"Preserving History: Restoring and Caring for Vintage Chelsea Clocks"

Preserving History: Restoring and Caring for Vintage Chelsea Clocks

Founded in 1897, Chelsea Clock is one of the oldest, largest and most prestigious clockmakers in the whole world. With over a hundred years of clockmaking, many of our timepieces have become heirlooms passed on from generation to generation. With time, our luxury timepieces can become vintage or even antique items with the right preservation.

Want to know how to properly care for or restore your vintage Chelsea Clock timepiece? Here are a few of our tip preservation tips to help you maintain your Chelsea Clock long-term:

Tip #1: Regularly Dust Your Clock

Regularly dusting your vintage clock is one of the best and easiest ways to care for it. About every two weeks or so, or once a week if you have the time, we recommend taking a microfiber clock and giving your clock a rub down. Gently wipe off dust or any other stains on your vintage clock, and you can greatly extend its functional lifespan and appearance.

Why is getting rid of dust so important? It doesn’t just affect the appearance of your clock. Dust is made up of particulate matter that comes from both organic and inorganic sources. Dust can get ingrained into the housing or internal mechanisms of your clock, making it difficult to get rid of without damaging the surface material.

Lastly, dust is impacted by temperature and humidity. The more dust accumulates, the more your clock will be affected by sudden changes in your room temperature. Protect your clock and keep these issues from occurring by quickly wiping down your clock every few weeks.

Tip #2: Oil Mechanical Clocks Every Five Years

We recommend oiling your mechanical clock at least every five years, but for maximum clock preservation, you may want to consider oiling it every three to four years. A few oiling suggestions include:

Don’t oil everything. Focus on the bearing points on the front and back plates.
If possible, look up the suggested oil products for your clock. If you can’t find any, you can generally use synthetic oil. Synthetic oil is resistant to breakdowns and aging but doesn’t dissolve lacquer finishes like genuine petroleum oil.
While oiling, clean out the rest of your clock by taking a small amount of rubbing alcohol with a cotton swab or Q-Top.
If you’re nervous about cleaning your timepiece, contact a professional clock cleaner for assistance.

Need help cleaning or removing your antique clock case so you can oil your timepiece? Check out our in-depth guide here, where we discuss how to clean both vintage wooden clock cases and modern metal cases.

Tip #3: Keep Clocks Active

Another good way to preserve your antique or vintage clock is to make sure it stays active. A clock that isn’t actively keeping track of the time is a clock that will have a harder time going once you reactivate it. If you have a winding clock, regularly wind it up as much as possible, as the mainspring loses power and will be more difficult to wind once at rest.

Tip #4: Keep Clocks Level

Depending on the clock, it might not even be able to function properly if it isn’t level. Even for a newer quartz clock, we suggest placing or hanging it on a level surface to help your timepiece run smoothly. Desktop and mantle clocks are easy to place on a flat surface, but clocks you hang in the hall are a bit harder.

We recommend avoiding nails or strings and using wall bolts instead. Wall bolts provide more support to your timepiece, and are easier to maintain a level hold compared to simple nails. If you can’t find a wall stud to mount your wall bolt-on, use several molly bolts or drywall anchors to achieve the same stable and level support.

Chelsea Clock Repair and Restoration Services

Do you have a vintage Chelsea Clock or an antique from another clock brand you want to get professionally restored? Chelsea Clock is here to help. The master clockmakers who produce our current timepieces can also repair, clean and restore your clock.

We do our best to preserve as much of the original clock as possible while restoring the function and appearance of your vintage timepiece. Whether you have a mechanical, quartz or striking clock, our clockmakers can provide the following services:

Full-service clock repair
Routine clock maintenance
Cleaning, oiling and regulating
Case refinishing
Antique clock restoration

Unsure if you’re willing to pay for a repair or restoration? We’re happy to provide a no-obligation estimate for our service work. You can fill out our online contact sheet and attach some photos of your vintage timepiece for a simple estimate. Alternatively, you can send your timepiece to us along with a repair order for a thorough examination and a more accurate estimate.

You can also visit here to learn about some of the other clock brands we service, apart from official Chelsea Clock timepieces.

Own a Vintage Chelsea Clock

Interested in purchasing a vintage or antique clock? Or do you want to start a tradition in your family with a brand-new clock? Either way, we invite you to browse our collection of both new and vintage timepieces. When maintained well, a Chelsea Clock can be a truly timeless addition to your family legacy, an inheritance sure to be enjoyed by each generation.

Contact us today if you have any questions, and we look forward to providing you with an elegant luxury timepiece when you order from Chelsea Clock.