If you wear a watch, chances are it will need to be serviced by a watch repair firm at some point.

Do you like to garden? Are you a stay-at-home parent with a full-time job? Is your job physically demanding? Or maybe you're just clumsy - chances are you'll need a glass replacement, a polish, or you knocked/dropped your watch and it messed up the movement at some time.

Baltany Retro Luminous Sub Diver Watches

If you're a quartz-only man, when the battery dies, you'll need to replace it, as well as re-seal and pressure test it — which can take anywhere from two to ten years.

Or you use fragrances and lotions, which harm leather straps over time. Or maybe you've dropped weight and need a few links removed from your watch!

In general, the more expensive the watch, the more complicated it is to repair! As a result, you have additional components to manage.

But what are the telltale signals that your beloved asset requires a thorough examination? Is it something that requires quick attention?

So, we've put up a few pointers and ideas to help you make informed decisions about how to care for your watch.

QUARTZ WATCHES

Baltany D12 36mm Dirty Dozen Quartz Militaty Watch

Quartz watches are among the most affordable watch types available, and they are quite simple constructions with few parts. When they do cease operating, you may usually assume it's time for a new battery.

Another common problem is that your watch might gather dust and debris over time, which can cause the buttons or pushers to stop operating properly.

This can have an effect on the watch's mechanism, therefore it may be time for a thorough servicing. What could it possibly be? Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing until a watchmaker opens the rear and inspects the issue.

MECHANICAL WATCHES

Baltany D12 36mm Vintage Military Field Watch

Mechanical watches are typically more expensive and have much more complicated mechanisms - a typical Rolex watch has approximately 220 parts. That's a lot of components! And if one of them is out of sync or not pulling its weight, the mechanism of your watch will suffer.

It's like a domino effect when one falls. The main cause of this is a lack of watch servicing. It's similar to owning a car, which requires a MOT every year as well as some TLC.

A typical mechanical watch has around 130 parts that must all be lubricated. So, if you don't take your watch to a watch repair shop every 2-5 years, the parts will wear out and need to be replaced.

When a watch is dropped off, the problem is usually due to a lack of lubrication.

So, what are your choices?

WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY WATCH SERVICED?

Not all watches require a full service; you may only only a watch glass replacement, a re-polish to remove unattractive scratches, or a battery change.

The essential thing to remember is that your watch, like a car, has general maintenance and then accidents. Accidents happen, however to avoid a total refurbishing, we recommend having your watch serviced every 2-4 years.