General information

JS Watch co. Reykjavik tests every mechanical timepiece during and after assembly.  If it is cared for and serviced according to manufacturer recommendations it will have a long life. JS Watch co. Reykjavik recommends that the timepiece is brought in for servicing and testing every four to five years.  Service includes oil change, cleaning, tuning and testing of the water seal. If the timepiece is cared for and serviced at regular intervals it will please the eye and serve as an accurate timekeeper for years to come.

Guarantee 

JS Watch co. Reykjavik watches are designed and assembled in Iceland. Every watch is made with great care and precision by our highly qualified Watchmakers and is tested to JS Watch co. Reykjavik highest standards.  The timepiece is guaranteed for two years from the date of purchase against any defects in material and workmanship.  Guarantee will be void if the watch is opened by a person not approved by JS Watch co. Reykjavik and can not be held responsible for accidents and or improper handling.  After two years from purchase JS Watch co. Reykjavik will continue to provide trustworthy after sale service.   

Operating instructions

1. Calendar adjustment should not be performed between 20:00 and 02:00. During this time the automatic date change has started and the mechanism could be damaged. 

2. To set the date the crown is pulled out one click and then turned. 

3. To set the time the crown is pulled out two clicks and then turned.

4. It is important to push the crown fully in after setting time or date to seal the watch from water or humidity.

5. The use of water resistant wristwatches in swimming pools, hot tubs and sauna can be harmful due to temperature changes. Soap, salt and chloride can also damage the surface of watches and jewelry.

Is your watch running to slow or to fast?

If you experience your automatic JS watch occasionally stopping overnight or running slowly.  This does not necessarily indicate a malfunction or defect in the watch.  In most cases, the problem is related to the power reserve and may be the result of insufficient wrist action while wearing the watch.

For a self-winding watch to function properly, the mainspring must build up a sufficient power reserve. We recommend the watch to be wound first manually before it will run automatically.  Turn the winding crown in a clockwise direction for about 5 - 15 revolutions.  After completion the watch will wind itself automatically (rebuilding the power reserve) by means of an oscillation weight that shifts every time the watch’s position is changed by the action of the arm and wrist.

A self-winding watch should be worn at least eight hours a day to maximize the power reserve.  If this is not possible, or if the watch has been off the wrist for more than 20-30 hours, you might need to repeat the process. 

Mechanical watches are regulated by a simple hair spring that has a life of its own. The mood, temperature, position, and age of the hairspring affects the overall speed and reliability of your mechanical watch.  

If your wristwatch is gradually becoming slow over years of use, then the watch might not necessarily be out of regulation, but rather requires a cleaning, we recommend our watches to be serviced every 4 - 5 years. If your watch either gradually slows down, or all of a sudden slows down as a result of a drop or precipitating incident, get it serviced.

If your wristwatch all of a sudden speeds up, then most likely the balance spring became magnetized.  Powerful magnets found in stereo speakers, laptops/tablets and mobile phones have been found to magnetize balance springs causing the coils to stick together, effectively shortening the balance spring and speeding up the watch.  Most watchmakers have demagnetizers and is a simple 10 minute repair that does not require removing the case back.

What to Avoid

To keep your watch running at its best, avoid these harmful environmental factors:

1. Stay clear of strong magnetic fields. You could magnetize your watch inadvertently and cause erratic gear behavior. The watch may also stop entirely! 

2. If you can avoid it, do not wear your watch in extreme temperatures. Moving between excessive hot and cold temperatures can cause the parts to expand or contract, which may cause erratic rate behavior. Keeping your watch in extreme heat for too long can also cause your watch’s lubricant to congeal, causing friction on the gears.

3. Just because a watch is “scratch-resistant” does not mean it is “scratch-proof.” Avoid harmful objects that can scratch your watch, as well as dirt and chemicals that can cause damage slowly over time. .

4. Schedule Maintenance Regularly.

5. Like any car, mechanical watches need regular cleanings and oil changes to continue running effectively. We recommend between 4-5 years for regular mechanical watch maintenance.

6. Regular oil changes are necessary to prevent all of the parts from slowing and breaking. It is much easier to change the oil in a watch than repair or replace broken components.

Taking care of your leather watch strap:

If you wear your leather strap watch daily, the average life span for the leather is about 1 year. However, this can be reduced to only 6 months or less in severe circumstances i.e. heavy sports practicing or frequent sea bathing or frequent washing hands with your leather strap watch on your wrist, or can be extended to 18 months if you take extreme good care of your watch.

Excessive humid may also cause mildewing on leather. Excessive dryness, on the other hand, may cause cracking. This happens when the leather loses its natural lubricant. If you wear the same watch every day you will need a sweat resistant watch strap from a strong material such as buffalo, calf or metal strap. If you go in for sports, a sweat resistant watch strap is also necessary, you will select a rubber or nato strap. Other materials such as ostrich and alligator in a shiny finish, are very delicate. These kinds of leather straps need extra care.

Here a some of the general Leather Watch Strap Care Tips

1. Avoid using or placing sharp objects on leather watch strap. Leather may be durable, but not accident or damage proof.

2. Avoid your leather watch strap a minimum of two feet from radiators and other heat sources.

3. Protect your leather watch strap from direct and even indirect sunlight. Some leathers, such as full and semi-aniline, will fade over time.

4. Avoid air pollution such as cigar or cigarette smoke and cooking fumes, which can cause leather to fade or change color.

5.  Keep leather free from dust by dusting with a cloth.

6. Clean leather with leather cleaner, minimally, this needs to be done about four times a year. However, don’t rub it with the leather cleaner! Sponge gently until all grime and stains are absorbed.

7. Take off your watch when performing some menial work, and avoid potential corrosive stains.

8. Avoid washing hands with the leather strap watch on your wrist. Droplets of water may wear out your strap faster.

9.  Avoid taking it to a shower or go bathing with your watch (even with water resistant watch straps), especially in sea water, especially if you have a shark or alligator strap, as salted water will accelerate wear out of your strap.

10. If you need to rinse the leather strap, do it with cold, clear water; do not let it soak.

11. If your strap is wet, dry it carefully with a cloth and do not let it dry under the sun or next to heating.

12.  A tightly worn strap will always wear out faster. Always wear your strap loose.

13. If you have an alligator strap in a mat finish, you may, once in while, enhance its look by delicately applying a light dose of bee (or similar) wax.

Water Resistance Guide

A watch marked with 50 metres on the dial or case back doesn't mean it can be used diving to a depth of 50 metres. The rating refers to the static pressure it can withstand. The pressure arises when it is moved under water when swimming, the pressure on the watch varies, and can cause seals to fail, and water to enter the watch. 

For swimming and diving, there is a specific range of watches that are clearly marked as  200 - 1000M, which means they are rated for use underwater with additional durability and legibility criteria for use underwater in addition to the water resistance, these watches have a screw down crown. 

When using the watch in and around water, do not pull out the crown to change the time, and if the watch has a screw down crown and pushers, ensure these are firmly closed before submerging the watch. Please note, that exposure to water may affect the life span of a leather strap, as such this should be avoided.