Everything You need to know about servicing your Seiko Watch

Seiko is a company that makes a wide range of watches, from high-end mechanical watches to affordable sport watches. Their best watches are similar in quality to popular brands from Switzerland. There are times, however, when your Seiko watch will need to be serviced, to make sure it’s running optimally. In this article we’ll cover some things you should do on your own, as well as times when it’s best to take your watch to a professional to be serviced.

Cleaning

Like any watch, a Seiko watch needs regular cleaning. You might think you’re a very clean person, but the inside of your watch can and will get very dirty inside! Don’t use a lot of liquid to clean your watch. Instead, follow the instructions provided by Seiko for your watch model. If you’re not sure, you can ask a professional.

Complete Overhaul

There’s a lot of complicated machinery inside your Seiko watch, so you should give it to a professional for a complete overhaul every few years. They will go through and check everything on the watch to make sure there are no problems. This is important, because small problems that go undetected can lead to bigger and more costly problems down the road.

Daily Use

If your Seiko watch is mechanical, and you don’t usually wear it, it’s a good idea to wind and run it once a month. If the watch isn’t run for a long time, the oils inside that lubricate it can dry out.

Water Resistance

If your Seiko watch is water-resistant and you regularly expose it to water, it’s important that you have it checked and inspected by a professional more often. This is because the watch has a rubber gasket inside it that can crack, and screw-down threads that can develop problems. In either of these cases, water can get inside the timepiece and severely damage it, so it’s important that these problems are detected early.

If your Seiko watch is water resistant, it should have a water resistance rating in meters. If the rating is 30 meters, that might sound like a lot, but that’s actually the lowest water resistance rating for a watch. It might survive a quick drop in the pool or some incidental splashing via hand washing, but it’s best not to expose it to water regularly. If you’re going to be showering or swimming with your watch, you’d better have one with a resistance rating of 50 meters or more. 

Foggy Glass

If the outer case of your watch gets wet, this may cause the watch lens to become foggy. This is normal, and it’s cause by condensation inside the watch. After a couple of minutes, the lens should clear up. If the lens stays foggy for a long time, however, then water may be inside the watch. In this case, you should take it to a service provider as soon as you can.

Shock Resistance

Your Epson watch will have contact shock absorbers to help protect it from sudden physical movement. These are not foolproof, however. If your watch is mechanical, you likely shouldn’t wear it when you’re playing sports or exposing it to other kinds of physical stress. If your watch has a quartz movement, however, then you should find it more durable in this area.

Magnetism

Magnetism can cause problems with mechanical watches, including ones made by Seiko. If your watch is exposed to magnets, such as those inside televisions or speakers, you may find that it starts running faster than it should. In this case, you’ll need to take your watch to a professional to have it demagnetized.

Polishing Crystal

Acrylic crystals are sometimes found on Seiko watches. If they become scratched, you can polish them with a product called Polywatch that’s made for polishing these crystals. You can also try headlamp lens cleaner, a product called Brasso can also work. 

Case Polishing

To polish the case of your Seiko watch, you can buy a polishing kit. This will have abrasive fabric that can help your case look new again.

Watch Bands

If your watch band is metal, you should clean it with a soft brush and warm, soapy water. Be sure to remove the band from the watch before putting it near water, especially if your watch’s water resistance rating is less than 50 meters. 

If your watch band is leather, wipe it down both sides of it every day with a soft, dry cloth, and keep it away from water. While you’re wiping it, check the buckle and pin to make sure they’re functioning as they should.

Rubber bands can be cleaned with an old, soft toothbrush and some mild soap and water. Clean both sides of the strap, then let it dry completely before wearing it. If the strap comes in contact with salt water, rinse with fresh water as quickly as possible.

Conclusion

Seiko has been in the business for a long time and is known for making quality watches. With proper care and maintenance, your Seiko watch could last you a lifetime.