Watch Out: Useful tips for watch care

A watch is never just a watch. More than your timekeeper, it is your pride that you wear on your wrist. Any watch you buy is a premium watch, simply because you love it. You never buy a watch for the need of it; at least not these days, when every other thing around you is doing the job (your smartphone is more than enough for time telling). You buy it for the love of it, and what you love commands your utmost attention, no matter what others may think of it.
The worst villains in your love story with the watch are scratches: even the slightest blemish hurts your pride very much as the scar mocks you staring right into your eyes every time light dances on your beloved’s face.
And no matter how much you might try to protect your timepiece, you could still end up getting one scratch here, a brush there; you can’t fight fate after all. And let’s be honest everyone who is a watch freak is somewhat of a perfectionist. This means that while we love looking at the watch every now and then, we hate seeing even the slightest scratch or scuff on it.
Matter of fact is if you actually wear the watches in your collection, there’s really no way to avoid the occasional brush with something that’s harder than the case of the watch. The result of these encounters can range from something not much more obvious than a swirl mark to a scratch that seems to overwhelm the rest of the watch.
So what is important is to know how to refinish your own watches, rather than deciding to give up on wearing your watches better left safe in the safe (not an exciting proposition — the latter one). You must learn the art of keeping your watch spotless by yourself. Jewellers and commercial refinishing services on the whole do a miserable job that would hardly satisfy you.
You only end up paying dearly amounts, with over or under buffing and rather disappointing finish in most cases. After all your watch matters only to you, who paid upfront to own it; the probably underpaid guy at the watch repair shop would have least regard for it to pay proper attention. His aim is to rather make haste and finish the job anyhow.
With a little knowledge, even an absolute novice can easily remove the most horrific scuffs and scratches and re-create the finish their watch used to flaunt so much in its heyday.
If the scratch or scuff sits on high-polish (mirrored) area of the watch, and isn’t very deep; a Cape Cod Polishing Cloth and a little bit of patience rubbing it softly but firmly on the scratched surface will do the job.
Even if the scratch is deeper, a Dremel or roto-tool along with a Deep Scratch Kit will make it go away quickly. If the scratch is on a brushed area (satin finish) like the clasp or outer links of a premium bracelet (like Rolex), then a Satin Refinishing Pad is all that is required.
If the blemish is on a brushed area that’s close to the crown or a pusher or on the bezel or lugs of your watch, then a Satin/Titanium Refinishing Pen is the best bet since it allows you to get into much smaller areas.
To remove scratches from a titanium watch, use a Titanium Refinishing Pad or the Satin/Titanium Refinishing Pen. If you own more than one watch, you might want to check out the Ultimate Watch Refinishing Kit that gives you absolutely everything you need to refinish any stainless steel, yellow gold, rose gold, platinum, or titanium watch. All of these products are easily available at watch service outlets (or online) and cost significantly less than one commercial refinishing job.
One common mistake to strictly refrain from is using jewellery polishing cloth that’s coated with red rouge, to polish your watch.
Stop worrying too much and enjoy your watches. Flaunt your style on the wrist.