Wristwatches

When choosing a suitable wristwatch, you should pay particular attention to the strap. Some watch straps are made of fabric, others of metal or leather. Which type of strap you choose is basically a matter of personal taste. However, metal straps can make noise when touched or moved and, during intense physical activity, often leave marks or – in the worst case – even abrasions on the skin.

Questions: Wristwatches

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Small, shallow scratches in the glass can be treated with toothpaste. Deeper ones, however, should preferably be carefully treated with special glass polishes. With both methods, it’s a good idea to first test on an old, no‑longer‑needed watch to see how the abrasive action affects the glass.

Water stains on a leather strap – what to do?

Water stains can be removed well with a sliced onion or a little milk. To do this, quickly rub the leather with half an onion or a cloth soaked in milk and then let it dry. Whichever method you choose, it is particularly important that the treated area is thoroughly dried and that the leather is only then treated with a leather care product.

How do you clean grease stains on leather?

The best way to remove such stains is with a grease-absorbing stain remover spray or by trying a leather soap (also called a leather eraser).

How do you change button cells yourself?

To change the battery, you should in any case have a watchmaker’s screwdriver to be able to properly loosen the tiny screws that usually secure a retaining spring for the button cell. Depending on the design of the battery holder, the button cell can simply be removed with a watchmaker’s screwdriver or tweezers (be sure to use plastic tweezers!). Before disassembling for the first time, you should take a close look at the inside of the watch and make notes on the position of retaining springs, protective foils, etc., or even take an additional (macro) photo. You can find out which battery type you need from the operating instructions or, in most cases, from the top of the old battery. You do not necessarily have to use the same battery type again if it is not currently available: using a comparison table, you may be able to identify suitable equivalents. However, it is essential in every case to maintain the same battery dimensions and voltage.

The watch crystal is fogged up on the inside – what should I do?

Place the watch in a warm place to dry or in a bag of rice, which will quickly draw out the moisture. The better alternative, however, is to take it to a watchmaker so they can clean it and, if necessary, replace the sealing ring.

On which wrist should you wear a watch?

Because there have always been more right-handed than left-handed people, the little winding crown was placed so that it could be reached and turned with the right, i.e. the “strong” hand. This only works if the watch is worn on the left wrist. So traditionally, a watch is worn on the left. Of course, you can wear it on whichever wrist you like.

What is a helium valve?

The helium valve is an overpressure valve that releases any helium present from inside the watch to the outside. But how does the helium get into the watch in the first place? This is only relevant for divers who dive either with a diving bell (less common) or with a decompression chamber. Due to the much smaller molecules (compared to air), the helium penetrates the watch despite the seals. If a dive watch does not have such a valve, in the worst case the crystal can be blown off.

What is a “Trisnap clasp” on wristwatches?

The TriSnap fastener is a safety clasp. It is a triple-secured (hence the name) (wristband) clasp, i.e. a folding clasp that is almost 100% unlikely to open accidentally or unintentionally.