Information

What is the best watch in the world?

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It is generally reckoned that Patek Philippe is the best watch in the world but Vacheron & Constantin or Audemars Piguet are probably the same quality and have their own fan club. There are other superb brands such as Jaeger-le Coultre, IWC, Piaget, Corum, Frank Muller, Rolex, Cartier and many others that specialise in top quality cases and movements.

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Do you think there is much difference between these or other top brands in quality of case and movement or is it all hype and marketing? (Post your answers on the noticeboard)

What is the difference between a Chronograph and a Chronometer?

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A chronograph is basically a watch with a stopwatch mechanism which times hours, minutes and seconds and normally has two push buttons on the right hand side of the watch, the top button to start and stop the mechanism, the bottom to flyback the mechanism to zero.

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A chronometer is a coveted certification given only to mechanical and not quartz movements. In Switzerland this is awarded by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC) and is given to movements that pass particularly stringent tests. The timekeeping capabilities of these movements are accurate to approximately +7 secs/-2 secs per day.

What should you look for when buying a secondhand watch?

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Make sure that you have a proper guarantee (normally one year) which should cover the movement of the watch for parts and labour.

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Make sure that the dealer giving the guarantee is properly established. There is no use in having a guarantee if your watch goes wrong and the dealer has disappeared!!

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Box and papers are nice to have, especially on a newish watch but not strictly necessary. Make sure that the dealer has checked the case numbers on secondhand Rolex with the Rolex stolen register department. Austin Kaye checks out every Rolex and all watches that are bought by us have a purchase docket on which the seller’s name, address and signature are written and some form of ID has been shown.

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Make sure that the case and bracelet are clean. Check to see how the watch is presented to you; if it’s dirty then it is unlikely that the movement has been checked or cleaned and the dealer shows little pride in the watches that he sells.

What is water resistance?

* Pressure in bars is a test pressure and should not be considered as corresponding to actual diving depth since swimming movement tends to increase the pressure at a given depth. Care should also be taken on diving into water.

** It is recommended to wear a certified Diver’s watch for scuba diving.

Other tips for water resistant watches 5/10/15/20 bar.

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Before using in water, be sure the crown is pushed in completely.

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Do not operate the crown and button when the watch is wet or in water.

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If used in seawater, rinse the watch in freshwater and dry completely.

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Do not operate the crown or push the button when the watch is wet with soapy water or shampoo.

How often should I have my watch serviced?

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There is no strict ruling on this. As a rough guide, mechanical watches should be serviced more often than quartz watches.

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Mechanical watches should be serviced approximately every three years.

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Quartz watches should be serviced approximately every three to five years.

N.B If you use your watch regularly in water, you should have your watch checked by a qualified watchmaker or authorised dealer to ensure that the case, crown, gasket and crystal seal remain intact.

How can I prolong the life of my watch?

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Have your watch serviced regularly.

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To prevent possible rusting of the case and bracelet caused by dust, moisture and perspiration, wipe them regularly with a soft dry cloth, paying particular attention to the areas between case and bracelet/strap and between links on a bracelet.

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Keep your watch away from strong magnetism.

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Keep your watch away from solvents (eg alcohol), perfumes and after-shave, detergents, adhesive or paints- these will damage the case, bracelets etc

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Be careful not to drop your watch or hit it against hard surfaces as this may cause damage.