Everything You Need To Know About Servicing Your Citizen Watch

Citizen makes a number of quality watches, including mechanical watches as well as watches that are solar-powered. From time to time, your watch will need servicing to ensure it’s running at its best. Read on to find out what you can do by yourself, and what should only be attempted by a professional service provider.

Cleaning

Your Citizen watch will need to be cleaned regularly. Even if you think you’re very clean, the inside of your watch will get very dirty. When cleaning your watch, avoid using a lot of liquid or water. Check the official instructions provided by Citizen to make sure that you clean the watch correctly. If you’re uncertain, it would be best to contact a professional.  

Watch Overhaul

Citizen watches are sophisticated pieces of machinery. If you wear the watch regularly, you should give your watch a complete overhaul every three to five years. This is done by a professional who will check the watch thoroughly and make sure there are no problems.

Regular Use

If you have a mechanical Citizen watch that you don’t usually wear, it’s best to wind and run the watch at least once every month. This is because the watch has oils inside that can dry out, so running the watch keeps it lubricated.

Water Resistance

If your Citizen watch is water-resistant and you regularly take it into the shower or into water, you should get it serviced more often. Every two years, your watch should be tested to make sure that the water resistance is intact and has not been compromised in any way. Most watches of this type have an O-ring, which is a rubber gasket, as well as screw-down threads. The gasket can crack, and problems can arise with the threads. Because of this, it’s important that the watch is checked regularly, so that water doesn’t get inside the timepiece.

Also on the topic of water-resistance, it’s important to check the actual water resistance rating of your watch. For example, if your watch is resistant to 30 meters, that might sound substantial. 30 meters, however, is the absolute minimum water resistance rating for a watch. While it might survive an accidental incident with water, you’d best not regularly take it in the water. For that kind of use, a rating of 50 meters or higher would be recommended. 

Foggy Glass

If water is on the outside of your watch, it may cool the air inside the watch and cause some condensation. If the condensation clears after a couple of minutes, you shouldn’t worry. If the watch lens remains foggy, however, this could signify water sealing trouble, which means you should take your watch to a service provider as soon as possible.

Shock Resistance

If you have a mechanical Citizen watch, it’s best to avoid using it on days where you’ll be golfing or playing tennis. This is because the shocks to the watch are not good for the delicate mechanisms inside it. While the watch does have contact shock absorbers to protect it, they have limits on what they can do. Citizen Eco Drive watches are more durable on this front, however it’s still best to be careful with them and not expose them to any unnecessary stress.

Magnetism

If your Citizen watch is mechanical, magnetism can cause it to have problems. If you notice your watch is running much faster than normal, it likely needs to be demagnetized by a professional. To avoid this scenario, try to keep your watch away from electronics such as televisions and speakers, as these frequently have magnets in them. 

Polishing Crystal

If your watch has acrylic crystals, you may find that they scratch easily. Thankfully, they are easily polished. There is a product called Polywatch that’s specifically designed for this purpose, although other products such as headlamp lens cleaner or Brasso can also work.

Polishing The Case

The case of a Citizen watch can also be polished. Polishing kits are available that include abrasive fabric designed to restore the finish of a watch case. 

Eco-Drive Cells

According to Citizen, the solar and rechargeable cells inside a Citizen Eco-Drive watch will last more than ten years. However, if your watch is still having power problems despite following all of Citizen’s recommendations, it may be necessary to have one of the internal cells replaced by a professional.

Watch Bands

Metal bands need to be periodically cleaned to look their best. They can be cleaned by first detaching them from the watch, then cleaning them with a soft brush and warm, soapy water. If your watch has a water resistance rating of less than 50 meters, and you cannot remove the strap, then it would be best to take it to a professional to have it cleaned.

Leather bands wear out more quickly than metal bands. It’s best to keep them away from moisture. Using a soft, dry cloth, wipe the inside and outside of the band every day. If your strap becomes saturated with moisture, let it dry completely before wearing it again. Also, check the buckle and pin to make sure there are no loose connections.

Rubber bands need to be cleaned periodically, as they can absorb sweat, oil, and salt water. To clean your rubber band, use an old, soft toothbrush and some mild dish detergent with water. Clean the inside and outside of the strap, rinse the strap thoroughly, then allow it to dry. If your strap comes in contact with salt water, rinse it with fresh water as soon as you can. Products such as rubber protectants can also help prolong the life of the strap.

Conclusion

Citizen is a company that has been making reputable watches for a very long time. As you can see, while internal repairs are best left in the hands of a professional, there’s plenty you can do to keep your Citizen watch well-serviced and problem-free.