Take Care

Watches are more than fashion accessories and require regular care. Sean Li explains why your timepiece may need the occasional extended trip to the service centre

hile this is the Fashion Issue, I’m going to talk about a not-so-fashionable aspect of watchmaking, one that’s vital if your timepieces are to continue functioning optimally—after-sales service. Quartz watches require some care, but their maintenance is generally straightforward, as it’s usually just a battery change and perhaps new gaskets every few years. So we’re talking about mechanical timepieces, which truly are miniaturised machines that require regular maintenance. As the movements work day in and day out to keep the time, there’s an inevitable amount of wear and tear on critical