Why Your Watch Deserves More Than a Wipe-Down

Here's an uncomfortable truth: most watches don't die of old age. They die of neglect. A moisture-fogged crystal, a crown that seized because someone tried to set the date underwater, a leather strap that cracked because it never saw a drop of conditioner in five years — these aren't manufacturing faults. They're maintenance failures, and every one of them was preventable.

Whether you're wearing a rugged G-Shock, a sun-powered Citizen Eco-Drive, or a classic automatic, the difference between a watch that lasts two years and one that lasts twenty usually comes down to habits that take seconds a day. This guide walks through exactly what those habits are — and what to do (and avoid) depending on the type of movement ticking away on your wrist.

Know Your Movement Before You Know Your Maintenance

Not all watches age the same way, because not all watches work the same way. Before you follow generic care advice, it helps to know which category yours falls into:

• Quartz (like Sekonda and many Daniel Wellington models) — battery-powered, low-maintenance, but sensitive to dead batteries leaking and corroding the movement if left unchecked.
• Solar / Eco-Drive (Citizen's signature technology) — powered by light instead of a battery, these need regular exposure to light and occasional "deep charges" to stay accurate long-term.
• Automatic — powered by the motion of your wrist, these mechanical watches are the most rewarding to own and the most demanding to maintain, especially if they sit unworn for long stretches.

We'll come back to each of these, but first, the rules that apply no matter what's inside the case.

The Universal Rules: Every Watch, Every Day

1. Wipe it down, every single time

Sweat, skin oils, and everyday grime are quietly corrosive. A soft, dry microfibre cloth after you take your watch off each evening prevents buildup on the case, crown, and clasp — the places most people forget entirely.

2. Respect the water resistance rating (don't assume it)

"Water resistant" is not the same as "waterproof," and the number on the case back matters more than most people realise:

• 30m/3ATM — splash resistant only. No showering, no swimming.
• 50m/5ATM — fine for washing hands, caught in the rain. Not for swimming.
• 100m/10ATM — safe for swimming and snorkelling, not high-impact water sports.
• 200m/20ATM+ — built for diving and serious water sports.

One critical habit regardless of rating: never adjust the crown or press pushers while the watch is wet or submerged. That's the single most common way water seals fail.

3. Keep it away from magnets

Phones, laptop speakers, fridge magnets, and handbag clasps can magnetise a watch's internal components, causing it to run fast or stop entirely. This affects quartz and automatic movements alike. If your watch starts gaining several minutes a day out of nowhere, magnetism — not a fault — is often the culprit.

4. Mind the temperature swings

Leaving a watch on a car dashboard in summer or exposing it to sudden hot-to-cold transitions (sauna to snow, hot shower to air conditioning) stresses seals and lubricants. Treat your watch the way you'd treat your own skin: extremes aren't great for either.

5. Store it properly when it's not on your wrist

Tossing a watch loose in a drawer is how straps get scratched, crystals get scuffed, and clasps get bent. A dedicated jewellery box with individual watch pillows keeps each piece separated and protected — and if you're storing an automatic, keep reading, because "just storing it" isn't quite enough.

Movement-Specific Care: Where the Real Differences Show Up

Quartz Watches (Sekonda, and select Daniel Wellington)

Quartz movements are the low-maintenance option, but they have one specific failure mode: a battery left dead for too long can leak and corrode the movement from the inside out. The fix is simple — as soon as the second hand starts ticking in longer intervals (a common low-battery warning) or stops altogether, get the battery replaced promptly rather than letting the watch sit. Battery life typically runs one to three years depending on the model and complications.

Solar / Eco-Drive Watches (Citizen)

These watches convert light into energy, which sounds effortless — and mostly is — but they still need a routine:

• Give the watch a few hours of direct or bright indoor light each week, even if you're not wearing it.
• If it's been stored in darkness for an extended period, place it face-up under a bright lamp or in indirect sunlight for several hours to bring it back to full charge.
• Avoid leaving it in a drawer for months at a time without any light exposure — this is the most common reason an Eco-Drive appears "dead" when it isn't.

Automatic Watches

Automatics are mechanical, which means they're more sensitive, more serviceable, and more particular about how they're treated:

• Wear it or wind it. An automatic needs regular motion to stay powered. If you rotate watches and don't wear this one for a few days, it will stop — that's normal, not a fault. A gentle manual wind (if the movement supports it) or a few minutes on a watch winder brings it back to life without needing to reset the time and date each time.
• A watch winder isn't a luxury, it's a strategy. If you own more than one automatic and rotate between them, a watch winder keeps unworn pieces running, accurate, and ready to wear — and saves you from resetting complicated date/day functions every time you pick one back up.
• Service it every 4–5 years. Unlike quartz, automatics rely on tiny mechanical lubricants that dry out over time. Regular servicing (cleaning, oiling, and regulation) is what separates a watch that runs beautifully for decades from one that grinds to a halt.

Don't Forget the Strap

The movement gets all the attention, but the strap is usually what fails first.

Leather straps

Keep away from water and prolonged sun exposure, both of which dry out and crack the leather. A leather conditioner every few months keeps it supple, and rotating between two straps extends the life of both considerably.

Metal bracelets

Clean periodically with a soft brush and mild soapy water to clear out the grime that builds up between links — this is also what causes that "pinching" feeling on arm hair. Dry thoroughly afterward.

Silicone and rubber straps

The most forgiving option, and the best choice for swimming, sport, or humid climates. Wipe clean after sweaty wear to prevent skin irritation and odour buildup.

The Small Habits That Add Up

A well-cared-for watch isn't the result of one big annual clean — it's the accumulation of small habits done consistently: wiping it down each night, keeping it clear of magnets, storing it properly, and paying attention to what its specific movement actually needs. Do that, and a good watch will comfortably outlast the box it came in.

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