An interesting story surfaced last month as art experts discovered what they thought may be the world’s oldest painting to feature a watch.
The painting (pictured above) shows Italian nobleman Cosimo l de’Medici holding what looks like a watch and is estimated by curators at the Science Museum to be 450 years old.
Curator at the Science Museum , Rob Skitmore says of the piece “The watch itself would have been a virtuoso piece at that time, probably made in southern Germany, and the picture also shows its separate alarm mechanism that was used with it at night.”
It is know that Cosimo was a patron of science and technology so it is all the more plausible that he would own a watch of this kind.
How better to show your significant other how valuable your time together is than buy buying them a watch. Not only is it a cheesy pun, but a stylish watch can make for an impressive gift - if you know what you are doing.
The first and most sensible thing you should do is to decide your budget. Whether you are looking to buy a glamarous high end watch or whether you decide to buy a more restrainded cheap designer watch you should determine your budget and stick to it. Whilst the economy is going through a difficult period it is always a good idea to ask for a discount as you may find that some jewellers are willing to offer a reduction just so they can shift their stock.
Once you have a price in mind you need to think about what features are going to be important in the watch you buy. Obviously all watches tell the time (even the really bad ones) but you way also wish to consider things like alarm capability, stop watch, calendar, chronograph, dual time zones, etc.
As well as watch features you also need to take into account the movement, of which there are two basic types: automatic or quartz. Quartz watches are fairly inexpensive and battery powered, making them easy to maintain and wont also make a huge dent in your wallet. Automatic watches have no battery and are constantly wound using the movement of your body. When it comes to maintaining these types of watches, it may require the attention of a specialist dealer and end up costing the wearer a little more.
When taking a look at the watch’s water resistance, take the following ito account: anything rated under 50m (150ft) will be okay if splashed or dropped in the sink but ideally you will want a watch that is resistant to around 300m.
When shopping for a partner then make sure you have an idea about what their tastes are. Nothing says ‘I know nothing about you’ more like buying jewellery of a style they will hate. This is particularly true with ladies watches where there is a baffling array or styles. Most makes of watch will have versions of all of their watches with and without diamonds so if you like the look of the watch, but not the price tag then you can always go for the version that doesn’t have diamonds.
Your mum always told you to wash your face - and the same applies to your watch! It doesn’t matter how neat and tidy your life might be, it’s inevitable that designer watch of yours will accumulate some amount of grime or dust on it’s face at some point. So what the best way of keeping your watch face clean without risking damage to the workings? Let Watch Superstar show you how:
1) You should start by removing the band from the watch face if possible. Be careful as some watch straps contain materials that should not get wet. If the strap is not removable then be extra cautious as to not get water or cleaner on it.
2) Next you need to apply just a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a clean cloth. Gently rub the surface of the watch face with the dampened section using a slow, circular motion. It is using this technique that will ensure you don’t accidentally scratch the surface.
3) If you own a designer watch who’s face has expensive metals (i.e gold, platinum, etc) then it is important that you should use jewellery cleaner. You should be able to buy some from most jeweller’s shops. This cleaner is specially formulated so that these metals can be safely cleaned. Again, apply only a small amount to the cloth and rub over the surface as before.
4) If you have removed the watch band then you should then re-attach it and then place the watch in a warm, well ventilated room. Make sure that you leave it to sit for 2-4 hours in order to ensure that all of the moisture is removed.
5) This time using a dry, clean cloth you should remove any additional moisture from the watch face if necessary as this can cause mildew or in more serious cases - rust.
You should make a habit of keeping up this routine once a month for the best results.
A while ago, Watch Superstar ran a feature on chronograph watches - watches that obviously display the time but also has all the functions of a stopwatch. Some of the more popular designer watches such as those made by Rolex will also display the day of the week and date. For that sort of money it’s the least you would expect them to do! Other features may vary depending on the manufacturer but it is always worth learning the basics of how to set your chronograph watch up to display information correctly.
Setting the Correct Time
In order to set the time on the watch, you should either pull out or twist the centre dial that is located on the left hand side of the watch face. If you have done this correctly then you will feel it settle into it’s extended position. You should then twist the dial so that the hour, minute and second hands reflect the current time. Once you have the hands set in the correct position push the dial back in to resume the watch functionality starting at the right time.
Setting the Date
If your watch has the ability to display the date then you should again pull on the centre dial on the left hand side of the watch face. Give it another pull or twist and it should reach it’s extended setting function. This is the one which controls the date setting. As you did before, twist the dial until the display reflects the correct date. Push the dial all the way in again to resume the watch’s function.
Using the Stopwatch Function
Your chronograph watch should have small circular design’s on it’s face. Most watches will have three. If the stopwatch buttons aren’t visible these snall faces should have moving hands that show as seconds elapse. Alternatively the frame of the watch may move in order to let you see the seconds elapse from a set movement. If stopwatch buttons are provided then they will be found above and below the centre adjustment dial.
Lying in bed too long, turning up late for work, missing appointments: all of these are symptomatic of a broken or stopped watch. But how do you diagnose the problem if you suspect your designer watch of dishonesty?
If you can hear or see that the watch has stopped ticking, the odds are that the battery has simply worn out. You will be able to purchase a replacement battery from most corner shops or if you want to be extra sure you can of course buy one from your local jewellery or watch shop.
If this doesn’t solve the problem then you will have to inspect the watch more closely. If you can hear the watch ticking but the hands are not moving, then it could be that there is a gear stuck inside. If it is the case that only one of the hands is moving, this could mean that just the non moving hand is broken. Once you have worked out which is the case you will be able to determine whether it would be cheaper to have the watch repaired or to simply purchase a replacement.
Make sure that you check the warranty that came with your watch. If it has not yet expired then the chances are that the maker will mend the watch as long as you pay for the shipping and handling. This may not apply if it is the watch strap rather that the watch itself that has been broken.
Return the watch to the shop where you originally bought it from. If you have inadvertantly purchased a watch that you can prove was originally broken then the store should be able ro replace or offer you a refund. Be sure to consult the shop’s return policy before buyung anything if you are in doubt about returning goods.
We mentioned about the Bugsy Malone style video phone watch a couple of days ago - but what if you want to take your spying skills up an extra level? Why not try this handy little device that will allow you to covertly record video!
Next week we’ll be looking at a watch that fires small anti aircraft missiles…or it glows in the dark…we can’t remember which.
We all know how intricate and precise the inner workings of a watch are. It is for this reason that all it takes is for a small grain of dirt to get inside for devastating damage to be caused. Because of this, if you are at all unsure about whether to clean out your watch yourself, especially if it is an expensive designer watch, we highly recommend that you take it to a specialist dealer or jeweller to have them take care of it for you.
1) The first step is to take the watch apart. This requires you to carefully remove the case as well as the movement.
2) Next you will need to clean the case and movement by using a special cleaner. Many specialist jewellers may prefer to clean watches by using ultrasonic technology which very gently shakes any dirt and other dust particles free from the workings. The chemicals arent so strong that they cause erosion to the watch parts.
3) When you have removed the watch parts you should then take this moment to lubricate the movement. For all you car owners this is very similar to changing the oil as adequate lubrication between the important moving parts will allow them to last their full expected life.
4) When you have finished lubricating the movement you should then refinish the outside of the watch, meaning the casing as well as the metal band. Due to their texture, leather and plastic bands are not able to be refinished.
5) You should then replace the gaskets and test the watch to ensure that it is water tight. In order to ensure that the case meets/exceeds factory standards you should take it to a certified watch maker. If after replacing all the parts you find that the watch is letting moisture in, then refer to our article that tells you how to remove water from inside a watch.
It’s understandable that watches can be subjected to a reasonable amount of wear and tear throughout their life. However you should take extra care not to get your watch wet as it can cause potentially irreperable damage to the inner workings. But we all know that accidents happen - so what should you do in the event that your watch gets wet?
1) Bear in mind that you risk damaging the watch further if you are going to attempt a DIY fix so be honest with yourself and decide whether you are able to undertake the job yourself. If you are in any doubt you should have the watch repaired professionally rather than risk damaging it or invalidating the warranty. If you have a cheap watch then the cost of repairing it may outweigh buying a new one.
2) If there is only a very small amount of water inside the watch, you may want to try laying the watch in a dry place to see if the water will evaporate away on its own. Be sure to place an absorbent cloth or material underneath the watch. If the water contained is only a very fine film that then evaporates then the likelihood is that you wont need to do anything else.
3) A more sophisticated technique would be to seal the watch inside a plastic bag that contains unopened packets of silica gel (usually found in shoe boxes). An interesting alternative would be to use dry rice instead of the gel packets. Either should draw moisture from inside the watch. this would be a good idea if you own a designer watch as it may be very risking undertaking a task that involves opening the watch up.
4) If you’re feeling less creative then why not try directing a fant at the watch or simply use a hair dryer on its lowest setting. Alternatively, leaving the watch on a low heat source such as a floor vent can help to evaporate water from inside the watch.
5) If you are carrying out repair work, obtain the correct watch supplies. You may also need to visit a jewellery shop to obtain appropriate tools.
Seiko Kinetic Watches offer a very unique selling point in that they don’t require a battery. The concept behind this particular range of Seiko watches is that kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy using the natural movement on your hand. This may sound like an extremely complicated processes, however it is actually very simple. The movement of your hand oscillates a weight inside the watch and through the gear train drives the main motor by amplifying the rotational movement. The inner workings of the Seiko Kinetic watch then converts this movement (kinetic energy) into electricity which is then stored using a capacitor, which is essentially acts as a small regargable battery.
Because this capacitor will continuously charge and recharge itself there is no need for a change in battery. Because the Seiko Kinetic watch will never need to be opened, it is vacuum sealed to preserve the integrity of the inner workings. The essential difference between batter, kinetic and solar powered watches is the means by which energy is drawn from and how it is transferred.
If you have owned the same watch band for a significant period of time then it is likely that the watch band will have become worn or damaged. It may seem like a task that should only be undertaken by a professional but you will be surprised at how simple a task it is.
1) Start by measuring the old band. Measure the length of the band in inches and make sure to measure the width of the connecting ends in millimetres.
2) Next choose a watch band that will match up to the measurements of your old one. You can choose from a variety of materials such as metal, leather or plastic.
3) The next step is to remove the old watch band. You will be able to purchase a special band replacement kit which contains a spring bar tool. This is a tiny bar that looks a bit like a screwdriver and has a wrench for a head. This tool is used to slide into the space either side of the bar that connects the band to the watch. It then extends at either end to fit into the holes on the watch body.
4) The holes in the watch that hold the bar in place are referred to as lug holes. Dirt and grime collect in these holes over time and should be cleaned out with a round-headed pin.
5,) Now it’s time to install the watch band. Slide one end of the bar into one of the lug holes. Push the band so that it is snug against that lug hole. You may also be able to slide the opposite side of the bar into the opposite lug hole. If you can’t then use the spring bar tool to retract the bar on the opposite side. This will enable you to slide the bar into place. Do the same again for the other side of the watch.
6) Finally, you will need to adjust the length of the band. A leather band may require more holes at one end or the other so that it can fit comfortably. Professional watch repair companies will use what they call a staking tool. This has a concave point which will make a clean cut with no ragged edges. If you have decided to attach the type of metal band commonly found on mens and ladies designer watches then you may need to add or remove some links. These kinds of links are held together that will need to be removed with a special pin-removing tool. ‘Clip’ links can usually be separated with clip removing pliers.
If you are at all unsure about what you are doing at any stage in the strap replacement process then do remember that any local jewellery store will be able to take care of this for you.
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