Frequently Asked Questions
Over the years, we have had many customers both new and existing have questions anywhere from what the shipping address is to general questions about their favorite watch. Here's a collection of the most FAQs we've had...
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Brands We Service Alpina · Balmain · Baumer & Mercier · Calvin Klein · Cartier · Edox · Frederique Constant · Hamilton · Junghans · Longines · Montblanc · Omega · Parmigiani · Rado · Ralph Lauren · Tag Heuer · Time Force · Vaucher · Zenith · and more...
Repair Service Form In order to expedite your repair process, please complete, print, and return this Repair Service Form with your timepiece.
Shipping Address and Shipping Recommendations SWISStime care, Inc. 5775 Blue Lagoon Drive Ste. 340 Miami, Florida 33126 Ship via the courier of you choice, but be sure to choose a method that allows you to track the package and remember to insure the watch for its full replacement value. For security reasons, when we ship back the timepieces, they are returned via UPS, insured, and with a SIGNATURE REQUIREMENT. Therefore, please provide a daytime address where someone will be available to SIGN for the package. If UPS is unable to obtain a signature after 3 attempts, the package will be returned to SWISStime care, Inc. and additional fees will apply to send the package again. Note: Addresses for the return of you timepiece cannot be a PO Box.
Packaging Instructions To prevent your timepiece from being damaged it should be wrapped securely in bubble wrap and placed in an appropriately sized sturdy box. Please do not send the original box to prevent it from being damaged in transit. SWISStime care, Inc. is not responsible for any boxes that are not returned to the customer. Include the Repair Service form and your warranty card or a legible copy of the original sales receipt if your watch is still within the warranty period. If your watch is out of warranty, you will receive an estimate indicating all repair costs.
Payment Type Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, Cash, Checks.
Care & Maintenance
How often should I have my watch serviced? Generally, a watch should be serviced every three to four years. However, the time in between services depends on the model, climate, and the care of the watch by the owner.
Is there anything I can do to preserve and prolong the lifetime of my watch? In order to preserve and prolong the lifetime of your watch we recommend the following: • Always send your watch to the Authorized Service Center for service • Avoid placing your watch in magnetic fields such as speakers, TV’s, or refrigerators • Prevent direct contact with chemicals, or other abrasive agents such as detergents or perfumes • Avoid shocks
Am I able to wear my watch while I shower? Although we recommend that you take your watch off to take a shower, if you are sure that your timepiece is water resistant, you can shower while wearing it. However, if your watch has a leather strap, we don’t recommend that it be exposed to water, because it may get damaged.
Am I able to wear my watch while I swim? If your watch is a water-resistant model, then you can swim with it on. However, make sure that the crown (knob to set the time) is properly closed; otherwise water can penetrate the case through it. Nonetheless, we recommend that you take your watch to an Authorized Service Center every year for water- resistance tests this will help prevent water damage.
What should I do if there is evidence of condensation under the crystal? A watch that has condensation under the crystal should be examined by a watchmaker as soon as possible; condensation appears when water has seeped through the case.
What is the difference between a chronometer and a chronograph? A chronometer is an extremely accurate timepiece that has been certified by the COSC, Controle Officiel Suisse des Chronometres, which is a Swiss laboratory and neutral body. They certify the watch when it has met all their rigorous requirements, which include various tests for several days, in different positions, and at different temperatures. A chronograph watch is able to accurately measure brief intervals of time as well as elapsed time. It is able to indicate the time of day by means of displaying the hours, minutes, and seconds, while also acting as a stopwatch.
What is the difference between a manual winding and self-winding? Manual winding watches need to be wound manually every day. Self-winding watches are wound by internal components when it senses wrist movement. (Please read more about this process below).
Watch is the power reserve for a self-winding watch? Power-Reserve Initiation Process for Mechanical Automatic Watches You may experience that your self-winding watch occasionally stops overnight or appears to be running slow. This does not necessarily indicate a malfunction of the watch. In most cases, the problem is related to the power reserve that has not been properly initiated or due to insufficient wrist movement while wearing the watch. The basis for proper functioning of a self-winding watch is the power reserve of the mainspring. Many people are unaware that a self-winding watch needs to be wound first manually (building up the power reserve), before it will start working automatically. This is called the initiation process. Without the initiation process, the watch will never operate properly and consistently. The power reserve is initiated by winding the watch manually. Turning the winding crown in a clockwise direction for about 40 revolutions is usually sufficient for most watches. Upon completion of the initiation process, the watch will wind itself automatically (re-building the power reserve) by means of an oscillating weight that shifts every time the watch’s position is changed by the movement of the arm and wrist. A self-winding watch should be worn at least eight (8) hours a day to maximize the power reserve. If this is not possible, or if the watch has been off the wrist for awhile, the initiation process must be repeated.
What is the function of a ″GMT″ on a watch? GMT is the abbreviation for Greenwich Mean Time. It means that two or more time zones are being displayed