BRACE Design Watch Manual - Your Everyday Companion

Welcome to the BRACE Design family. Your watch has been meticulously crafted to be a reliable and enduring companion for your daily journeys. This manual provides you with the essential information to understand and care for your timepiece.

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1. Getting Started:

• Time Setting:

  1. Pull the crown (the small knob on the side of the watch) out to the second click. The second hand will stop.

  2. Rotate the crown clockwise or counter-clockwise to set the desired hour and minute hands. (We recommend clockwise to ensure longevity of the crown)

  3. Push the crown back to the first click to set the date. Rotate the crown clockwise to advance the date.

  4. Once the correct date is set, push the crown all the way back to the zero (innermost) position. The second hand will begin running.

• Date Setting:

  1. Pull the crown out to the first click.

  2. Rotate the crown clockwise to advance the date.

  3. Push the crown back to the zero (innermost) position once the correct date is displayed.​

• Winding:​

  • If your watch is equipped with an automatic mechanical movement, while the crown is pushed all the way in, turn it clockwise and you will hear the ratcheting sound while you wind it.​

 

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2. Care & Maintenance:

• Cleaning: To clean your watch case and crystal, use a soft, dry cloth. For the leather strap, use a leather cleaner specifically designed for watch straps, following the cleaner's instructions. Avoid getting the leather strap excessively wet.​

• Water Resistance: It's important to avoid exposing it to extreme water pressure or prolonged submersion. Ensure the crown is fully pushed in at all times to maintain water resistance. A watch’s water resistance cannot be permanently guaranteed. It may be affected by the ageing of gaskets or by an accidental shock to one of the components assuring the water resistance such as crown, pushers and crystal.

• Shock Resistance: While designed to be shock-resistant, avoid subjecting your watch to severe impacts, as the sapphire crystal is not invincible.

• Battery Replacement: The Swiss quartz movement is powered by a battery. When the watch begins to lose time or the second hand starts skipping in longer intervals (End-of-Life indicator for some movements), the battery needs to be replaced.

• O-Ring Maintenance: The o-rings are crucial for maintaining water resistance. Over time, they may degrade. If you notice a decrease in water resistance, the o-rings should be inspected and replaced. Refer to Section 3 for basic access.

• Sapphire Crystal: While highly scratch-resistant, the sapphire crystal can still be damaged by extreme force.

 

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3. Basic Maintenance & Repair (DIY Friendly):

Caution: Performing these steps requires a small Torx plus driver (size T5 or IP5) or a small flat head screw driver. Proceed with caution and at your own risk. If you are uncomfortable with these steps, please consult a qualified watch technician.

• Accessing the Movement/Battery/O-Rings/Crystal:

  1. Turn the watch over to reveal the case back.

  2. Locate the small screws on the case back. These are secured with a Torx head.

  3. Using the correct size Torx driver, carefully unscrew all the case back screws. Keep the screws in a safe place.

  4. Gently lift the case back off the watch case.

• Battery Replacement:

  1. Once the case back is removed, you will see the movement and the battery.

  2. The battery is a 371 button cell.

  3. Using a small flat head screwdriver, unscrew the retaining arm holding the old battery in place.

  4. Insert the new battery, ensuring the polarity (+/-) is correct.

  5. Re-screw the retaining arm.

  6. Carefully replace the case back, aligning it correctly.

  7. Re-insert and gently tighten all the Torx screws on the case back, ensuring they are snug but not overtightened. BRACE Design, and NASA, recommend 1.3 in-lb of torque.

• O-Ring Inspection & Basic Access:

  1. With the case back removed, you can visually inspect the o-ring(s) located around the edge of the case back and/or the movement holder.

  2. To replace the o-rings, carefully remove the old ones with a non-metallic tool. The crystal and case back o-rings are both Ø37mm (id) x 1mm thick. The crown o-rings are both Ø1.4mm (id) x 0.4mm thick.

  3. Lubricate the new o-rings with a silicone grease specifically designed for watch o-rings (SuperLube Silicone Lubricating Grease is one option and easy to find).

  4. Carefully place the new o-rings in their designated grooves.

  5. Replace the case back as described above.

• Sapphire Crystal Replacement (Advanced - Proceed with Caution):

  1. Accessing the crystal requires removing the top bezel, which is done just like the case back. Simply unscrew the Torx screws holding it down.

  2. Once the bezel is removed, the damaged crystal can be carefully removed. Make sure any glass debris is cleaned out from the watch face.

  3. If the crystal has broken, replace the crystal o-ring as well.

  4. Place the new crystal in the designated recess. All BRACE Design watches use a Ø39mm x 1mm sapphire glass crystal for both the front and rear windows.

  5. Carefully re-install the bezel, ensuring it is seated correctly.

 

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4. Warranty Information:

Click here to view warranty information.​​​​​