USE AND CARE OF YOUR VINTAGE WATCH
Vintage watches were designed to give many years of dependable service. They will continue to give excellent service if the suggestions for care and use given below are followed:
1. WINDING
Wind your watch at the same time every day, preferably in the morning when you first arise. The winding crown can be turned in both directions without harm. Wind the watch until increased resistance is felt. You cannot “overwind” a watch, but extreme force can damage internal winding gears.
2. SETTING
For a pendant set watch, pull out the winding crown to set the hands. Don't “jerk” the crown to the setting position, use a steady pulling motion. To set the hands on a lever watch, remove the bezel (the part of the case that holds the crystal) or open the hunting case cover. To the right of the winding pendant will be the end of a small lever. With a fingernail, pull the lever away from the dial. When the lever is in the extended position the hands can be set using the winding crown. Make sure the setting lever is returned to the “wind” position before replacing the bezel or closing the outer cover. Hands can be set either forward or backward with either setting mechanism.
3. WEARING
To prevent crystal breakage, pocket watches in a vest or watch pocket are worn with the crystal facing the body. Women’s watches are worn on a chain or on a watch pin can be worn with the crystal facing in or out at the owners preference.
4. DON'TS
Don't let your watch get wet. Vintage watches are NOT waterproof and can suffer severe damage from water. If your watch does get wet, take it to a competent watchmaker or jeweler immediately! Any delay in stopping internal corrosion (rusting) can cause continuing damage.
Don't drop your watch or subject it to strong physical shocks. The pivots on a watch can be as small as the diameter of a human hair and can break if the watch is dropped or struck against a hard surface.
Keep your watch away from strong magnetic fields such as electric motors, stereo speakers or electrical generators. Any strong magnetic field can make a watch run erratically or cause it to stop. Magnetizing a watch will usually not cause permanent damage, and the problem can be corrected by running the watch through a demagnetizing coil.
5. SERVICE
Vintage watches are precision instruments and require periodic professional maintenance. Manufacturers usually recommended watches in daily service be cleaned and overhauled every two years, although development of modern oils have lengthened that somewhat. Watches that are used only occasionally require less frequent service. If your watch gradually starts to either lose or gain time, have the watch checked by a competent watchmaker to determine if routine service is needed. When the watch is not being used, store it in a location free from dust, lint and moisture. Never put any other objects in a watch pocket with your watch.
Enjoy your vintage watch,
Ed Ueberall, Watchmaker