A Guide to Maintaining and Caring for Your Rolex, Audemars Piguet or Patek Philippe Watch
That watch was expensive, let’s keep it looking and working it’s best!
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Congratulations, you have entered the elite club of luxury timepiece owners.
Membership is limited to those who work hard and appreciate quality.
Purchasing a Rolex, Audemars Piguet or Patek Philippe has solidified your status among fellow watch enthusiasts.
These luxury watches are often handed down over generations and caring for your new watch early is vital to maintaining its elegance.
Caring for your watch begins the moment you purchase it.
It is important that you wear your watch often.
Not only do you get to enjoy the beautiful timepiece, but also, in many cases, it is also necessary to keep the watch running.
For example, Rolex’s Perpetual motion movements are kept running by subtle movement — as in your daily activity while the watch is worn on the wrist.
Care instructions for Patek Philippe watches
Since 1839, Patek Philippe has manufactured watches in their company-owned facility.
Giving the watchmakers full creative freedom to design some of the finest watches in the world.
This vertical integration allows the company to oversee the entire process. From sketches to simple models to completed timepieces.
Patek Philippe boasts that it will service and repair all of its watches ever made since 1839.
While Patek Philippe has mastered the manufacturing of watches, it is up to you to care for your watch.
Start by reading the instructions carefully. Some of the primary suggestions you will find in the instructions are:
- Ensure proper fit on your wrist
- Refrain from wearing bracelets on the same wrist as your watch
- Protect the watch against extreme temperature fluctuations
- Avoid exposing your watch to magnetic fields — they can alter its rate or even cause it to stop running
- Ensure the crown and pushers are returned to their home position after each use
- Do not use the pushers or adjust the crown while underwater or if the watch is wet
- Rinse well with fresh water after exposure to salt water or chlorine
It is also advised to service your watch every five years through an authorized dealer.
Do not attempt to polish the watch yourself, leave this for the professionals.
When you get your watch serviced they will have it back to you like new.
Care instructions for Audemars Piguet watches
Made in Le Brassus, Switzerland, Audemars Piguet has prided themselves in crafting unique watches since 1875.
Meticulousness made and fine-tuned of the last 140 years to ensure perfect movement, an Audemars Piguet watch requires simple regular maintenance to ensure precision reliability.
Just like other watches, a proper fit is extremely important with Audemars Piguet watches as it improves the efficiency of the winding system.
If you live in a humid environment or get the watch wet frequently, it is important to get the watch serviced often.
This routine water-resistance service is the only way to protect the heart of your watch from dust and humidity. Every 3–5 years is a safe amount of time between services.
If you opt for leather straps, they should never be submerged in water as this will wear them out faster.
It is important to let the leather straps breathe, do this by simply taking your watch off each night.
Use the manufacturer recommended leather oils when treating your watch straps.
Your watch is set to the lunar cycle and should not be corrected or manipulated outside the ranges recommended in your watch manual.
Care instructions for Rolex watches
The newest of the three watch companies mentioned in this article, the story of Rolex started in 1905 with Hans Wilsdorf.
Mr. Wilsdorf founded a company in London specializing in the distribution of timepieces.
His dream of a watch worn on the wrist was first thought up shortly after opening his store.
Five years later in 1910, a Rolex watch was the first wristwatch in the world to receive the Swiss Certificate of Chronometric Precision.
Today, Rolex continues to push the bar of watchmaking. At an experimental diving watch test called The Deepsea Challenge, a Rolex watch was certified waterproof up to 12,000 meters (39,370 feet). Setting the record for the deepest diving watch in the world.
Caring for such an impressive timepiece starts with wearing the watch daily.
As with many other watches, this will ensure consistent movement.
Before washing your Rolex, wash your hand to remove excess dirt and oil.
Follow these manufacture recommended steps to ensure proper cleaning:
- Ensure the winding crown is tightly screwed into the case so no water is able to penetrate the interior.
- Rinse the watch using lukewarm water
- Use ammonia-free mild soap to wash the exterior
- Using a soft bristle toothbrush, gently remove dirt from crevices — especially between bracelet links.
- After scrubbing, gently plunge the watch in lukewarm water to wash away remaining soap and dirt.
- Use a soft cloth to gently pat the watch dry. A blow dryer set on low (cool) can be used dry the hard to reach places like between the bracelet links.
For anything beyond the simple washing of your watch, it is recommended that you take that watch in for professional servicing.
This includes polishing your watch.
Key points in caring for luxury watches
Wearing your watch often is an important first step.
Following the steps above and reading the manufactures care manual is important for keeping your watch in great working shape.
The long history of craftsmanship that you now are able to enjoy on your wrist will provide enjoyment for years to come.
The general consensus on professionally servicing a luxury watch is about every 3 to 5 years.
During the servicing, the authorized dealer will polish and inspect the watch for precision movement.
Added benefit after a servicing is the watch looks brand new again and the care process starts all over.
