Pocket Watch Guide

As I sit here writing, my elgin pocket watch is sitting on my desk, ticking away as if there was no other world out there. A commonly asked question I get when I talk to people who have received a gift, inheritance, or a new purchase, is how to clean a pocket watch.

Of course, the number one rule is use common sense. I cannot stress this enough. Properly taking care of your pocket watch can promote its lifespan by decades, and perhaps even for a century or more – which could enable you to give it on to future generations. Below you will find my top five tips for using common sense to care for pocket watches.

1. If it is not in your pocket, be sure that it is secured in your hand, in a draw, or on a shelf. We all know that breaking your pocket watch is just about as fun as a root canal.

2. A pocket watch was never made to be placed in nature’s worst weather. This includes temperature – cold and hot extremes; or extreme dryness or dampness. Both of these will most likely impact the accuracy of your pocketwatch, so use diligence. As with many instances, a small amount of dampness and aridity is hard to avoid. This is OK but not all the time.

3. DO NOT make the unfortunate mistake of putting a metal object into your pocket along with items like loose change, a keychain, or other metal things. I don’t think there’s much more to add about that one!

4. It is alright for you to apply some types of polishing wax on the watch case. It’s important to make sure you are using a soft and nonabrasive cloth to polish and wipe your pocket watch during this process. Before you do this, always consult your watch manual or a professional watch cleaner to double check on these sorts of guidelines. Some cleaners, polishes, waxes, etc will harm your pocket watch. With many antique pocket watches, polishing or cleaning is discouraged as it could detract from the value.

5. Many people, including myself, advise that a pocket watch should be maintained and serviced about every two to four years.

Countless numbers of watch owners come to me and ask about maintaining a pocket watch and truthfully – you really don’t have to (yourself). There are jewelers and watch makers and watch cleaners out there – true professionals and experts – and they undergo an apprenticeship for years to learn about watches and clocks. In most cases it is free of charge to obtain a quote for cleaning or maintenance; just call up your nearest watch or jewelry shop and they should help. If not, they will certainly know a resource who will. You should have your watch brand and model number available for them just in case they ask. Occasionally a watch maker or cleaner will ask to see your pocket watch in person before making any judgements and quotes for cleaning your pocket watch.

This is to protect both you and him, trust me! It is also always a good idea to call more than one place to compare price quotes, to ensure you are getting the best deal. While it costs money, keeping your pocket watch maintained and clean will definitely extend it’s life for years.

I hope that helps!