Ask the Watch Guy: Responding to Readers

Welcome to another edition of “Ask the Watch Guy.” In this particular column, I will respond to your questions and comments regarding past articles.

Hi Jess,
I enjoyed your article in National Jeweler about proper care of kinetic and solar watches.

I was curious of two things: One, if you charge (money) to recharge a capacitor and two, if you have a suggested amount of time that someone does not keep the watch stored away to prevent this problem.

Thanks!
Allison Leitzel Williams – G.G. A.J.P (GIA)

Thanks for your question.

As to what to charge, that depends on what your service model is (more on this in a future article). For some, the fact that the customer came to you and that you get to use this situation to cement your position as the local authority in the community is enough. I have gotten great feedback from customers online for giving them an education about their watch--education that should have been done at the point of sale. Most people who own these watches know nothing about how the watch works. If you are a mid- to upper-level retailer, I would look at it as a public service that has many benefits and charge nothing.

However, if you are a discount jeweler or you make the majority of retail sales from repairs-- for example, if you do 50 or more batteries per week--you could offer everything the upper level jewelers do and charge a nominal fee of, say, $25 for recharging.

Now, to answer the second part of your question: It depends on how old the capacitor is. Older watches with an old capacitor will need light on a daily basis, but with a newer watch getting a good charge once a week will suffice. The storage capacitor is like any other rechargeable battery; if the storage cap is not fully charged on a very regular basis, the capacitor will develop memory and the cap will not be able to take a full charge. So, in the case of solar or Eco-Drive-type watches, my advice is to give a full charge in bright light once a week.  

When it comes to kinetic-type watches, the same advice applies. If the customer does not wear the watch enough to keep it charged, they should consider using a watch winder.

Hi, it's Sam at Berman's Jewelers in Ellicott City, MD. On your advice to reflash (reset