7 Tips to Keep Your Automatic Watch Running Perfectly
An automatic movement is not a battery-powered device that runs until it doesn't. It's a mechanical system with dozens of moving parts, and like any precision instrument, it rewards a little attention. Here are the seven habits that separate a watch that lasts a lifetime from one that ends up in a drawer.
1. Wear It — or Wind It
Automatic movements charge their mainspring through the natural rotation of your wrist during normal daily wear. If you wear your watch every day, it stays wound without any intervention. If it sits unworn for more than 36–48 hours, the power reserve will deplete and the watch will stop.
The NH35A and NH34A movements in our watches have a 41-hour power reserve. If you rotate between several watches, either use a watch winder, or set and hand-wind it when you put it back on. The crown, fully pushed in (position 0), allows manual winding on most NH movements — about 20–30 turns gets you a partial charge.
2. Never Set the Date Between 9 PM and 3 AM
One rule that applies to virtually every automatic movement with a date: do not change the date between roughly 9 PM and 3 AM local time.
This window is when the date-change mechanism is engaged and in motion. Forcing a date change while the gears are mid-cycle can strip the calendar teeth. To safely set the date, advance the time past midnight (so the date changes naturally), then set the correct date during daylight hours when the mechanism is fully disengaged.
3. Respect the Water Resistance Rating — and Re-Seal Periodically
Our watches are rated to 100m / 10 bar. In practice, this means:
- Daily handwashing, rain, showers: no problem
- Swimming, snorkelling: fine
- Scuba diving: not rated for this use
Important caveat: water resistance ratings are static tests. Diving from a height creates dynamic pressure that can exceed the static rating. Also, the rubber gaskets that create the seal age and degrade over time. If you regularly use your watch in water, have the seals tested and replaced every 2–3 years by a watchmaker. It takes 10 minutes and costs very little.
4. Keep It Away from Magnetic Fields
Magnetism is the silent killer of mechanical accuracy. A laptop speaker, a phone kept in the same pocket, a bag clasp held close to the case — any of these can magnetise the balance spring, causing the watch to run fast or erratically. Sometimes by several minutes per day.
If your watch suddenly starts gaining significant time without an obvious cause, magnetisation is the likely culprit. A watchmaker can demagnetise it in under a minute with a simple tool, at little or no cost. It's one of the most common and most overlooked automatic watch issues.
5. Store It Correctly
For extended storage (more than a few weeks without wearing):
- Let the power reserve run down before storing — less sustained tension on the mainspring
- Store in a dry environment — humidity accelerates oxidation of steel components
- Avoid direct sunlight on coloured dials, which can fade over time
- A padded watch roll or box protects crystals and case edges from contact scratches
6. Clean the Case and Bracelet Regularly
Sweat, skin oils, and fine dust accumulate in bracelet links, between lugs, and around the crown. Left unaddressed, this accelerates surface corrosion and can work its way toward gaskets over time.
Clean every few weeks with a soft brush (a soft-bristle toothbrush works perfectly), warm soapy water, and a lint-free cloth to dry. For jubilee and oyster bracelets, pay particular attention to the inner surfaces between links — that's where buildup concentrates. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners at home unless you're confident the water resistance seals are in good condition.
7. Service Every 5–7 Years
A complete movement service — disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, and rate regulation — is recommended every five to seven years for a regularly worn automatic. The service interval varies with how hard the watch works (high daily activity wears lubricants faster than occasional wear).
Signs it may be time: inconsistent rate (gaining or losing more than usual), the seconds hand stuttering or stopping and restarting, or the crown feeling unusually stiff. NH movements are among the most service-friendly calibers available — parts are widely accessible, and any qualified independent watchmaker can handle them. Average cost: €80–150 depending on where you are.
Your 2-Year Guarantee
Every Chrono Mod watch comes with a 2-year guarantee covering manufacturing defects. It doesn't cover physical impact damage, water ingress from degraded seals, or magnetisation — but it covers what matters most on day one.
If something isn't right with your watch, contact us directly. We respond in under 8 hours, seven days a week, in seven languages.
