Even though many people carry around many types of electronic devices that display time, watches still adorn many wrists. There are some things you can do at home to prevent an expensive trip to the jeweler for watch repairs. Here is a list of the most common reasons people take their watches to the jeweler. 

1. The watch has stopped, now what? Check the battery! Watch batteries are reasonably inexpensive and they are simple to replace. This is the number one reason watches are taken to the jeweler for watch repairs. If you are buying a new watch battery, bring the old one with you to match the numbers. Also, it may seem like common sense but the way you take the battery out is the way the new one needs to go in. If the numbers were facing down originally, the new battery should be facing down. 

2. Oops dropped the watch, now what? If you have broke or severely damaged the crystal, if you have a spring wound watch (not a quartz wound watch), it is possible for you to repair it. If you feel uncomfortable removing the inner workings then you should take it to a jeweler. 

3. Snap, there goes the watch band, now what? Facing losing your watch over a missing watch band is not necessary. Especially when it is one of the most simple watch repairs you can do. Anyone can repair a broken watch band. Many times it is as simple as removing a pin or a screw and replacing that screw or pin into the new watch band. 

4. Icky watch band, now what? This is not technically a repair but it is something people pay jewelers to do that they could easily do themselves. In this economy, who can afford to pay something that can be done at home? A few drops of ammonia or even regular glass cleaner in a shallow bowl can take care of any tarnish or sweat build up on a metal watch band. Just dip the band alone into the solution for a maximum of two minutes then dip only the band in a bowl of clean, clear water. Make sure you only dip the band and not any part of the actual watch. For cleaning around the watch you can use the same solution to lightly dampen a cotton swab, make sure that it is only lightly dampened. 

While some watch repairs still warrant a trip to the jeweler, there are several ways to save money by making simple repairs at home. To learn these simple ways of repairing a watch can mean more money in your pocket, and getting to keep your favorite watch.