Tips for marriage owners

Of course, vintage watches require careful handling. Any repair comes at a cost, since it does not involve replacing standard parts (as in modern watches), but rather handmaking an identical part or fitting a similar part.

The best mode of operation for vintage watches is to give them a full winding in the morning, so that they work more steadily on a full spring during the day; a few turns of winding in the evening, and to leave them on the table with the dial upwards for the night. This mode allows for normal accuracy.



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OWNERS OF A MARRIAGE WATCH:

  1. Antique watches should not be beaten or dropped, repairs are usually quite expensive.
  2. Before the middle of the 20th century the manufacturers did not install water resistance in watches, therefore any old watch is afraid of water and moisture.
  3. If your watch is still wet, you should immediately open all covers, dry it with a hot hair dryer and have it reassembled by a master, rust is a terrible enemy of the mechanism.
  4. Do not expect high accuracy from antique watches - the error of 2 ... 4 minutes over 24 hours is already a good result, 1 minute - ideal.
  5. Do not screw in the mainspring up to the end, the old metal may burst.
  6. If you wear the watch - it is better to wind it up every day in the morning, wind it a little bit more in the evening, and leave it on the table with the dial up.
  7. It is not allowed to turn the hands of a watch with a calendar or repeater counterclockwise, we do not recommend to turn ordinary watches counterclockwise either.
  8. Predominantly move the hands forward, but even if you do move them backward, do so gently and not for too long.
  9. Do not make any abrupt movements - do not turn hands sharply, do not swing the pendulum sharply, do not press buttons sharply, etc.
  10. Every 2-3 years the watch should be serviced and lubricated.
  11. If the movement is dirty do not let the watch run for a long time, as the dust and solidified oil in the stones will scratch and wear down the axes.
  12. The case and glass should be cared for with a chamois or a soft cloth that does not leave fibers.
  13. Strong magnetic fields may markedly impair the stability of the movement and the accuracy of the watch.
  14. Most types of dial coatings cannot withstand grease and corrosive environments, never touch the dial.
  15. If the watch does break or run badly, it is better to have it repaired only by experienced watchmakers, specialists in vintage watches. Most simple warranty services are trained only to replace parts with new ones, and it is almost impossible to find a 100% suitable part for an old watch. You have to rebuild the part, fit a similar one, or make a new one.


Regards Mole watch studio.