At Open for Vintage, we firmly believe in getting the most from your vintage watch. Whether you purchased your vintage timepiece as a stylish addition to your wardrobe, as an addition to a collection, or as a savvy financial investment, there are significant benefits in preserving its quality.
Our collection of vintage watches offers styles for men and women, and features iconic watchmaking brands including Rolex, Cartier, Omega, IWC & more.
Taking the right care precautions can mean that your watch will function at its best for longer and will hold the ability to sell for a lucrative price, if you ever choose to resell. There are multiple factors that need to be considered when looking after your vintage timepiece, from at home cleaning and storage tips, to seeking professional servicing. Discover all you need to know in our watch care guide:
Watch cleaning:
Keeping your watch clean will not only help maintain its beautiful appearance, but also will help to keep optimum functionality of the watch.
- The watch face (for water resistant watches only):
To give your watch face a surface clean, mix warm water with a splash of mild soap and dip in a lint-free cloth or soft bristled brush. Gently clean over the watch face, ensuring that you do not scrub too hard, as this may scratch the surface. If your watch face features delicate details such as diamonds or markings, gently clean around these parts with a cotton bud dipped in the soapy water. Do not try and remove the watch face yourself. If you do want a deeper clean, or the inside of the watch cleaned, pay for this to be done by a professional. Vintage watches are delicate and often require specialist tools.
- The watch band:
Generally, if you are able to do so easily, it is advised to remove your watch band before cleaning.
Leather watch bands: Leather watch bands can be wiped down using a cloth dampened with warm water mixed with a mild soap. Once wiped, take a dry cloth and buff the leather band dry before reattaching the watch face. You can also clean leather bands using a specialist leather cleaning solution and a cloth. You should always remove a leather strapped watch if you are exposed to moisture, including if you are about to exercise, as leather is more prone to being damaged from sweat and moisture.
Metal watch bands: Metal watch bands can rust, so should be cleaned with a soft brush and warm mild soapy water, and then left to completely air dry before being worn again.
Rubber watch bands: To clean a rubber watch band, you can use warm mild soapy water and a soft bristled brush. Rubber bands absorb sweat and oil easily, and can crack and break if not cleaned regularly.
Nylon watch bands: Nylon watch bands can be easily washed by hand, using warm soapy water, or just put it in a gentle wash in the washing machine (in a separate mesh bag).
Mechanics maintenance:
It is advised to get your watch professionally serviced every 3-5 years, to ensure the mechanics are lubricated, cleaned and repaired where required.
Storage tips:
The best place to store your watch is in the original box that it came in. If you don’t have this, you can lay it flat in a drawer, or buy a winder box to store it in. You should avoid extreme cold, heat or humidity wherever you store your watch. If you plan to store your watch for a long period with no wear, make sure you store it in a high, dry place (moisture tends to collect at lower levels). If you are placing your watch in a safe and do not have the original box, you should wrap the watch in paper towels and a sealable plastic bag to ensure it is protected from any moisture.
If you have a Quartz watch, don’t store this for a long period as the battery could leak and corrode or damage the movement.
General care tips:
Know how waterproof your watch is, and avoid contact with water where possible to preserve the quality and function of your timepiece.
Vintage watches become more fragile as they get older, so try and avoid wearing it when it could be knocked or damaged, as this could damage both the inside mechanics and exterior.
Particularly old vintage watches should be kept away from magnets, as they are less resistant to magnetism and electricity, and this could negatively effect the functionality of the watch.
Browse our full collection of vintage watches now.
Looking to invest in a vintage Rolex? Read our investment guide.
