Tough water spots

[WrxOwner]

How to remove tough water spots on the crystal? I’ve tried soap, eyeglass cleaner and alcohol.

[jimcameron]

Did you clean the lens on your camera?

[Bruno Datejust]

Passing the glass with a cloth with a bit of vinegar should work.

[kauffee]

I’ve had luck with plain white toothpaste.

[Benzsiam]

Put a tiny drop of Lysol toilet bowl cleaner on the cloth and wipe it off.

[Bruno Datejust]

Originally Posted by kauffee

I’ve had luck with plain white toothpaste.

This is definitely dangerous, I'd say. toothpaste is typically abrasive.

[kauffee]

Originally Posted by Bruno Datejust

This is definitely dangerous, I'd say. toothpaste is typically abrasive.

Was certainly not abrasive enough to leave any marks on sapphire or ceramic. I think I read about this on a WUS thread.


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[MacanS]

It is odd eyeglass cleaner didn’t work. Cannot actually feel the spots. It’s is chemical or hard water mineral deposits.

If the white vinegar diluted does take them off you may have a chemical etching issue

[JChips]

Originally Posted by Bruno Datejust

This is definitely dangerous, I'd say. toothpaste is typically abrasive.

Toothpaste is mildly abrasive, I think. Old trick on breaking in a tight fitting 1911. Use toothpaste on the rails for a while and “burnish” the metal.


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[fsprow]

If it doesn't come out with a non-abrasive cleaner I would suggest Polywatch. It removes fine etching and scratches from non-sapphire crystals, so may do the job here with no damage.

[Thor95]

Try vinegar

[Recondope]

Try letting the vinegar "sit" on the spots for 5-10 minutes so the vinegar has time to break down the deposits and then wipe off. Good luck.

[synrrgy]

How'd you get the water spots on the crystal? Is it just normal tap water or sea water and not wiping it off before it sets?

[WrxOwner]

Thanks everyone. Will try vinegar and let it sit in the spots for 5mins.

[WrxOwner]

Originally Posted by synrrgy

How'd you get the water spots on the crystal? Is it just normal tap water or sea water and not wiping it off before it sets?

Its sea water. After the beach, I just rinsed it off and just wiped with my shirt. Im guessing the salt did not fully wash off.

[Sandpit]

Originally Posted by Bruno Datejust

This is definitely dangerous, I'd say. toothpaste is typically abrasive.

Toothpaste works perfectly on a speedie hesalite crystal

[HogwldFLTR]

Hard water spots are dissolved mineral deposits left behind from drying. They require a polar solution to dissolve them. The best form of the that would be distilled water. That would remove them and leave no dissolved minerals behind. Eyeglass cleaner and alcohol are both none polar solution. Soap is generally a mix of polar and non-polar with the polar end of the molecules having an affinity for water and the non-polar end having an affinity for grease. Again the wrong solution. Someone mention vinegar which is dilute acetic acid and could work but first I'd let the crystal sit in some warm (not hot) distilled water and try rinsing it with more distilled water and drying it.

[planemad]

I use a tiny bit of car polish

[kauffee]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Hard water spots are dissolved mineral deposits left behind from drying. They require a polar solution to dissolve them. The best form of the that would be distilled water. That would remove them and leave no dissolved minerals behind. Eyeglass cleaner and alcohol are both none polar solution. Soap is generally a mix of polar and non-polar with the polar end of the molecules having an affinity for water and the non-polar end having an affinity for grease. Again the wrong solution. Someone mention vinegar which is dilute acetic acid and could work but first I'd let the crystal sit in some warm (not hot) distilled water and try rinsing it with more distilled water and drying it.

Very interesting. Thanks!

[alohaJ]

I've been frustrated with this issue for a long time. I live in Hawaii and the tap water here is full of minerals. If you accidentally leave your watch wet, you get water spots. I've searched and searched the internet countless times and everyone points to either toothpaste or vinegar or some baking soda combination. None of these have worked for me to get rid of water spots. I've soaked my watches in vinegar, I've used q-tips until hands were sore, and the water spots never washed away. So, out of frustration, I got out my Dremel tool and some toothpaste and went to work. Lo and behold after about 3 minutes of light and slow dremeling the water spots disappeared. Note that if you run above 5000 rpm, the watch gets hot. I tried up to 15,000 rpm and the watch got scary hot. I'm sure some will comment on the vibration and potential damage to the movement, but the two automatics I've buffed are still running fine after the polish. Good luck!