Watch Care Guide: How to Maintain Your Timepiece and Make It Last
A well-maintained watch lasts decades. A neglected one degrades in months. The difference isn't expensive servicing or special equipment — it's knowing a few simple things and doing them consistently.
This guide covers everything you need to maintain your watch regardless of brand, strap type, or price point. Where relevant, we've noted how it applies specifically to Skylona watch owners.
Cleaning Your Watch
The Case and Crystal
Wipe the case and crystal (glass) weekly with a soft, lint-free cloth — a microfibre cloth works perfectly. This removes skin oils, dust, and light scratches from daily contact. For deeper cleaning, slightly dampen the cloth with water (not soapy water).
Avoid: abrasive cloths, paper towels, rough fabrics. These will scratch the crystal and case finish over time.
For stainless steel cases: a soft toothbrush with a tiny amount of mild soap, applied gently along the brushed grain, then rinsed and dried completely. This restores the matte finish between polished and brushed surfaces — particularly important for dual-finish watches like the Skylona Carnival collection.
The Crown and Pushers
The crown (the winding stem on the side) is a common point for moisture and dust entry. After exposure to sweat or water, gently wipe around the crown with a dry cloth and push it back in fully. Never operate the crown when the watch is wet.
Strap Care by Material
Leather Straps
Leather is the most rewarding strap to maintain — it develops character over time. The Skylona Classic and Elegance collections both use genuine leather straps that respond well to care.
- Daily: Wipe with a dry cloth after wear to remove sweat and oils.
- Monthly: Apply a small amount of leather conditioner (colourless) to keep the leather supple and prevent cracking. Avoid silicone-based products.
- Avoid: Prolonged water exposure. Even water-resistant watches should have their leather straps kept dry. Water degrades leather from the inside, causing it to stiffen and crack.
- Storage: Don't leave leather straps compressed or bent in a drawer. A watch box or rolled loosely prevents creasing.
Metal Bracelets
Metal bracelets accumulate grime and sweat in the links quickly, especially in Indian summers.
- Weekly: Wipe the bracelet surface with a damp cloth. Pay attention to the clasp mechanism — grit here causes premature wear.
- Monthly: Remove the bracelet if possible and clean between links with a soft toothbrush and mild soap. Rinse and dry completely before reattaching. The Skylona Meridian collection's metal bracelet responds well to this routine.
- Avoid: Chlorinated pools and salt water. Both cause metal discolouration and accelerated corrosion even in stainless steel.
Silicone / Rubber Straps
The most forgiving strap material. Rinse with clean water after heavy sweating or water exposure. Clean with mild soap and a soft brush monthly. Silicone is resistant to UV, heat, and moisture, making it ideal for Indian summers and outdoor activity.
NATO / Nylon Straps
Remove and hand wash in cold water with mild soap. Allow to air dry completely before reattaching. Never machine wash — the hardware inserts can damage the weave. NATO straps are easily replaced and inexpensive, so don't over-invest in maintaining one past its useful life.
Water Resistance: What It Actually Means
Water resistance ratings degrade over time as gaskets dry out and seals compress. Even if your watch is rated 5 ATM, that rating was accurate when it left the factory — not necessarily after two years of daily wear.
- Get the water resistance tested annually if you swim with your watch.
- Never operate the crown or pushers underwater.
- Temperature shocks (jumping into cold water when the watch is hot) can breach seals in any watch.
Most Skylona watches are rated 3 ATM (splash-proof) and designed for everyday urban India — this is appropriate for handwashing, light rain, and sweating. They are not designed for swimming.
Battery and Movement Care
Battery replacement: Quartz batteries last 2–3 years on average. Don't wait for the watch to stop — a dead battery left too long can leak, damaging the movement. Replace at the first sign of the second hand skipping (it will start doing 2-second jumps to signal low battery).
Battery replacement cost: ₹50–₹150 at any local watchmaker. Quick 10-minute job.
Movement servicing: Quartz movements don't require regular servicing the way mechanical movements do. If accuracy degrades significantly after a fresh battery, a watchmaker can check and clean the movement for a nominal charge.
Storage
- Store watches away from direct sunlight. UV fades dials and degrades leather straps over months.
- Keep away from strong magnets (laptop speakers, bag closures). Magnetic fields can affect quartz accuracy.
- A simple watch box or roll is sufficient. You don't need a dedicated winder for quartz watches.
- If storing long-term, remove the battery to prevent leakage.
The 5-Minute Monthly Routine
- Wipe case and crystal with microfibre cloth
- Clean strap with appropriate method for material
- Check crown is pushed in fully
- Inspect bracelet clasp or strap buckle for wear
- Check time accuracy against phone (a healthy quartz should be within ±30 seconds per month)
Five minutes monthly extends the life of any watch by years. It costs nothing and requires no tools.