How to look after an automatic watch: servicing, storage, magnets and water

How to look after an automatic watch: cleaning, storage, magnets and servicing, with the intervals Seiko, Citizen, Omega, Rolex and others state.

How to look after an automatic watch: servicing, storage, magnets and water

How to look after an automatic watch day to day, and how often the makers say to service one. Care, storage, magnets and water, drawn from each maker’s own pages, which do not always agree.

To look after an automatic watch, wear it, wipe it clean, keep water exposure within its rating, keep it away from magnets and hard knocks, and have it serviced at the interval its maker gives. That interval varies: among the makers we checked that name one, it runs from about two to three years to about ten.

This guide covers everyday care, storage, magnets, shocks and chemicals, and servicing for mechanical watches. Winding, water ratings and the quartz alternative have their own guides, linked where they come up: see how to wind an automatic watch. Every figure below is attributed to a named maker or association, and none comes from tests of ours.

Disclosure: we are Vannin Watches, and the Vannin Field Watch, coming soon, is an automatic. We have not published a service interval for it, so no interval on this page is a Vannin one.

Everyday care: wiping, washing and the crown

Wipe the watch with a soft cloth after wearing it, and wash it only as far as your maker allows. Makers agree on the cloth and split on the washing.

Seiko says to wipe moisture, sweat and dirt off the case with a soft cloth after taking the watch off, which it says helps the case back, gaskets and band last longer (Seiko’s special-care page). Hamilton asks for a soft, dry cloth used periodically, and Rolex for occasional cleaning with a microfibre cloth.

Washing is where makers differ. Rolex says you can wash the case and bracelet from time to time with soapy water and a soft brush, provided the crown is screwed down first. Hamilton and Tissot say a water-resistant case can be cleaned with a toothbrush and soapy water, then dried. Seiko says not to hold a water-resistant watch under a running tap, because tap pressure can be enough to let moisture in, and advises washing it in still water; it adds not to wash it with the crown pulled out.

If your manual says nothing about washing, a soft dry cloth is the method every maker above names. That is our reading of their pages, not a maker rule. Solvents and bleach are a second point of agreement, covered in the hazards table below.

Seiko’s special-care page

Straps and bracelets

Makers treat each strap material differently. Seiko says metal bracelets can rust where sweat and dirt collect between the segments, and advises wiping them with a soft cloth, using a toothbrush on heavy stains while keeping water out of the watch head (Seiko’s band-care page). It says leather suffers more from moisture, sweat and sunlight than metal does, and advises against wearing a leather strap while bathing or swimming, even on a water-resistant watch. Urethane can discolour in light and crack in humidity, Seiko says.

Hamilton says leather is a natural material that ages, that in normal daily wear a leather strap has an average life of six to 12 months, and that it should be replaced regularly for reasons of safety, appearance and hygiene. Seiko suggests leaving room for one finger between the band and your wrist, because a band that rubs wears faster.

Seiko’s band-care page

Storing an automatic watch, and whether you need a winder

Store it somewhere clean, dry, moderate in temperature and away from magnets, ideally in the box it came in. Makers disagree on whether an unworn watch should be kept wound.

Seiko’s storage advice is a room that is dust free, not too humid and neither too hot nor too cold, with good ventilation, in the original box or a similar one, and not near a magnetic source or a phone (Seiko on storing a watch). Longines says a cool, dry place away from moisture and heat, and a soft pouch if the watch will not be worn for a long time. It adds that there is no need to keep the crown facing up.

On winding, the sources split. Citizen says to give a watch you are not using a break by not winding it, to limit wear and oil shortage, and suggests wiping it and wearing it for a while once every few months to check its condition. Seiko’s 4R page, in the context of avoiding gain or loss of time, says to wind a watch fully every day at a fixed time if it is not being worn. Longines says a short stop is not harmful, but a long stop without winding may let the oils settle or dry.

So there is no shared rule, and your own manual wins. The turn counts and power reserves makers publish are in our winding guide.

Winders are an editorial rather than a maker question. The American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute (AWCI) says a winder is not necessary, because it does a watch no more harm than wearing it and no more good than a drawer, and that you can simply wind and set the watch when you decide to wear it. Longines calls a winder useful if you rotate several watches.

Magnets and automatic watches

Keep an automatic watch away from magnets, and take it to a watchmaker if it starts running oddly after exposure. Seiko and Citizen both say magnetism can stay in a mechanical watch after the source is gone.

Seiko says a mechanical watch affected by magnetism remains magnetised, which may cause it to gain or lose time, and recommends having it demagnetised by an authorised service centre (Seiko on magnetism). Citizen says the effect may linger and affect accuracy even after you move the watch away, and that the watch then needs repair.

The sources makers name are everyday objects. Seiko lists mobile phones, television and computer speakers, magnetic necklaces, handbag clasps, hair dryers, electric razors and the magnetic parts of refrigerators. Tissot names loudspeakers, phones, computers and refrigerators. Hamilton adds airport security gates, and Longines induction chargers.

Distances differ. Citizen says to keep the watch at least 5 cm from anything that generates a magnetic field, and Longines says at least 10 cm. Treat each as that maker’s figure rather than a universal safe distance.

Demagnetising is a watchmaker’s job. Longines describes a quick demagnetisation by a certified watchmaker restoring a watch that runs erratically, and Seiko sends owners to its service centres. This guide gives no do-it-yourself steps, by design.

Some makers publish a resistance claim for particular models. Omega says its Master Co-Axial movements withstand magnetic fields of up to 15,000 gauss and advises other models to avoid high fields, and Hamilton says a non-magnetic balance spring in some of its watches cuts the lingering effect of a field by a factor of 10 to 20, depending on the calibre. Check your own model’s specification before relying on either idea.

Seiko on magnetism

Shocks, heat, cold and chemicals

Remove the watch for anything that jars your wrist, avoid extreme temperatures and sudden changes, and keep solvents away. Table 1 sets out what each maker page says, one hazard at a time.

Limits are calibre-specific in places: Seiko’s 5R65 troubleshooting page says that watch is adjusted for 5 °C to 35 °C and may stop below 0 °C if little power reserve is left.

Table 1: Care by hazard, as maker pages state it. Each row paraphrases one maker’s own page.
Hazard and maker	What the maker says
Knocks and sport, Citizen	Take the watch off for sports such as golf or tennis, which can damage it or make it show the wrong time.
Knocks, Seiko	Avoid strong shocks such as dropping it on a hard surface; it calls a watch a sensitive precision instrument.
Knocks, Tissot	After a violent shock, have the watch checked by an authorised service centre.
Heat and cold, Hamilton	Avoid temperatures over 60 °C or below −10 °C, and sudden changes such as sunlight followed by cold water.
Heat and cold, Tissot	Avoid temperatures over 60 °C or below 0 °C, and the same sudden changes.
Heat and cold, Seiko	Extremes and sudden changes affect function; operating ranges differ by calibre, so check your calibre’s instructions.
Chemicals, Hamilton	Solvents, detergents, perfumes and cosmetics can damage the strap, bracelet and case and impair the gaskets.
Chemicals, Seiko	No solvents or chemicals such as benzine, thinner or bleach, which can harm the watch or change the colour of case, band or strap.
Magnets, Citizen	Keep at least 5 cm from anything that generates a magnetic field; the effects can linger.
Magnets, Longines	Keep at least 10 cm from phone speakers, magnetic clasps and induction chargers; a certified watchmaker can demagnetise it.
Strap in sunlight, Seiko	Do not leave a watch with a leather strap in sunlight for long periods, for example on a car dashboard.

Water: the short version

Keep water exposure within the rating, and remember that the rating is not permanent.

Tissot says ratings come from laboratory pressure tests comparable to a swimmer sitting still. Seiko, Tissot and Hamilton say gaskets age or knocks can compromise the seal; Omega, Tissot and Hamilton recommend a yearly check by an authorised service centre; and Seiko, Tissot and Hamilton say not to operate the crown wet. What the ratings mean is covered in our water resistance guide.

our water resistance guide

What a watch service involves

A service, or overhaul, is a watchmaker taking the watch apart, cleaning and checking it, replacing what is worn, re-oiling the movement, renewing the gaskets and testing the result. The makers below describe the same outline in their own words.

Rolex describes a complete dismantling, ultrasonic cleaning of every component, replacement of parts that no longer meet its specification, lubrication, electronic timing tests and refinishing of the case and bracelet, followed by tests of water resistance, power reserve and precision (Rolex’s servicing FAQ). Longines lists eight steps in a full service, from a diagnostic and disassembly through ultrasonic cleaning and reassembly with oiling and calibration to final technical and cosmetic checks of precision, power reserve and water resistance. AWCI singles out renewing the gaskets and seals as perhaps the most important part, because they protect the movement from dust and moisture.

Citizen explains why oil matters. A wound mainspring applies constant force to the parts, which gradually wear and contaminate the lubricating oil. The result can be worse accuracy, shorter running times and a mainspring that is harder to wind, which regular overhauls are meant to prevent.

Rolex says a complete overhaul takes a minimum of four to six weeks, depending on the watch’s condition, and that the watch is assessed first and an estimate sent for approval. We quote no prices, because makers set their own.

Servicing a quartz watch is a different job, mostly battery and seal work; our automatic and quartz comparison covers it.

How often should an automatic watch be serviced?

There is no single interval. The makers’ own pages run from about two to three years to about ten, so use the figure for your watch and brand, and ask the maker or an authorised service centre if you are unsure.

Four things stand out. First, Hamilton names no figure on its watch care page or its customer service page. Second, Longines gives two answers: its services page recommends a full service every six to eight years, while its winding blog says every three to five, and a second blog guide repeats three to five. The pages do not say which is current policy, so ask Longines directly.

Third, Tissot’s FAQ and warranty page also differ, at four to five and three to four years. Fourth, Seiko’s 5R65 troubleshooting page lists a watch not overhauled for more than three years among causes of temporary gain or loss, which matches Seiko’s FAQ.

For an outside view, AWCI says most mechanical watches should be serviced every three to five years, and that some manufacturers recommend as much as eight to ten. Omega, Tissot and Hamilton also recommend a yearly water resistance check, which is a separate, smaller job than a full service.

These are recommendations, not promises about how long a watch will run between services.

Table 2: Maker-stated service intervals for mechanical watches. One row per page, as each page reads on 24 October 2026.
Maker and page	Stated interval	What else the page says
Citizen, mechanical watches page	Every 2 to 3 years	For a mechanical watch used every day.
Hamilton, watch care page	No interval given	Says a precise interval cannot be determined and depends on model, environment and care; recommends a water resistance check once a year.
Longines, services page	Every 6 to 8 years	Describes this as the recommended interval for a full service of a mechanical watch.
Longines, winding blog	Every 3 to 5 years	Says to have it serviced by a Longines certified watchmaker.
Omega, FAQ	Every 5 to 8 years	Says frequency depends on use and environment; water resistance check once a year.
Rolex, FAQ	About every 10 years	Says it depends on the model and real-life usage.
Seiko, FAQ	About every 3 years	Says frequency depends on climate and the owner’s care; at an authorised service centre.
Tissot, FAQ	Every 4 to 5 years	Says frequency depends on the model, the climate and the care you give it.
Tissot, warranty page	Every 3 to 4 years	Says a shorter interval may be needed depending on climate and use.

Do you wait until it stops?

Makers recommend servicing before a fault, not after one. Seiko says a watch needs periodic servicing to keep working perfectly, and Longines recommends a full service to protect reliability and life span, noting that a mechanical watch that is regularly wound runs continuously.

AWCI adds that servicing makes sense even for a watch you rarely wear, because the oils inside are ageing and the gaskets are drying out whether or not it is on your wrist, and that servicing the case prevents serious failures and expensive repairs later. Whether to follow an interval is your decision.

Signs an automatic watch needs attention

The signs below come from maker pages and are generic. None is a diagnosis, and each is a reason to ask a watchmaker rather than to open the watch.

It stops even though you wear it. Seiko’s 5R65 troubleshooting page puts an unwound mainspring first, and says to contact the retailer if winding does not fix it. Our winding guide covers the usual causes. It runs fast or slow. Citizen says accuracy varies with how tightly the spring is wound, the watch’s position and the temperature, and suggests judging the average over a week to ten days rather than one day. AWCI says a watch more than five minutes out when checked at the end of a month probably deserves a watchmaker’s look. Makers publish their own tolerances, so we give no universal figure. Running time falls or winding feels harder. Citizen lists shorter continuous running times and a harder-to-wind mainspring among the faults regular overhauls aim to prevent. Fog or condensation under the crystal. Longines says even a slight fog indicates gasket failure and advises prompt service. Seiko’s 5R65 page says persistent blur can mean a little water got in through a deteriorated gasket, and to consult the retailer. A hard knock. Tissot says to have the watch checked after a violent shock. Seiko says to consult the retailer if accuracy does not return after setting the time following a drop or strong vibration. A crown that will not seat or screw down properly. Longines warns that over-tightening a crown can damage the threads and compromise the water seal. Our reading is that this is a reason to stop forcing it and ask a watchmaker.

What not to do

Never force the crown, and leave anything that involves opening the watch to a watchmaker. The points below are generic and attributed.

Do not force the crown. Longines says to stop when you feel tension, and Hamilton says forcing a manual-wind crown past its stop may cause damage. Do not open the case yourself. Tissot says not to open the watch under any circumstances and to have it inspected only by an authorised service centre, and Vannin’s Watch Care page says never to attempt to clean or open the movement or case internally. Do not operate the crown or pushers while the watch is wet. Seiko, Hamilton and Tissot all say so. Do not shake the watch or tap it against your palm to wind it. Citizen warns that this can lead you to drop it or damage the internal parts. Makers differ on swinging a stopped watch, which our winding guide covers. Do not use solvents on the watch or strap, as Seiko and Hamilton warn, or bleach, which Seiko names. Do not try repairs or demagnetising at home. This guide gives no repair steps; they belong to a watchmaker.

Warranty basics: a warranty is not a service plan

A maker’s warranty covers defects, not routine servicing or wear, and several makers tie it to who has handled the watch. Read your own paperwork before choosing where to have a watch serviced.

Tissot’s warranty page excludes battery life, normal wear and ageing, damage from abuse, lack of care or accidents, and a watch handled by an unauthorised person, and Tissot’s FAQ says service not carried out by an authorised centre voids the warranty. Omega’s FAQ lists similar exclusions, including a watch handled by an unauthorised person for service or repair. Rolex’s FAQ says its guarantee excludes normal wear, accidents, mishandling, and repairs or opening by anyone other than an official Rolex retailer or service centre.

We make no claim about whether maker or independent servicing is better for you: that depends on your warranty and your watch. Vannin’s own terms are on our warranty page, and we have not summarised them here.

warranty page

Looking after the Vannin Field Watch

The Vannin Field Watch is coming soon. Our product page lists a Miyota 9039 automatic movement with hacking seconds and hand-winding, and a rating of 100 metres / 10 ATM; what hacking seconds means is explained in our movement guide, and Peter’s Journal entry says why we chose the Miyota 9039 for our first watch.

Vannin’s own care guidance is on our Watch Care page. It asks for a soft microfibre cloth to remove dust and moisture, no harsh household chemicals or abrasive products, and never to clean or open the movement or case internally. It does not give a crown-turn count.

For straps, Watch Care says to follow the instructions for the strap or bracelet fitted and invites you to contact us for material-specific advice. On servicing, it says our team will help you arrange the appropriate servicing or repair when your watch needs attention. We have not published a service interval, and the Watch Care page is the place to look for any guidance we add.

Frequently asked questions about looking after an automatic watch

How do you take care of an automatic watch? Wear it, wipe it with a soft cloth, keep water exposure within its rating, and keep it away from magnets, knocks, extreme temperatures and solvents. Store it somewhere clean and dry. Have it serviced at the interval your maker gives, which runs from about two or three years to about ten. Never force the crown or open the case yourself.

How often should an automatic watch be serviced? It depends on the maker. Citizen says every two to three years, Seiko about every three, Tissot three to five across two pages, Omega five to eight, Longines three to eight across its pages, and Rolex about ten. Hamilton names no interval. A watchmaker association says most mechanical watches need servicing every three to five years.

Do automatic watches need to be serviced if they still work? Makers recommend it, because a running watch can still be wearing. Citizen says a wound mainspring wears parts and degrades the oil, which can show later as worse accuracy or shorter running time. A watchmaker association adds that oils and seals age even when a watch is not worn. Whether to follow the interval is your decision.

Can you leave an automatic watch in a drawer? Yes, if the drawer is clean, dry, not too hot or cold and away from magnets. Seiko advises those conditions, ideally in the original box. Makers differ on winding: Citizen suggests not winding a watch you are not using, while Seiko says to wind its 4R watches fully every day if they are not worn. Check your own manual.

Are automatic watches affected by magnets? Yes, they can be. Seiko says a mechanical watch stays magnetised after leaving the source and may gain or lose time, and recommends demagnetising by an authorised service centre. Makers name phones, speakers, magnetic clasps and chargers as sources. Some publish a resistance figure; Omega gives up to 15,000 gauss for its Master Co-Axial movements.

Can you wear an automatic watch every day? Yes. Wearing is what winds an automatic, and AWCI says a watch worn daily does not need hand-winding. Seiko recommends more than ten hours a day for its 4R watches. Take it off for activities that jar the wrist, as Citizen advises for golf and tennis, and keep to the water rating and service interval.

How do you clean an automatic watch? Start with your maker’s page, because they differ. Seiko says to wipe moisture, sweat and dirt with a soft cloth after wearing and to avoid solvents and bleach. Rolex adds occasional washing with soapy water and a soft brush, with the crown screwed down. Our Watch Care page asks for a soft microfibre cloth and no harsh chemicals or abrasives.

How long does an automatic watch last? No maker page we read gives a number of years. Citizen says a mechanical watch will last a very long time if properly maintained and can be passed down, and Omega says its watches are designed to last a lifetime with the best care. Both tie it to maintenance, and we give no figure.

Sources

Every maker statement on this page comes from the maker’s own page, linked below, and the other pages are cited for what they say. Browse more guides or read our winding guide next.

AWCI: watch owner FAQ; Citizen: a basic understanding of mechanical watches; Hamilton: watch care; Hamilton: customer service FAQ; Longines: our services; Longines: how to wind a mechanical watch; Longines: how to set a watch; Omega: customer service FAQ; Rolex: caring for your Rolex; Rolex: frequently asked questions; Seiko: servicing about every three years; Seiko: special care for your watch; Seiko: caring for your watch band; Seiko: how magnetism affects a watch; Seiko: where to store your watch; Seiko: Cal. 4R35 and 4R36 how to wind the mainspring; Seiko: Cal. 5R65 and 5R66 troubleshooting; Tissot: frequently asked questions; Tissot: warranty and care

Maker guidance last checked 24 October 2026. Tell us if something has changed.

How to look after an automatic watch: servicing, storage, magnets and water