Care and Maintenance

Is my Sapphire Crystal scratch-proof or scratch-resistant?
Is my Bracelet scratch-proof or scratch-resistant?
Common Case and Bracelet Materials
Do I need to wind my quartz (battery) watch?
Do I need to send in my watch for periodic maintenance?
How long will my battery last?
How do I care for my leather strap?
How does dust affect my watch?
How do magnetic fields affect my watch?
What steps are taken to replace a battery?
What is a Movement Maintenance/overhaul?
What is Water Resistance Maintenance?
Will pulling out my Stem/Crown extend the life of the battery?
Can I access my Operating Manual online?
My automatic watch lost its power, do I need to wind it?
Can I swim and shower while wearing my watch?

Is my Sapphire Crystal scratch-proof or scratch-resistant?
A watch crystal may be scratch-resistant, however no crystal is truly scratch-proof. Therefore, please follow these steps when handling your watch:

Wrap your watch is a soft cloth prior to placing it on any hard surface.
When possible, store your watch in the original box/case.
Avoid dropping the watch in a drawer or jewelry box, to prevent it from being scratched by coming in contact with other pieces of jewelry.
Avoid wearing your watch during high-risk activities, when lifting or moving heavy objects, or while engaging in sports activities
Avoid wearing your watch on the same wrist as another piece of jewelry. They could rub against and scratch each other.

Is my Bracelet scratch-proof or scratch-resistant?
A watch may be made of a scratch-resistant material, however no material is truly scratch-proof. Therefore, please follow these steps when handling your watch:

Wrap your watch is a soft cloth prior to placing it on any hard surface.
When possible, store your watch in the original box/case.
Avoid dropping the watch in a drawer or jewelry box, to prevent it from being scratched by coming in contact with other pieces of jewelry.
Avoid wearing your watch during high-risk activities, for example, when lifting or moving heavy objects or engaging in sports activities.
Avoid wearing your watch on the same wrist as another piece of jewelry. They could rub against and scratch each other.

Common Case and Bracelet Materials
Stainless Steel

The most popular metal used in watch cases and bracelets
Extremely durable
Made of steel alloyed with chromium
Not nickel free, however the nickel molecules are encapsulated; classified as hypoallergenic

Gold

Precious metal
In its pure form (24K), it is too soft to work with so base metals are mixed with gold to give it strength; for example, 14K gold is a ratio of 14 parts gold to 10 parts base metal
White gold is created by adding platinum to the mixture, pink or rose gold comes from adding copper
Durable, elegant
Color can not "wear off"; the gold is an integral part of the material

Gold-Plated

A base metal with a thin layer of gold (usually 18K to 23K) applied in a process called electroplating
Thickness of the gold-plating can range from 2-10 microns in depth
Gives appearance of solid gold at lower price level
Not solid gold, so plated finish can wear off over time

Platinum

One of the most rare precious metals, it has a rich, white luster. Platinum used in jewelry and watches is at least 85-95% pure platinum, with only 5-15% of a base metal
One of the strongest and heaviest metals
Hypoallergenic and tarnish-resistant

Titanium

White, very durable metal
Stronger and lighter than stainless steel, but softer
Non-corrosive; resistant to salt, perspiration, and high temperatures
Hypoallergenic; does not contain nickel

Tungsten Carbide

A metal that is a combination of tungsten and carbon compressed under extreme pressure
Extremely durable and highly scratch-resistant
Heavier than stainless steel
Will not tarnish or rust

Do I need to wind my quartz (battery) watch?
No, the movement of your quartz watch is powered by a battery. If your watch is losing time, the battery may need to be replaced or the movement itself may need service.

Do I need to send in my watch for periodic maintenance?
To ensure your watch remains water resistant, we recommend inspection and maintenance of the case seals and gaskets every 2 to 3 years. This maintenance will help seal and protect the watch movement against air, dust, and moisture, which over time, can penetrate the watch case seal, and prevent the watch movement from functioning properly.

All watch movements will require periodic maintenance. We recommend that a mechanical movement be inspected for possible servicing every 3 to 5 years and quartz movements at each battery change.

For specific details about your watch and recommended service, please refer to your warranty booklet.

How long will my battery last?
The battery in your quartz watch is a 1.55 volt, silver-oxide battery. These batteries are specially designed for watches and last approximately 2 - 5 years, depending on the brand and type of watch, as well as the type of movement used in the watch.

Even for simple battery changes, we recommend you take your watch to an Authorized Service Center to ensure your watch is handled appropriately, and that water resistance is reestablished after battery replacement. The warranty on all of our watches states that we will not accept watches for repair under warranty if someone other than a Movado Group Inc. (MGI) Authorized Service Center opens the watch. The warranty will be considered void and of no effect if the watch is opened by such person or business. Therefore, we encourage consumers to send watches, which are under warranty, to our Authorized Service Centers. Please note: An Authorized Retailer is NOT necessarily an Authorized Service Center.

If a watch is no longer under warranty, anyone who has proper technical training and equipment (including water-resistant testers) may perform repairs on our products. However, the ultimate responsibility is with the service provider. MGI is not responsible for the work of any such service providers and may not be able to repair any damage caused by such service provider. See What steps are taken to replace a battery? for more detail.

How do I care for my leather strap?
Leather requires proper care. Exposure to water may cause your strap to become brittle and eventually break. Contact with perfumes should be avoided to preserve the finish of the leather. The life span of a strap depends on your care and wearing habits as well as the climate in which you live.

How does dust affect my watch?
Even a small particle of dust is enough to stop the watch. Dust can enter a watch if the case, crystal or crown is not intact. A loose, chipped or cracked crystal should be replaced immediately to prevent this from occurring. If you do not wear your watch for a long period, store it in its original box, in a dry place.

How do magnetic fields affect my watch?
The exposure of your watch to strong magnetic fields will affect its time keeping and may cause it to stop. A quartz watch will resume working with original accuracy when it is removed from the magnetic field. A mechanical watch may require demagnetization.

What steps are taken to replace a battery?
Most of our products are water-resistant. Special care is needed every time a water-resistant watch is opened, even to replace the battery. In order to change the battery, an accomplished watchmaker performs a detailed process composed of 27 individual steps. Key steps include:

Measurement of the lower working voltage
Timing test on quartz timer
Replacement of gaskets and crown (if needed)
Checking proper fit of case back and gasket seat
Testing on water-resistant models to assure seal has been reestablished
Cleaning of the case and metal bracelet

NOTE: All work performed by MGI carries a one-year warranty

What is a Movement Maintenance/overhaul?
Like any finely crafted mechanism, a mechanical or quartz watch requires periodic maintenance to ensure optimum performance. Power is transmitted by a wheel train to the watch hands which indicate the time. To reduce the friction, the pivots of these wheels are turning in "jewels" - small synthetic rubies. Special lubrication is applied to the jewels to further minimize the friction. Over time, the aging lubrication can deteriorate, causing the watch to run erratically or stop. When a movement is said to be "dry", it means the lubricating oil has started to congeal, and a complete maintenance is needed. A Movement Maintenance (overhaul) is performed by an accomplished watchmaker and consists of the following procedures:

Disassembly and thorough cleaning of the entire movement; correcting all defects; replacing faulty parts and depleted materials
Oiling, regulating and re-assembly of movement, according to the manufacturer's specifications
Replacement of the battery (quartz movements only)
Testing on water-resistant models to assure seal has been reestablished

NOTE: All work performed by MGI carries a one-year warranty

What is Water Resistance Maintenance?
Water resistance is achieved by installing seals between the major parts of the watchcase. The watch is fitted with a series of gaskets and a specially designed crown, which together, seal the watch and prevent moisture from entering the case. To maintain the integrity of this water-resistant system, periodic maintenance is required. The gaskets and crown are subject to wear and deterioration under conditions of normal use. Therefore, these parts should be inspected and replaced, as needed, each time the watch is opened for service, including battery changes. In addition, water-resistant watches must be tested to ensure that the proper seal has been re-established. NOTE: All work performed by MGI carries a one-year warranty.

Will pulling out my Stem/Crown extend the life of the battery?

In addition to exposing the movement to dust and moisture which can cause your movement to malfunction, pulling out the stem will not save battery life. Pulling the stem out simply disengages the hands from the movement; the movement continues to run and the battery’s power is still being depleted.

Can I access my Operating Manual online?

My automatic watch lost its power, do I need to wind it?

Mechanical watches with automatic movements have a spring that is wound by the normal, daily motion of the wearer's arm. The arm movement causes a rotor inside the watch to transmit motion (energy) to the barrel, thus winding the mainspring.

An important feature of every automatic winding watch is 'power reserve'. If the watch loses its power reserve because it has been idle for an extended period of time, you can wind it up manually (approximately 20 turns of the crown) to create an initial power reserve. To retain the power reserve, as stated above, the watch must be worn continuously and actively. If you plan on wearing your watch daily, you may want to manually wind it once every two weeks to keep the wheels in motion and the oil from drying out. If you do not plan on wearing it daily, we advise you wind the watch about three times a week to ensure continuous operation. Finally, if you do not wear your automatic watch daily, you may want to use a winding box. This box mimics the natural motion of your arm to keep your automatic watch operating.

In contrast, a "manual" mechanical watch does require the watch’s mainspring to be hand-wound by turning the crown, and must be wound each time is loses that power.

Can I swim and shower while wearing my watch?
Most watches are water-resistant. NO WATCH is truly waterproof under all conditions. A water-resistant watch has gaskets that help seal the case against average water pressure at a stated pressure or depth. A watch that is water-resistant to 3ATM, for example, is built to withstand the average pressure occurring at 99 feet or 30 meters below the ocean’s surface.

All of our water-resistant watches are tested to meet international standards for water resistance. However, many factors (i.e. tide, current) can influence the actual water pressure felt at any given depth, and a watch should not be taken to the stated maximum depth for any length of time. Watch seals are designed to withstand casual contact with water, such as splashes of water and rain. Unless noted, our watches are not designed for use as a diver’s watch.

Although most of our watches are water-resistant, we do not recommend you shower, enter steam rooms, or bathe while wearing your watch. Many agents, including steam, soap, mildew, salt water, perfume and chlorine can get into the watch, and if not cleaned immediately, the gaskets and seals can break down over time, allowing dust or moisture to penetrate the case and potentially damage the moving components of your watch.

Finally, the crown, special functions and push buttons of your watch or chronograph should not be operated underwater.