Water-Resistant
Versus Waterproof
A watch marked as water resistant without a depth
indication is designed to withstand accidental
splashes of water only. Do not submerge such a
watch. Higher levels of water resistance are
indicated by increasingly higher acceptable
depths, usually indicated in meters.
There are a variety of ways to make a watch water
resistant. All such watches use rubber gaskets or
"O" rings to seal the case back. A watch
with a back that screws onto the case provides a
higher degree of water resistance. Some crowns
(the "winding stem") actually screw into
the case to further increase water resistance.
Usage Recommendations
The following usage recommendations are suggested
by many watch companies in America.
- Water-resistant to 30 meters (100 feet).
Will withstand splashes of water or rain but
should not be worn while swimming or diving.
- Water-tested to 50 meters (165 feet).
Suitable for showering or swimming in shallow
water.
- Water-tested to 100 meters (330 feet).
Suitable for swimming and snorkeling.
- Water-tested to 150 meters (500 feet).
Suitable for snorkeling.
- Water-tested to 200 meters (660 feet).
Suitable for skin diving.
- Diver's 150 meters (500 feet). Meets ISO
standards and is suitable for scuba diving.
- Diver's 200 meters (660 feet). Meets ISO
standards and is suitable for scuba diving.
Please note that we do not recommend swimming
or diving with your watch unless it has a
screw-down crown (also known as ‘screw-lock’
or ‘screw-in’ crown) and is water-resistant to
at least 100 meters.
Keeping Your Watch Dry
Always make sure your watch is dry after it has
been exposed to water. By taking a few minutes and
thoroughly drying your watch with a lint-free
cloth, you will prevent rust from forming. This is
a key point in ensuring the long life of your
watch.
Caring for the Crystal
The crystal is the transparent part of the watch
through which you tell time. As we discussed with
water, a watch may have a scratch-resistant
crystal, however no crystal is truly scratchproof.
Therefore, it is not advisable that you toss your
watch onto the dresser or into a drawer at the end
of the day. It’s better for the watch to store
or wrap it in a soft cloth before placing it down.
The more care you take with the watch, the less
scratches you will end up with. Replace broken or
scratched crystals immediately. Even a hairline
crack can let dust or moisture into the mechanism,
threatening its accuracy. If you place the watch
in a drawer with other jewelry, this too may
scratch the watch, as it might rub against the
other pieces. Another suggestion would be to store
the watch in its original case, since these cases
are generally soft and made specifically for the
watch.
Metal Versus Leather Bands
If you participate in activities that cause
excessive sweat or perspiration, you may want to
consider getting a watch with a metal bracelet or
rubber strap, instead of a leather strap. Watches
that have natural and genuine leather straps will
gradually deteriorate with constant exposure to
perspiration. Metal bracelets would best be
classified as “dress” watches.
Battery Replacement
Watches that run on batteries are known as
'Quartz' watches. The batteries will last anywhere
from one to several years. How will you know when
the watch needs the battery changed? Most of the
watches sold by Diamond.com come with free
lifetime battery replacement. Send the watch in
with your receipt, and Diamond.com will replace
the battery. If a watch was not purchased from
Diamond.com or did not come with free lifetime
battery replacement, consider taking it to a local
watch professional for battery replacement.
Watches that do not need battery replacement
include automatic (self-winding) watches and
solar-powered watches (which have a rechargeable
battery). You may want to consult the watch's
manual if you’re not sure what type of watch you
have.
Cleaning Your Watch
The best way to clean your watch is by using a
lint-free cloth and a toothpick. Use the toothpick
to clean out any dirt buildup in the bracelet or
casing of the watch and the cloth to wipe it
clean. If it is water-resistant, give it an
occasional cleaning with a mixture of warm water
and a mild soap. If the strap is leather or
non-metal, clean only the case.
Servicing Your Watch
Like any other piece of machinery, a watch must be
cleaned, oiled, and serviced. Every couple of
years, you may notice the watch losing time or
running fast—or it may stop working altogether.
Just take your watch to a local watch professional
for servicing.
Automatic Watch
Maintenance
Although automatic mechanical watches do not have
batteries, some easy-to-follow maintenance is
necessary for continued and long-lasting good use.
Self-winding automatic watches depend on the
movement of the arm to operate and do require some
winding, even if you wear your watch on a daily
basis.
If you wear your Automatic watch everyday,
it is best to wind it once, every two weeks to
keep the wheels in motion and oil fluid. Simply
wind the crown (the same knob used to adjust the
time and date) until you meet slight resistance.
If you do not wear your Automatic watch
everyday, you should try to wind it at least
twice a week to ensure continuous operation, as
well as keeping the inside mechanism in complete
running order.
Try to wind your mechanical watch at the same time
every day. This is extremely beneficial for the
mechanism. You may want to make it a routine,
winding it every morning when you wake up.
Avoid setting the day and/or date (if your watch
has these functions) at night. The day-date
mechanism is activated during the nighttime hours
and could be disrupted if set at this time.
And, always avoid wearing your mechanical watch,
if you are playing a sport requiring continuous
arm motion (e.g. tennis, baseball, golf), since
continuous arm motion could damage the movement.
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