Why should mechanical watches be maintained regularly?

"I have bought my watch for many years, does it need maintenance?" Many friends often ask this question after buying a watch. Under normal circumstances, a mechanical watch should undergo comprehensive maintenance after 3-5 years of use. Of course, this also has a lot to do with the actual usage habits of the wearer.

No matter how much you love it, if you want your watch to last a long time, you must do regular maintenance! Today I will tell you why we need to perform regular maintenance on mechanical watches.

1. Aging of waterproof ring

As we all know, watches are most afraid of water. Once water vapor invades the inside of the movement and is not handled properly, your watch may face the risk of being "scrapped", so watches on the market now generally have a basic waterproof coefficient.

However, the waterproof ring, an important component that prevents water vapor from entering, is normally made of glue. Over time, it will inevitably appear aging and lose elasticity.

In addition, in daily life, the waterproof ring may be affected by chemicals including temperature differences or hand sanitizer. These factors will accelerate its aging and greatly reduce its waterproof effect.

Therefore, regular maintenance inspections are particularly important. During the maintenance process, watches are often tested for waterproofing to determine the waterproofing effect of the watch. If you find that the waterproof rubber ring is aging, replace it in time to ensure that the rubber ring can play its full role to the greatest extent, so that your watch can be worn for a long time.

2. The lubricating oil dries up

A watch is called a precision mechanical timing instrument. The interior of the movement is small, but there are hundreds of working parts hidden inside, including gears, springs, hairsprings, etc.

When the watch is running, various mechanical parts will continue to generate friction during use. Where there is friction, there will be wear. In order to deal with this problem, most watch brands now add artificial rubies and lubricating oil inside the movement to reduce friction.

However, as the wearing time increases, the lubricating oil will gradually dry up and evaporate, and the friction generated between the parts will become greater. The powder dropped due to wear can easily combine with the remaining lubricating oil to form a black color. of sludge.

Over time, sludge accumulates, and lubricating oil becomes insufficient. If there is a lack of timely oil washing and cleaning maintenance, parts may eventually be deformed due to excessive friction, which will greatly affect the timekeeping accuracy of the watch.

3. Appearance wear and tear

From stainless steel to precious metals, watches are made of many materials, and they will suffer from wear and tear after being worn for a long time. No matter how careful you are every day, there will inevitably be small bumps and bumps. In the long run, the appearance of the watch will be affected.

In addition, human sweat and water vapor in the air will corrode the watch. Over time, the joints between the various parts of the watch may harbor dirt.

Under the dual effects of corrosion + dirt, the appearance of the watch will become old and dull. And the leather belt, which has always been delicate, can easily become hard, smelly, or even show signs of cracking.

Therefore, if you want your watch to always look like new, regular appearance maintenance cannot be skipped!