How to take care of your wooden watch

The popularity of wooden watches has been increasing all around the world. Nothing beats a nicely curved wooden watch in making a fashion statement. But, unlike other types, like plastic or stainless steel, a wooden watch requires special care and protection. Wood is a more sensitive material and it should be properly maintained for it to retain its sheen and serve your wrist for as long as possible. Also, you will probably pay more for a wooden watch, so it makes sense to ensure that it stays in top shape.

Fortunately, taking care of natural wood is way simpler than you might think. To extend the life of your prized wooden watch, we prepared a guide that will walk you through the best ways to keep a wooden watch in pristine condition for years to come.

Watch out for water

Probably the most important rule in taking care of wooden watches: water and wood don’t get along very well. All wooden watches are created from natural, raw and untreated materials, which means they are not naturally waterproof and they need more care than standard watches.

Unless otherwise specified, we advise you to handle them as any normal watch, but don’t intentionally expose them to any damp conditions for long period of time, cause that won’t end well for the watch.

We know it might seem like a lot of hassle to take care of your wooden watch and keep it dry at all times, but it’s really not. A drop of water here and there won’t destroy it, so don’t go overboard with the protection.

In most cases, you can definitely wash your hands while wearing your lovely wooden watch, and a little rain won’t hurt it. Nor will an occasional sweaty wrist, which means you can still enjoy wearing your watch in the summer.

Basically, keeping your wooden watch away from water means that you shouldn’t get in a bath or shower with the watch still on your wrist. Wood floats, but it won’t help your buoyancy in the swimming pool, so take your wooden watch off if you are going for a swim. Also, if you get pushed into a pool at a party, make sure you take off your watch first. As you can see, things are pretty straightforward and only require a touch of common sense.

Rub the wooden watch with a cloth

When it comes to wooden watches, forget all the standard cleaning products, as they will not work, or, in most cases, do more damage. To maintain the natural look of your watch and take care of it properly, you just need a drop of olive oil and lemon juice on a paper towel to do the job.

Then, rub the towel gently on the wooden surface (both face and strap) and use another clean piece to remove the remaining oil residue. You can also use beeswax, lip balm or even a drop of hand moisturizer.

Make sure to give your wooden watch a little oiling from time to time will, to provide the best conditioning for the wood it’s made from, while also giving it an extra barrier of protection from the daily wear and tear.

Treat the leather with some nice TLC

Taking care of your wooden watch doesn’t only mean cleaning the wood.  If your wooden watch has a natural leather strap, it’s important to wash it regularly to remove any traces of dirt, sweat residue or other particles from the surface of the leather to give it a fresh look for longer.

To clean the leather strap, first you must detach it from the watch face. You can do it easily by pressing the metal joints that attach it to the dial. Once you removed the strap from the watch, use a dry cloth to wipe the strap clean and get rid of any particles that might scratch it.

Then, wipe the strap again with a damp cloth. Be careful not to make it too wet, because leather, like wood, doesn’t like water very much, so you need to avoid dunking it in liquid. A damp cloth with a little bit of gentle soap should be enough to clean the strap properly.

After the soaping stage, take another clean, damp cloth and remove all the remaining soap residue from the surface of the leather. Gently rub the leather with a cloth until all the soap is gone and leave the strap to dry completely.

After the leather strap completely dries, apply some leather conditioning product to a fresh cloth and clean the strap’s surface. After that, wipe it down with a clean dry cloth and you should see the results of a refreshed and soft leather strap.

Be on the watch from extreme temperatures

Protecting your wooden watch is super important during hot summers and cold winters. The wood reacts to extreme temperatures by expanding in hot environments and shrinking in cold temperatures. That’s why you have to make sure you don’t leave your watch on the car dashboard in full sun or in the glove compartment when temperatures are close to freezing.

Extreme temperatures can cause cracking of the wood, make it dry out and age before its time, so always store your wooden watch correctly.

Protect the watch

We know you love the watch so much, that you will be wearing your wooden watch all the time, even while sleeping. But when you rarely take it off, don’t throw it on the coffee table or in your suitcase, like a random object you don’t care for. Take care of it the way it deserves.

Wood is susceptible to scratches and chips when rubbing against metal or other hard materials. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a case or box to put your watch when it’s not on your wrist.

Whether it’s a standard cardboard box or a premium wooden one, your watch will be safe inside it whenever you are not wearing it. Make it a part of your routine every night before you go to sleep and your wooden watch will have no scratch for a long time.

It’s normal for your watch to change colour

It’s clear a handmade wooden watch is a true fashion accessory for men and women alike. It stands out in every way possible, including the way it ages over time. If you notice your watch changing colour, the wood will soak up your natural oils and adjust to its wearer. A wooden watch uses your natural oils to stay moisturized, which keeps it from becoming dry. Your skin oils lubricate the wooden watch, besides adding some much needed shine to it. That being said, rather than keeping it for special occasions, we advise you to wear it everywhere, for all occasions, to keep it properly lubricated.

The aging of wood is a beautiful process and with a little help from you, it will make your watch more and more unique every day. Just show it a little tender loving care and you will have yourself a watch for a lifetime.