 Watch-Winding devices are available in many fine watch stores. Owning a fine watch is truly a pleasure. To keep your watch looking and running as well as possible, it has to be properly maintained. Leather straps should be changed as often as needed. Even the finest straps wear out; a new strap greatly adds to the look of a watch. A worn out strap not only looks bad, but it increases the chance of the watch falling off the wrist and breaking. Bracelets should also be checked periodically, loose clasps should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Spring bars are pins that hold a strap or bracelet to the watch case. Insist on stainless steel spring bars at all times. Brass spring bars can corrode, and are not as strong as stainless steel spring bars. Loose pins in a bracelet should be repaired or replaced immediately. Genuine straps and bracelets are available through most authorized dealers, or you can choose to purchase a “generic” bracelet or strap on your watch. These are usually less expensive than genuine straps, and are often equal quality. Use your own discretion at choosing a strap. A quality leather strap will cost between $10-$50, although exotic skins can cost more. Choose what looks and feels best for you and your watch. Inexpensive leather straps tend to be of poor quality; paper filled with a very short lifespan.
 The crystal and crown of a watch are not usually covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. These are external parts of a watch and thus are the most likely to be damaged. If your watch is dropped or hit, the crystal may break, crack, or chip. It is important that you bring your watch to your authorized jeweler or watchmaker to have it checked. A small crack or chip is big enough to let water, dust, or dirt inside your watch. The crown on a watch is also subject to damage and wear. Many crowns are made of a base metal such as brass. Even if the crown is not used often, it can corrode and wear away, opening up the watch to anything in the atmosphere. If the watch is mechanical, the crown is manipulated every day that the watch is wound. If you feel it has become difficult to wind the watch, the knurls on the crown may have worn away. A replacement crown can make the watch easy to wind again.
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