Every timepiece is precious and deserves special care. Discover how to maintain your automatic watch in 3 steps to ensure its longevity and reliability.
Step 1: Cleaning your automatic watch
A good maintenance routine starts with regular cleaning using a soft cloth. Exposed daily to dust, sweat, and other residues, an automatic watch can quickly lose its shine. On top of affecting its appearance, dirt buildup can also impair its proper functioning. That’s why it’s essential to adopt a thorough cleaning routine.
Cleaning frequency
Cleaning every 2 to 3 weeks is recommended to prevent dirt buildup.
If you wear your watch daily, remember to wipe it down after exposure to sweat, moisture, or dust.
Some good practices for maintaining your automatic watch:
- Remove the watch from your wrist before cleaning.
- Never immerse a watch in water unless it is water-resistant.
- Dust it off with a soft, dry cloth.
- Gently clean around the crown and pushers using a slightly damp cloth.
- Allow it to dry.
Cleaning products to use for your watch
For maintaining your automatic watch, be sure to use only gentle products, free from harsh solvents. A microfiber cloth slightly dampened with lukewarm water is sufficient. You may add a little neutral pH soap if necessary. After each cleaning, dry the watch thoroughly to prevent any moisture marks.
Step 2: Keeping your automatic watch running – the key to its maintenance
An automatic watch operates thanks to the movements of your wrist. When it is not worn for a certain period, its power reserve (usually between 40 and 60 hours) eventually runs out. A prolonged stop can harm its proper functioning, as the lubricating oils may thicken, increasing the risk of friction between internal components. Therefore, to preserve the reliability of your watch, it is important to keep it moving when you are not wearing it.
Winder or manual winding: how to wind your automatic watch?
Wearing your watch every day will keep it running and accurate. If you wear it occasionally, manual winding via the crown is still possible. Although it may seem simple, this operation carries risks: repeated winding, especially if done incorrectly, can prematurely wear out the crown and damage the mechanism. To avoid mistakes, using an automatic winder like the Masterbox is highly recommended. Set to perform 1,600 turns in the standard setting (800 turns clockwise, 800 turns counterclockwise), it reproduces the natural movements of the wrist and sustainably preserves the smooth functioning of your timepiece.
Step 3 : Storing your automatic watch
The third step in maintaining your automatic watch is proper storage. Between uses, it is essential to store your watch in a suitable case, protecting it from shocks, dust, and moisture, in order to safeguard both its mechanism and appearance. Combining two functions in one, SwissKubik automatic winder boxes keep your watches running while offering an elegant storage space. The watch holder ensures the perfect fit of the strap. Discover our various models in wood, carbon, leather, or aluminium, blending cutting-edge technology with Swiss watchmaking expertise.
