If you’re lucky enough to receive a luxury watch this Christmas, the thrill of its gleaming metal, the steady sweep of its second hand, and the precise turns of the chronograph dials will keep you glancing admiringly at your wrist for days on end.

Unlike many consumer products, luxury watches are designed with longevity in mind. They’re robustly made with high-tech metals to take the day to day knocks, scrapes and bumps and still keep looking good. But of course a watch worn regularly is exposed to the elements and therefore requires some extra protection from abuse and damage.

Follow these common sense rules for the proper care, maintenance and storage of your watch and you can expect it to last for generations.

1) Protect from damage

Avoid exposing the watch to extreme temperatures for any length of time because heat shortens the life of the battery while very cold temperatures prevent the watch from keeping time effectively. Store your watch wrapped in a soft cloth or its box when it is not in use.

2) Care routine

Mechanical watches should be serviced every two or three years. Quartz watches should be serviced every three to four years. Wipe your watch clean at the end of each day to remove dust, dirt and perspiration. Even just a small piece of dust can prevent your watch from functioning properly.

3) Water Resistant & Non Water Resistant Watches

If your watch is not water resistant and it gets wet, be sure to dry it as soon as possible. And of course remove it if you think it might get wet. For a waterproof watch, wipe it to remove any chlorine or salt water that may have been left on the watch after swimming. Most water resistant watches are protected if exposed to small amounts of water for a short period of time, but even when a watch is water resistant, the resistance may not remain intact forever. Continuous exposure to water will eventually penetrate the watchcase and over time, gaskets or glass weakens and should be changed if necessary.

4) Automatic, Self-Winding or Manual Watch

When an automatic watch has not been worn for a while and stops working turn the crown clockwise a few times and set the necessary time by pulling the winding stem out one notch. For a self-winding watch, the watch should be slightly shaken as a way of getting it started. For a manual watch usually 30 gentle winds of the crown is sufficient. As you wind the watch, stop if you feel even the slightest bit of resistance. Get into the habit of winding the watch at the same time each day, preferably before wearing, this way you ensure its accuracy and power reserve.

5) Leather straps

Leather straps should not be exposed to water, as water weakens the strap and causes it to tear. Also when women wear perfume, it can weaken and damage a watch strap so apply perfume before you wear your watch and allow it to dry.

6) Read the manual

This may seem blatantly obvious, but so many people never give the manual so much as a second glance and then wonder why something has gone wrong. A luxury watch requires care and regular maintenance, which may include cleaning and lubrication of the movement. Read the manual that comes with your watch, as it offers recommendations for your particular luxury timepiece, unless you’re a real expert, don’t assume you know everything. Never open your timepiece, as it may expose the watchcase to moisture or dust, which can impact on the reliability of the watch. And don’t try to repair it yourself; take it to a reliable watch repair service.