-water-resistant watch under a tap, and never use solvents, polish or jewellery dip -- they attack seals, plating and lume.
The water-resistance caveat
Cleaning is the one routine where you must know your watch's rating first. A splash-only 3 ATM watch should be kept to a dry cloth; soap and hot water both degrade the gaskets that keep water out. If you are not sure of the rating, treat the watch as not water resistant. We are happy to advise -- pop into OD's at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens.
Bracelet Cleaning
Metal link bracelets trap dust, soap and skin oils between the links. A soft brush and warm soapy water lift the grime that a cloth cannot reach.
Why bracelets need it
A metal bracelet has dozens of moving links and tiny gaps that collect grime, dead skin and soap residue -- the dark line you sometimes see along the edges. Left alone it dulls the metal and can irritate the skin on the wrist. A cloth only reaches the surface, so an occasional deeper clean keeps the bracelet bright.
How to brush a metal bracelet
If the watch head is water resistant (5 ATM or more) with the crown closed, dip a soft toothbrush in lukewarm water with a drop of mild washing-up liquid and gently brush along and between the links. Rinse the brush, wipe the bracelet with a clean damp cloth, then dry thoroughly with a microfibre cloth -- paying attention to the clasp and the gaps where water can sit. Keep water away from a leather or fabric strap entirely.
When to leave it to a professional
If the watch is not water resistant, or the bracelet is heavily tarnished, bring it in. We work with official watch repairers who can clean a bracelet properly off the watch head, removing the spring bars so no water reaches the movement. Pop into OD's at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, or call 01744 730985 and we will get you a quote.
Leather Strap Care
Leather is the part of a watch most easily ruined by water and sweat. Keep it dry, let it breathe, and condition it occasionally -- and replace it when it wears, rather than trying to revive perished leather.
Leather's enemies: water and sweat
A leather strap should never be submerged or worn swimming, showering or in heavy rain. Water and sweat soak into the leather, break down the fibres and the stitching, and leave it stiff, cracked and smelly. Even a water-resistant watch head does not make a leather strap waterproof. After a hot day, wipe the strap with a dry cloth and let it air rather than putting it straight back in a drawer.
Conditioning and longevity
Every few months a tiny amount of leather conditioner or balm worked in with a soft cloth keeps the strap supple and helps it resist moisture -- use sparingly and keep it off the watch case and clasp. Rotating between two watches gives each strap time to dry out fully between wears, which dramatically extends its life. Even with good care, a leather strap is a wear item and will eventually need replacing.
Replacement straps
When a strap is past its best, a fresh one transforms the watch for a fraction of the price of a new one. OD's stocks Hirsch leather straps -- a leading German strap maker -- in a range of sizes and styles, and can help you find the right size and have one fitted. Call 01744 730985 or visit us at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens.
Crystal Care
The crystal is the glass over the dial and the surface most exposed to knocks. How you treat a scratch depends on the type: sapphire rarely marks, mineral and acrylic do, and each is handled differently.
Know your crystal type
Watches use one of three crystal types. Sapphire is extremely hard (9 on the Mohs scale, second only to diamond) and almost never scratches, but can chip on a sharp impact. Mineral (hardened glass) is softer and scratches more easily. Acrylic (plastic) is the softest, scratches readily, but is also the easiest to polish out. Knowing which you have decides how to treat a mark. See our Sapphire Crystal guide for the full picture.
Handling scratches by type
Light scratches on acrylic can often be buffed out at home with a plastic polish; mineral crystal can sometimes be improved by a professional but deep scratches usually mean replacement; sapphire rarely scratches at all, and what looks like a scratch is often a transfer mark from another metal that wipes off. For a full method, see our guide on how to remove scratches from a watch.
When to replace the crystal
A chipped or cracked crystal should be replaced promptly -- it lets dust and moisture into the movement and the sharp edge can worsen. Bring it to OD's at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens -- we will get it assessed and replaced through an official watch repairer, keeping the watch sealed and water resistant, and get you a quote first.
Polishing
Polishing removes scratches by removing a thin layer of metal -- so it should be done sparingly, by hand, and never on a brushed (satin) finish that polishing would ruin.
What polishing actually does
Polishing a watch case or bracelet does not fill scratches -- it grinds away a microscopically thin layer of metal until the scratch is level with the surface. Done well it restores a mirror shine; done too often or carelessly it softens the sharp factory edges and slowly thins the case. The golden rule is less is more: polish only when scratches genuinely bother you, not as routine maintenance.
Brushed vs polished finishes
Most quality watches mix two finishes: bright mirror-polished surfaces and brushed (satin) surfaces with a fine directional grain. A rotary polishing mop will turn a brushed surface shiny and destroy the intended contrast -- brushed areas need re-graining by hand, not polishing. This is exactly why machine-buffing a whole watch is a mistake and why finish-matching is a skilled job.
Leave serious polishing to a professional
For anything beyond a gentle hand-buff of a fully polished case, it is worth having it done properly so the finishes are preserved and the case is not over-thinned. We are happy to advise on whether a watch is worth polishing, and can send it to an official watch repairer to have it done sympathetically. Ask us at OD's, 41 Barrow Street, St Helens.
Service & Testing
Battery Replacement
A quartz watch battery lasts one to three years. Have it changed promptly by a professional -- a flat battery left inside can leak, and DIY changes risk the seals and water resistance.
How long a battery lasts
A standard quartz watch battery runs for roughly one to three years, depending on the movement and any extra functions like a backlight or chronograph. When the seconds hand starts jumping in two- or four-second steps, that is the watch's built-in low-battery warning -- a sign to have it changed soon. Solar watches such as Citizen Eco-Drive never need a battery at all, as they charge from light.
Why have it done professionally
Changing a watch battery is not just popping the back off. The case has to be opened correctly without scratching it, the right battery fitted, the gaskets checked, and the case resealed so the watch stays water resistant. Bring your watch into OD's, 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, and we will get the battery changed and the seals checked through an official watch repairer. Call 01744 730985 to pop in.
Why not to DIY it
Home battery kits are tempting but risky: forcing a caseback can scratch or dent it, the wrong battery size can damage the movement, and -- most commonly -- the watch goes back together with the seal disturbed, so it is no longer water resistant. A flat battery left in for months can also leak and corrode the movement, so do not put off the change.
Servicing
A full service strips, cleans, re-oils and reseals the movement. Mechanical and automatic watches benefit from this every three to five years; quartz watches need it far less often.
What a service interval looks like
A mechanical or automatic watch is a machine full of tiny oiled parts, and that oil dries out and the components wear over time. Most makers suggest a full service every three to five years to keep it running accurately and to prevent worn parts damaging others. Quartz watches need servicing far less often -- mainly battery changes and the occasional seal check -- but still benefit from a clean and reseal every several years.
What a full service includes
A proper service means dismantling the movement, ultrasonically cleaning every part, replacing worn components and gaskets, re-oiling with the correct lubricants, reassembling and regulating the watch to keep good time, then pressure-testing the water resistance. The case and bracelet are usually cleaned and lightly refinished too, so the watch comes back running and looking close to new.
Servicing through OD's
We arrange watch servicing through official watch repairers, and can advise whether a watch is due. If yours is running fast, stopping early or has not been serviced in years, bring it to OD's at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, or call 01744 730985 -- we will take a look and get you a quote.
Pressure Testing
The check that confirms a watch is genuinely sealed against water. A dry test detects air leaks; a wet test confirms it -- and it should be done after any battery change or seal work.
Why pressure testing exists
A water-resistance rating printed on the caseback is only true while the seals are intact -- and they degrade with age, heat and every time the case is opened. Pressure testing is how a watchmaker confirms the watch is still sealed before you trust it near water. It is the only way to know a rating still holds, rather than assuming it does.
Dry test and wet test
A dry (vacuum/pressure) test places the watch in a chamber and measures whether the case flexes as pressure changes -- if it does, air is moving through a leak, and the watch fails without ever getting wet. A wet test then submerges the watch under pressure and watches for escaping bubbles to pinpoint the leak. The dry test catches most faults safely; the wet test confirms and locates them.
When to have it done
Always have a watch pressure-tested after a battery change, a seal or gasket replacement, or any time the caseback has been opened. If you swim or shower with your watch, an annual test is sensible even if nothing has been opened. Bring it to OD's, 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, and we will arrange pressure testing through an official watch repairer.
Water Resistance Checks
Water resistance is not permanent -- seals perish with age. Have it checked yearly, and always before you swim or take a watch on holiday. See our full ATM guide for what each rating allows.
Why yearly checks matter
The gaskets and seals that keep water out are rubber, and rubber hardens, shrinks and perishes over the years -- so a watch that was 100m water resistant when new may not be after five years untouched. An annual water-resistance check confirms the seals are still doing their job, well before water ever gets the chance to reach the movement.
Always check before swimming or travel
The worst time to discover a failed seal is in the sea on holiday. If you plan to swim, snorkel or dive with a watch, have its water resistance verified first -- and remember the rating is a guide, not a guarantee, once the watch is a few years old. For exactly what each rating allows, see our Water Resistance and ATM guide.
Get it checked at OD's
We can advise on your watch's water resistance and arrange testing and a reseal through an official watch repairer where needed to restore it. Bring it to OD's at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, or call 01744 730985 before your next holiday or swimming season.
Storage & Protection
Storage
Store a watch in its box, away from magnets, heat and damp. How you keep a watch off the wrist protects both the movement and the strap.
Box, pouch or roll
When a watch is not being worn, keep it in its original box, a soft pouch or a watch roll rather than loose in a drawer where it can be scratched by keys, coins or other watches. A cushioned home stops knocks, keeps dust off and gives a leather strap room to breathe and dry out between wears -- all of which extend the life of the watch.
Away from magnets and heat
Store watches away from sources of magnetism -- speakers, fridge doors, magnetic phone mounts, tablet covers and handbag clasps -- which can magnetise a mechanical movement and make it run fast. Keep them out of direct sunlight and away from radiators too, as heat ages the lubricants and can fade dials and perish seals. A cool, dry drawer is ideal; a damp environment risks rust and mildew on straps.
Long-term storage
If a watch is to be stored for months, a quartz watch is best with the crown pulled out to stop the battery draining, and a mechanical watch simply left to wind down. Give it a wipe before it goes away and check on it occasionally. We are always happy to advise on storing a treasured watch -- ask us at OD's, 41 Barrow Street, St Helens.
Watch Winders
A motorised box that gently rotates an automatic watch to keep it wound and running while it is off the wrist. Useful for some collectors -- but far from essential, and not for quartz or hand-wound watches.
What a watch winder does
A watch winder is a box with a motor that slowly turns an automatic (self-winding) watch, mimicking wrist motion so the mainspring stays wound and the watch keeps running while you are not wearing it. The appeal is convenience: you pick the watch up already running and set to the right time, with no need to wind and reset it.
Turns per day (TPD) and direction
Winders are set by turns per day (TPD) -- how many rotations the watch receives in 24 hours -- and by direction (clockwise, anticlockwise or both), because different movements wind in different directions. A typical automatic needs somewhere around 650 to 800 TPD; too few and it under-winds, too many serves no purpose. A good winder lets you adjust both TPD and direction to suit the watch.
When you need one -- and when not
A winder only makes sense for an automatic you wear infrequently but want ready to go, or to keep a complicated watch (with a calendar that is fiddly to reset) running. It does nothing for a quartz watch and can only be used on an automatic, not a hand-wound one. For a single everyday automatic, simply hand-winding it when you put it on is perfectly fine -- a winder is a luxury, not a necessity. We are happy to advise on whether your watch would benefit. Ask at OD's, 41 Barrow Street, St Helens.
Magnetisation
Magnetism is the most common reason a mechanical watch suddenly runs fast. It is harmless and easily cured by demagnetising -- and modern anti-magnetic hairsprings strongly resist it.
What causes it
Everyday objects carry magnetic fields -- phone cases and speakers, laptops and tablet covers, fridge magnets and the magnetic clasps on bags and jewellery. When a mechanical watch with a traditional steel hairspring sits near these, the hairspring can become magnetised so its coils cling together. Quartz watches are largely immune; magnetism is mainly a mechanical-watch problem.
Symptoms and the cure
The classic symptom is a mechanical watch that suddenly starts gaining time -- minutes a day -- for no obvious reason. The good news is that magnetism does no lasting damage and is cured in seconds by passing the watch over a demagnetiser, which an official watch repairer can do quickly. If your mechanical watch has begun running fast, magnetism is the first thing to suspect. Pop into OD's at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, or call 01744 730985 for advice.
Anti-magnetic movements
Modern watches fight back with non-ferrous hairsprings such as Tissot's Nivachron, which resists magnetic fields many times better than older steel alloys. For how anti-magnetic technology works and which performance specs to look for, see our watch performance hub.
Frequently asked questions
How do I clean my watch safely?
Wipe it daily with a soft, lint-free microfibre cloth to lift oils and dust -- this is safe for any watch. For a deeper clean, only use a slightly damp cloth if the watch is water resistant to at least 5 ATM with the crown closed, and dry it straight after. Never run a leather-strapped or non-water-resistant watch under a tap, and avoid solvents, polish and jewellery dip.
How often should a watch battery be replaced?
A standard quartz watch battery lasts roughly one to three years. A good sign it is running low is the seconds hand jumping in two- or four-second steps. Solar watches like Citizen Eco-Drive never need a battery, as they charge from light.
Can I change my watch battery myself?
It is best not to. A home change risks scratching the case, fitting the wrong battery, and -- most commonly -- disturbing the seal so the watch loses its water resistance. Bring it into OD's, 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, and we will get the battery changed, the seals checked and the case resealed correctly through an official watch repairer.
How often should a mechanical watch be serviced?
Most makers suggest a full service every three to five years for a mechanical or automatic watch, to clean and re-oil the movement and replace worn parts. Quartz watches need servicing far less often -- mainly battery changes and the occasional seal check.
What does a full watch service include?
A full service means dismantling the movement, cleaning every part, replacing worn components and gaskets, re-oiling, reassembling and regulating the watch for accuracy, then pressure-testing the water resistance. The case and bracelet are usually cleaned and lightly refinished too.
What is pressure testing and do I need it?
Pressure testing confirms a watch is genuinely sealed against water. A dry test detects air leaks in a chamber; a wet test submerges the watch and looks for bubbles. You should have it done after any battery change, seal work or any time the caseback has been opened -- and yearly if you swim with your watch.
How often should water resistance be checked?
Yearly is sensible, and always before you swim or take a watch on holiday. The seals that keep water out are rubber and perish with age, so a watch that was water resistant when new may not be after several years. See our Water Resistance and ATM guide for what each rating allows.
Can I shower or swim with my watch?
Only if it is rated for it and the seals are in good order. A 3 ATM watch is for splashes only; 5 ATM allows a quick swim; 10 ATM covers swimming and snorkelling. Avoid hot showers even with a water-resistant watch, as heat and soap degrade the seals, and never wear a leather strap in water.
How do I look after a leather watch strap?
Keep it dry -- never swim, shower or wear it in heavy rain, as water and sweat break leather down. Wipe it dry after a hot day, let it air, and work in a little leather conditioner every few months to keep it supple. Rotating between two watches lets each strap dry out fully. Leather is a wear item and will eventually need replacing.
Do you sell replacement watch straps?
Yes. OD's stocks Hirsch leather straps -- a leading German strap maker -- in a range of sizes and styles, and can help you find the right size and have one fitted. Call 01744 730985 or visit us at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens.
How do I clean a metal watch bracelet?
If the watch head is water resistant with the crown closed, gently brush along and between the links with a soft toothbrush, lukewarm water and a drop of mild washing-up liquid, then wipe with a damp cloth and dry thoroughly. If the watch is not water resistant, bring it into OD's and we can arrange to have the bracelet cleaned off the watch head by a repairer so no water reaches the movement.
Why has my mechanical watch started running fast?
The most common cause is magnetism. Phones, speakers, laptops and magnetic clasps can magnetise a steel hairspring so the watch gains minutes a day. It does no lasting harm and is cured in seconds with a demagnetiser -- an official watch repairer can do this quickly. Modern anti-magnetic hairsprings like Tissot's Nivachron strongly resist it.
How do I stop my watch becoming magnetised?
Keep it away from speakers, fridge doors, magnetic phone mounts and tablet covers, and the magnetic clasps on bags. Modern watches with anti-magnetic hairsprings resist it well. If it does become magnetised, a quick demagnetising at a watchmaker fixes it.
How should I store a watch I am not wearing?
Keep it in its box, a pouch or a watch roll rather than loose in a drawer, away from magnets, direct sunlight and heat, and out of damp. For long-term storage, pull a quartz watch's crown out to save the battery and let a mechanical watch wind down. Give it a wipe before it goes away.
Do I need a watch winder?
Only if you own an automatic watch you wear infrequently and want it kept wound and ready to go, or a complicated watch that is fiddly to reset. A winder does nothing for a quartz or hand-wound watch, and for a single everyday automatic, hand-winding it when you put it on is perfectly fine.
What is turns per day (TPD) on a winder?
TPD is how many rotations a watch winder gives the watch in 24 hours. A typical automatic needs around 650 to 800 TPD, plus the correct winding direction (clockwise, anticlockwise or both) to match the movement. A good winder lets you adjust both.
Should I polish my watch to remove scratches?
Sparingly, if at all. Polishing removes a thin layer of metal, so done too often it softens the case edges and thins it. Crucially, never machine-polish a brushed (satin) finish -- it destroys the contrast and needs re-graining by hand. For anything beyond a gentle hand-buff, have it done professionally.
How do I remove a scratch from my watch crystal?
It depends on the crystal type. Acrylic can often be buffed at home; mineral glass may improve with professional work but deep scratches usually mean replacement; sapphire rarely scratches and a mark is often transferred metal that wipes off. See our full guide on how to remove scratches from a watch.
Is sapphire crystal scratch-proof?
Almost. Sapphire sits at 9 on the Mohs hardness scale, second only to diamond, so it resists everyday scratches -- but it can chip on a sharp impact. Mineral and acrylic crystals scratch far more easily. See our Sapphire Crystal guide for the detail.
My watch crystal is chipped -- what should I do?
Have it replaced promptly. A chipped or cracked crystal lets dust and moisture into the movement and the sharp edge can worsen. Bring it to OD's at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, and we will get it assessed and replaced through an official watch repairer, keeping the watch sealed and water resistant.
Where can I get my watch serviced or a battery fitted?
Bring it into OD's in St Helens. We work with official watch repairers for battery changes, water-resistance checks, pressure testing, strap fitting and full servicing -- pop in and we will get you a quote and advice. Visit us at 41 Barrow Street, St Helens, or call 01744 730985.