Mechanical watches, known for their durability, still require periodic maintenance. Th

Mechanical watches, known for their durability, still require periodic maintenance. The process of cleaning the movement and lubricating it, known as “watch oiling,” is a routine part of watch repair. The purpose of oiling is to maintain the cleanliness of watch components and the necessary lubrication of the mechanism, ensuring precision, improving timekeeping accuracy, and extending the watch’s lifespan.

Factors Determining Swiss Watch Oiling:

(1) Sealing issues: Watches with tight seals prevent gases, moisture, dust, and fibers from entering, keeping the oil from deteriorating and evaporating, and the movement from rusting and accumulating tiny debris. This keeps the movement relatively clean.

(2) Wear level: The more frequently a watch is worn, the greater the wear on its components. Conversely, watches that are seldom worn experience less wear. I have had several watches stored away for up to 15 years, and upon testing, their performance remains satisfactory with high amplitude and precise timekeeping.

(3) Quartz watches can extend the oiling period. Due to minimal wear, and because they rarely need winding or time adjustments with small torque transmission, they can go longer without oiling unless a malfunction (such as stopping or intermittent operation) occurs.

Key to Swiss Watch Care:

Watches are highly precise timekeepers, especially the escapement and regulating system, the most complex and precise core of a watch. Due to the high rotation speed and oscillation frequency, components are prone to wear. The tolerances are measured in micrometers, and even oiling is done meticulously to not affect the watch’s accuracy. Especially for older watches with significant wear, which may lead to inaccurate timekeeping or even stopping. However, with adjustments by experienced professionals, even older watches can perform nearly as well as new ones.