Agree 100% with shorter bracelet at 6 - took me years to realise this! My tip with a screw-down crown to avoids cross-threading - push and wind anti-clockwise until it clicks, then maintaining the pressure wind clockwise to screw down. To set the date - pull crown fully and move hands to 6 o'clock, push crown and set day/date to one day BEFORE today, pull crown fully and advance to correct time paying attention to when the day/date snaps over. This way you won't break the date part of the movement and you will set am/pm correctly.
I see a Teddy B video, I click it. As a guy who started collecting watches a little over a year ago, I learn a lot by listening to him! Thank you, Teddy.
A mechanic trick I learned a long time ago to prevent cross threading, is apply slight pressure on the crown before screwing down, and turn it counter-clockwise until it drops into the threads, and then turn forward. This way its always set into the threads before screwing down, and not forcing its way into the threads.
@@lefterismic3978 it should. It’s the basic structure of screws. There’s always a lead thread for the starting point. With bigger thread things, the screw will naturally catch when it makes it to that point in the threading. But with very fine screws like screw down crowns, it can be beneficial to go backwards first so you’re not forcing the screw until it’s set in the starter thread
@@fiskrens92 Thanks for the confirmation. So then my understanding is that the same method we should apply to divers quartz watches (battery, solar). Is this right?
The best watch youtuber in my humble opinion. No matter how big Teddy is getting (well deserved too), he always remains humble and gives a 100$ watch the same respect and thorough review and opinion as a 10,000$ watch. Stay as you are Teddy! Wishing you all the success in the world.
Not if your spouse bought you your first really expensive watch totally out of the blue. (She did. And I’m still in shock.) Money I only ever dreamed about spending on a watch in the first place. And I love it to death.
4 biggest mistakes: #1 Buying a watch to impress anyone else. #2 Changing straps or even removing your watch from the wrist while standing over a hard surface. #3 Changing the date between 9 - 3. #4 Buying a homage watch to scratch the itch for what you actually want.
I agree with number 4 when it comes to some watches but not as much as the others because I’m never buying a Patek or AP in this lifetime seeing the prices they go for.
@@odedroesler If it makes you feel any better I remember seeing an Adrian Barker video where he destroyed his Rolex by dropping it on a rock while attempting to change straps.
I’ll add two extremely important pieces of advise. 9. Insure your watch. The Valuables policy I have is inexpensive and covers loss or damage with no deductible. 10. Update your appraisal for your watch and then update your policy. I had a Panerai PAM24. I would wear it when we went on a beach vacation. Was in Hawaii out in the surf and a big wave literally ripped the watch off my wrist. I had bought the watch new for around $4k, and that what I insured it for. The price for a new one had gone up to around $6k. So, my insurance company cut me a check for $4k. If I had kept my appraisal up to date I would have gotten a new watch. That prompted me to update the coverage on my 25 yo Rolex sub 16610 that I had bought new while I was in the military for about $2k (at the time you could get a great deal on Rolex through the BX). I got the Sub reappraised for $10k. Now I’m covered!
Oh great.. just when I had forgotten about going to the BX and getting a Glycine GMT,as a loadmaster, instead of getting the Rolex... I'll never forgive myself. Then, again, just a little difference in price between the two. 😆
To avoid crossthreading a screw down crown, before turning the crown clockwise to tighten it, turn it slightly counterclockwise. This will help to properly seat the crown in the threading before screwing it in. Also, if you do mess up the threading, the fix, replacing the crown tube, generally is a relatively easy fix for a watchmaker and usually not expensive (certainly compared to the cost of the watch), so don't put it off.
@5:17 i use a hair dryer to warm up the loctite on the bracelet screws. I just lay the hair dryer down on its side and point it at the spot on the bracelet with the screws. About 6 to 10 inches away from the hair dryer. When the bracelet is warm, not scalding hot, just warm, the loctite will loosen up easily.
As to watertightness, keep in mind that a watch's WR rating is determined when it is in pristine condition. Tiny particles of grit and temperature fluctuations encountered in normal use can impair the integrity of the gaskets. If your watch regularly is immersed in water, its water resistance routinely should be checked, which can be done quickly by a watchmaker for a nominal charge.
I literally just Sunday took my Explorer I back to the AD and switched it to 4 links on the 6-side and 6 links on the 12-side. I wondered how popular this was or if I was doing something weird. Feels WAAAAAY better though, I absolutely love the way it wears now, so this is an extremely timely video for me. Thanks! Great advice.
Having the 6 o'clock side of the bracelet shorter is a game changer. Especially for Seiko Prospex bracelets. Many complain about the divers extension being uncomfortable. That is because it doesn't lay flat with the rest of the bracelet, it starts to curve around the wrist. Get it in the right position and the Seiko brackets are very comfortable.
@@cagataycakmak2280 Oh I see. I assume the stress is because pushing/pulling while wearing will practically never happen in the appropriate direction, but will always end up happening at an angle, even a small one?
Great video Teddy as always. As a 19cm wrist-er, I can attest to your clasp position observation. I just wanted to add that I came to find out that the larger the wrist is, the harder it gets to have the clasp centered. Thank you for sharing.
Always putting the watch hands at 6 seems like the best thing to do when adjusting dates. Doesnt matter if it is am or pm, it wouldnt fall into the date change window. Although...my Frederique Constant manual says i need to place my watch at 10.10AM first..
I’ve only made two mistakes on the list thanks to listening to other collectors/enthusiasts which is the clasp not being centered. It doesn’t really bother me but at least now I know why they pull the links from the 6 position. I’ve definitely overwound a watch before but I’ve just been lucky that they are automatic and have that fail safe. Haven’t bought a mechanical watch yet because the stigma and I don’t think I would wear the watch as much as automatic. I’m so happy to hear Doxa is available on your site. I’ve wanted one for a while because of if I get a dive watch I want it to have that history. Too bad I can’t find a place to try one on around here.
Normally people wear 1-2 watches but aliens like us have tens of mechanical watches. So it’s impossible to keep all springs alive. Thus, we have to adjust date & time much more frequently than ordinary people. As a conclusion I suggest to spend your money for one top model that your budget allows and try to change straps to have different styles. This will ensure that top item in your collection will be always live and you don’t care to damage other models that much. Congrats Teddy it’s really difficult to keep sincerity on social media 👏👏👏 We feel that you are among us rgds
Interesting video. Regarding point one, just by trial and error I arrived at the same conclusion... I removed more links from the "6" end which really makes the bracelet lay nicely on my elliptical wrist. In the beginning, I used symmetry in my link removal, but the folding hinge jutted out under the bracelet. Your suggestion rang true for me based on my experience.
The clasp in the middle is not always the best option imo. In the case of butterfly clasps: yes. But in many other cases, such as Seiko, the folding parts of the clasp are sticking out on one side of the closing mechanism. So if you get the closing mechanism visually in the middle of the bracelet, the clasp itself is probably not. All of this kind of clasps that I have are therefor one link shorter towards the 6 o'clock side of the watch.
Sapphire Crystals - if you do any welding, take your watch off. Weld spatter will melt / fuse to a sapphire crystal. First hand experience here. Screw down crowns - Add a small amount of silicone gel (nothing petroleum based) to the threads. This will lubricate the threads and the gasket and improve the sealing of the crown.
What's interesting is that many vintage watches had date complications, but nobody ever mentioned when not to change the date back in the day. I started wearing a mechanical watch as a little kid in first grade. My father was very mechanically inclined, but he wasn't aware of this issue, so he never mentioned it to me. I didn't learn this until relatively recently.
The final words come to sumarize the whole idea: we love what we do. It takes way to much honesty and knowledge to come with this content. For a true watch collector this might be your best video so far Teddy. Thanks
Clasp position! I often send a watch back at resize and end up with 2 extra links on one side as well. For Seikos, 2 links extra from the 12 o'clock side (opposite other watches)
Bracelet adjustment: it has to be OCD proof for me, therefore I'm always doing it myself! No scratches, centered clasp. I didn't mind to buy all the necessary gadgets, it worth every penny.
Thank you for the advice on asymmetric link adjustment for a bracelet watch. I moved a link on one of my watches from one side of the clasp to the other and now the watch fits better. You are right about screw down crowns. You will never cross-thread or over-tighten a Panerai! And you won't forget to screw-down the crown on a Panerai before going into the water.
Magnets and watches. How does GS Spring Drive do it? Doesn't the regulation of the movement apply "brakes" to control the rate of the movement which is magnetic? That doesn't magnetize the movement being well within the movement?
Hey Teddy, I absolutely love your watch reviews-you’re always showcasing some incredible timepieces! I have a suggestion that I think could add something special to your videos. How about including a short segment, maybe thirty seconds to a minute, where we can just listen to the mechanical sounds of the watches? Hearing the crown winding, the ticking of the movement, and the click of the pushers would be such a satisfying ASMR experience. I think it would really enhance the enjoyment of your reviews!
Your channel has been very useful and entertaining for my watch collecting journey. I have a wrist size identical to yours and I always check your wrist shots on watches I'm interested in.
Why does it seem like there is a limited selection of women's watches? Most of the watches women showcase on RUclips are just Cartier and Rolex, as if these are the only brands in the market. Also, their prices are absolutely insane. I would appreciate a video about women's watches under $1000.
1:17 I’ve always had my bracelets sized to get the clasps centered on the underside of my wrist even though the number of links are not equally distributed. Most people try for symmetry at the cost of comfort and that’s a big no.
This might be obvious but, DO NOT lose your extra links!! Your wrist WILL change and you will need those extra links. I have a couple of watches that I can’t wear anymore because my wrist has grown and I made this mistake.
This is such an educational video especially for someone who is just getting into the world of mechanical or automatic watches. May I also add that exposure to extreme temperatures (may thicken or thinness lubricants) can lead to malfunctions. Ignoring power reserves as prolonged periods without being wound, a watch’s oil may thicken unevenly. Last, storing in non-ideal conditions. Humid or dusty environments can lead to moisture ingress of debris inside the case. As always, love your contents and your shop, Teddy! Cheers! 👌🏼
The first reason I just figured out recently when sizing out my own watches with an watch sizing kit. I wore my tissot PRX 35mm with the clasp not centered and went back to move a link from the 6 o’clock side to the opposite and the clasp centered, making the wearing experience much better. Transferred this knowledge to whenever I’m adjusting my other watches
I'm not many people working around MRI equipment would have a watch on. But, we ALL must be careful not to sit too close to a salesman of giant horseshoe magnets on a plane, cocktail party, etc. 😅
Bingo! My bracelet "offset" is also most often two links shorter on the 6 side for my 7 5" wrist. On a strap, I may swap the buckle end from 12 (as commonly sold) to 6 to get that same balance, a standard form on some Seikos. It can make a huge difference in seeing the full dial with an easy wrist roll.
My tip: put links in a bag with a note of the make/model and never be lazy with this. Once a collection hits a certain size, managing the pieces requires some care and organization. I've misplaced some parts over the years. I started with bags and a sharpie but switched to notes in the bag as the ink rubbed off. Stupid problem but still a problem.
Note to Teddy’s editor: make sure you don’t have VBR1 turned on when rendering. Constant bitrate or VBR2 will keep the footage from getting pixelated on scene changes for a second. Keep up the good work 🫡
It took me until about my 3rd or 4th watch until I made the realization that less links at the 6 o’clock side causes for a better fit. Definitely top tier advice
The screwdown crown thing, I remember learning about screwing in screws, you have to go counter-clockwise first, once you feel a tactile bump, then you can go clockwise and screw-in. Doing this makes the screw follow the threading straight down, unlike with traditional screw in, that you'll have to feel it go in, and if some of the sides bite before the others do, this may definitely cause the threads to wear.
Good tips. My dumb wrists are so thin (6.25") that there are no more links able to be removed from the six o'clock side, and it remains longer than the 12 o'clock side. I suspect this is contributing to the not quite ideal fit of my new Longines. :\
As a person that works frequently around MRI's I NEVER bring my watches near those things... nothing stands a machine that produces 100,000x' times the magnetic force of earth... moreover, if you accidentaly bring your keys you can feel them levitate... those machines are not to be trifled with.
I absolutely agree on point 1 but it is hard to escape the OCD feeling that the clasp should be centered on the band rather than the underside of the wrist 🤔
Teddy is becoming bigger and bigger. I can only hope for him to one day make a watch. His very own watch. The TB 0X, 0 for being the first ever watch and the X allowing for him to go on making more. Yup, I bet it could make for a great watch.
These can sound so simple, but I’m a bench jeweler, watch retailer, and independent jewelry store owner, and just last week I noticed that the crown on my Tudor north flag was somehow half or more unscrewed. I tell customers to keep an eye on theirs all the time, and didn’t keep mine screwed down
I found it fitting that the Seiko Alpinist was used for your thumbnail as, for me, that was probably my biggest mistake I made. Just never clicked for me and it was like +30s/day, too tall and small diameter and the compass feature was really not useful
The clasp position after sizing is an issue for me too. I want it centered too. Anti-magnetism 1,000 gauss and above is must for my daily work watch wear, due to my working on electronics
Thank you so much for posting this video! Excellent in every sense, as usual. One thing though: Omega starting from 300m to 600m and more, have the technology to use the pushers of the chronograph underwater. I have tried and it works just fine. The only thing is that they don't tell you until what depth you can do that. So if it is at snorkeling depth is ok but no-one can tell you if you go deeper until which depth you can do that. And with the new parachrome, cerachrome and so on materials for the hairspring watches are nowadays much less subject to malfunction when exposed to a magnetic field, but all in all I agree with you 100% why take a chance? Bravo! Please keep informing us on these beautiful details
My brand new Sinn 556i arrived with the hands near midnight and the date in mid-change. I had no idea how tight Sinn makes their crowns, so when I thought I pulled it completely out, it was actually in the date position. And when I saw the date advance instead of the hands, I screamed like a child.
Pro Tip: Don't wear a wrist watch anywhere near an MRI. If your watch has iron in it (which is the primary ingredient in steel) the magnet will grab it from across the room: even if it is attached to your wrist. Titanium cases might not be ferrous, but the works inside your watch may well be, so you aren't exempt either. :) Most MRI machines are either a 1.5T or 3T. The T represents the amount of magnetism (Tesla). 1.5T is 15,000 gauss. 3T is 30k. So, while Omega may have a 15k gauss rating, a 3T won't have any trouble screwing up your watch.
Magnetism! I have Seikos, Tudors, Omegas in my collection and it was never an issue, so I happened to take less care about it and then my Reverso got, in fact, magnetised by an induction oven.. can be easily fixed but it's annoying indeed
Another quick piece of advice that I don't hear much it minding the conditions your watch is stored in when it's not being worn. I was at a friends cottage and was asked to help with some yard work so I took my nice dive watch off because I was worried about scratching it - I left it safely in my car in the centre console. It was a hot summer day. It failed to occur to me that the interior of my car was hot as an oven. The sealing gaskets in my watch literally melted and lost all effectiveness. I had no way to recognize this and didn't know that my watch had lost it's water rating.
If you have to leave things in a car, keep them in a shades case inside the glovebox. It takes much longer for the heat to reach the level of the interior. Most of the times you should be back. If going for extended periods of time whilst the car is under the sun, nothing can help
@@MarketingGuy My watch failed me after the weekend, it just stopped, and when I took it in to have it looked at the guy said all the gaskets were melted. The only time it would've been hot enough to melt was that afternoon inside my car. Edit, yes I had been in the water with it, after the yard work was done we went for a dip
When studying a watch, simply ensure you can get the clasp as close to the center of your wrist, and yes with most watches this will mean a link or two less on the six side.
I’ve used a variety of automatic watches around my laptop, ipad, and iphone, so far without incurring problems due to magnets, with watches that don’t have exceptional protection against magnetism. Is the drive for greater magnetic protection perhaps a bit overdone?
Sapphire is high on the hardness scale, being at level 9 where diamonds are level 10; but it’s not high enough to completely avoid scratches and drop/impact related damage. Especially when the thickness of what is used on watches is so thin there is not enough rigidity to the material.
13:13 Absolutely a best practice. Then I advance the hands to 6am ish before quick-setting the date. Sometimes storing watches with dual language day wheels, I’ll advance and leave it to display a non-native language day so I know that’s AM and in the middle of day change for when I pick it up next.
Teddy, you are sooooo correct on centering the clasp on the back of your wrist. To this day, I still prefer a leather or silicone buckle strap because in my early days, I mis-fit the bracelet. A very informative basic vlog of truisms.
Great advice Teddy, bracelet clasp position was my failure! Your prices are really keen, just a pity that those of us in the UK miss out on so much of your retail collection!
After watching this video it hit me - my watches (all 3 of them 😂) are perfectly adjusted for clasp position in this way. I tried them on to check 😂 I never even thought about it, but it seems the watch adjusters I’ve been to just seem to know this instinctively. Like breathing.
Something to avoid which I have learned the hard way with my Grang Seiko: don’t wear cuff links with watches that are likely to go under the sleeve! The bezel will get seriously scratched in the 12 o’clock area!
Great tip! I wonder if there's a way to discreetly apply some tape or something to the inside of the cufflink to mitigate this? You've motivated me to experiment a bit
@@TheIronDuke9 I have cuff links that have a rubberized sleeve underneath, always wondered why as they are not really poking into my hand... Never thought it might be to protect the watch underneath...
I smacked the sapphire on my Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer into the strike plate for a bathroom door and put a lovely scratch in the AR coating from about 6:05 to 1:30. It’s only visible from the angle at which my wrists sit when I am typing. That’s about 75% of my day to day. Since I used the watch as a navigation tool on my first checkride I won’t ever get rid of it, but it drives me insane so I almost only wear it when I fly.
#1 mistake, by far, is is to start collecting watches. All other mistakes come from it.
The biggest mistake is going too quickly. You'll end up with a box full of cheaper seikos you never wear. Ask me how I know.
@@Somedude75566 which models did you buy?
@alexflores4458 got a turtle, an skx, a samurai, and a presage. I only occasionally wear the skx.
@@Somedude75566That sounds good though 😅
That brilliant....😅
The bracelet adjustment at 6 oclock is spot on!
Totally agree but one would assume that the watch seller/fitter would take this into consideration because of their experience......BUT THEY DON'T!!!!
@@ajhl1a lot of people buying online
Im using 3 fewer links on 6 side, because i always hated how watches tends to turn around your wrist to 12 side. This trick really helped me.
I had thinkered with every bracelet I own because of this, jewlers in general doesnt' seem to care.
Agree 100% with shorter bracelet at 6 - took me years to realise this!
My tip with a screw-down crown to avoids cross-threading - push and wind anti-clockwise until it clicks, then maintaining the pressure wind clockwise to screw down.
To set the date - pull crown fully and move hands to 6 o'clock, push crown and set day/date to one day BEFORE today, pull crown fully and advance to correct time paying attention to when the day/date snaps over. This way you won't break the date part of the movement and you will set am/pm correctly.
I see a Teddy B video, I click it.
As a guy who started collecting watches a little over a year ago, I learn a lot by listening to him!
Thank you, Teddy.
Amen!
good little robot
A mechanic trick I learned a long time ago to prevent cross threading, is apply slight pressure on the crown before screwing down, and turn it counter-clockwise until it drops into the threads, and then turn forward. This way its always set into the threads before screwing down, and not forcing its way into the threads.
Does this apply to all brands?
@@lefterismic3978 it should. It’s the basic structure of screws. There’s always a lead thread for the starting point. With bigger thread things, the screw will naturally catch when it makes it to that point in the threading. But with very fine screws like screw down crowns, it can be beneficial to go backwards first so you’re not forcing the screw until it’s set in the starter thread
@@lefterismic3978 This applies to any and all threads👍
@@lespaulfav187 Thanks for the reply 😀
@@fiskrens92 Thanks for the confirmation. So then my understanding is that the same method we should apply to divers quartz watches (battery, solar). Is this right?
The best watch youtuber in my humble opinion.
No matter how big Teddy is getting (well deserved too), he always remains humble and gives a 100$ watch the same respect and thorough review and opinion as a 10,000$ watch.
Stay as you are Teddy! Wishing you all the success in the world.
He's a salesman what do you expect but if you want to continue being naive. Go right ahead
@@lonewolfemcquade8133I have had run ins with dreadful salesmen with no respect for the customer. I'm sure Teddy would not be one of them.
@@lonewolfemcquade8133 Haha, I bet you’re fun at parties.
Worst mistake: telling your spouse how much it actually cost.
Not if your spouse bought you your first really expensive watch totally out of the blue. (She did. And I’m still in shock.)
Money I only ever dreamed about spending on a watch in the first place.
And I love it to death.
4 biggest mistakes: #1 Buying a watch to impress anyone else. #2 Changing straps or even removing your watch from the wrist while standing over a hard surface. #3 Changing the date between 9 - 3. #4 Buying a homage watch to scratch the itch for what you actually want.
Im feeling #2 right now
I agree with number 4 lol
I agree with number 4 when it comes to some watches but not as much as the others because I’m never buying a Patek or AP in this lifetime seeing the prices they go for.
@@odedroesler If it makes you feel any better I remember seeing an Adrian Barker video where he destroyed his Rolex by dropping it on a rock while attempting to change straps.
That sapphire crystal critique is spot on.
There's ways to fix scratches, but shattering requires a replacement.
Mistake no. 1
Getting into the hobby in the first place :')
I’ll add two extremely important pieces of advise.
9. Insure your watch. The Valuables policy I have is inexpensive and covers loss or damage with no deductible.
10. Update your appraisal for your watch and then update your policy.
I had a Panerai PAM24. I would wear it when we went on a beach vacation. Was in Hawaii out in the surf and a big wave literally ripped the watch off my wrist. I had bought the watch new for around $4k, and that what I insured it for. The price for a new one had gone up to around $6k. So, my insurance company cut me a check for $4k. If I had kept my appraisal up to date I would have gotten a new watch. That prompted me to update the coverage on my 25 yo Rolex sub 16610 that I had bought new while I was in the military for about $2k (at the time you could get a great deal on Rolex through the BX). I got the Sub reappraised for $10k. Now I’m covered!
Excellent; wise words & great job learning & sharing the knowledge. Sounds like you got a great deal on the 👑 AND it has actual significance to you.
Oh great.. just when I had forgotten about going to the BX and getting a Glycine GMT,as a loadmaster, instead of getting the Rolex... I'll never forgive myself. Then, again, just a little difference in price between the two. 😆
To avoid crossthreading a screw down crown, before turning the crown clockwise to tighten it, turn it slightly counterclockwise. This will help to properly seat the crown in the threading before screwing it in. Also, if you do mess up the threading, the fix, replacing the crown tube, generally is a relatively easy fix for a watchmaker and usually not expensive (certainly compared to the cost of the watch), so don't put it off.
@5:17 i use a hair dryer to warm up the loctite on the bracelet screws. I just lay the hair dryer down on its side and point it at the spot on the bracelet with the screws. About 6 to 10 inches away from the hair dryer. When the bracelet is warm, not scalding hot, just warm, the loctite will loosen up easily.
Fantastic review of basic do’s and don’t s. This should be a primer for all watch collectors, newbies through old hats.
Less links at 6, 100% correct
Fewer, babe, not less.
@@Voltanaut s-knob, babe
6:50 Got it Teddy. I’ll let my wife know I can’t hold her hand anymore 😂
this never occurred to me. dont dance with a woman with a diamond ring
Idc if it has 10,000 meter water resistance… I am not going swimming with my watches 😂
As to watertightness, keep in mind that a watch's WR rating is determined when it is in pristine condition. Tiny particles of grit and temperature fluctuations encountered in normal use can impair the integrity of the gaskets. If your watch regularly is immersed in water, its water resistance routinely should be checked, which can be done quickly by a watchmaker for a nominal charge.
I literally just Sunday took my Explorer I back to the AD and switched it to 4 links on the 6-side and 6 links on the 12-side. I wondered how popular this was or if I was doing something weird. Feels WAAAAAY better though, I absolutely love the way it wears now, so this is an extremely timely video for me. Thanks! Great advice.
Having the 6 o'clock side of the bracelet shorter is a game changer.
Especially for Seiko Prospex bracelets. Many complain about the divers extension being uncomfortable. That is because it doesn't lay flat with the rest of the bracelet, it starts to curve around the wrist. Get it in the right position and the Seiko brackets are very comfortable.
Yeah bro, that’s what I used to know. What difference does it make if its 6pm and not 6am?
Great advise! I always tell people to change the date with “hands down”. Easy way to remember it!
Watching you wind it on your wrist hurt me
What's wrong with winding/setting a watch while it's on the wrist?
You should avoid it because it puts stress on the winding stem.
@@cagataycakmak2280 Oh I see. I assume the stress is because pushing/pulling while wearing will practically never happen in the appropriate direction, but will always end up happening at an angle, even a small one?
@@christoskouziosyeah but if you are aware of it you can pull wind push without problems forever
@@christoskouziosbreak the stem 👍
Great video Teddy as always. As a 19cm wrist-er, I can attest to your clasp position observation. I just wanted to add that I came to find out that the larger the wrist is, the harder it gets to have the clasp centered. Thank you for sharing.
Always putting the watch hands at 6 seems like the best thing to do when adjusting dates. Doesnt matter if it is am or pm, it wouldnt fall into the date change window. Although...my Frederique Constant manual says i need to place my watch at 10.10AM first..
Totally agree with the clasp being off centered. Discomfort and visually displeasing.
Great video, as always. The clasp issue is something I totally relate to. Thank you Teddy
This is a FANTASTIC video! Every new watch enthusiast should see this!!!
I’ve only made two mistakes on the list thanks to listening to other collectors/enthusiasts which is the clasp not being centered. It doesn’t really bother me but at least now I know why they pull the links from the 6 position. I’ve definitely overwound a watch before but I’ve just been lucky that they are automatic and have that fail safe. Haven’t bought a mechanical watch yet because the stigma and I don’t think I would wear the watch as much as automatic. I’m so happy to hear Doxa is available on your site. I’ve wanted one for a while because of if I get a dive watch I want it to have that history. Too bad I can’t find a place to try one on around here.
Normally people wear 1-2 watches but aliens like us have tens of mechanical watches. So it’s impossible to keep all springs alive. Thus, we have to adjust date & time much more frequently than ordinary people. As a conclusion I suggest to spend your money for one top model that your budget allows and try to change straps to have different styles. This will ensure that top item in your collection will be always live and you don’t care to damage other models that much. Congrats Teddy it’s really difficult to keep sincerity on social media 👏👏👏 We feel that you are among us rgds
Interesting video.
Regarding point one, just by trial and error I arrived at the same conclusion... I removed more links from the "6" end which really makes the bracelet lay nicely on my elliptical wrist. In the beginning, I used symmetry in my link removal, but the folding hinge jutted out under the bracelet. Your suggestion rang true for me based on my experience.
The clasp in the middle is not always the best option imo. In the case of butterfly clasps: yes. But in many other cases, such as Seiko, the folding parts of the clasp are sticking out on one side of the closing mechanism. So if you get the closing mechanism visually in the middle of the bracelet, the clasp itself is probably not. All of this kind of clasps that I have are therefor one link shorter towards the 6 o'clock side of the watch.
Sapphire Crystals - if you do any welding, take your watch off. Weld spatter will melt / fuse to a sapphire crystal. First hand experience here.
Screw down crowns - Add a small amount of silicone gel (nothing petroleum based) to the threads. This will lubricate the threads and the gasket and improve the sealing of the crown.
What's interesting is that many vintage watches had date complications, but nobody ever mentioned when not to change the date back in the day. I started wearing a mechanical watch as a little kid in first grade. My father was very mechanically inclined, but he wasn't aware of this issue, so he never mentioned it to me. I didn't learn this until relatively recently.
The final words come to sumarize the whole idea: we love what we do. It takes way to much honesty and knowledge to come with this content. For a true watch collector this might be your best video so far Teddy. Thanks
Clasp position! I often send a watch back at resize and end up with 2 extra links on one side as well. For Seikos, 2 links extra from the 12 o'clock side (opposite other watches)
As some brand new toying with how deep into my collection I found your advice extremely practical and experienced. Thank you
Bracelet adjustment: it has to be OCD proof for me, therefore I'm always doing it myself! No scratches, centered clasp. I didn't mind to buy all the necessary gadgets, it worth every penny.
Thank you for the advice on asymmetric link adjustment for a bracelet watch. I moved a link on one of my watches from one side of the clasp to the other and now the watch fits better.
You are right about screw down crowns. You will never cross-thread or over-tighten a Panerai! And you won't forget to screw-down the crown on a Panerai before going into the water.
Magnets and watches. How does GS Spring Drive do it? Doesn't the regulation of the movement apply "brakes" to control the rate of the movement which is magnetic? That doesn't magnetize the movement being well within the movement?
Hey Teddy, I absolutely love your watch reviews-you’re always showcasing some incredible timepieces! I have a suggestion that I think could add something special to your videos. How about including a short segment, maybe thirty seconds to a minute, where we can just listen to the mechanical sounds of the watches? Hearing the crown winding, the ticking of the movement, and the click of the pushers would be such a satisfying ASMR experience. I think it would really enhance the enjoyment of your reviews!
First point is very important!!! You are the first i see that speaks about it. After month i realised this. Very good point thx
Correct, I've not heard this from anyone. And it also took me a month to figure this out haha
Congrats on 1 million teddy🎉🎉
Your channel has been very useful and entertaining for my watch collecting journey. I have a wrist size identical to yours and I always check your wrist shots on watches I'm interested in.
Very good point regarding clasp position. I discovered it years ago and it makes a big difference.
I know Teddy is a CRAZY watch collector like me and many, when he brought up the clasp position. Thank you Teddy.
Why does it seem like there is a limited selection of women's watches? Most of the watches women showcase on RUclips are just Cartier and Rolex, as if these are the only brands in the market. Also, their prices are absolutely insane. I would appreciate a video about women's watches under $1000.
1:17 I’ve always had my bracelets sized to get the clasps centered on the underside of my wrist even though the number of links are not equally distributed.
Most people try for symmetry at the cost of comfort and that’s a big no.
This might be obvious but, DO NOT lose your extra links!! Your wrist WILL change and you will need those extra links. I have a couple of watches that I can’t wear anymore because my wrist has grown and I made this mistake.
I simply love those videos just talking about watches in general! Keep the good work up!
that 6 o'clock bracelet adjustment is crazy, it worked for me so i went through all watches and yes a night and day difference. thanks Teddy
This is such an educational video especially for someone who is just getting into the world of mechanical or automatic watches.
May I also add that exposure to extreme temperatures (may thicken or thinness lubricants) can lead to malfunctions. Ignoring power reserves as prolonged periods without being wound, a watch’s oil may thicken unevenly. Last, storing in non-ideal conditions. Humid or dusty environments can lead to moisture ingress of debris inside the case.
As always, love your contents and your shop, Teddy! Cheers! 👌🏼
I could not agree more about clasp alignment!! I thought I was being petty, but couldn’t help it, it bothers me more than most anything else!!
The first reason I just figured out recently when sizing out my own watches with an watch sizing kit. I wore my tissot PRX 35mm with the clasp not centered and went back to move a link from the 6 o’clock side to the opposite and the clasp centered, making the wearing experience much better. Transferred this knowledge to whenever I’m adjusting my other watches
I'm not many people working around MRI equipment would have a watch on. But, we ALL must be careful not to sit too close to a salesman of giant horseshoe magnets on a plane, cocktail party, etc. 😅
Bingo! My bracelet "offset" is also most often two links shorter on the 6 side for my 7 5" wrist. On a strap, I may swap the buckle end from 12 (as commonly sold) to 6 to get that same balance, a standard form on some Seikos. It can make a huge difference in seeing the full dial with an easy wrist roll.
My tip: put links in a bag with a note of the make/model and never be lazy with this. Once a collection hits a certain size, managing the pieces requires some care and organization. I've misplaced some parts over the years. I started with bags and a sharpie but switched to notes in the bag as the ink rubbed off. Stupid problem but still a problem.
teddy just canonized and popularized a low-key clasp alignment trick with specifically mentioning the bottom lug for sizing.
Note to Teddy’s editor: make sure you don’t have VBR1 turned on when rendering. Constant bitrate or VBR2 will keep the footage from getting pixelated on scene changes for a second.
Keep up the good work 🫡
It took me until about my 3rd or 4th watch until I made the realization that less links at the 6 o’clock side causes for a better fit. Definitely top tier advice
Good information! The lampshade over your left shoulder needs adjusting. Like the casual vibe of the slightly wrinkled shirt!
Since Teddy said it in past videos, I'm always watching at what time I change the day/date on my watches if I need to.
The screwdown crown thing, I remember learning about screwing in screws, you have to go counter-clockwise first, once you feel a tactile bump, then you can go clockwise and screw-in. Doing this makes the screw follow the threading straight down, unlike with traditional screw in, that you'll have to feel it go in, and if some of the sides bite before the others do, this may definitely cause the threads to wear.
Good tips. My dumb wrists are so thin (6.25") that there are no more links able to be removed from the six o'clock side, and it remains longer than the 12 o'clock side. I suspect this is contributing to the not quite ideal fit of my new Longines. :\
As a person that works frequently around MRI's I NEVER bring my watches near those things... nothing stands a machine that produces 100,000x' times the magnetic force of earth... moreover, if you accidentaly bring your keys you can feel them levitate... those machines are not to be trifled with.
I absolutely agree on point 1 but it is hard to escape the OCD feeling that the clasp should be centered on the band rather than the underside of the wrist 🤔
Teddy is becoming bigger and bigger. I can only hope for him to one day make a watch. His very own watch. The TB 0X, 0 for being the first ever watch and the X allowing for him to go on making more. Yup, I bet it could make for a great watch.
These can sound so simple, but I’m a bench jeweler, watch retailer, and independent jewelry store owner, and just last week I noticed that the crown on my Tudor north flag was somehow half or more unscrewed.
I tell customers to keep an eye on theirs all the time, and didn’t keep mine screwed down
Great video, and amazing news for Doxa! Congratulations on getting so many great brands in your store 🎉
I found it fitting that the Seiko Alpinist was used for your thumbnail as, for me, that was probably my biggest mistake I made. Just never clicked for me and it was like +30s/day, too tall and small diameter and the compass feature was really not useful
The clasp position after sizing is an issue for me too. I want it centered too. Anti-magnetism 1,000 gauss and above is must for my daily work watch wear, due to my working on electronics
Will have to keep my bag of diamonds away from my watch! Thanks for the tip.
Thank you so much for posting this video! Excellent in every sense, as usual. One thing though: Omega starting from 300m to 600m and more, have the technology to use the pushers of the chronograph underwater. I have tried and it works just fine. The only thing is that they don't tell you until what depth you can do that. So if it is at snorkeling depth is ok but no-one can tell you if you go deeper until which depth you can do that. And with the new parachrome, cerachrome and so on materials for the hairspring watches are nowadays much less subject to malfunction when exposed to a magnetic field, but all in all I agree with you 100% why take a chance?
Bravo! Please keep informing us on these beautiful details
My brand new Sinn 556i arrived with the hands near midnight and the date in mid-change. I had no idea how tight Sinn makes their crowns, so when I thought I pulled it completely out, it was actually in the date position. And when I saw the date advance instead of the hands, I screamed like a child.
Pro Tip: Don't wear a wrist watch anywhere near an MRI. If your watch has iron in it (which is the primary ingredient in steel) the magnet will grab it from across the room: even if it is attached to your wrist.
Titanium cases might not be ferrous, but the works inside your watch may well be, so you aren't exempt either. :)
Most MRI machines are either a 1.5T or 3T. The T represents the amount of magnetism (Tesla). 1.5T is 15,000 gauss. 3T is 30k. So, while Omega may have a 15k gauss rating, a 3T won't have any trouble screwing up your watch.
Magnetism! I have Seikos, Tudors, Omegas in my collection and it was never an issue, so I happened to take less care about it and then my Reverso got, in fact, magnetised by an induction oven.. can be easily fixed but it's annoying indeed
Just curious, do magnets impact a spring drive movement?
LoL at clasp position! It triggers my OCD so I’m very careful to center it when I add or remove links.
Another quick piece of advice that I don't hear much it minding the conditions your watch is stored in when it's not being worn. I was at a friends cottage and was asked to help with some yard work so I took my nice dive watch off because I was worried about scratching it - I left it safely in my car in the centre console. It was a hot summer day. It failed to occur to me that the interior of my car was hot as an oven. The sealing gaskets in my watch literally melted and lost all effectiveness. I had no way to recognize this and didn't know that my watch had lost it's water rating.
How did you find out?
I doubt this
If you have to leave things in a car, keep them in a shades case inside the glovebox. It takes much longer for the heat to reach the level of the interior. Most of the times you should be back. If going for extended periods of time whilst the car is under the sun, nothing can help
@@MarketingGuy My watch failed me after the weekend, it just stopped, and when I took it in to have it looked at the guy said all the gaskets were melted. The only time it would've been hot enough to melt was that afternoon inside my car. Edit, yes I had been in the water with it, after the yard work was done we went for a dip
@@ekimandersom4478 Ok no problem go ahead and let your watch bake, it'll be fine
When studying a watch, simply ensure you can get the clasp as close to the center of your wrist, and yes with most watches this will mean a link or two less on the six side.
I recently got that alpinist, and it is amazing! Love the dial. Shame the bracelet has not got any more micro adjustments
I’ve used a variety of automatic watches around my laptop, ipad, and iphone, so far without incurring problems due to magnets, with watches that don’t have exceptional protection against magnetism. Is the drive for greater magnetic protection perhaps a bit overdone?
Sapphire is high on the hardness scale, being at level 9 where diamonds are level 10; but it’s not high enough to completely avoid scratches and drop/impact related damage. Especially when the thickness of what is used on watches is so thin there is not enough rigidity to the material.
pin and collar jeez learnt this one the hard way haha
13:13 Absolutely a best practice. Then I advance the hands to 6am ish before quick-setting the date. Sometimes storing watches with dual language day wheels, I’ll advance and leave it to display a non-native language day so I know that’s AM and in the middle of day change for when I pick it up next.
Teddy, you are sooooo correct on centering the clasp on the back of your wrist. To this day, I still prefer a leather or silicone buckle strap because in my early days, I mis-fit the bracelet. A very informative basic vlog of truisms.
Really good, down and dirty look at the silly things we do as collectors, or as brand new to the hobby. Thanks Teddy!
Saphire can be scratched but you only see it in the glare… superior indeed
100% on the clasp alignment! When I first got my santos, clasp was digging in and didn’t realise the mistake. Corrected the alignment,….. 🎉🎉🎉
Its always a good day when Teddy posts 🎉
Yes I have made few of these mistakes myself. I have stripped the threads on my Omega SeaMaster.
Thanks Teddy. Best watch channel on RUclips hands down!
Yeah, the date one is the stealth one that can catch me out. Use the technique you reference now, start the day before then become sure
Best advice about the less links on the 6 side. Can’t believe how many people who’s been wearing watches for years haven’t figured this out. 😂
Great advice Teddy, bracelet clasp position was my failure! Your prices are really keen, just a pity that those of us in the UK miss out on so much of your retail collection!
Great video Teddy! All valid points! Thanks for your time and insights.👍
Congrats on the Doxa partnership!
Congrats on the Doxa agency
After watching this video it hit me - my watches (all 3 of them 😂) are perfectly adjusted for clasp position in this way. I tried them on to check 😂
I never even thought about it, but it seems the watch adjusters I’ve been to just seem to know this instinctively. Like breathing.
Something to avoid which I have learned the hard way with my Grang Seiko: don’t wear cuff links with watches that are likely to go under the sleeve! The bezel will get seriously scratched in the 12 o’clock area!
Great tip! I wonder if there's a way to discreetly apply some tape or something to the inside of the cufflink to mitigate this? You've motivated me to experiment a bit
@@TheIronDuke9 I have cuff links that have a rubberized sleeve underneath, always wondered why as they are not really poking into my hand... Never thought it might be to protect the watch underneath...
Something I learned is don’t go rock climbing with your watch. You will also scratch the hell out of the bezel and the crystal if you’re unlucky.
Wow this actually amazing advice!
Serious question, why use cufflinks when there are buttons. Asking because I don't know why these things cost a lot
I smacked the sapphire on my Hamilton Khaki Pilot Pioneer into the strike plate for a bathroom door and put a lovely scratch in the AR coating from about 6:05 to 1:30. It’s only visible from the angle at which my wrists sit when I am typing. That’s about 75% of my day to day. Since I used the watch as a navigation tool on my first checkride I won’t ever get rid of it, but it drives me insane so I almost only wear it when I fly.