WATCH in horology, is a portable machine that measures and indicates the successive portions of transient time.

This useful piece of mechanism, when planned on the best scientific principles, and executed in the most perfect manner, contains within itself a collection of inventions, that have exercised the skill of the most ingenious mechanics through a succession of three if not four centuries.

When we contemplate the curiously contrived and nicely adjusted means by which the never-varying period of our globe’s rotation on its axis is divided and subdivided into hours, minutes, seconds, we need not be surprised that Paley has selected this machine as a striking specimen of human ingenuity.

Most people take their watch for repair when it has completely stopped working.

Usually by the time a watch stops, it has completely dried of oil and may have been running for months without any. This causes wear to the bearings requiring the replacement of wheels as well as other friction parts, increasing the repair cost.

Simple routine observation and timely repair can avoid these extra expenses.

There are often tell tale signs well before the watch stops, which indicate that it may need a service. For example:

If condensation appears behind the glass have your watch looked at as soon as possible.

Rust is a quick destroyer of all the steel components and can seize screws in their holes.

Moisture also tarnishes the lacquer on the dial, requiring dial restoration. It can also ruin the original hands and their luminous paint. Original hands are sometimes the hardest things to replace.

Watches designed to be waterproof should have their rubber seals replaced at least yearly, or more frequently if the watch is relied upon for diving.

Chronograph waterproof watches are much more likely to allow water to enter them, since there are more potentially vulnerable rubber seals. Screw down crowns/buttons are the most reliable.

When sending your watch for repair, always put it in a box with plenty of insulation against shock. Bubble wrap is best. Wrap the watch in a cushion of bubble wrap, use elastic bands not sellotape to secure the bubblewrap. Otherwise it tears and is difficult to re-use. This acts like a protective ball, so that no damage is possible in transit.

Do not post watches in posh or original boxes. We receive very many repairs weekly and cannot store the boxes. 

Always send your watch by insured post and keep safely the tracking details.

Be sure that the value of the watches does not exceed the value of the insurance.

Royal Mail Special Delivery covers items up to £2,500.

For higher value items and items sent internationally we use Secursus.com.( Currently charge 0.6% of the item value).

Groucho Marx once put his watch in a basin of cold water in the Mens room. When asked why? He replied: ‘Better rusty than missing!’

Last month I had the pleasure of meeting a well-respected clairvoyant from Glastonbury, Somerset.

She told me that she can never wear a wristwatch. They always stop on her wrist. ‘Whether it is my body magnetism or other energies I do not know’. I asked her if I could see the watch she would like to wear. I asked her to fit it to her wrist. It stopped after a few seconds. The watch case was 18ct and quite thin. I put it on my wrist. It didn’t stop.

‘Far out man’ I thought. The Glastonbury magic lives on!

However, it turned out that the lady in question had the strap tightly adjusted around her wrist, slightly bending the watch case, which then touched against the balance, stopping the watch.

The watch case has now been re-shaped and a slightly looser strap fitted. So far so good! The watch is going fine. Do I think the lady has no magic? Certainly not!!

I would enjoy to hear similar experiences from customers.