Care & Maintenance

Why does Seiko recommend servicing your watch about every three years?

Seiko watches are designed to provide accurate and reliable service over a long period. However, like any sensitive precision instrument, a watch needs periodic servicing to ensure that it functions perfectly. Frequency of such work depends on the climate and the owner’s individual care of the watch, but in general, we recommend having your watch serviced about every three years at an Authorized Seiko Service Center.

Worn out movement parts and aged oil inside the movement may cause a watch to lose time or stop. Therefore, our technical specialists will inspect the watch for any worn out parts that need repair or replacement, and the disassembled parts will be cleaned and oiled again. Furthermore, a watch’s water resistance is not permanently guaranteed. It is affected by the ageing of gaskets or deformation of watch parts due to an accidental shock. Since deterioration of gaskets can cause rust or moisture inside the movement, we recommend that you have the water resistance of the watch checked regularly to ensure it’s functionality.

Page Top

What special care should I give my watch?

Shocks:

• - Avoid strong shocks such as dropping on hard surfaces as a watch is a sensitive precision instrument.

Water resistance:

• - Do not put a water resistant watch in water while the crown is pulled out.
• - Do not turn or pull out the crown when the watch is wet.
• - Even if a watch is water resistant, avoid placing it directly under running water from a faucet. The water pressure from a faucet is sufficient to result in moisture penetration inside the watch.
• - The water resistance of a watch is not permanently guaranteed. It is affected by the ageing of gaskets or deformation of watch parts due to an accidental shock. We recommend that you have the water resistance of the watch checked regularly to ensure it’s functionality.
• - To preserve it’s water resistance as long as possible, wipe off moisture, sweat or dirt with a soft, dry cloth after removing it from the wrist.

Swimming in the sea:

• - After using a water resistant watch in sea water, wash it in fresh water and dry it with a soft cloth.
• - Do not wash a water resistant watch while the crown is pulled out.
• - Avoid washing it directly under running water. Wash it in still water in a sink or container.

Bath or sauna:

• - Do not wear the watch while taking a bath or a sauna. Steam, soap or some components of a hot spring may accelerate the deterioration of water resistance performance.

Temperature Extremes:

• - The function of the watch is affected by extreme temperature and by extreme changes in temperature.
• - Since operational temperature ranges differ for each caliber, please refer to the instruction for your watch caliber.

Chemicals:

• - Do not use solvents or chemicals (i.e. benzine, thinner, bleach) for cleaning a watch. This may cause a chemical reaction and result in deterioration of the watch or a change in the color of the case, band or strap.

Crown:

• - Turn the crown from time to time in order to prevent corrosion of the crown and maintain the flexibility of the gasket.
• - For a screw-in crown, screw down the crown carefully to prevent penetration of moisture inside the movement.

Cleaning:

• Wipe off moisture, sweat or dirt with a soft cloth after removing it from the wrist to increase the durability of the case back, gaskets and band.

Page Top

How should I care for my watch band?

Since the watch band touches the skin directly, it may become damaged or dirty from perspiration or dust. Lack of care may accelerate deterioration of the band, cause skin irritation or stain the sleeve edge. Please follow the cautions below in order to maintain the best condition of your band as long as possible:

Metal band:

• Even stainless steel bands / bracelets develop rust due to some corrosion / perspiration accumulating between the band / bracelet segments. This applies especially to expensive solid bracelets with gaps between the segments that are relatively narrow and may easily accumulate corrosion / perspiration. This kind of rust may result in a yellow discoloration of your cuff when you perspire.

Cleaning method:

• To prevent rust, wipe off moisture, sweat or dirt with a soft cloth when convenient. To wash the band, apply neutral detergent (mixed with some water) to metal bands / bracelets when stains on the surface are noticeable. For heavy stains, use a tooth brush and remove the stain that has accumulated in the gaps of the band / bracelet segments . Protect the watch head from moisture entering the watch by wrapping it in plastic wrap etc. After washing, take special care to wipe the gaps of the band/bracelet segments with a towel and dry the entire watch throughly.
• * Some titanium bands use stainless steel pins which have greater durability than titanium. Therefore, even if your watch band is titanium, rust may form in the stainless steel parts. If rust advances, pins may poke out or drop out, and the watch case may fall off the band, or the clasp may not open. If a pin is poking out, it may injure the user. In such a case, refrain from using the watch and contact an Authorized Seiko Service Center for a repair.

Leather band:

• A leather band is more susceptible to discoloration and deterioration from moisture, sweat and direct sunlight than metal bands / bracelets. Leather straps may tear or strap colours fade. Constant care is required and this includes the circumstances in which the watch is worn. Refrain from wearing a watch with a leather band while bathing, swimming and working with water even if the watch itself is water-resistant. In addition, take care when wearing a watch with a light-colored band, as stains will be more visible.

Cleaning method:

• Wipe off moisture and sweat as soon as possible by gently rubbing it with a soft dry cloth, and place it in a well-ventillated area after removing it from the wrist. Do not expose your watch to sunlight for extened periods (eg. on a car dashboard) since this may lead to discoloration/transformation/breakage of your watch’s leather strap.
• * There are some bands with a back (or even the entire strap) made of synthetic leather, which is more resistant to perspiration compared with a genuine leather band. Nevertheless, constant care for bands is essential in any case.

Urethane band:

• A urethane band is susceptible to discoloration from light, and it may deteriorate from contact with solvents or humidity in the atmosphere. If bands remain wet and in highly humid locations or are exposed to sunlight for extended periods, the rate of deterioration may accelerate and some cracks may appear on the band surface. In addition, a translucent, white, or pale colored band easily adsorbs other colors, resulting in color smears or discoloration. Care should be given to the condition of polyurethane bands, which are often worn for marine sports or outdoor activities.

Cleaning method:

• Wash off any dirt with water and dry throughly with a dry cloth (protect the watch head from water splashes by wrapping it in plastic wrap etc.).
• * When the band loses elasticity, please contact an Authorized Seiko Service Center to replace it with a new one. If you continue to use the band as it is, it may develop cracks or become brittle over time.

Page Top

What can I do when I experience an allergic reaction to a watch?

As with eye-glass frames or accessories, skin irritation may result from metal ions from the metal parts of a watch being extracted by perspiration. This kind of reaction is categorized as allergic skin dermatitis, which is caused by metals such as nickel, cobalt or chrome. These metals are included not only in metal bands but also in leather straps (chrome is used for tanning).

If you experience allergic reaction, stop wearing the watch immediately and consult a dermatologist. With a doctor’s assistance, clarify which metal caused the allergic reaction, and try to avoid selecting products which contain this metal. For those who are allergic to nickel or hyper-sensitive to stainless steel, we recommend that you use a titanium watch. For information on Seiko products made of titanium, please contact an Authorized Seiko Service Center.

Page Top

How does magnetism affect a watch?

Watches can be adversely affected by magnetism and may gain or lose time. It is important not to leave a watch close to magnetic objects for a long periods. In particular, cell phones, television and PC speakers, magnetic necklaces, handbag clasps, hair-driers, electric razors, magnetic parts of refrigerators are all magnetic. Since an affected watch remains magnetically charged even after being removed from the magnetic source, contact the nearest Authorized Seiko Service Center to have the watch demagnetized.

Analogue Quartz:

• Analog quartz watches utilize the power of magnetic force in order to drive the step motors to move the rotors. These step motors are extremely small and may easily be affected by magnetism, which may impact the rotor. As a result, watches may stop or fail to keep correct time.

Spring Drive:

• Magnetism affects the parts inside the movement, and my cause failure to keep correct time.

Mechanical:

• A mechanical watch affected by magnetism remains magnetically charged even after being removed from the magnetic source. This may cause a gain or loss of time. A watch can remain magnetically charged for a long period so it is recommended that you demagnetize it in order to improve accuracy.

Digital Quartz:

• In general, magnetism has no effect since there are no motors in digital watches.

Page Top

What information do I need for my Solar Watch?

Please choose the content you are interested in:

Mechanism and Recharging

When the second hand jumps in 2-second intervals or stops

How to prevent a solar watch from running out of energy

Page Top