Watch Repairs at Home
Usually, people do not go as far as thinking of servicing their or repairing the movement at home. The most common things people try to do with DIY watch repair kits are adjusting bracelet links, swapping bracelets/straps, or at the most opening the watch and changing the battery. Here’s why you should avoid doing the following
Adjusting Bracelet Links
One of the most common DIY tasks is adjusting the links on a watch bracelet. While it might seem cost-effective to purchase a repair kit and start adjusting links for yourself and your friends, this approach doesn’t come without its set of risks. Not all watch links function the same way. Some use screws that appear easy to handle. But, the process of unscrewing and screwing back these tiny screws can easily lead to scratches on the links.
From our experience of servicing watches over the past many years, we have seen many instances where individuals have damaged these tiny screws. Such mistakes can be particularly costly to fix, especially with gold watches. Replacing a small gold screw can cost anywhere from 200 to 300 AED.
Changing Bracelets or Straps
Another common DIY task is changing bracelets or straps. While it’s great to be hands-on with your watch, doing this with high-end timepieces is not advisable. These watches can easily get scratched, and even minor scratches can significantly affect their value. Additionally, you might bend the pins that hold the bracelet and the case together, leading to a whole different set of problems.
Opening Watches
When it comes to Quartz watches, people think that they can just open the case back and easily replace a battery. It is quite similar to having the temptation of working on your own car. But, the way mechanics or in this case watch professionals handle it is very different. They have been doing these battery replacements for years now and they know exactly what to do and what not to do.
With the easily accessible YouTube tutorials, many people are now attempting to open their watches at home. This is perhaps the riskiest DIY task of all. One tiny mistake can lead to significant damage, costing you a lot of money in repairs.
Leave It to the Professionals
It is always best to leave watch repairs and adjustments to the professionals. While some watches, like those from Cartier and Audemars Piguet, offer features that make link adjustments or bracelet removals easier, any task requiring additional tools should be strictly handled by experts. Professionals like those at ChronoStreet charge a small fee for these services, which is a worthwhile investment compared to the potential cost of damaging your watch.
