To clean a watch...

S

Superfuzz

Joined
Jun 18, 2009
Messages
747
Good morning guys...

I have a question. How do you go about cleaning your watch? I have a Seiko Diver Chrono, Ive had for about 8 years now. I have a beat-up field Timex I wear d2d at work/field...but in garrison and down time I wear the Chrono. Over the years, It has accumulated a bit of grime in the joints and near the timepiece. What do you folks do to clean it yours, nice and beautiful?

Thanks...

'Fuzz
 
Camera cleaning kits are quite handy too, with cleaning cloth (w cleaning liquid), air pump, dust brush and those sticks you usually stick to your ear except these are narrower. I seem to have to brush the dust form my watch several times a week... yea, Im girly. :D
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Try scrubbing gently with a new toothbrush and water.
Click to expand...

I use an old softened up tooth brush on my watches once a week or there abouts. I also find a little bit of shower gell seems to work better than the likes of washing up liquid or hand soap. (Just make sure and don't use your current tooth brush by a mistake :foot:)

There is also the option of having your watche(s) cleaned "professionally", I do this with my more expensive wacthes every year or so.
 
Haze said:
There is also the option of having your watche(s) cleaned "professionally", I do this with my more expensive wacthes every year or so.
Click to expand...

You aren't talking about a manufacturer overhaul, are you? That's what... $500 a year per watch:eek:
 
Charlie Mike said:
You aren't talking about a manufacturer overhaul, are you? That's what... $500 a year per watch:eek:
Click to expand...

Na na, not a full over haul. I only have two expensive watches and they go to my friends shop for a pro. clean and a wee tune up if need be. My other autos like the Tag and Marathon just get the tooth brush treatment when I have my shower once a week, weather I need it or not. :D
 
Haze said:
Na na, not a full over haul. I only have two expensive watches and they go to my friends shop for a pro. clean and a wee tune up if need be. My other autos like the Tag and Marathon just get the tooth brush treatment when I have my shower once a week, weather I need it or not. :D
Click to expand...
What? :eek:

I always wear my watches in the shower so I never see any gunk on it.
 
Me too. Wife and I NEVER take our Rolies off.
 
Roger999 said:
What? :eek:

I always wear my watches in the shower so I never see any gunk on it.
Click to expand...


I wear mine in the shower as well when they start to get dirty, seems to do the trick.

There are also ultrasonic cleaning machines that have a little basket with fluid and they vibrate gently, intended for cleaning watches and jewelry, amazon has some reasonable ones. Similar to what jewelry stores use when they clean your stuff. Not sure if the fluid is hard on the gaskets or not, they claim it is not
 
Last edited:
When using an ultrasonic cleaner on intact watches (not dissembled for internal cleaning), there is a support to keep the head of the watch above the liquid. The ultrasonic cleaner can work moisture through a watch's gaskets.
 
Thanks guys...I used a mixture of the above.

New toothbrush/QTip
Dawn
warm water

Nothing too harsh and wasnt near the pita I thought it would be. I removed the band and got it real good.

Appreciate the assistance...
 
I heard someone once said that they use a tall glass of distilled water and they drop in a denture cleaning tablet while hanging their watch by fishing line. About 15 minutes later, the watch was rinsed and it was good as new. Not sure I'd be willing to use that on my watch though. Seems like a good idea with the bubbles and all.
 
Charlie Mike said:
You aren't talking about a manufacturer overhaul, are you? That's what... $500 a year per watch:eek:
Click to expand...

I found a guy in a little hole-in-the-wall shop who had retired from Seiko Dallas. He cleaned my diver for $75. He was pretty booked up and it took about 3 months.

I've heard that a factory re-condition for a Rolex Submariner is $750!:eek: If you have it done every 10 years that works out to $75 a year. $5000 for the watch on top of that is rich for my blood, unless someone gives me one...anyone...Bueller...anyone?
 
I payed less than 5K for mine, most places will I went to would give me 15% off that just for
paying cash. A little bit of connection flexing got me a good bit more off the list price too. ;):thumbup:

As for pro. cleaning and over hauls, I'm personaly rather carfull who I let play with my top end watches, there is only one guy I will hand those to.

I have a friend here whos mother had her Rolex gutted during an over haul, that took a long time to get sorted out and could have so easily gone unnoticed.
 
I use a cleaned out brush of one of those Sonicare toothbrushes. A couple of decent ones go out to a pro every three or 4 years for a good internal cleaning and seal check/replacement.
 
I paid cash for mine and got it without sales tax... that saved me approx $640.
 
Charlie Mike said:
You aren't talking about a manufacturer overhaul, are you? That's what... $500 a year per watch:eek:
Click to expand...

Factory service is recommended every 3 to 5 years. maybe a bit more frequently if you use it in harsh conditions.

Source: Me, a certified WOSTEP educated watch maker, trained at Breitling and Bedat

EDIT* not sure if I misread or not. A mechanical watch does not need movement service annually.
 
Last edited:
X in 415 said:
wrong. Factory service is recommended every 3 to 4 years. maybe a bit more frequently if you use it in harsh conditions.

Source: Me, a certified WOSTEP educated watch maker, trained at Breitling and Bedat
Click to expand...

Cool, I had a feeling Rolex needs to be overhauled about every 5 years. Then again, some guys I've met haven't done anything to their Datejusts (except wear them) for 20 years with no problems.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Cool, I had a feeling Rolex needs to be overhauled about every 5 years. Then again, some guys I've met haven't done anything to their Datejusts (except wear them) for 20 years with no problems.
Click to expand...
Rolex are made with really tight tolerances, so they can and often do work for years without service. However, when/if the poor sucker decides to get his watch serviced, just about every component gets replaced. Not cheap:eek:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top