Amy - Find Watches asked:


Looking after a watch properly can extend its life by many years. There are a number of easy ways that you can do this.

Treat your watch according to its water resistance rating. Every watch has a water resistance rating. For a breakdown of what each one means click here.

Do not expose your watch to rapid temperature change. It is best not to wear your watch in a sauna or in a cold plunge pool. This is because rapid temperature change causes materials to contract, if the seal (that makes the watch water resistant) changes size and/or shape it could mean that your watch is no longer water resistant.

If the air under the glass rapidly cools it may mean that the water in the air will condense. In most cases this goes away without any intervention, but water can get into the workings of the watch. The best course of action to take if this happens is to have the case opened and left to dry as soon as possible.

Once the case has been opened the water resistance rating can not be guaranteed until the watch has been tested in a pressure tank. If you frequently use your watch in water it is best to send it back to the manufacturer as local retailers are unlikely to have the equipment necessary to do this.

Do not knock your watch. Undue shocks can damage the internal workings or scratch the glass. It is generally inadvisable to wear a watch during sports, unless it is specifically designed for them. This is especially important if you have a watch which has moving parts. Mechanical/automatic watches and quartz watches contain moving parts. A digital watch has no moving parts so an impact should only damage the glass. A breakdown of the different qualities of watch glasses can be found here.

Avoid wearing perfume or moisturisers in the same place that you wear your watch. Watch bracelets, straps and the internal workings can be susceptible to corrosion from cosmetics.

Check straps and bracelets regularly. Ensure that they are not loose or too worn. If necessary get the clasp tightened or obtain a new strap, both of these tasks can be done by your local jeweller. Keep hold of any additional links that you have for the watch, these will come in handy if one breaks.

Keep your watch clean. If it has a water resistance rating of 50m you can clean your watch with luke warm water and a very small amount of soap.  A tooth brush or similar object can be used to easily loosen dirt. Make sure that you remove all soap and dry it thoroughly afterwards. If the water has a rating of less than 50m the best thing to use is a soft cloth and a dry toothbrush to clean between the links.

Change the battery when necessary. If a battery powered watch has stopped or is losing time it probably needs a new battery. Even if you do not intend to wear the watch for a while it is better to keep it running as the mechanisms inside may seize up if they are not used. It is advisable to get the battery changed by a jeweller as there are a number of small parts which can easily be lost. Remember that water resistance cannot be guaranteed unless it is tested. To find out more about different kinds of power for wrist watches click here.

Get your watch serviced. If you have an automatic, divers or a particularly expensive watch it is recommended to have it serviced every 2-3 years. Otherwise the cost of servicing is likely to outweigh the cost of replacement. If the watch is under guarantee ensure that the service centre used is one recognised by the manufacturer so that the warranty is not invalidated.

 



Franklin

Amy - Find Watches asked:


Many people say to me that they could not live without their watch. But it was not until the last century that this became a realistic possibility for the majority of people. Timekeeping has been possible in a fairly accurate way since the 1400s but it was not until the 1800s, when watches began to be mass produced rather than made by hand by skilled watch makers, that this became accessible technology. The trend of wearing wristwatches began in the trenches in WW1 as they were a more practical accessory than a pocket watch. Since then the technology has developed in leaps and bounds.

Mechanical Watches 

The first wristwatches were mechanical. They are powered by the energy stored in a spring which is used to move a number of weighted wheels, or gears as they are also known, that turned the hands. This technology came from spring-powered clocks that were around as early as the 1400’s; it began to be used for smaller watches in the 1600’s. These types of watches need to wound regularly; meaning that as well as being prone to losing time they rely on their user to remember to wind them. For these reasons mechanical watches are generally collectors items or created primarily for nostalgic purposes rather than for practicality.

Kinetic or Automatic Watches

The modern variation of the mechanical watch that has recently seen a revival is the kinetic watch also known as an automatic watch. These watches have a similar internal structure as the mechanical watches but rely on the movement of the wearer to power the spring. They are often less reliable than other forms of power for watches; there is a greater likelihood that they will lose time, in some cases a few seconds every day. They have made a comeback in certain designers ranges such as Police and Seiko. This is partly because they never need to have a battery change and also the mechanics allow for some additional stylistic features like transparent backs through which the mechanism can be viewed.

Quartz Watches 

In 1969 the first quartz powered watch was available on the market. Quartz has special properties so when it is shaped in a certain way and subject to an electrical field it will bend. When the field is removed the quartz generates an electrical field of its own as it moves back to its original shape. This property is known as piezoelectricity. Due to this property quartz crystals can be used to regulate the movement of an electronic oscillator. This energy and movement powers, controls and regulates the hands of the watch. This revolutionary technology is now the most common form of power in wristwatches. It is also the most reliable timekeeping method which also comes at a low price.

Atomic Timekeeping 

The most accurate time pieces on the planet are connected to atomic clocks. An atomic clock deviates by around a second every million years! Certain wristwatches such as the Casio WaveCeptor range utilise this technology. This is done through a network of radio transmitters which emit time signals. Radio controlled watches receive this signal and adjust themselves accordingly.

Types of Watch Batteries

There are three main types of battery that are used to power watches. The most common is the silver oxide battery. They are frequently used in watches because they have a high energy to weight ratio. This means that they should last for a long period of time. Due to the silver content they can be expensive to produce which is why they are not often used for products that take larger batteries.

Lithium batteries are long-life and also relatively expensive. They are used primarily in watches that have lights or other energy draining features.

Solar cells are now becoming a popular and effective way of powering wristwatches. High-tech battery cells are fuelled by the light that reaches them through the watch face. This means that the user will never have to change the battery. Citizen\’s Eco-Drive range has set the standard for the practical application of this technology. As an additional ecological bonus the batteries do not contain any of the harmful chemicals found in regular batteries.

 



Lisa

CouponAlbum asked:


Time has advanced the technology of watches. Designer watches, that mark its style and beauty, have flooded the market like never before. More than just timepieces, they are adornments that speak to the refined style of the wearer, and investments that reflect good taste.

Designer watches make a fashion statement; it’s just like wearing a masterpiece on your wrist. They are accessories that truly add an air of distinction to any look; also adds the finishing touch to both casual and formal attire. Today, they are the ultimate wearable expression of style and success.

One of the most attractive features of today’s designer watches is the attention to detail and function that defines them.  It can be a symbol of status, or simply a functional tool that you employ through the day, or perhaps it is both for you.  Watches bring an image of sophistication, class, and intelligence. 

Luxury jewelry, including quality timepieces, makes a wonderful finishing touch that will make a classy statement about your personal style. A designer watch adds a lot to any outfit and depending on the type and style of the watch that you choose; you can truly enhance your look for a particular occasion. Both practical and functional, men’s and women’s designer watches make a superb gift for special occasion.

Today’s watches are designed for a number of different lifestyles and experiences such as diver’s watches, classic watches, sports watches and more. Despite the fact that these watches are designed for certain lifestyles, all of these different types of watches can be made so that they reflect the styles of the time.

Different types of designer watches can be shopped for online. There are many advantages in shopping for designer watches on the internet. There is diversity of watch and jewelry styles available; you will be able to find the right piece to fit every style statement.

With the wide variety of watches on the market you sure will be able to find one that enhances your look.  And with the perfect designer watch you sure will be noticed the next time that you walk into a social event or a business meeting!



Uriel

Jonathan Blocker asked:


Men and Women Movado Watches. Always On Time…Luxury Watches For All Occasions

If Lucille Ball’s character in the 1940 Rodgers & Hart musical Too Many Girls had been wearing one of today’s fine luxury watches from Movado, Citizen or Cartier, she might not have wound up singing the plaintive lyrics “…I – didn’t know what time it was…” Those who own such quality designer watches always know what time it is – and such gifts, whether to one’s self or to another, are always appropriate, always appreciated, and always useful. Read on and learn more about quality luxury watches.

New…And Yet, Old

Actually, the idea of designer watches is a fairly new one, going back only about 140 years or so. If that seems not-so-new, consider that the first men’s watches came into being during the days of King Henry VIII, Martin Luther and Ivan the Terrible – just a little more than a century after the invention of the first spring-driven mechanical clocks around 1400!

These early men’s watches were relatively large by modern standards - unwieldy devices that gentlemen wore on a chain around their necks and were neither particularly durable nor accurate. As craftsmen learned to miniaturize the components over the course of the subsequent two centuries however, the pocket watch became a necessary masculine accoutrement, and with the dawn of the Industrial Age, even a required tool of many trades.

For The Ladies

There appears to have been custom-made ladies gold watches as far back as the 1700s, but these were worn by royalty and aristocracy for the most part. The first ladies watches that were worn commonly by women of the middle class were actually the first “wrist watches,” known as bracelet watches. These were some of the earliest designer watches available, first manufactured in the U.S. during the late 1860s. (Mens watches designed to be worn on the wrist didn’t come along until 1904 when aviation pioneers realized it was necessary to have a timepiece that allowed them to keep both hands on the controls.)

Settle For Nothing Less Than The Best

Mens Watches, crafted in Switzerland by a company whose name literally means “ever in motion,” set the standard for luxury watches. These extra fine timepieces not only use the latest technology in their construction, but also feature sleek, Art-Deco influenced minimalist design that is unique and immediately identify the wearers as people who appreciate only the best life has to offer. Movado diamond watches come in hundreds of variations and models, making it easy to find a timepiece that is virtually one-of-a-kind. Once you’ve experienced one of Movado’s fine luxury watches, you’ll fully appreciate the old expression “runs like a Swiss watch.”



Pauline