Automatic Watch Movement Maintenance Tips for Long-Term Performance

An automatic watch movement provides several advantages over conventional mechanical watches. While a mechanical watch needs manual winding for accuracy and operation, automatic watches utilize energy produced by the wearer’s motion and remain functional even when removed at night.

If you have lately acquired or received as a gift an automatic watch, or if you are enthusiastic about proper care for the timepieces, understanding how to maintain an automatic watch is essential. In this detailed guide, we will cover all the tips you need to understand to ensure your automatic watch functions properly.

1. Schedule Your Automatic Watch Movement For Regular Service

Since it is an automatic watch movement, you must constantly wear it to keep it working. Regular maintenance of your watch would help keep it in good condition with the advice of a professional and have it last longer.

This maintenance may include inspecting the watch to confirm that all parts and components remain fully functional and fixing or substituting any parts that aren't performing optimally. Horologists suggest having your timepiece serviced every three to five years, though this can differ based on the frequency of use and wear of the watch.

2. Wear It Regularly

Since an automatic movement watch produces energy from the movement of the wearer, you must remain active to keep its power reserve charged. If you don’t wear or utilize your watch frequently, this power reserve will diminish, leading your watch to run out of power and stop functioning.

This does not imply that your watch is permanently damaged. It just means you should give time to replenish the power reserve, which can be done with light manual winding or by simply wearing your watch. If you are mainly focused on using the watch as a style statement, this won’t be a problem.

3. Handle With Care And Don't Drop It.

Automatic watches are made up of numerous fragile components; it's important to avoid dropping or jostling the watch at any time. This is simpler to say than to accomplish, yet it remains achievable if you are cautious while using it.

Dropping or hitting the watch can result in the motion of the delicate components, thus affecting the accuracy and performance of the automatic watch movement. It is customary to want to keep your watch visible always; however, refrain from wearing it during intensive activities or in high-traffic areas, as there is a possibility of it making contact with a hard or harmful surface.

4. Do Not Use The Crown Or Pushers In Water

Using the crown or pushers while the watch is in water may cause further damage to the watch. By doing this, you risk the internal parts being exposed to moisture and ruining your automatic watch. Even if your watch can withstand water, by pulling the crown or pressing the pushers, you effectively let water into the case.

5. Stay Away From Strong Magnets.

Similar to water, magnets and electronics ought to remain separate. The primary danger in this situation is that your watch may become less accurate if it gets magnetized, so any strong magnets should be approached carefully. You probably won't come across any extremely strong magnets in your daily life, and items such as fridge magnets are not likely to pose any issues.

Nonetheless, if you're in any industrial environments, there might be a powerful magnet located nearby. To avoid dissatisfaction or harm to your automatic watch movement, we suggest taking it off.

6. Never Wind The Watch While You Are Wearing It

If you wear your watch while winding the crown stem, the chances of breaking the mechanism increase. This is because you will exert an excessive amount of pressure on the stem since the watch is still on your hand. Thus, it is necessary to take the watch off before winding it manually.

7. Keep Manual Winding Minimal.

Under normal circumstances, there should be no reason to wind your automatic movement watch manually. Nevertheless, it is an option that could come in handy in case you need to wind one quickly, for example when you realize that you will not be or you won’t be moving for a while. Manual winding may cause problems in a watch with an automatic winding feature, so if it becomes necessary, its use should be minimized. As little as five to ten turns will do the job.

8. Change the Strap Carefully

Similar to many watches, an automatic watch allows for strap changes. If you possess the tools, you might consider doing it on your own, but we do not advise this if you lack experience in replacing watch straps.

Since replacing the strap needs specialized tools, you might scratch the case and harm the watch. Rather, consult a professional and request that they demonstrate how to safely change the strap to preserve its look.

9. Keep It Away From High Temperatures.

Even the best automatic watch movement is not built to withstand extreme temperatures at either end of the range or water. Using your watch in these settings may lead to internal parts expanding or contracting, resulting in operational issues that can impact accuracy and increase the risk of condensation and oil-related problems. Most watches have low water resistance, so adhering to certain limits is required for the proper working of the watch.

Wrapping It Up

Automatic watch movements provide several benefits compared to their mechanical counterparts. To fully enjoy the advantages of your automatic watch, make sure you follow this advice.

At Shoshany Jewelers, we have established a relaxed and innovative environment staffed with expert team members and an unparalleled range of jewelry. What distinguishes us from others is that we individually choose every watch featured in our shop.