Congratulations on choosing to buy your first Rolex watch! For many, Rolex is the first thing that comes to mind at the mention of the word “luxury watch,” and rightfully so. A Rolex stands for quality, elegance, and timelessness.
In order to keep its movement in top operating condition, a Rolex watch demands regular maintenance. That is why we always aim to inform our customers of the most important points of watch maintenance, such as how to keep it clean, wind it and adjust the bracelet.
In this article, we’d like to go over the basics once again to bring any Rolex owners who might have missed it up to date.
Most modern Rolex watches are equipped with a perpetual-wind movement, meaning the movement winds itself as you are wearing the watch. A weighted rotor spins around an axel and winds the mainspring, which in turn powers the movement. But when you stop wearing it for a couple of days, the watch will stop running, as the mainspring unwinds. In case this happens, unscrew the crown to the proper winding setting and wind it manually. Twist the crown twenty or thirty times and the mainspring will be wound up, ready to go. But you’ll also have to reset the hands to the correct time.
Note – to avoid this hassle, invest in an automatic watch winder, a box that keeps your watch moving while you’re not wearing it, thus keeping the movement running.
Most watches have positions or “notches” on the crown that allow the date wheel to be turned, the hands to be set, and the mainspring to be wound. Unscrew the crown and gentle tug on the crown to feel it click from notch to notch. For many watches, the position of just having been unscrewed, or neutral position, moving the crown will wind the mainspring. Pulling the crown gently out to the second position will allow it to move the hands and set the time. The third notch will allow moving the crown to set the date. Naturally, for watches that don’t display the date, the crown can only be pulled out to two notches.
Note – set the date to the previous day, then move the hands forward around the dial until they pass midnight and the date flips forward – that way you know if the hands are in AM or PM mode. Note – don’t forget to push the crown back in and screw it down finger tight to maintain water resistance.
However, there are some watches like the Yacht-Master II that involve a more complex method than the most watches described in this article. In this case, you should consult the user manual or look for a reliable company which specializes in Rolex watch repair in San Diego, CA such as Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers.
In case you want to refresh the look of your watch you can always swap your bracelet for a strap. But doing so means you’ll have to remove the bracelet first. The bracelet is held in place with a spring bar, and to remove it you’ll have to remove the bar first with a special tool. You will have to be very careful when doing this as even a small slip could lead to a scratch on the case or bracelet.
Once you take the bracelet off, simply repeat the process the other way around to put the strap in. Pay attention to where you are hooking the buckle end. Most commonly, this end is connected above the 12:00 mark.
Keep your watch clean. Take care not to scratch it in the process. If your watch gets messy, simply check that the crown is screwed down finger-tight and rinse it under running water. If there is grit in the bracelet, you can clean it using a toothbrush. After you’ve cleaned the watch, dry it gently with a clean lint-free towel. When the finish does get scratched and dull over time, bring it to Leo Hamel’s for a professional refinishing that will make your watch look like new again. You’ll be amazed at the difference!
The most important part of the maintenance process is having your mechanical watch professionally serviced every 3 to 5 years by a reputable watch repair facility. Your fine Swiss quartz watch should be serviced every 7 to 10 years, and the battery replaced every 2 years. Look for a repair facility whose watch repair mechanic is CW21 certified, with an active parts account with Rolex so that he can order and use genuine parts to replace any that have worn.
If you follow these steps regularly, you will keep the watch’s value and prevent unnecessary wear and tear. Your watch deserves to be serviced at a company that specializes in Rolex watch repair in San Diego, CA like Leo Hamel’s. To schedule maintenance or repair for your Rolex, contact us at 619-299-1500.