Mechanical pocket timepieces, such as your Colibri, require regular maintenance, which includes cleaning the little mechanical components. After all, you rely on it and utilise it on a daily basis. If you've had your watch for three or five years and it's no longer as gleaming as it was the day you got it, it's time to have it cleaned. If you're having trouble cleaning your watch because you don't know where to start, follow these steps:
1. Follow the directions in the product handbook to the letter if they are reader-friendly. However, if you want expert assistance, go ahead and do so.
2. Cleaning the small mechanisms within your Colibri pocket watch should be done by a professional; they have the equipment and skills to do so.
3. Don't use any cleaning or lubricating solutions unless the watch maker recommends them, and don't clean the watch with a soft-bristled brush and soap and water unless it's water resistant up to 10, 15, or 20 BAR. If your watch is just tagged water resistant, it implies it can only tolerate light splashes or raindrops and should not be submerged in water.
4. If the watch is waterproof, lightly clean the surface with a soft-bristle brush. Dry it quickly but gently using a lint-free cloth.
Cleaning Positions
Inquire about the cleaning procedures used by the "cleaners" if you take your watch to them. Cleaning a pocket watch properly entails more than merely dipping it in water and drying it. For disassembly cleaning, they charge less than $50. This isn't good for your pocket watch, especially if it's an antique engraved pocket watch.
Your watch will be disassembled by a qualified watchmaker or cleaner, who will remove the pivots, bearings, pinions, jewels, and teeth. These are thoroughly examined for any anomalies before being cleaned in an ultrasonic bath, rinsing three times, and being heat dried. Hand-cleaning using the proper solutions is done on sensitive sections. The watch is lubricated and set to the current time after reassembly. This procedure will set you back around $100, but it is well worth it.
How to Take Care of Your Pocket Watch
1. Knowing how to keep your pocket watch in good working order will help it last for years. Here's how to make your pocket watch last longer:
2. When winding your watch, be gentle with the knobs.
3. Set a regular time for winding the clock. Wipe it down with a clean dry towel before putting it in its box.
4. Keep it out of humid environments.
5. Keep it away from the water.
For proper care and maintenance, refer to the watch manual. Enclose your watch in bubble wrap before packing it into a box cushioned with Styrofoam or newspaper when sending it to a professional watch servicing.
You shouldn't put your pocket watch on the shelf because you don't know how to clean it. In any case, the next trip to the "cleaners" will be three or five years away. Take careful care of it till then.
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