How often does a mechanical watch need a service?

Most houses now recommend a full service roughly every five to ten years, depending on the movement and how the watch is worn. Have it checked sooner if it gains or loses noticeably, stops unexpectedly or shows moisture under the crystal.

Is my watch still water resistant?

Water resistance depends on seals that age. A watch rated for diving when new may not be watertight years later. Have the seals pressure-tested, ideally once a year if you swim with it, and always after a service.

Can magnets affect my watch?

Yes. Strong magnetic fields from speakers, laptop closures, tablet cases and bag clasps can magnetise a mechanical movement and make it run fast. A watchmaker can demagnetise it in minutes.

Do I need a watch winder for an automatic?

No. A winder is a convenience, not a necessity. An automatic that has stopped can simply be wound by hand through the crown and set.

Care

Caring for a luxury watch

By the Encore Luxe specialists · Updated October 2026

A fine watch is a machine meant to run for generations. It asks for very little: to be worn, kept away from a few hazards and serviced at sensible intervals. This guide explains what that means for automatic, manual and quartz watches, and the small habits that keep a bracelet and case looking right.

Winding and setting

Automatic watches wind themselves as you move. Worn daily, most need nothing more. If one has stopped, wind it through the crown, usually twenty to forty turns, before setting the time. The TAG Heuer Carrera automatic and the Omega Genève automatic in our shop both work this way.

Manual watches must be wound by hand, ideally at the same time each day. Wind until you feel resistance and stop; do not force the crown.

Quartz watches, such as the Omega Aqua Terra 28 mm, need only a new battery every few years. Have it changed by a watchmaker, who will also check and replace the seals, rather than at a kiosk.

Setting the date. On many older mechanical watches, changing the date quickly while the date mechanism is engaged, typically in the hours around midnight, can damage it. Follow the maker's guidance where it is given. Wind the hands past this window first, then set the date.

Screw-down crowns

Many sports watches, from Rolex Oysters to the Omega Ploprof, have a crown that screws down against the case to keep water out. Always screw it fully home after winding or setting; a crown left unscrewed is the commonest cause of water damage. Never operate a crown or pushers under water.

Water resistance

A depth rating describes the watch when new and tested. Seals harden with age, heat and knocks. Have water resistance tested once a year if you swim with a watch, and always after it has been opened. Rinse a watch in fresh water after the sea or a pool, and avoid saunas, hot baths and hot showers, which can make seals expand and contract.

Magnetism

Magnetic fields are now everywhere: phone and tablet cases, laptop closures, speakers, handbag clasps. A magnetised mechanical watch typically runs fast, sometimes by minutes a day. Keep watches away from strong magnets. If yours suddenly gains time, a watchmaker can demagnetise it quickly and inexpensively. Some modern movements are built to resist magnetism, but older watches are not.

Servicing

During a service a watchmaker takes the movement apart, cleans each part, replaces worn components and seals, lubricates, reassembles, regulates and tests. Lubricants age even in a watch that sits in a drawer, so servicing is about time as well as wear. Most houses now suggest an interval of roughly five to ten years. Signs that a watch needs attention sooner:

it gains or loses more than it used to
the power reserve seems shorter
the crown feels gritty or loose
moisture or condensation appears under the crystal

Keep any service paperwork with the watch. It is part of the watch's history.

Cases, bracelets and straps

Wipe steel cases and bracelets with a soft cloth. Every few months a bracelet can be cleaned with warm, soapy water and a soft brush, provided the watch is water resistant and the crown is secured. Leather straps should be kept dry and rotated; rubber straps, like the one on the Hublot Classic Fusion, rinse clean with fresh water.

Polishing removes metal. Many collectors prefer a case left unpolished, with honest wear, to one that has been polished repeatedly and lost its sharp edges. Ask for minimal refinishing when a watch is serviced.

Storage

Store watches in a box or soft pouch, dial up, away from damp, direct sunlight and magnets. Keep them apart so bracelets do not scratch crystals. A watch winder is optional; a stopped automatic simply needs winding.

Questions we’re often asked

How often does a mechanical watch need a service?: Most houses now recommend a full service roughly every five to ten years, depending on the movement and how the watch is worn. Have it checked sooner if it gains or loses noticeably, stops unexpectedly or shows moisture under the crystal.
Is my watch still water resistant?: Water resistance depends on seals that age. A watch rated for diving when new may not be watertight years later. Have the seals pressure-tested, ideally once a year if you swim with it, and always after a service.
Can magnets affect my watch?: Yes. Strong magnetic fields from speakers, laptop closures, tablet cases and bag clasps can magnetise a mechanical movement and make it run fast. A watchmaker can demagnetise it in minutes.
Do I need a watch winder for an automatic?: No. A winder is a convenience, not a necessity. An automatic that has stopped can simply be wound by hand through the crown and set.