7 Mistakes That Damage Your Watch (and How to Avoid Them)

A well-cared-for watch can be worn for years. Yet a few harmless-looking habits are enough to scratch the glass, ruin a strap or let moisture into the case. Here are the seven most common mistakes, and the right habit for each one.

1. Confusing water-resistant with waterproof

This is the number one mistake. A watch rated 3 ATM resists splashes, rain and hand washing, but not showers or swimming. Hot water and soap weaken the seals, and sudden temperature changes encourage condensation under the glass.

The right habit: take your watch off before showering, bathing, swimming or a dip in the sea. If mist appears under the glass, let the watch dry somewhere warm, and take it to a watchmaker if the mist doesn't clear.

2. Handling the crown with wet hands

The crown, the small knob used to set the time, is the most vulnerable part of the case. When it's pulled out to the setting position, it opens a path for water and dust.

The right habit: set the time with dry hands, and always push the crown all the way back in.

3. Leaving a dead battery in the watch

A stopped watch forgotten in a drawer is a battery waiting to leak. The fluid it releases can do lasting damage to the movement.

The right habit: as soon as the watch starts losing time or stops, have the battery replaced. On some movements, the seconds hand even starts jumping several seconds at a time, a sign that the battery is running low. Expect around two years of battery life from a quartz movement, and have the battery removed from any watch you won't wear for a long time.

4. Neglecting a leather strap

Leather doesn't like water, sweat or perfume. A strap worn too tight in hot weather gets marked, loses its shape and eventually cracks.

The right habit: leave a finger's width between strap and wrist, wipe the leather with a dry cloth after a hot day, and alternate with a mesh or nylon strap in summer. Spray your perfume before putting your watch on, never directly onto it.

5. Storing watches in a heap

Dropped into a catch-all tray or piled up in a drawer, watches scratch each other: glass, case and clasp all suffer.

The right habit: give every watch its own place. A watch box with individual cushions, like our 6-slot model with a glass lid, protects each watch from dust and knocks while keeping your collection on display. When travelling, a roll-up case with compartments stops your watches knocking together in your suitcase.

6. Exposing the watch to temperature extremes

The sauna, a car dashboard in full sun, or going from a scorching beach straight into cold water all put the seals and strap under real strain. Heat also dries out leather and wood.

The right habit: take your watch off in the sauna and steam room, don't leave it in the sun behind a window, and avoid sudden changes in temperature.

7. Cleaning with harsh products

Alcohol, excessive hand sanitiser and household cleaners dull the steel, dry out leather and attack the seals.

The right habit: a barely damp microfibre cloth is all you need for the case and metal bracelets. For a wooden watch, like our sandalwood watch, use a dry cloth, then treat the wood with a drop of plant-based oil once or twice a year.

Your care routine at a glance

• Every day: wipe the watch before putting it away
• Every week: clean the case and strap with a microfibre cloth
• Every season: check the spring bars and the condition of the strap
• Roughly every two years: have the battery replaced by a watchmaker

With these few simple habits, your watch will keep its day-one looks for much longer.