Getting started with your new automatic watch

Receiving your AJ-003 is a moment worth starting right. Here's how to get to know your new automatic watch in the first few days, so you start on the right foot.

Check the serial number

Before anything else, take a moment to check the serial number of your watch, which you were able to choose when placing your order. It's a detail specific to Atelier Jalaper that confirms the exclusivity of your piece within the limited edition of 200. Keep this information, along with your proof of purchase, somewhere safe.

Wind the movement before wearing it

A new automatic watch usually arrives with the mainspring partially or fully unwound. Before wearing it for the first time, a few dozen turns of the crown will start the movement and give it enough power reserve to run until wrist movement takes over. Our winding guide covers this in detail.

Set the time precisely

The Sellita SW300-1B calibre in your watch has a hacking seconds function: pull the crown out and the second hand stops, letting you synchronise the time to the exact second against a reliable source. Our time-setting guide walks through the process step by step.

Adjust the strap to your wrist

The leather strap supplied with the watch may need adjusting depending on your wrist size. Take the time to find the right hole rather than wearing it too loose or too tight in the first few days. New leather softens gradually and conforms to the shape of your wrist over time.

Watch the accuracy in the first few days

Once the watch is set and worn normally, keep an eye on its accuracy over one to two weeks. A small daily gain or loss is normal, within the limits set by the COSC certification on this movement. It also gives you a useful baseline to refer back to if you ever want to compare its behaviour after several years of wear.

Get familiar with the care routines

Use these first days to read through our care guides: the one on cleaning the case and the one on cleaning the strap. Building these habits from the start, rather than waiting for the first sign of wear, is the best way to keep the watch in excellent condition for a long time.

A small ritual for the first two weeks

For the first two weeks, note the daily drift at the same time each day against a reliable reference, in a simple note on your phone. It takes a few seconds and gives you a personal picture of your piece's actual accuracy. That record will also be useful later if you ever need to describe a change in behaviour to a watchmaker during a service.

Take a few photographs of the watch in the first days too, from several angles, with the serial number clearly visible. These will serve as a personal reference if you ever need to compare its condition, make an insurance claim, or simply remember how it looked when it arrived.

Don't hesitate to contact Atelier Jalaper directly if a question comes up in the first few days. Any doubt about the setting or the case is better addressed immediately, before it affects your daily use of the watch.

Finally, keep the original packaging, at least for the first few weeks. Beyond its sentimental value, it may prove useful if you ever need to send the watch in for a warranty repair, as some after-sales services require appropriate packaging for transit.

In summary

Check the serial number, wind the movement, set the time precisely, and adjust the strap: these few steps are all it takes to start well with your AJ-003. Everything else comes naturally over the first weeks of wearing it.