^Restore an Old Watch, clever techniques.
Sometimes you can’t bring yourself to throw away something you love. It may be falling apart, but when it has sentimental value, you want to keep it for as long as possible. Watches don’t last forever, even though many of them are designed to survive for a long time. If you have one that you love but it’s showing signs of wear and tear, you don’t have to throw it out. A few small changes can help you to restore it to its former glory, and it could be a lot cheaper than buying a new watch. Use this guide to help you rescue your dying watch so you can wear it for years to come.
Replace the Strap
Often, the first thing and even only thing you need to do is replace the strap. Even a quality leather band will only last so long, and eventually you’ll want to get a new one. You can find one that’s close to the previous strap, or you can reinvent your watch and choose something different. If you look at watch straps by Shinola, you’ll see leather, rubber, and nylon. You can also get a new steel bracelet band or buy one in gold, silver and even platinum. Some branded watches might require you to send off your watch to have the strap put on by a specialist.
Clean and Polish
If the band is in good condition, you might need to give everything a good clean and polish. For example, you could polish a leather or metal strap to get it looking pristine again. You can also give the case a good buffing to get it clean. Check what your watch is made of so that you can make sure you use the correct cleaning methods. You should be careful not to polish it too hard or clean anything that doesn’t need cleaning. If you’re unsure of what to do, send it off for a professional service.
Replace the Glass
If you have a vintage watch and you’re worried about the value, it might not be a good idea to replace the glass. In some cases, each scratch and mark is part of what makes the watch unique. But if you don’t have to worry about that, getting a new piece of glass put in will give your watch new life. It will help to protect the rest of the watch so that it stays in working condition and looks great.
Replacing Parts
Sometimes you might need to replace some other parts, such as part of the movement or the hands. If your watch is valuable, this might not be an excellent idea. If you have a vintage watch, but you don’t wear it, it doesn’t necessarily matter if it works or not. However, if it’s a watch you want to wear, you’ll need to get it working if you want to use it. Before you have anything replaced, check to make sure it’s the best thing to do.
Restoring an old watch is simple once you know what to do. Just remember that if it’s vintage, you might want to be extra careful.
Image credits: https://flic.kr/p/9ZgKiX
