Care and Keeping of Your Leather Watch
Genuine leather watches are generally regarded as some of the highest quality watches out there. However, without proper care, leather can crack and fade over time, so when you own one, it is very important to take good care of it in order to ensure a long working life. The following are some tips to help you take care of your leather watch: • Do not expose it to water. Water is quite harmful for leather, because it wears the smoothness out and can leave cracks after some time if left to dry on its own. Thus, it’s not advised to either swim with your leather watch, nor take it into the shower. Minimizing contact with any source of water would definitely be advised. • Do not expose it to perspiration. If you need a watch for exercising, consider an alternative such as metal or rubber straps. Leather absorbs perspiration and can lead to more cracks and over time the leather will lose its luster and smoothness. Leather is best for everyday or formal occasions, not the gym. • For light cleaning, a lint-free towel and toothpicks ought to do the job. It’s important to do this at least once per week for watches that are worn frequently. • Occasionally, leather watches will need a thorough cleaning in order to prolong their longevity. Detach the leather band from the watch to protect the main portion of the watch from the leather-cleansing process. To clean the leather, using saddle soap (which you can buy from a local equine tack store) is beneficial as it can return the leather’s shine after thoroughly rubbing it onto the leather. Just be sure not to leave any suds behind! Owning a leather watch doesn’t have to be difficult. With proper care and keeping of your watch, it ought to last for many years to come.