WATCH CARE

Please note, as with any micromechanical precision instrument, Hamilton watches require regular maintenance to remain in perfect working order.

The frequency with which this maintenance work needs to be carried out depends on the model, as well as environmental conditions and the owner's care of the watch. While we cannot give a specific time interval for servicing, we generally recommend that a complete maintenance service be performed every three (3) to five (5) years. 

To ensure that the service completed professionally and to Hamilton’s standards, you should only take your watch to an authorized Hamilton Service Center or official Hamilton retailer.

Please note that leather is a natural material subject to natural aging. Depending on your wearing habits, the strap should be replaced regularly for reasons of safety (security of the watch on your wrist), as well as aesthetic and hygiene reasons. In normal daily wearing conditions it has an average life of six to 12 months.

To keep your leather strap in good condition for as long as possible, Hamilton recommends the following:

• Protect your leather strap from prolonged exposure to sunlight to prevent discoloration
• Leather is permeable: Contact with oily substances and cosmetics can damage it
• To prevent loss of shape and fading of color, avoid contact with any kind of water
• Clean your leather strap with a soft dry cloth: Chemical substances can damage it

All Hamilton watches can be cleaned with a soft, dry cloth periodically. Water-resistant watchcases, steel bracelets and rubber straps can be cleaned using a small brush (e.g. a toothbrush) and soapy water. Rinse with clear water afterwards and use a soft cloth to dry.

Whenever possible keep your watch away from magnetic fields like speakers, electric devices, security gates at airports or other electromagnetic appliances. Such devices produce strong magnetic fields that may affect the functions of your watch, influence the accuracy of timekeeping or even completely stop it.

Some of our watches are now equipped with a non-magnetic compensating alloy called Nivachron™. The Nivachron™ balance spring offers a number of advantages. It allows a considerable reduction in the influence of the residual effect of a magnetic field on the running of a watch (a reduction by a factor of 10 to 20, depending on the caliber).
The Swiss-made balance spring, made of a titanium base, is very effective against temperature variations experienced in wearing conditions. In addition, it offers excellent shock resistance. Ultimately, all of these advantages result in a significant improvement in chronometric performance.

Watch batteries generally last between two and five years, depending on the movement type and the amount of energy used by the various functions. If the second hand begins to jump in four-second intervals, the battery needs to be replaced (end of life indicator).

We recommend that you take your watch to an authorized Hamilton Service Center or official Hamilton retailer as they have the necessary tools and testing equipment to carry out the work professionally based on Hamilton’s standards.

An empty battery must be changed as soon as possible to avoid the risk of leakage and resulting damage to the watch mechanism.

During the final quality control review, Hamilton watches are checked for water resistance as marked on the back of the case. However, the water resistance of a watch is not permanent and can be impaired by the natural aging process of the gaskets or accidental knocks to the watchcase. 

Additionally, external influences like perspiration, chlorine or salt water, ultraviolet rays and cosmetic products can compromise the seal over time.

Therefore, always rinse your watch with fresh water after it has been in contact with chlorine or salt water, and ensure that the crown, according to the model, is pressed back into position 0, or screwed back carefully so that water cannot get into the mechanism. Do not use crown/push button functions in or under water.

We recommend a water resistance check once per year by an authorized Hamilton Service Center.

The water resistance of your watch is marked on the back of the case:

• 3 bar (30m) / 43 psi (98.4ft)
• 5 bar (50m) / 73 psi (164ft)
• 10 bar (100m) / 145 psi (328ft)
• 15 bar (150m) / 217 psi (492ft)
• 20 bar (200m) / 290 psi (656.1ft)
• 100 bar (1000m) / 1450 psi (3280.8ft)

Always rinse your watch with fresh water after use in, or contact with, chlorine or salt water.

Direct contact with solvents, detergents, perfumes, cosmetic products etc. can damage your strap/bracelet and case. Such chemical liquids also impair the function of the gaskets that ensure the water resistance of your watch.

Hamilton recommends you do not expose your watch to extreme environmental changes (exposure to sunlight followed by immersion in cold water) or extreme temperatures over 60°C (140°F) or below 0°C (32°F).

Using your watch correctly is an important part of watch ownership and care. Hamilton’s general and model-specific instruction manuals include illustration keys, movement information and function guidance. Learn how to properly set the time, size a flex bracelet, convert units, calculate speed and more with our catalogue of written and video manuals. Available in several languages, these guides are designed to ensure you use your watch to the fullest every day. Discover more here.