WATCHES
Dos and Don'ts
Do you watch out for your watch? Here are some timely dos and
don'ts.
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Don't keep your watch in close contact with perfumes, powder,
fine particles or chemicals.
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Do keep your watch dry. Water-resistant watches are protected
from accidental wetting, but should be dried as soon as possible.
(Also refer to handling of water-resistant watches below.)
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Don't subject your watch to extreme temperatures or unusual
or excessive shocks.
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Do take your watch to a competent watchmaker for necessary
or periodic service to maintain accuracy and avoid premature
wear.
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Don't place your watch in strong magnetic fields close to
electric motors, generators or televisions.
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Do wear your watch. Constant temperature is best for good
timekeeping.
top Water Resistant Watches
According to current valid standards, a wristwatch
may be termed 'water resistant' if it is able to withstand perspiration,
water drops or rain. It is not suitable for swimming. Higher
resistance values are usually indicated on the dial or case,
for example, in the form of the test pressure in bar or in metres.
A water resistant watch's most important feature
is the gaskets or O-rings, made of rubber, nylon or teflon, which
form watertight seals at the joints where the crystal, case back
and crown meet the watch case.
Gaskets can become corroded by chemicals or crystals,
loosened or broken. Hairsprays, perfume sprays and heavily chlorinated
water can also cause damage. Gaskets are also lined with a sealant
to keep water out.
Another factor to consider is the sturdiness of the
case, which must withstand pressure without distorting. A screw-in
case back is also preferable to one that is pushed in.
Any manipulation of the case or aging of the sealing
material may allow water to penetrate even cases with good water
resistance.
Handling of Water Resistant Watches
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Do not operate the crown or push-button in the water or while
the watch is wet.
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Tighten the screw-lock crown completely.
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Should the watch become immersed in water, dry it off straight
away.
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If the watch comes in contact with salt water, be sure to
rinse it thoroughly in warm fresh water to remove any trace
of salt.
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If a watch is wet from cleaning or by accident, never store
it in a closed container. It should be dried immediately or
taken to a watchmaker if moisture is inside the case, to prevent
damage from rust.
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Parts such as the crown, case seal and other water-resistant
material should be replaced every year or two to ensure water
resistance.
top Water Resistancy Usage Guide
Water Resistant
Suitable for everyday use. Splash or rain resistant. Not suitable
for swimming.
5 Bar/50 Metres
Suitable for water related work, recreational swimming and
fishing. Not suitable for diving.
10/15 Bar/100-150 Metres
Suitable for recreational surfing, snorkelling, sailing and
water sports. Not suitable for diving.
20 Bar/200 Metres
Suitable for professional marine activity and serious surface
water sports. Not suitable for diving.
Divers' 200 Metres
Scuba diving at depths not requiring helium gas.
Divers' 300 Metres and over
Deep sea diving depths requiring helium gas (dealer's advice
should be sought).
This guide has been developed by the Jewellers and Watchmakers of New Zealand
(Inc.) in conjunction with major watch importers
and wholesalers in New Zealand. In time, the seals
on you watch may deteriorate. They recommend that you
have the water-resistance of your watch checked once
a year by a watchmaker who will replace the seals if
necessary. The Jewellers and Watchmakers of NZ do not
recommend using any watch whilst in the shower, spa
or hot pool.
BAROMETERS
top Transporting Barometers
Mercury barometers should be transported at an
angle of about 45 degrees. In this position the mercury will
have risen to fill the tube completely. The lower outlet in
those that have one should be closed with the special plug
designed for the purpose.
Because Aneroid Barometers do not contain liquid
they may be carried in any manner providing they are not subjected
to knocks or severe vibration. In addition they can be smaller
and combined with other instruments. Some are the size of pocket
watches.
CLOCKS
top Moving or Transporting Clocks
When moving or transporting your clock, you should
remove the pendulum. By removing the pendulum you are taking
the weight off the suspension spring, thus avoiding the potential
breakage of this spring. If your clock is fitted with gong
rods, these must be carefully packed for transport over any
distance.
top Setting a Clock On-Beat
These instructions are for a mantle clock and can be adapted
for a wall clock.
Figure
1.
Figure
2.
To set the clock in motion move the pendulum to
one side and release it. If the 'tick' is uneven or there is
no 'tick' at all, gently lift the clock case at one end as
in Fig. 1 and again gently swing the pendulum. Should the 'tick'
become more uneven then the other end of the case should be
lifted (after replacing the clock in its original position).
Should the 'tick' not now sound correct and even,
an adjustment to the crutch as shown in Fig. 2 should be made.
Grasp firmly the end of the crutch as shown at A in Fig. 2
and move towards the end of the case that you lifted when the
'tick' became uneven. When resistance is felt exert a slight
but firm pressure to move the crutch a little further. Restart
the clock. It should now have an even 'tick', but if not, a
slight readjustment of the crutch is required.
MAGNETISM
Alan Hulse of Seiko Australia writes —
An analogue watch uses an electromagnetic motor (drive unit) and
naturally it can be affected to some extent by an external magnetic
field. Particularly when the intensity of the external magnetic
field exceeds a specified limit, the watch will stop, gain or lose.
Over the last six months or so we have experienced situations
where customers have been complaining of their quartz analogue
watches losing time. On each occasion we had replaced the movement
to no avail. With one woman in particular, we replaced the movement
on three occasions. Finally after asking all the usual questions
about wearing habits, we arrived at the one regarding influences
from outside sources, for example, magnetism.
We talked about radio alarm clock speakers, cell phones, microwave
ovens, AC shavers etc, explaining about magnetic field sources.
Her response was "No, nothing like that."
My next question was "Do you use a magnetic underlay on your
bed?" "Yes" came the response and the answer to
our problem. Apparently the customer suffered from arthritis and
the magnetic underlay brought her some relief from pain, the only
problem was she wore her watch in bed.
Apparently some of these underlays are fitted with quite powerful
950 gauss surface rated magnets. Anti-magnetic watches can handle
a DC magnetic field intensity of approximately 200 gauss and an
AC magnetic field intensity of approximately 60 gauss. But when
you consider most quartz watches don't have any anti-magnetic protection
this could become a problem for retailers and watch manufacturers
alike unless you are aware of this situation.
The frustrating thing about this is the watch is only affected
while it is exposed to this magnetic field, as soon as it is removed
from the influence, it will work quite normally.
Analogue quartz watches are most susceptible. Digital quartz watches
are completely magnetism proof (because they don't have a stepping
motor). With combination quartz watches only the analogue component
will be susceptible.
The reason an analogue quartz watch is susceptible to magnetism
is because this type of watch uses a step motor system that drives
its rotor electro-magnetically. When the watch is placed in a strong
magnetic field, its rotor can no longer work normally and will
function as if defective by stopping, gaining or losing.
Out of interest I phoned a local supplier for his product information.
Nowhere in it does it mention what affect these magnetic products
could have on a watch.
Alan Hulse
Service Manager
Seiko Australia Pty Ltd
