NEVER Do These 3 Things with Your Watch | Watchfinder & Co. 

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My nugget of advice: Wear your watch. Not wearing it, or being overly careful with it, only increases its value for its future owner. Time flies and death is unexpected, so enjoy your toys while you can.

Summary: 1:00 Use Loctite on your bracelet screws. 3:17 Don't overtighten your screwdown crown. 5:50 Don't try to buff out the scratches and scuffs.

Don’t save it for special occasions, today is a special occasion.

I once asked my dad if he'd like to get his Rolex polished and he said, "Son, the marks and scratches reminds me of how hard I worked to provide for my family". A man's watch should wear its dents and patina with pride.

My wife (future at the time) gave me an explorer 2 like this one, over 27 years ago. Still have both, and still both perfect.

I feel like marks on some watches have such a great value. Not for us, but for the others. My father’s old Aquanaut has a very noticeable scratch right on its gorgeous bezel. He hated himself for doing it and sweared so brutally when he did it. But I would never have it fixed, even if it was possible. Because it was made by my father and every time I see it, I remember that exact moment when I was just a kid, and the way my mother froze him with her eyes for swearing so openly in front of me. To me that scratch is priceless and unique.

I recall, some 20 years ago, rounding a corner in the office and bashing my IWC Aquatimer Ti rather forcefully into a filing cabinet. Panicked, I quickly looked it over. Panic gave way to smug satisfaction as I saw three curls of steel and beige paint from the filing cabinet stuck in the aggressive knurling of the titanium bezel, with no apparent damage to the wristwatch whatsoever. We aficionados and wearers of fine wristwatches have perfected that wrist-behind-the-back maneuver as we round corners or obstacles. It's become second nature.

When I purchase a watch, no matter the cost, I wear it. Selling it is not something that I am interested in.

English is my first language but I still wouldn't mind taking English lessons from you

Respectfully, a few suggestions that may be of help... I wipe my favorite watch off several times a week with a light cloth. I look for anything out of place, especially with the case back and strap. I like to wear my snobby and costly Cartier eyeglasses. Those are cleaned nightly for the next day. Once a month, I check all screws to make certain they are secure. Why? Moving parts with screws tend to become undone overtime. I don't like having pieces become missing or having an expensive lens fall out of the frame. The same with leather goods (and watch straps) used almost daily. Every month or so, run a top quality leather balm and polish the item. Let it air, and by all means keep fine items out of prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. The result, like me, almost all my items are old! Simple: Save up and buy the best, maintain it properly, and chances are you rill have a lifetime of service and enjoyment. That is the best way of attaining good value.

I also have advice for watch guys (and gals) when shopping for your next watch… Don’t make a “shortlist”, because you’re not eliminating options, you’re subconsciously creating a wishlist!

I’m a clock maker, and I have worked on watches for 21 years, and I love this advice; it’s spot on. Take your watch to the proper watch maker.

Remove all door frames from your house. In fact, make the damn thing open plan and remove any furniture that might act as an arm magnet too. It's the only way to be sure.

Wear your watch, you worked hard for it, wear it, enjoy it, even though the only person who will notice it is you and any other watch aficionado you meet. My favourite timepiece sat broken but not unloved in a draw. Bought for me by my father for my 18th birthday. It was my daily wear on building sites and in offices until it ticked its last. Marriage, mortgage and children all made demands on my wallet. Occasionally I'd take the watch out just to look at, then replacing back in the draw. I promised myself, 'one day dear friend, one day'. Finally that day arrived. In it went for a total rebuild and service. I now have my old friend back, my daily wear again. The cost to have it back on my wrist, many, many times its value. To me though priceless. Any one who watches this channel knows exactly how I feel.

Never compare your watch to others. It is yours. You bought yours for a reason, it has its moment in time, its place in your heart, and its own story.

Never pull out the crown and adjust the time while the watch is on your wrist. The uneven pressure from that awkward angle is terrible for the crown/stem.

When you pick up a stopped watch always wind it past 12 before doing anything else, that way you know whether it stopped during the danger hours or not. Then you can set the date.

Anyone catch that piece of particle that fell next to the cyclops eye at 3:44?

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Rolex dial survive a macro shot.

Also, do not change the date or day on a watch having these functions between 9pm and 3am. The day and date change happens during this time period (the exact time duration depends on the movement). So changing day or date during this time period puts the parts under intense stress.

The Explorer II is one of my favorite Rolex models, but damn that's some rough finishing for the money.

the length of this video for 3 simple tips is akin to when you're on with customer service and say, hey can you help me with this, to which they say "Of course, it would absolutely be my utmost pleasure to assist you in this matter today for which you have called about, thank you for taking the time to reach out about this issue, because I would be so happy to help you with it. If I'm understanding correctly, you need help with your device not turning on correctly, right? I'll need to place you on hold"

As a Finn, I remind you all NOT to take your watch to Finnish type sauna! ☝ The hot steam at 80-120 C heat will fog it, even permanently, and a cold swim after that will finish the shock. Happens here.😉

I have many varied interests and subscribe to several different channels covering an eclectic range on RU-vid and this channel is by far my very favourite. It is always a joy to find a new episode as I always learning something new and am left feeling a bit more knowledgeable, pleased, and relaxed. I can't think of another channel that is so wonderfully produced and so very soothing. A voice for the ages.

Long ago, a “friend” of mine thought he knew everything. This “friend” then suggested to another “friend” that he’d happily clean a rather lovely old Longines for him. Stupidity, an air duster, and a “drop of WD40 where needed”, are all you need to know about how this story ended…

1 Use loctight in adjusting the bracelet. 2. Don't line up the crown 3. Don't re-polish

1. Never consign your watch with the Timepiece Gentleman

I love the matter of fact delivery of this video interlaced with that dry humour that makes this channel both informative and entertaining. Some very good advice.

Wonderful advice, much appreciated. And I thought it was just me worrying about getting a scratch on my Pelagos. I'll wear it to work tomorrow.

scratching the watch is part of wearing it. dont mind it at all.

Just love the videos ! Thank you so much for providing us with such detail and information on all the watch world has to offer us.

I needed this video. Thank you watchfinder for going in-depth about watch mistakes.

Not wearing your watch is like putting plastic cover over the sofa. You are sitting on unpleasant plastic for years and then, new owner is going to enjoy sitting on fabric, as it was intended.

The biggest enemy of a watch collector is themselves 😎!

Great advice, thank you for sharing.

Really informative Thank you

Always a pleasure to enjoy your videos watchfinder, thank you for uploading this video.

I am just enjoying that gorgeous explorer. BRB going to break my watches.

Another great video. Looking forward to the live. I hope it’s a movie length Watchfinder video!

3:43 love that little fleck of dust that lands at the 11 minute marker

It’s like you read my mind lol try being in a wheelchair every day and when you’re pushing yourself trying not to bang it. I look at my explorer 11 constantly because of that lol, my wife thinks I’m crazy😂

8 years ago I cracked the crystal on my favorite field watch, I was pissed. 8 years later it's still cracked, but now it's a life scar and I still wear it. Enjoy your watch.

I enjoyed your piece and wise counsel. Thanks.

Been watching your videos ever since! Research and narrative like no other watch channel. Kudos to you! Best content on the Tube!!

A mark on a watch is like a trademark, bearing a unique signature. It gives the watch personality. Let it be. Trying to remove it is sometimes the same with erasing ink from a page. That mark identifies with you.

Before I even watch this review can I say tewo things: 1. I am subscribed. 2. I've already clicked the like button.

Wow. I though for sure you were going to include winding directions in the list…..this was original and good information ….thx much

I just subscribed. Your videos are very insightful. Thank you

Finally someone mentions thread locking fluid! I guess it's second nature for those of us who do our own mechanics.

The Explorer II is such a nice watch, cleaner and purer than the GMT or the Sub. I suspect that it wears smaller. I should probably put it on the wristwatch bucket list.

I really enjoy your watch videos, keep up the great work!

The great video, as usual. Thank you so much! 🤝

Don’t change the date between 9pm-2am, but hopefully most people know that one.

Save you guys some time, here's the summary: 1) Use Loctite 221 or 222 to ensure bracelet screws don't come loose when you adjust 2) Leave the Rolex crown alignment alone or risk damaging the watch 3) If you scratch it, don't try fixing it or risk making it worse

As a watchmaker I can wholeheartedly agree with everything he's said. I can think of multiple instances of things going south when a customer tries to take matters into his own hands and messes with their watch. It only makes things worse...

Very nice video! Completely understand the feelings, opinions and comments.

never take your mechanical watch into a sauna room, even if is a diver. High heat will damage the lubricants in the movement and you will soon have to make an expensive visit to your watchmaker.

We need someone to add a self-centering crown to a watch, fashioned like the Self-righting wheel center caps on some car disks.

I have worked in aerospace. In the design and assembly descriptions we also prescribed using loctite to fix the screws and nuts on the bolts.

Thats why the pins and collar system is the best

i typically don't change complications manually when the hands are between 22:00 and 2:00

Date setting, when to not do it. That could be another tip for mechanical noobs.

Handy tip for easier shopping, Loctite 222 is the purple formula and 242 is the blue. A few other companies make essentially the same formula as 242 and they are also blue.

Great video!!

A watch, art and engineering in the same package..

I still think Rolex could get the crown nearly aligned... say within 10-20 degrees. Better than it being fully upside down.

A great teller... makes stuff amazingly interesting

great points, well made. 👍

The misalignments and imperfections are giving me ocd 😬

3:17 A little trivia that most people don't know...Rolex males the solid gold Sky-Dweller such that the crown always lines up. They can do it. Like so many other things about Rolex, why they don't do it to every watch is a mystery.

I did a light scratch to the plexiglass crystal of my JLC Memovox Tribute to Polaris 1968 and I proceeded to polish it as I did years back with CDs. I took some dishwashing soap (wetting agent), toothpaste (extra fine polish), water and a small piece of clean thick cotton cloth from a jean's. I polished the crystal by making slow circular movements with the cloth whilst making sure it was always wet and often rinsing it in clear water to get rid of micro debris and starting again with fresh toothpaste, soap and water. The plexiglass turned out as new. It took about an hour and a half as it is a slow, delicate, precise and careful process as it is important to avoid touching hence polishing the steel case. I would not recommend anyone attempting this unless you are familiar with wet polishing processes. Interestingly enough, the shop from which I bought that watch made a deep scratch in the case whilst replacing the strap under guarantee... I did not do anything about it but I intend to request that it be filled with yellow gold and polished once I send the watch for service as I want it to serve as a souvenir...

Really enjoy your narration!

Speaking of shock absorbers and their inventors, can you please review the Breguet 5140/7147 and the Seiko Presage Snowflake dial? Thanks!

That first scratch is devastating. Remember the first I done on my speedmaster. Was close to tears and a lot of expletives were shouted. I pretty much use it as a daily, so I have a lot more now.

Hey! What kind of lens do you use in this videos? Great channel, keep up the good work!

Subscribed, good stuff...

7:20 Why can they paint the sides of the markers but not the sides of the hands? It always bugs me.

I love that explorer so much. Will likely be my first Rolex purchase one day.

Great vid.!!!

Nice timepiece! There’s something soothing about the beauty of a polar explorer & the voice of the narrator well done !

Everytime you upload a video, it puts a smile on my face.

Looking forward to join the live chat next week watch finder.

Good advice 👍. Thanks.

This was the best PSA I’ve seen in some time. Thank you!

Yet another pristine Rolex dial 😂

Keep it in the bloody box and dont wear it. And while at that, let the watch own you instead on owning it. .😁🤣

Excellent video, as usual.

My god his videos can be hypnotic at times! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

Don't walk too near to someone coming in the opposite direction: I've had my V&C Overseas getting a small chip on the crystal due to a watch-to-watch contact with a guy walking toward me...

Don’t think I’ve ever looked at a crown logo in my entire life, couldn’t give a damn whether it’s aligned or not.

I have an ExpII like that, white face, purchased in 1996. I wore it 24-7 for ~20 years (now in rotation with my collection). I only ever took it off to adjust time/date: shower, gym, beach, boating, hiking, rock climbing, etc... It is beaten up! But to me that makes it MORE beautiful. It’s mine, every scratch and mark was earned through a lot of fun. It’s a sports watch...it is supposed to look like you’ve worn it-sporting. Btw it has never missed a beat, runs beautifully. Love Rolex!

Those macro shots of the explorer ii were captivating!😍 Nice work

Much respect for being the only channel not monetising off the TPG drama, haha.

seeing the unpainted GMT hand sides at 6:26 i took out my DSLR and macro lens and snapped some photos of my Steinhart GMT just to check.. amazingly the Steinhart hands are completely painted on the sides without blemishes D:

The first point was especially true for my gold AP. Fortunately the bracelet had a screw on each side of the link, so I just lost a screw and replaced it for $100.

I used to work in a Rolex and Patek Philippe boutique and had many customers try to do stuff like the bracelet themselves and indeed dropping their watch and blaming Rolex. Also the crown not being aligned complain was often said. We had a client that went skiing with his patek (5960/1A-001) and the hands had come of after he fell and crashed. And Blamed PP for making expensive watches that can break. He thought they where indiscutabele. Another went swimming with his 1960’s Daytona (never serviced) and had water inside because he didn’t screw down the crown and pushers🤦🏼‍♂️ that’s just the tip of the iceberg of stupid customers…

These watches are indestructible

I thought I was the only one who was annoyed by the misaliggnment of the screw down crown!

Superb photography