Facts You Should Know About Servicing Your
Timepieces
Mechanical watches are designed to last many generations. In order
to ensure your legacy endures and the value of your watch is preserved, we
recommend a regular service of every THREE to FIVE years to keep your watch in
perfect working order.
The need for regular service applies to Quartz watches as
well. Quartz watches have wheels, gears, along with electronic components that
need maintenance. Batteries for these watches normally last only 12 to 18
months, it is, therefore, essential to change the battery regularly to prevent battery
leakage which can damage the watch.
Your watch registers 86,400 seconds per day
throughout the year-year after year. The balance wheel rim of your watch travels
an equivalent of 38,000km over a five year period. With its movement containing
over 150 actively moving parts, your watch deserves quality maintenance that
only a highly trained and dedicated watchmaker can provide.
Servicing of your Timepieces
The Initial Examination
Before your watch is serviced, our highly skilled Bonfield-trained watchmaker
will conduct a thorough diagnostic examination of your watch to determine
exactly which servicing procedures will be required to bring your watch back to
its original high-performance standard.
Movement Maintenance Service
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Microscopic examination |
“Platax” Tool – Removing roller and balance staff |
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Staking Tool – Replace balance staff |
Seitz Jewelling Tool – Micrometer adjustment of set jewel permitting correction of endshake |
The watchmaker begins the service process by completely
disassembling the watch movement. Each precision part is carefully examined
under a 10x microscope for wear or damage, and will be replaced or refinished as
deemed necessary.
Dried oils/contaminants are then removed from all parts by a
series of ultrasonic cleaning process.
Case and Bracelet Refurbishing
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Felting – To eliminate scratches with abrasive paste |
Polishing of the back case |
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Sandblasting of the case |
Lapping – The bevels are reground and polished |
Your watch case is carefully disassembled and all gaskets/o-rings replaced. If necessary the crystal, crown and any worn parts will be replaced to ensure that the watch remains completely waterproof.
The watch case and bracelet are put through an ultrasonic cleaning process to remove particles that can oxidise the case and bracelet.
The case and bracelet are then meticulously refurbished. Bevelling,
lapping, polishing, brushing, sandblasting and circular-graining to remove dents
and scratches are employed so as to restore the case and bracelet to its
original luster.
Reassembling the Movement
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Reassembling of the watch movement |
Lubricating the movement – Each pivot of the watch train wheels and balance staff are
lubricated with recommended high grade lubricants |
Reassembling the movement, an operation which requires dedication as it is both
a delicate and time consuming task, is conducted by the watchmaker with
painstaking care. Specially formulated oils and lubricants are applied in
exactly the right quantities to achieve optimal performance of the movement.
Calibration and Timekeeping
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Timing calibrations- Balance wheels are meticulously timed |
Witschi “Watch Expert” – Measures the rate accuracy, amplitude and the beat error of mechanical watches |
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Wrist Motion Simulator – Testing the winding mechanism and the power reserve of automatic watches |
Demagnetisation |
After reassembly, the movement is
carefully calibrated by adjusting the balance wheel, “the heart of the movement”
and the hairspring which oscillates it. The performance and daily accuracy of
the movement are tested in required positions on a sophisticated timing machine
to ensure that they are set to the required high-performance standard.
Finally, the dial, hands and rotor self-winding mechanism are
fitted back in its position, and the movement is returned to the case. The newly
assembled watch will undergo 5 continuous days of testing, on a wrist motion
simulator, which recreates the normal activities that the watch may encounter
when worn on your wrist.
Pressure Testing
Pressure Testing – Waterproof watches are pressure tested to 330 feet |
The watch will now undergo the final pressure test in a special vacuum tank.
This ensures that the waterproof qualities of the watch are retained in
accordance with the stringent factory criteria. |
Final Inspection
Final Inspection will be the most stringent check point conducted by the trained
eye and sight of the Bonfield’s watchmaker |
Lastly, the watch will have to pass the final systematic and uncompromising
meticulous inspection by the watchmaker. Our watchmakers from BONFIELD are
reputed to be one of the finest due to their years of practice and dedication.
When you send your watch to BONFIELD, you are assured of quality service and
assurance that your watch has been treated with utmost respect and attention to
detail. |