What a 5-Year Warranty Really Means for Your Watch

Gadiel Torres
2026-04-03T15:37:12-04:00

A warranty is one of the most important signals a watch brand can send. It tells you how confident the manufacturer is in their own product — and how seriously they take their relationship with the buyer after the sale.

But not all warranties are equal. Here's what a watch warranty actually covers, what it doesn't, and why the length and terms matter more than most buyers realize.

What a Watch Warranty Covers

A standard watch warranty covers manufacturing defects — failures that result from errors in materials or workmanship rather than owner misuse. This typically includes:

Movement defects: If the caliber stops running, runs significantly outside its rated accuracy, or fails due to a manufacturing fault, the warranty covers repair or replacement.

Case and dial defects: Finishing failures, dial delamination, or index detachment caused by manufacturing errors are typically covered.

Crown and pusher failures: Mechanical failures of the crown or any pushers due to manufacturing defects.

Crystal defects: Spontaneous cracking or delamination of AR coating due to manufacturing faults (not impact damage).

What warranties universally exclude:

Damage from impact, drops, or misuse

Water damage resulting from failure to maintain seals or improper use

Normal wear — scratches, strap wear, crystal micro-abrasion

Damage from unauthorized service or modification

Battery replacement (on quartz models)

Why Warranty Length Matters

A 1-year warranty is the industry minimum — the baseline that even budget brands offer. It covers the period when manufacturing defects are most likely to manifest, but it says little about the brand's confidence in long-term reliability.

A 2-year warranty is the Swiss industry standard, adopted by most established brands. It reflects confidence in the movement and construction through the initial ownership period.

A 5-year warranty is a meaningful statement. It says the manufacturer believes their watch will perform correctly for at least five years under normal conditions — and they're willing to back that belief financially. Brands that offer 5-year warranties have typically invested in quality control processes that justify the commitment.

Beyond 5 years, warranties become increasingly rare and are typically offered only by brands with exceptional quality control and service infrastructure.

What a Warranty Reveals About the Brand

A warranty is a financial commitment. Every warranty claim costs the brand money — in parts, labor, and logistics. Brands that offer longer warranties have done the actuarial math: they know their defect rates are low enough that the extended coverage is sustainable.

A brand that offers only a 1-year warranty on a $500+ watch is telling you something. Either their defect rates are high enough that longer coverage would be financially unsustainable, or they haven't invested in the quality control processes needed to offer it confidently.

Conversely, a brand that offers 5 years has demonstrated — through their own production data — that their watches reliably perform within spec for that period.

International Warranty Considerations

For buyers purchasing from international brands, warranty terms can be complicated by geography:

Global warranties: Some brands honor warranties at any authorized service center worldwide. This is the gold standard for international buyers.

Regional warranties: Many brands limit warranty service to the country or region of purchase. A watch bought in the US may not be serviceable under warranty in Europe.

Direct-to-consumer warranties: Brands that sell directly handle warranty claims themselves, regardless of the buyer's location. This is often simpler and more reliable than dealer-based warranty networks.

Always confirm warranty terms for your specific purchase location before buying, particularly for international purchases.

Warranty vs. Service: Understanding the Difference

A warranty covers defects. Service covers maintenance.

Automatic watches require periodic service — typically every 5–8 years — to clean, lubricate, and inspect the movement. This is not a warranty claim; it's scheduled maintenance, similar to an oil change. Service costs are the owner's responsibility regardless of warranty status.

A watch under warranty that requires service due to normal wear is not a warranty claim. A watch under warranty that stops running due to a manufacturing defect is.

Understanding this distinction prevents frustration when warranty claims are declined for service-related issues.

The Maeslux Warranty

At Maeslux, we stand behind every watch we make. Our warranty reflects our confidence in the movements we select, the cases we specify, and the quality control we apply to every piece before it ships.

We handle warranty claims directly — no dealer network, no regional restrictions, no bureaucratic runaround. If your Maeslux has a manufacturing defect, we make it right. That's the direct-to-consumer commitment.

We also provide clear documentation of what our warranty covers and what it doesn't, because we believe buyers deserve to know exactly what they're getting before they purchase.

How to Protect Your Warranty

To keep your warranty valid:

Register your watch promptly after purchase if the brand requires registration

Keep your purchase documentation — receipt, warranty card, and any serial number records

Use only authorized service centers for any work during the warranty period. Unauthorized service typically voids coverage.

Follow care guidelines — water resistance maintenance, crown discipline, and storage recommendations

Document any issues promptly rather than waiting until the warranty expires

Final Thoughts

A warranty is a promise. The length and terms of that promise tell you how seriously a brand takes its relationship with buyers after the sale.

When evaluating a watch purchase, read the warranty terms carefully. Understand what's covered, what's excluded, and how claims are handled. A generous warranty from a brand that handles claims directly is worth more than a longer warranty buried in exclusions and dealer bureaucracy.

Buy from brands that stand behind what they make. The warranty is one of the clearest signals of which brands those are.

Every Maeslux comes with a warranty backed by direct brand support. Explore the collection.