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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Care for an Audemars Piguet at home by following your model’s owner’s manual: wind mechanical watches at least once a month, clean the case and metal bracelet with warm water and a soft cloth, and keep the watch out of water unless its model and condition allow it. For diagnosis and service, use an AP boutique or an AP-trained service center. Audemars Piguet (AP) recommends an annual check of chronometric performance, functions, water resistance, and magnetisation. That check is a separate thing from a complete maintenance service, and the rest of this guide explains where the line falls.
Start with the annual check-up, not a full overhaul
AP’s care guidance asks owners to have their watch checked every year for chronometric performance, functions, the state of water resistance, and magnetisation. In AP boutiques this check-up is complimentary. AP is explicit that it is not warranted, so treat it as an inspection rather than a guarantee of anything that might fail later.
The annual check does not replace a complete maintenance service. AP’s official care page does not prescribe one universal complete-service interval for all current watches. Whether a particular watch needs a full service depends on what the check finds, how the watch has been worn and stored, and what the model manual specifies. If the watch stops, runs noticeably off, or shows water in the case, book an inspection rather than waiting for the next annual slot. The official source for the check-up recommendation is AP’s care tips page.
Daily care: winding, setting, and fit
Winding a mechanical watch
AP’s guidance is that a mechanical watch should be wound at least once a month. The method depends on the movement:
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- Hand-wound (manual) watches: turn the crown in the winding direction until you feel resistance, then stop. Do not force it past that point.
- Self-winding (automatic) watches: AP recommends at least 30 turns of the crown to wind the movement.
Wind a watch gently and consistently. Forcing the crown is the quickest way to damage the winding train, and that kind of damage is a service matter, not a care matter.
Setting the time and date
AP advises against adjusting the time or correcting the day, date, month, or lunar phase in the afternoon or evening. The company does not give a single rule for every calendar mechanism, so use the instructions in the manual for your specific reference. If a setting does not move smoothly, stop and seek advice rather than forcing it.
Fit, wear, and everyday hazards
- Proper fit: AP recommends a correct fit to improve the efficiency of the winding system and to reduce premature wear on the links of a bracelet.
- Other watches and jewelry: avoid wearing another watch or jewelry on the same wrist, since they can scratch the case or bracelet.
- Magnetic fields: AP says everyday magnetic fields can interfere with movement performance. A simple demagnetisation can be carried out in AP boutiques if the annual check or a timing change points to magnetisation.
Cleaning
AP recommends cleaning the watch and its metal bracelet regularly with warm water, rinsing with fresh water, and drying with a soft cloth. The general care guidance does not name a detergent or a branded cleaning product, and it does not describe chemical cleaners. If you are unsure whether a cleaning product is safe, skip it and use plain warm water.
Cleaning is for the outside of the watch. Do not clean the movement or open the case, and do not use water on a watch that is not water resistant. AP’s warning about water covers leather straps as well, which are discussed below.
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Water exposure and water resistance
Before you get wet
Before any immersion, confirm that the crown and the push-pieces are fully screwed down. AP says not to operate the push-pieces or crown underwater, except on Diver models. Read the model manual first, because water resistance differs across the collection and the manual states what each reference can handle.
Salt water, chlorine, and straps
After swimming in salt water, rinse the watch with fresh water. AP’s guidance separates leather straps from rubber straps and metal bracelets: leather should be kept out of water entirely. AP’s regional terms for Macao also address salt and chlorine exposure and the water-resistance clause in more detail; they are contractual material for that region, not a replacement for the model manual. The text is available in the Macao terms and conditions (English, 2021).
If water resistance may be compromised
- Do not immerse the watch again.
- Do not operate the crown or push-pieces if they are wet or stiff.
- Dry the exterior with a soft cloth.
- Book a water-resistance check with an AP boutique or authorized service center as soon as possible.
Compromised seals can allow moisture into the movement, which causes corrosion that a surface clean will not remove.
Substances that damage seals
AP names acid, perfume, and carbonated beverages as examples of substances that can damage water-resistant seals. If any of these reach the watch, rinse it with fresh water promptly. Perfume is the most common everyday exposure, so apply it before putting the watch on.
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Service options compared
AP’s service categories differ in scope, warranty, and who performs them. The table below lists the values stated in AP’s customer-service page and the Restoration Workshop page.
| Service | What AP says it covers | Warranty stated by AP | Where to go |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual check-up | Chronometric performance, functions, water resistance, magnetisation | Not warranted (AP states this explicitly) | AP boutiques, complimentary |
| Water-resistance service | Case disassembly and cleaning, movement checking, replacement of damaged components; quartz watches also receive a battery replacement | Limited to replaced components | AP service center |
| Complete maintenance | Ten-step process for a watch that no longer functions correctly, from diagnosis through final quality control | Labor and parts covered for two years, subject to AP’s terms | AP service center or AP-trained watchmaker |
| Polishing or refinishing | Case and bracelet polishing, offered with complete maintenance | Not stated separately | Requested during complete maintenance |
| Strap and buckle service | Strap changes and fitting, which AP says require specialized skills | Not stated | AP boutiques (fitting is complimentary) |
| Restoration Workshop | Watches created before 1950 and watches whose replacement parts are unavailable | Not stated | AP Restoration Workshop |
The service page is the authoritative source for these categories: AP customer service.
What complete maintenance involves
AP describes complete maintenance as a ten-step process for a watch that no longer functions correctly. The stages it names are:
- Diagnosis
- Movement work
- Cleaning
- Assembly and lubrication
- Timing adjustment
- Optional polishing of the case and bracelet
- Casing
- Final quality control
Ask the service center which of these stages it will perform, and request a written list of replaced parts. Parts replaced under the two-year warranty are covered only under AP’s terms, so keep the service paperwork.
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Polishing: optional and limited
Polishing can refresh a case and bracelet, but it is not routine maintenance and it is not risk-free. AP says polishing should be limited to a few occasions because it can alter the watch’s original shape. Its service page recommends no more than three to five aesthetic refreshings over a watch’s life cycle. AP also notes that polishing cannot prevent natural patina from developing, so a polished watch will not stay looking new.
AP’s wording on the subject is: “To preserve your watch’s aesthetics and original shape, you can request your case and bracelet to be polished when a complete maintenance service is needed.” Ask for polishing only when the watch is already in for complete maintenance, and consider whether the surface wear is part of the watch’s character before you decide.
Straps and buckles
AP says changing a strap requires specialized skills, and its boutiques offer strap fitting as a complimentary service. Some Royal Oak Offshore and Royal Oak Concept models have self-interchangeable straps, bracelets, buckles, or folding clasps. Compatibility depends on the model, and AP describes conversion kits for some legacy Royal Oak Offshore watches. Do not fit a generic strap or buckle without confirming it with AP, because the wrong part can strain the case or the lugs.
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AP’s Restoration Workshop handles watches created before 1950 and watches for which replacement parts are no longer available. The workshop says old watches are particularly sensitive and recommends a service every five years. This interval applies to old watches only. It is not a service schedule for current production models, which should follow the model manual and the annual check-up. If an older watch shows any malfunction, contact the workshop promptly rather than waiting for the next scheduled service. AP’s words on the subject are: “Old watches must be handled with the utmost care.” The Restoration Workshop information is at AP’s Restoration Workshop page.
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Finding an authorized provider
AP describes a global network of watchmakers and polishers who have been trained by AP and who must obtain periodic accreditation of their technical skills. Those watchmakers undertake to use genuine parts. Use AP’s current locator to find an authorized provider, and do not assume that an independent repairer is part of that network. Ask any repairer whether it is AP-authorized, and whether it will use genuine AP parts, before you hand over the watch. The network details are on AP’s after-sales services network page.
What service costs, and what the price list does not cover
AP publishes a price list, but its displayed prices are the rates charged at AP’s Geneva boutique, in Swiss francs and excluding taxes. The list applies to mechanical watches produced within the previous 25 years and to quartz watches produced within the previous 15 years. Prices for older watches are available on request. Independent authorized repairers and resellers set their own customer prices, so the list is not a universal quote. Check the current list at AP’s services price list, then request a written estimate for your specific watch.
AP does not state one worldwide price for servicing. The cost of a complete maintenance service depends on the model, the condition of the watch, and whether polishing or part replacement is needed.
Current warranty program: check your eligibility
AP’s Hi-Care Programme page describes two current terms. The International Sales Warranty can be extended from two to five years. A complimentary two-year AP Coverage Service is available for eligible AP watches initially acquired in 2024, 2025, or 2026 through AP’s official network, subject to activation and other eligibility requirements. Because this window is time-sensitive and tied to the date of first acquisition, confirm the watch’s status in your AP account or with AP before relying on the coverage. The program terms are on AP’s Hi-Care Programme page.
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When you contact AP, have the serial number, the purchase date, and the original purchase documents ready. Eligibility rules are set by AP and its terms, not by this guide.
Look after the watch, schedule the annual check, and keep the service record. A watch that has been cared for consistently is easier to service and to assess than one that has been opened or cleaned by unknown hands.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
