For every watch enthusiast, whether they are a newcomer to this fascinating world or a seasoned watch enthusiast already immersed in it, proper use and maintenance of watches are crucial. So, do you know how to extend the lifespan of a watch? Are you clear about the prohibited areas when using a watch? Today, let the HEIMDALLR watch team take us on a deep exploration of the forbidden areas of watch usage.

1、 Strong Magnetic Field: The Invisible Killer of Watches
Generally speaking, the anti magnetic ability of ordinary mechanical watches is very limited. When the watch is in a strong magnetic field environment, exceeding its anti magnetic ability range, the steel parts inside the watch are easily magnetized. Among them, the key component of the balance spring is particularly affected. Once the balance spring is magnetized, it is like the “heart” of a watch being disturbed, which can directly lead to inaccurate timekeeping of the watch, possibly resulting in slow or fast movement, and in severe cases, even stopping. Some people may think that quartz watches are less affected by magnetic fields compared to mechanical watches, as quartz watches have relatively fewer steel parts inside. However, this is not the case. Strong magnetic fields still have an undeniable impact on the normal operation of quartz watches. In modern life, magnetic field sources are everywhere, such as around electronic devices (such as computers, televisions, refrigerators, etc.) or near magnetic decorations (such as magnetic bracelets, magnetic therapy devices, etc.), where strong magnetic fields may exist. Therefore, we need to be particularly careful to avoid placing watches near these magnetic field sources.

2、 Camphor: a neglected threat to watches
Camphor is a common substance in daily life. We often place camphor balls in the wardrobe to prevent insect infestation, and camphor is highly volatile. Watches need to be kept away from camphor because the molecules volatilized from camphor have strong chemical activity and are prone to chemical reactions with lubricants inside the watch movement. The lubricant inside the movement is crucial for the normal operation of the watch. Once a chemical reaction occurs, the performance of the lubricant will be destroyed, which will affect the accuracy of the watch, increase the friction between the movement parts, and ultimately affect the service life of the watch.

3、 Swimming and bathing: restricted area outside the diving table
With the arrival of summer, swimming has become a favorite activity for many people. However, it should be noted that most regular watches cannot be worn for swimming or bathing. Although these watches also adopt certain sealing measures to prevent daily water splashes and sweat from entering, they do not have the ability to be submerged in water for a long time. When swimming or taking a shower, the watch is likely to come into contact with water for a long time. Once water enters the interior of the watch through small gaps or poorly sealed areas in the crown or case, it can cause serious damage to the watch. For example, it may cause rusting of the movement, discoloration of the dial due to moisture, oxidation of the hands, and other issues. Even waterproof watches have limited waterproof performance, and with the increase of usage time and wear, the waterproof performance will gradually decrease. Therefore, do not easily wear ordinary watches to swim or take a shower.

4、 Severe Vibration and Shock: The Fragile Side of Watches
Although watches have certain shock resistance, this shock resistance is limited. In modern watchmaking technology, more and more watch exterior parts are made of materials such as ceramics, hard alloys, sapphire glass, etc., which are popular for their high hardness and wear resistance. However, even if these materials perform well under normal use, they are not indestructible when suddenly dropped or strongly impacted and are likely to rupture. For the movement inside the watch, severe vibrations and impacts pose a huge threat. The interior of the movement is composed of numerous precision components, such as the escapement mechanism, balance spring, etc. The construction of these components is very delicate, and even slight vibrations beyond the range of the movement can cause displacement, deformation, or damage to the components, thereby affecting the timing accuracy of the watch and even causing the movement to stop. Therefore, it is best not to wear a watch when engaging in intense sports such as basketball, soccer, rock climbing, etc.

5、 Chemicals: Corruptors of Watch Appearance
The exterior parts of a watch, such as the strap and case, are easily affected by chemicals. In daily life, there are many chemicals that need us to keep away from watches, such as gasoline, alcohol, spray, paint, cosmetics, acid, alkali, salt and other daily necessities. These chemicals have varying degrees of corrosiveness. Once a watch comes into contact with them, the strap and case may be corroded, causing discoloration, delamination, and other phenomena, seriously affecting the aesthetics of the watch. Especially for some ingredients in cosmetics (such as fragrances, oils, etc.) and acid-base salts, they may undergo chemical reactions when in contact with the surface of the watch, damaging the coating or metal structure of the watch surface.

As a watch enthusiast, it is essential to learn and master the knowledge of watch maintenance. Understanding the forbidden zones where these watches are used can help us better protect our beloved watches, extend their lifespan, and enable them to continuously and accurately record time for us in the long river of time.