How to Clean and Maintain Your Watch

A watch is an object of exceptional complication and beauty that requires regular care to work properly. Standard maintenance includes safeguarding the movement, protecting the watch from water damage and cleaning the case and band. The following tips will help you care for and preserve your timepieces :

How to care for watches with a manual mechanical movement
For watches with a manual (or hand-wound) mechanical movement, be sure to wind the watch once a day, at the same time of day. Be careful not to over-wind the watch. Stop winding the watch as soon as you feel resistance---this indicates the spring has reached maximum tension.

How to care for watches with an automatic movement
If you own a watch with automatic (or self-winding) mechanical movements, be sure to wind the watch once every two weeks if it is worn daily. Wind the watch twice weekly if it is not worn daily.

How to care for watches with quartz movements
For movement, you should remove worn batteries and replace them every few years, according to Eli Katz, president of Ashford.com, the leading online retailer of luxury watches. When wearing your watch, it is very important to avoid equipment that create a strong magnetic field, such as speakers, mobile phones and metal detectors. Extreme temperature changes and humid environments, such as showers, hot tubs and saunas, can be harmful for your watch. Damage can also be caused by violent shocks such as dropping the watch as well as activities that require repetitive arm motion (unless the watch was designed for it). Exposure to these risks can negatively affect the movement performance.
Luxury watchmakers, such as Harry Winston (a Luxist Awards' winner), advise a complete movement overhaul every three to five years to keep a timepiece performing perfectly. You may need to take your watch to an authorized dealer for routine maintenance in order to preserve the manufacturer's warranty.

Water Safety
Have your timepiece checked for water-resistance regularly. Some luxury watchmakers, such as TAG Heuer, recommend getting a water-resistance check an annual basis. Before wearing your watch in water, ensure that the crown is pushed down or screwed in tightly. Once you are in the water, do not adjust the crown or press on the push buttons, as water can seep into the case. Rinse the watch in fresh water after contact with chlorinated or salt water. If you notice condensation under the crystal or signs of oxidation on the dial, take your watch to a watch professional without delay, advises Ashford.com's Katz.
General Cleaning
If a watch is worn regularly, it should be cleaned every two months with a soft, dry cloth.for metal band, some luxury watchmakers recommend careful washing with a soft brush dipped in warm, soapy water. Rinse the watch with warm, clean water before drying it completely. Cartier offers a free metal bracelet kit to owners of its watches. Cartier recommends cleaning the metal bracelet every two months if the watch is worn daily. The kit which can be obtained free of charge from one of Cartier's boutiques around the world. If leather band, be sure never to let it get wet. If it should become saturated with moisture or perspiration, simply wipe and dry it thoroughly. Avoid wrist contact with products such as cosmetics, detergents, moisturizers and perfumes, which can seriously damage a watch's function and finish.

Tips on how to choose a right wristwatch for men

The men's wrist watch,symbol of social status  and reflect of taste is without a doubt, one of the most important 'fashion' accessory. Choosing the best men's wrist watch can be difficult and confusing if you don't know what to look for. Read on to find out exactly what you should look for when you want to purchase the best men's wrist watch.

Decide on they type of men's wrist watch you want
There are many types of men's wrist watch out there, diving watches, dress watches, chronograph watches, etc.. Make sure you get a men's wrist watch that is appropriate for the occasion thay you'll wear it. Don't wear a big 3 pound diving watch with a tuxedo, get a nice dress watch.

Decide on the type of movement that your men's wrist watch should have
There are three types of movement, or inner workings, available in a men's wrist watch; quartz, mechanical or digital.

• A quartz movement uses a tiny vibrating crystal, a men's wrist watch with a quartz movement is very accurate.
• A mechanical movement is classic. A men's wrist watch with a mechanical movement can be the most expensive, but these just look, and feel great.
• The digital movement is the cheapest. A men's wrist watch with a digital movement is considered a more casual type of men's wrist watch.

What quality of crystal should the men's wrist watch have?

There are three types of crystal, the 'glass' window, that a men's wrist watch can have.

• Plexiglass: This is by far the cheapest crystal a men's wrist watch can have. It scratches easily but difficult to shatter. This is good for a 'work' watch.
• Mineral crystal: This type is more likely to shatter, but more difficult to scratch. A midrange crystal for a men's wrist watch to have.
• Synthetic saphire: The most expensive, almost impossible to scratch, but easily shatters. A great crystal for a dressier men's wrist watch.

Choose the right strap for your men's wrist watch
A men's wrist watch can have a strap made of leather, metal, cloth or even plastic. This is a personal choice, but make sure it secures well.

Other considerations for a men's wrist watch
Here are some additional features to look for in a men's wrist watch, these are more of a personal choice, but I'll go through these..

• An illuminated face is nice to have, some don't have this, but have a glow in the dark face.
• Waterproof or water resistant. There is a difference, a waterproof men's wrist watch is rated for how deep you can go and not damage the men's wrist watch, obviously this is for a diving style men's wrist watch. Water resistant means you can get it wet, but not dive with it.

How much does a men's wrist watch cost?
This depends on the type, style, quality, movement and other features of the men's wrist watch, not too mention if it's on sale or not. I suggest reading mens watch reviews on such sites as ConsumerReports or ConsumerSearch. They have honest, unbiased reviews written by people just like yourself and, often times, list the lowest prices on a men's wrist watch available at the moment.