WATCH CARE GUIDE
CLEANING YOUR WATCH
Leather
If you own a watch with a leather strap, there are several things you can avoid to ensure you get the best possible life out of it. Below are the most common recommended things to avoid.
- Avoid exposure to direct sunlight for long amounts of time as this can fade the leather
- Avoid any contact with cleaning products, alcohol based liquids, or any solvents
- Submerging a leather strap underwater for any amount of time can reduce the life of the strap
Sweat and general everyday wear will of course have an impact on your watch as well, the salt in our sweat can also eventually begin to corrode the leather. To reduce this we recommend that you give the strap a wipe with a warm slightly damp cloth every couple of days.
Stainless Steel
If you own a watch that is not water resistant and has a metal strap then we recommend you only wipe it gently with a dry cloth.
If your watch is water resistant, then you can use a damp cloth and/or a tooth brush to clean the watch, carefully rinsing the watch when finished. Please always make sure you fully understand watch water resistance before submerging your watch into water.
Plastic and Rubber
Plastic and rubber straps can be very forgiving, but also very unforgiving depending on the situation. Rubber and plastic can be easily damaged by chemicals, perfumes, and gasses, so it is important to ensure your strap does not come into contact with anything corrosive if you wish to keep it in good condition.
Most divers watches will make use of a rubber strap because of the resistance against water attributes they provide. Although manufacturers will do their best to ensure the longest life from rubber straps, you can greatly increase your straps chances of having longer life by thoroughly rinsing it with warm soapy water after every time it comes into contact with saltwater.
WHAT DOES THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY COVER
In regards to jewellery and accessories, because there are no moving parts, a manufacturers warranty will generally only cover you against defects that exist when you receive the item. Only in special circumstances will a jewellery warranty cover you against faults that occur later down the line.
If you own a watch and are wondering what is covered, then please refer to the user manual that you received with the watch as this will tell you exactly what your brand accepts under the manufacturer warranty. For the purposes of curiosity, we will provide below a general outline of what most brands will not cover as a result of wear and tear, again, this is a general guide and not to used as a definitive referral.
• Water damage when not within the manufacturers guidelines
• Accidental damage
• Damaged straps or bracelets due to negligence
• Broken or scratched glass
• Stains and marks made by chemicals
• If the watch has been opened by an unauthorised repairer
All the above information is to be used as a rough guideline only, this is not official information endorsed by manufacturers. Market Cross Jewellers cannot be held responsible and does not imply that the above information is accurate.