SHOULD I ACTUALLY USE ALL THE FEATURES ON MY WATCH? FOR EXAMPLE: IS IT A BAD IDEA TO KEEP THE CHRONOGRAPH FUNCTION RUNNING?

As we all well know by now, contemporary technologies vastly outperform our mechanical watch’s capabilities — it’s why police officers use radar instead of a stopwatch and arithmetic. But while the skill and patience involved in timing the speed of a race car with a chrono function is unthinkably burdensome for most, and determining the distance of an enemy’s artillery is hopefully a situation in which none of us will find ourselves in (both original uses for the chronograph feature), chronograph watches are some of the most celebrated, sought after, and downright beautiful watches available. Even if we don’t use them to their full potential, that full potential is a mechanical marvel that fits neatly on your wrist.

As with other functions your watch can do, you should neither neglect nor overuse your chronograph. Once a week or so, take your chrono function out for a spin (maybe time your son as he fetches you a drink; kids love being timed as much as they love amateur bartending). The lubrication between certain moving parts functions best and lasts longer when activated, but leaving it running indefinitely steals energy from your watch’s main function, and therefore reduces your watches power reserve, thereby throwing off its precision.

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