The Five-Minute Daily and Weekly Watch-Care Routine

Mechanical watches do not need to be treated like museum objects, but a few quiet habits can preserve their appearance and reveal problems before they become serious. The best routine is simple enough to repeat.

After wear: wipe, do not polish

Use a clean, dry, lint-free microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints, perspiration, and surface dust. Wipe gently. Do not bear down on grit, which can create fine scratches, and do not use polishing cloths impregnated with abrasive compounds for routine cleaning.

If the watch has been exposed to sunscreen, fragrance, salt, or heavy perspiration, follow the manufacturer’s cleaning guidance. Water should only be used when the watch’s current water resistance is known and the strap is suitable.

Once a week: inspect contact points

Look at the crown, pushers, crystal edge, bezel, spring bars, bracelet screws or pins, clasp, and strap attachment. Check for looseness, cracks, fraying, bent hardware, or an unfamiliar gap. A loose bracelet screw or damaged spring bar can lead to a dropped watch.

Listen and feel as you wind or set the watch. Sudden grinding, slipping, unusual resistance, or a crown that no longer seats correctly deserves professional attention.

Give the watch a safe resting place

When you remove it, place it on a clean, stable surface away from the edge, or in a soft, correctly sized pouch or box. Keep watches separated so cases, crowns, and bracelets cannot scratch one another.

Avoid speakers, magnetic clasps, powerful electronics, direct sunlight, high humidity, and rapid temperature changes. Keep the watch out of reach of children and pets.

Care for the strap you are wearing

Let leather dry naturally after perspiration and avoid wearing the same leather strap continuously in hot weather. Rinse suitable rubber or fabric according to its instructions and let it dry fully. For bracelets, remove surface grime before it becomes trapped between links.

Rotate straps when practical. The watch often outlives several straps, and replacing a worn strap before failure protects the watch.

Notice performance without obsessing

An occasional comparison with a reliable time source can reveal a significant change. Note whether the watch suddenly gains or loses far more time, stops early, or has trouble changing the date. Wearing pattern and position affect mechanical timekeeping, so look for trends rather than reacting to one reading.

Know when to stop

Stop wearing the watch if the crystal is cracked, moisture appears inside, a crown or pusher is damaged, the bracelet attachment is loose, or the movement makes a new alarming sound. Continued use can turn a small repair into a larger one.

Five mindful minutes each week can protect years of ownership.

Further reading: the Vookum warranty · contact support