COLLECTIBLE CHARACTER WATCHES  MAKE FABULOUS GIFTS

Character watches are one of the most popular watch themes ever invented. I often use these entertaining and colorful watches as gift ideas and they're usually the one most treasured and talked about by the recipient. People love these watches! They're not only unique, memorable, and great conversation pieces, they're practical and useful as well. You won't find these hidden at the back of a closet! Consider these the next time you're stumped for a gift idea. 

If you're looking for a gift for someone who loves Harry Potter, for example, there are some beautiful and unique watch models available for both men and women that would fit the bill. These are not just oversized kids watches, they're beautifully constructed elegant timepieces that anyone would love to wear. There are many stunning watches designed for men and women, as well as a host of children's models.  

     

The most popular and enduring character watches, of course, are the Disney collectible watches. These range from the original and whimsical (Mickey Mouse with his arms turning to point to the time for you) to the outright stunning (Seiko kinetic watches that never need winding, with award-winning designs and features) and everything in between.

How about a stunning limited edition watch depicting Walt Disney himself with Mickey, encased in a beautiful wooden keepsake box? Or a stunningly elegant black and white designer style watch featuring Cruella de Vil on the dial? Goofy fans get a kick out of the backwards moving watches that will have you learning time all over again. If you have a special fireman in mind, check out our rare Disney cast watches with matching pins with Mickey dressed in full firefighting regalia! Nurses adore our Minnie Mouse nurse cast watches with matching limited edition pins. Collectors love the retired Disney watch sets featuring classic, beautiful timepieces set inside music boxes, on stands with matching figures, or ensconsed in a ceramic book-like collectible box paired with a rare limited edition pin.

Know a Looney Tunes fan? Surprise them with a musical Foghorn Leghorn musical watch, with hands shaped like a knife and fork and a dial depicting Foghorn being chased around the farm by little Henery Hawk! Bugs Bunny and Daffy in black tie and tux sing together on a classic collectible Looney Tunes Mel Blanc "voice watch". Marvin the Martian adorns a number of highly collectible and fast-selling rare watch models, while Tweety peeks out from a heart-shaped pendant musical watch looking for the determined but dim-witted Sylvester. Another great collectible character watch is the original denim Snoopy tennis watch, featuring everyone's favorite Beagle  playing tennis on a dial that features a rotating tennis ball while Snoopy "swings" away with the tennis racket in his hand (er, paw).

Political watches are also great gifts that are also great conversation pieces. From vintage classics such as the original Spiro Agnew watches to the latest political satire timepieces, these are usually manufactured in limited quantities which make them more valuable. Many political watches are fabulous oversized models that really stand out when worn. The political commentary displayed on many of these make them interesting, and also portray windows of American history. From the "Uncle Sam" Ervin watch with the Constitution sticking out of his back pocket; to Lester Maddox with a baseball bat in one hand and a chicken wing in the other; to rarities featuring both George Herbert Walker and George Walker Bush; and the numerous "I'm not a crook!" Nixon collectors pieces, these are timepiece treasures that become more valuable through the years.

Advertising watches are also great pieces that can grow in value and register high on the fun factor. Have a friend who consumes Coca Cola by the gallon? Surprise them with a collectible Coke wristwatch or pocketwatch. For your pal who rides a Harley, (or at least drools over them), a stunning Harley Davidson mint limited edition pocketwatch is a gift they will never forget. Charlie the Tuna (Sorry Charlie!), Heinz Ketchup, Tropicana Orange Juice, and Morris the Cat are other classics found on these rare watches.

   

Character watches are particularly enjoyed by children. Receiving an analog watch after learning how to tell time is a thrill for the a child, who can now tell "grown-up" time and not having to rely on a digital watch. Vintage watches bring back nostalgia for those in their golden years, and beloved characters are enjoyed on a watch dial by anyone at any age. They bring a splash of color and animation compared to ordinary watches, and are great conversation pieces. Enjoy searching for the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones (including yourself!).

 Check out our character watches at eBay! Click here:  Bayvendor Character Watches

 

BASIC WATCH CARE: PROLONGING THE LIFE OF YOUR WATCH

 

You just bought a new watch. Maybe you had to buy one because your old watch was scratched, dingy, or maybe leaked a little water into the case, and you're annoyed because you thought the watch would last longer than it did. Many people do not take the small amount of time required for basic watch care, which can increase the wearing time of your watch and allows you to get more benefit from the money you paid for it. Here's some things you can do to make your new watch last longer.

First of all if your watch has a quickset feature, do NOT use it for setting the time between the hours of 8:00 pm and 4:00 am. This can severely damage your timepiece.

Always remove your watch to wind it or set the time. Pulling up on the crown while it's on your wrist to adjust it will damage and loosen the crown over time.

Consider activities you plan to undergo and choose your watch accordingly. For example, if you plan to play golf or tennis do not wear an automatic or manual wind timepiece as the impact of these activities can jar the movement. If you are bathing, taking a shower, or washing dishes, it's always a good idea to remove your watch. The hot water and soap can permeat the gasket and weaken it, causing water to enter the watchcase. Always rinse your watch off after swimming to remove chlorine and salt water. And remember never wear a watch with a leather band in water, whether swimming, bathing, washing dishes, or any other water activity. Very few leather bands can stand up to moisture.

Here are some basic guidelines to what you can do with watches of various water resistance:

• Water resistant to 30 meters or simply labeled "water resistant"- Can withstand splashing.

• Water resistant to 50 meters- Okay for light swimming but not prolonger immersion

• Water resistant to 100 meters- Good for all types of swimming

• Water resistant to 200 meters- Safe for diving

• Water resistant greater than 200 meters- Suitable for deep diving

Don't expose your watch to excessive heat, such as saunas or leaving it out in strong sunlight. This can dry up lubricants and cause premature aging of dials and cause dial lacquers to lift or bubble.

At the end of the day when removing your watch, take a moment to clean smudges and fingerprints from the case, crystal (the watch glass), and metallic watchbands. Leather bands can be cleaned periodically with a leather cleaner and conditioner. Metal bands can be removed and cleaned in a jewelry cleaning machine along with other jewelry (grit and particles can act like sandpaper in a metal band, causing premature wear). Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are great for cleaning watch bands, and most have a wristwatch adapter that allows you to clean watch bands safely. If your watch is water resistant to 50 meters, you can use a little bit of soap and water with a soft brush to clean your watch. For WR levels less than 50, use a bit of mild jewelry cleaner on a barely damp small brush. Work gently but purposefully to remove dust and skin particles, particularly from those areas hard to get at (the back of the watch, between the bracelet links, under the clasp, etc). Once the watch is clean, dry it all off with a soft cloth. 

 

Special jewelry cloths are great for watches. One side is impregnated with a red jeweler's rouge for removing tarnish and polishing, while the other side is used for final polishing for a great shine. 

Store your watch in a soft cloth away from other jewelry, watches, and metal objects. Even if you are just removing your watch for the night, this will keep dust away from your watch and will lessen the accumulation of scratches and wear from banging into or rubbing up against other pieces of jewelry. Even better, purchase a watch case if you have a number of wristwatches. These have separate compartments for each watch in a soft environment, and will keep dust and other contaminants from the air away.

After time, scratches and wear on your watch glass, band and case may be significant and can be refinished to appear as new. This can be done at most jewelry serving centers.

If you have a large number of watches, you might want to invest in an inexpensive watch repair/battery change kit for watches with a snap back case, and purchase watch batteries at great prices on eBay. This can save you money in the long run as opposed to bringing each watch to a jeweler whenever the battery runs down. (We recommend using a jeweler to change batteries on other watch case backs, such as screw down casebacks). These sets include items necessary for changing your watch battery and adjusting your watch band, such as:

• Magnifying glass

• Set of tweezers (plastic and metal)

• Pair of screwdrivers (Phillips and slotted)

• Watch case opening knife

• Double prong watch case opener

• Watch strap remover

These sets range from basic to deluxe, and while the actual items included in each one may vary the items listed here should be the basic elements in each one.

Servicing of the movement of your watch should always be done through an authorized retailer or service center of the manufacturer. When changing the battery on your timepiece, make sure the gasket is checked for integrity.

If your watch is running smoothly, you should still have it serviced periodically. If you are an office worker with a WR50 timepiece, you probably need less servicing than someone with diver's watch who professionally dives for a living. If your watch undergoes a lot of stress during wearing, it's recommended to check water resistance yearly and have it fully serviced every two years. In the case of a lightly worn watch, you can check water resistance every two years with a full service every five years.