A bit like death and taxes, one of life’s other inevitabilities is that your watch will one day need to be serviced. If you’re not a door man, or you don’t have some other job that involves you behaving like a human battering ram, then chances are this will be a half-decade occurrence or, if you’re a quartz-only man, when the battery runs out – which can be anything from two years to 10.

For some, that’s a slap on the face (if not the wrist). Like cars and property, the expense associated with a wristwatch doesn’t end the moment you strap it on. The more expensive your watch, the more complicated it usually is. Which means there are more components to look after.

“Service intervals can vary by brand and model but in the main, manufactures recommend a service every three to five years to keep the timepiece in good condition,” explains Ian Haycock, head of technical services at Watches of Switzerland, which has over 40 individual brands in its display cases.

So, where should you take your prized possession when it needs a once over? What are the signs that something needs immediate attention and should you ever try some DIY watchmaking? FashionBeans is here to answer all those questions and more.

Quartz Watches

Some of the most affordable watches are powered by quartz and are relatively simple creations. When they stop working you can bet your bottom dollar it’s because of one thing: the battery. It will have either run out or it’s simply getting to the end of its life, and therefore it will need to be replaced.

Due to their simple make-up, this is an easy and cheap thing to fix – all you need to do is get the battery replaced, so head to your nearest jeweller and the problem is solved for around £20.

Another issue that can arise with quartz watches is when the buttons or pushers stop working properly. This is usually a wear and tear issue – dust and dirt can accumulate around the tiny spring that allows the pushers to do their job. It may not be as straightforward as that though, so if this is the case for your watch, a full service will be needed to ascertain whether that is indeed the problem – if it is, the springs will likely need replacing. Take your watch to a specialist service centre and ask them what they recommend.