There are several places to avoid when wearing your watch or keeping your watch:

1. Places where volatile agents (cosmetics such as polish remover, bug repellent, thinners etc) are vaporizing
2. Places where the temperature drops below 5 Celsius or rises above 35 Celsius for a long time.
3. Places of high humidity
4. Places affected by strong magnetism or static electricity
5. Dusty places
6. Places affected by strong vibrations

New to Collecting? A Guide for the Beginning Watch Collector, click here

If the place where you are storing it is reasonably dust-free, yes.

However, we do recommend the following:

Mechanical watches (hand-wound, automatic):
There is no problem storing these for long periods of time. However, watch lubricants gradually dry out with time and a watch that has not been worn should be checked every five or six years.

Quartz watches:
For storage periods of more than a year, you should have the battery removed by a watchmaker. Dead batteries tend to leak if they remain in the watch. The acids released can severely damage the movement.

Leather is a natural product which is sensitive to the effects of light and water. To keep your leather product in perfect condition, it should be protected from prolonged exposure to strong light and dried with a soft cloth immediately if it gets wet.

Excessive humid may so cause mildewing on leather. Excessive dryness, on the other hand, may cause cracking. This happens when the leather lost its natural lubricant.

We recommends that you follow the steps below in order to preserve the condition of your leather strap as long as possible:

1. Avoid contact with water and dampness to prevent discoloration and deformation. Should not be used underwater.

2. Avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight to prevent the colour from fading.

3. Remember that leather is permeable! Therefore avoid contact with greasy substances, cosmetic products and perfumes.

4. Avoid wearing it tightly. Always leave enough space so that you can fit at least one finger between the watch strap and your skin. This helps air circulation and lets moisture evaporate more effectively.

The life span of a strap depends on your care and wearing habits as well as the climate in which you live.

Wherever possible, yes. Soaps, caustic soda solutions and cleaning products should not come into contact with your watch. Sooner or later all chemicals will damage the seals in your watch. Certain chemical solvents, such as petrol or gasoline and acetone can have such a drastic effect on seals that your watch is no longer water-resistant.

Some might ask, 

Question: Can I keep my watch on in the shower?

We advise you to take your water-resistant watch off when showering. Soap and shower gels are designed to reduce the surface tension of water because this makes it easier to remove particles of dirt from the skin. However, soapy water can also penetrate the minute gaps between the parts of the case and the seals. Please note this whenever you clean your watch.

Water can also be very detrimental to leather straps; certain types of leather (e.g. crocodile skin) should never come into contact with water.  

 To ensure your watch provides complete satisfaction for many years to come, please follow the instructions listed below:

1. Avoid placing your watch near devices generating strong magnetic fields.

2. Wherever possible avoid any impact that might damage your watch or affect its running.

3. Avoid exposing your watch to extreme temperatures or temperature variations.

4. Avoid direct contact with solvents, detergents, perfumes or any chemicals, since they may damage your watch's components.

5. Avoid leaving your watch exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods.

6. Make sure that the crown is always pushed back into the normal running position, to prevent moisture, water or dust penetrating into the case.

7. Never operate the crown or chronograph push-buttons when the watch is wet or underwater to prevent water penetrating into the case. 

8. Use soapy water or soft cloth for cleaning metal bracelets. Rinse with clean water to eliminate washing residue. Never use cleaning or polishing agents.

9. Always rinse your watch in lukewarm water after use in a saline or chlorinated environment (sea water, swimming pool).

Natural Materials:

Leather strap, fabric straps, wooden or bamboo straps:

Since these materials are natural, be sure to protect your strap from prolonged exposure to the sun and moisture, so as not to alter its shape and colour. 

Watches containing these materials Should not be used underwater.

The life span of a strap depends on your care and wearing habits as well as the climate in which you live.

 When you take off your watch, leave it in a well-ventilated spot. Never put it in a sealed container when it is still damp with perspiration.

A Citizen Eco-drive watch or any other solar powered watch has a battery which is charged by exposing the dial to light such as direct sunlight or fluorescent lamps.

To obtain the best performance:
-    Expose the dial to direct sunlight as least once a month.
-    After taking off the watch from wrist, put it where the dial is exposed to bright light such as by a window.
-    Before storing the watch in dark place for an extended period of time, fully charge the battery.
When the watch is covered with long sleeves, for example, the battery many not be charged sufficiently. Try to keep the watch exposed to light.

Cautions about charging:
-    Excessively high temperature at charging battery may cause discoloration and deformation of the exterior, eg. leather strap, and malfunction of the movement.
-    Do not charge the battery at a high temperature (about 60oC /140F or higher)
-    Do not charge the battery by light such as an incandescent lamp or halogen lamp
-    Charging the battery where the temperature becomes extremely high – such as on the dashboard.

Although your watch has battery duration of about 6 to 12 months or more after fully charged and does not require further charging, it is advisable to expose the dial direct sunlight as least once a month if the watch is kept in the dark place, in order to keep the solar / eco-drive function in good condition and its best performance in the future.

However, if the watch was not exposed to light source for a few months and was kept in the dark place, the battery may malfunction eventually; a battery replacement may be required.

If your watch is water resistant, there will be clear markings on the back such as Water Resist, WR, or Water Resistant. If there is no indication, then your watch is NOT water resistant and you should take great care not to get your watch wet.

Or please view another similar article:

http://bodyingcare.com/kb_article.php?ref=2739-LXCV-6606

The band / strap touches the skin directly and becomes dirty easily with sweat or dust. Lack of care may speed up deterioration of the band or cause skin irritation or stain on the sleeve edge. Your watch requires a lot of your attention for longer usage.

Metallic bracelet band
• Moisture, sweat or soil will cause rust even on a stainless steel bracelet band if they are left for a long time.
• Wire off moisture, sweat or soil with a soft cloth as soon as possible after use.
• To clean the soil around the joint gaps of the band, wipe it out in water and then brush it off with a soft toothbrush. (Protect the watch body from water splashes by wrapping it up in plastic wrap etc.) Remove the remaining water with dry cloth.
• Some titanium bracelets use pins made of stainless steel, which has outstanding strength, rust may form in the stainless steel parts.
• If bracelet has rust, pins may poke out or drop out, and the watch case may fall off the bracelet, or clasp may no open.
• If a pin is poking out, personal injury may result. In such as case, refrain from using the watch and request for repair.

Leather band
• A leather band is vulnerable to discolouration and deterioration from moisture, sweat and direct sunlight. 
• Wipe off moisture and sweat as soon as possible after use by gently blotting them up with a dry cloth.
• Do not expose the watch to direct sunlight for a long time.
• Please take care when wearing a watch with light-coloured band, as dirt is likely to show up easily.
• Refrain from wearing a leather band watch (other than Aqua Free type bands) while bathing, swimming, and when working with water even if the watch itself is water-resistant enforced for daily use. (10 bar water resistant.)

Polyurethane band
• A polyurethane band is vulnerable to discolouration from light, and may be deteriorated by solvent or atmospheric humidity.
• Watches that comes with translucent, white or pale coloured band easily absorbs other colours, resulting in colour smears or discolouration.
• Wash out dirt in water and clean it off with a dry cloth. (Protect the watch body from water splashes by wrapping it up in plastic wrap etc.)
• When the band becomes less flexible or cracked, replace the band with a new one.

To wind a timepiece that has stopped, hold your automatic watch in your hand with the dial facing up. Gently move your arm back and forth to gently shake the watch. You should hear or feel the movement in motion. After a couple of minutes, the watch will have enough stored energy to run for a couple of hours. Put the watch on and the motion of your arm will continue to build the energy reserve.

Invest in a watch winder if you have several automatic watches. A winder has one or more rotating knobs for storing automatic watches. The knobs rotate at a constant speed to keep automatic watches ready for wear. However, the uninterrupted rotation can be stressful on the movement parts and the winder should only run for a few hours at a time, perhaps overnight.

It is suggested that mechanical watches will require servicing every 18 months to 2 years. Other mechanical watches between 2 to 3 years Quartz watches should be serviced every 2 to 3 years.

Watches need surprisingly little maintenance considering what fine instruments they are. By following a few rules of upkeep, you will keep your watches in good working condition for years. Have mechanical and automatic watches checked by a professional jeweler every three to four years for lubrication and damage. In general, quartz watches do not need as much maintenance as mechanical watches; however, it is a good idea to have the watch interior checked for needed repairs when you have the battery changed. Keep watches, especially quartz watches, away from magnets which can damage the movement.

Moisture can cause damage to watch movements, and most watches feature a certain level of water resistance in the design to keep water out of the case. Have water-resistant watches checked every one or two years to make sure the seals are still intact.

Storing timepieces in watch boxes protects the watches from scratches and the elements when you aren't wearing them. Watch boxes are crafted of beautiful woods and leathers for an impressive presentation and resemble jewelry chests. They have padded interiors and slots designed just for watches. Many of the best boxes feature watch winders for automatic watches. All of your watches are valuable to you, so give them the protection they deserve, and they will last for years.

Taking care of your leather watch strap:

If you have worn your leather strap watch daily, the average life span for the leather is about 1 year. However, this can be reduced to only 6 months in severe circumstances i.e. heavy sports practicing or frequent sea bathing or frequent washing hands with your leather strap watch on your wrist, or can be extended to 18 months if you take extreme good care of your watch. 

Excessive humid may so cause mildewing on leather. Excessive dryness, on the other hand, may cause cracking. This happens when the leather lost its natural lubricant. There is no use buying water-resistant leather because these most likely will not work as well. It is impossible to cover all the pores on the leather. Leather, like your skin, needs to breath.

Can't decide on which watch strap to go with your watch? Full satisfaction of the strap you have bought together with the watch will heavily depend on many parameters like the type of material it is made of, its colour, its finish, but also as much important are such things as your own lifestyle and the use you make of your watch.

If you wear the same watch every day you will need a sweat resistant watch strap from a strong material such as buffalo, pig or shark -skin, alligator in a mat finish or with rubber strap instead.

If you go in for sports, a sweat resistant watch strap is also necessary, you will select a "shrunk cowhide" lining or with rubber strap is preferred.

Other materials such as lizard, ostrich, but also alligator in a shiny finish, are very delicate. Silk and satin are perfect for occasional "soirée" wear. These kinds of leather straps need extra care.

Here a some of the general Leather Watch Strap Care Tips

1.     Avoid using or placing sharp objects on leather watch strap. Leather may be durable, but not accident or damage proof.

2.     Avoid your leather watch strap a minimum of two feet from radiators and other heat sources.

3.     Protect your leather watch strap from direct and even indirect sunlight. Some leathers, such as full and semi-aniline, will fade over time.

4.     Avoid air pollution such as cigar or cigarette smoke and cooking fumes, which can cause leather to fade or change color.

5.     Keep leather free from dust by dusting with a cloth.

6.     Clean leather with leather cleaner, minimally, this needs to be done about four times a year. However, don’t rub it with the leather cleaner! Sponge gently until all grime and stains are absorbed.

7.     Take off your watch when performing some menial work，and avoid potential corrosive stains.

8.     Avoid washing hands with the leather strap watch on your wrist. Droplets of water may wear out your strap faster.

9.     Avoid having it in a shower or go bathing with your watch (even with water resistant watch straps), especially in sea water, especially if you have a shark or alligator strap, as salted water will accelerate wear out of your strap.

10.     If you need to rinse the leather strap, do it with cold, clear water; do not let it soak.

11.     If your strap is wet, dry it carefully with a cloth and do not let it dry under the sun or next to heating.

12.     A tightly worn strap will always wear out faster. Always wear your strap loose.

13.     If you have an alligator strap in a mat finish, you may, once in while, enhance its look by delicately applying a light dose of bee (or similar) wax.

What are the most common watch leather straps?

The most common watch leather straps are made of the following materials: Alligator Leather, Ostrich Leather, Lizard Leather, Calf Leather

As a matter of principle, keep your watch as far away from magnetic fields as possible. Mechanical watch movements all contain parts that can be magnetized, depending on the strength of the magnetic field.

Defying the laws of physics: certain watch models, feature an inner case made of soft iron as additional protection against magnetism.

According to the DIN 8309 standard, a watch is classified as anti-magnetic if it continues to function satisfactorily when exposed to a homogeneous magnetic field with a strength of 4800 A/m, or approximately 60.3 oersted. In today's world we are continuously exposed to electromagnetic fields of differing strengths. The strongest fields we encounter in the course of our everyday lives are those generated by televisions, computer screens, power lines and radio masts.

The metal case of a wristwatch functions rather like a Faraday cage and protects the movement against most magnetic fields. Nevertheless, a watch movement can be magnetized unintentionally. If this happens, it will inevitably be less accurate and the rate will be irregular. If this does happen, your watchmaker has special equipment that will demagnetize a mechanical watch quickly and simply.

In the case of a quartz watch, the entire procedure is all a little more difficult. Quartz watches have a stepping motor that contains a rotor with a permanent magnet, whose strength is affected by external magnetic fields and, in a worst case scenario, can even be destroyed. In short, avoid exposing your wristwatch to strong magnetic fields over extended periods of time. 

Watch styles feature so many variations in design that you'll be able to find the ideal timepiece to match your personality and lifestyle.

Everyone needs at least two watches: one casual watch and one luxury watch. Many casual watches feature durable construction with steel, titanium, rubber or leather bands. The sports enthusiast should have a good chronograph watch with lap timers, stopwatches and alarms. Luxury watches can be sleek or decorative in design. The finest of men's luxury timepieces are stainless steel or gold watches. Women's luxury watches have these same materials and many display sparkling diamonds and other gemstones. 

Please go through the following checks, as your watch might be affected by nearby magnetism and temperature which may temporarily or lose time or stop operating:

A. Have you placed your watch at the following magnetic products that may affect your watch?

1. Cellular phone (speaker)
2. Bag with magnet buckle
3. AC-powered shaver
4. Portable radio (speaker)
5. Magnetic cooking device eg. Microwave oven
6. Magnetic health belt
7. Magnetic necklace
8. Magnetic health mat
9. Magnetic health pillow
10. Television
11. Staying near high voltage power lines 
12. any electrical products that emits magnetic field

Solution: Please keep the watch more than 10cm away from magnetic products. It may take some time to resume back to normal.

B. Have you dropped your watch, hit it against a hard surface or wore it while playing active / extreme sports that was exposed to strong vibrations?

Solution: 

Please go to warranty section for the below title:

What are the terms and conditions to claim warranty and how do I claim warranty for my watch?

URL:
http://bodyingcare.com/kb_article.php?ref=7837-LXCV-7363

C: Have you left your watch in extremely high or low temperatures for a long time?

Solution: The watch will resume when the watch returns to normal temperature.

Periodic inspection and adjustment by disassembly and cleaning (overhaul) is recommended approximately once every 2 to 3 years in order to maintain optimal performance of the watch for a long time. The power transmission gear of the movement of this watch constantly receives force. 

To ensure that this mechanism works properly all the time, washing parts, changing oil, adjusting accuracy, checking functions and replacing consumable parts on a regular basis are important. The first overhaul after the purchase of your watch is particularly important for preserving long-time use of your watch. 

According to use conditions, the oil retaining condition of your watch mechanical parts may deteriorate, abrasion of the parts due to contamination of oil may advance or delay the time significantly, or the watch itself may stop. As the parts such as gasket may deteriorate, water-resistant performance may be impaired due to intrusion of perspiration and moisture. 

Please note that some brand’s warranty does not apply on overhaul service.

Please advance your watch’s hour hand by 12 hours.

We normally suggest watches that comes with:

1. White or light colour dial, the watch will be easier to read compared to dark colour dial watches.

2. At least medium size watches for ladies, if the watch is a small size watch, it would be quite difficult to read the time.

3. We do not recommend chronograph watches because of the small letterings. It is best to go for plain dials.

Although titanium is a very strong metal, much stronger than gold, platinum and silver, and is more scratch, bend and dent resistant, it is not completely scratch resistant, it can still be scratched by abrasive materials like rocks, sandpaper, even hardened steel tools and utensils or even soft wood surface. Our experience shows that with normal wear, titanium bracelet will quickly begin to show small scrapes and scratches just like stainless steel bracelet.

Most watch movements are designed and manufactured in Switzerland or Japan. Traditionally, Swiss watchmakers set the standard for quality, especially for mechanical movements; however, since the 1980s, Japanese-made movements have caught up to the Swiss in quality. Chinese-made movements also have increased in quality in recent years. Watch manufacturers label the origin of the movement with a stamp on the watch case and, sometimes, on the dial. Here is a brief explanation of the terminology:

• Swiss movement: Watch movements have many parts to be assembled into one workable unit. "Swiss movement" means that over 50 percent of the completed movement was assembled in a Swiss factory from Swiss-manufactured parts. This is true of mechanical, automatic and quartz movements. The case stamps that identify the Swiss movement use various terms including Swiss quartz, Swiss automatic or Swiss auto, and, simply, Swiss.
  
  This definition also applies to movements originating in countries other than Switzerland. For example, a watch with Japanese movement usually will have a stamp of "Japanese", "Made in Japan" or "Japan movement". 
   

• Swiss-made: A Swiss-made movement must have Swiss parts, be assembled in Switzerland, and then be placed in the case in a Swiss factory. The case itself does not need to be manufactured in Switzerland, although most high-end watches feature Swiss-made cases. 

The Water resistance relates to pressure as measured (on a laboratory pressure test) in the equivalent of a static tank of water at a given depth under water. But please note, the faster an object is moved through or against water, eg. getting sprayed with a garden hose, plunging your arm in the water while swimming, or even taking a shower, the greater the pressure against the watch and could exceed the degree of water resistance engineered for that timepiece. For that reason, even a watch that is water resistant to 30 meters may leak (water can force it's way passed the crystal seal, case-back gasket, the setting crown, or push buttons.) if exposed to water coming forcefully from a tap, or worn whilst swimming or diving, as the increased pressure may exceed the designed resistance.

 Water resistance is tested in measurements of atmosphere (ATM) (on a laboratory pressure test). Each ATM denotes 10 meters of static water pressure. Many watch cases will list the basic measurement of 1 ATM as "water resistant." Watches that are marked "water resistant", but DO NOT specify a depth rating of from 3 ATM (Atmospheres), 50 feet, 100 meters, etc., are not designed to be submerged below the surface of the water. These watches will withstand small splashes of water but should not be worn while washing the hands or submerging the hands in water or withstand forceful water splashes eg. from the tap. Although they may withstand this condition for a while, if continually subjected to this situation, they will eventually leak. Based on our experience, if you need a watch to be water resistant enough to be able to submerge it below the surface of the water, be sure to get one that is designed with a screw-down crown and a screw-down case back or, better still, a divers watch.

Sudden changes in temperature like going from a cool atmosphere into a hot tub can cause the rubber gaskets, base metal and steel case parts designed to protect your watch's water resistance, to breach its sealing capacity momentarily and allow water to leak in.

Please keep in mind also, that the precision gaskets protecting the setting stem, case-back, or crystal area will break down over time, and should be inspected periodically and replaced when they reach the point where they become worn out and the danger of them leaking becomes a possibility. Also a concern is those watches that the case-back sealing area or the crown is badly corroded.

Remember, unless specified by depth, water resistant only means "ACCIDENTAL WETTING"! Think of it like this. "Oops, didn't mean to do it, dry it off real quick", and it should be okay.

Diver's watches had undergo specific lab test for diving purposes. Purchase a diver's watch if you spend a lot of time snorkelling or deep sea diving. A dive watch usually has a screw-down crown and a screw-down case back. The water resistance rating for these watches will be at least 20 ATM (200 meters/660 feet). 

Common water resistance ratings:

* only watches marked "Divers" on the dial should be used for diving, as they fully comply with the international standards for divers watches.

* Watches that are used for DIVING should be inspected by a dive shop to validate it's depth rating prior to going into the water.

In Layman term:

Note: Your watch has to be immediately wiped dry after all water activities, no matter how much is the water resistance labelled on your watch. You must not press the buttons on the watch or pull out the winder while the watch is submerged in water or still wet, If the case, glass or seal is damaged in any way the watch will no longer be guaranteed water-resistant. Condensation can appear in any watch and is caused by a sudden change in temperature i.e. When a watch is removed from a cold room and placed into a warm room or near hot tub, or vice versa.

The appearance of condensation does not mean the watch will not operate but it should be checked by us or any authorized service center. A watch exposed to sea water should be washed well with fresh / tap water and wiped dry immediately.

Batteries in water-resistant watches should be replaced by authorized service centre so that the seal can be checked and renewed if necessary, otherwise the watch may no longer be guaranteed water-resistant. Water-resistance is not a permanent condition. For example, the gaskets that are around the stem, case back and glass will deteriorate with time and should be inspected and changed periodically. It is good practice to change the battery hatch or case back gaskets whenever the battery is changed.

Basically, an automatic movement is mechanical movement with a self-winding design. An automatic watch harnesses the energy produced by motion to wind the spring. This movement features a rotor that spins when the watch is in motion as when the wearer moves his arm. The mechanism transfers the energy from the spinning rotor to the main spring of the winding system.

Automatic watches have all of the advantages of mechanical watches--detailed construction, durability--plus the owner does not need to manually wind the timepiece frequently. If you wear the watch every day, it will maintain its power reserve.

One drawback to mechanical and automatic movements is that they can gain or lose a few minutes per month; thus, an owner should check these watches once or twice a month and adjust the time. 

The most important feature of a mechanical movement is the main spring that must be manually wound to store potential energy. This spring unwinds slowly, releasing energy to move the gears that power the watch's timekeeping functions. Reflecting the talent and skill of gifted watchmakers, mechanical watches have an intricate composite of gears and springs and are crafted just as their predecessors were before the age of battery power.

Once wound, the average mechanical watch has a power reserve of 36-40 hours. The user must wind the crown on the watch case every time the energy is depleted and must also reset the time. Many users get into the habit of winding the movement every day to ensure the watch is working when they need it.

Consumers who appreciate the European tradition of constructing exquisite timekeeping instruments prefer fine watches with mechanical movement. Well-built mechanical watches often last for generations. 

Quartz movement is an extremely reliable timekeeper; it is also cost effective for both the manufacturer and the consumer. The most affordable watches have quartz movement.

Quartz movement is powered by a battery. It is called quartz movement because the battery works in combination with a quartz crystal. The battery passes an electric current through the crystal to keep it oscillating at over 32,000 vibrations per second. This vibrating crystal drives a step motor that moves the watch hands at a constant rate to keep time accurately. A good quartz movement is accurate to within 0.5-2 seconds per day. On average, the battery needs to be changed every one and a half years.

The quartz crystal and battery combination of the quartz watch is basic, but there is some variation in the watchmaking industry. Swiss quartz movement combines the movement with the chassis and jewels of a mechanical watch to form the most accurate and most durable quartz watches. A few quartz watches have solar-powered rechargeable batteries. Some quartz movements feature a kinetic system, similar to those in automatic watches, in which a rotor produces the electrical current that powers the watch.

The greatest advantage of the quartz watch, other than its relative affordability, is the fact that the movement needs no winding to keep it working. Quartz movement watches also require fewer time adjustments and less maintenance than mechanical watches. The gears of a quartz watch rarely, if ever, need lubricating.

A watch with screw down crown helps maintain water-resistance.

NOTE:

When using the watch in water:

Before using the watch in water, be sure the crown is screwed in completely. Do not operate the crown when the watch is wet, in water or washing your hands.

In general, quartz movement is more accurate than the mechanical and automatic movements. Accuracy measures the amount of time gained or lost by a timepiece within a specific period of time, usually 24 hours. It is common for watches to have some variation in timekeeping and a watch model is deemed accurate if it gains or loses the same amount of time every day.

The average quartz watch has a variance of 0.5-2 seconds per day.

The average mechanical or automatic watch has a variance of 3-5 seconds per day.

In principle, yes. But you should of course avoid them wherever possible. Or tighten the watchstrap as much as possible - this alone is a good way of reducing the effects of impacts. It also helps to compensate for fluctuations in temperature.

A mechanical wristwatch is a precision instrument. Tolerances at the manufacturing stage are in the hundredths and thousandths of millimetres. Extreme, repeated shocks and impacts, of the kind that might be encountered riding off-road on a motorcycle or mountain bike, can have a negative influence on the rate of a watch movement.