Science Question - Cleaning watch w/ hard water

[Sir Larry Wildman]

For TFR members more clued in to science out there, I'm wondering if you have an answer to this.

My house is on public water. The water is very hard; it will leave the orange stains in the shower if nobody cleans it for an extended period. My understanding is that the stains are from the iron in the water, which reacts to the air when left to dry.

Why does nothing seem to happen when I clean my watch under the same water? Are there iron deposits on the watch that just don't interact with the stainless steel?

[Roddypeepa]

Are you drying it off? Because the minerals are dissolved and will wipe off with the water. If air drying them I don’t know.


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[Zakalwe]

Hard water leaves mineral deposits when water evaporates leaving minerals behind. That’s why people get limescale in bathrooms because most people aren’t in the habit of drying their sinks and bathtubs after each and every use and sinks/tubs get wet and air dry several times a day, every day.

You really are highly unlikely to have a problem with your watches due to water hardness.

[ratlover]

I live on a well. I keep distilled water on hand for stuff like this. Wash and rinse with water outa the tap then give a quick rinse with the distilled water. Its cheap to buy and makes dealing with water spots much easier.

[Monte Cristo]

I only ever buy Evian sparkling water to wash my watches with. It is used on my watches only as it’s too expensive to drink.

As Evian water comes from Lake Geneva it is the only water suited to my Swiss Made watches...besides the bubbles in the water give that extra watch sparkle.

[jrs146]

Originally Posted by Monte Cristo

I only ever buy Evian sparkling water to wash my watches with. It is used on my watches only as it’s too expensive to drink.

As Evian water comes from Lake Geneva it is the only water suited to my Swiss Made watches...besides the bubbles in the water give that extra watch sparkle.

I've found that when I use Perrier, the carbonation helps polish the metal perfectly!

[Monte Cristo]

Originally Posted by jrs146

I've found that when I use Perrier, the carbonation helps polish the metal perfectly!

As Perrier does not come from Switzerland as well as the benzine scandal in the 90s, I would ask...is it safe to wash your Rolex with Perrier?

[RJRJRJ]

Originally Posted by Monte Cristo

I only ever buy Evian sparkling water to wash my watches with. It is used on my watches only as it’s too expensive to drink.

As Evian water comes from Lake Geneva it is the only water suited to my Swiss Made watches...besides the bubbles in the water give that extra watch sparkle.

Originally Posted by jrs146

I've found that when I use Perrier, the carbonation helps polish the metal perfectly!

Originally Posted by Monte Cristo

As Perrier does not come from Switzerland as well as the benzine scandal in the 90s, I would ask...is it safe to wash your Rolex with Perrier?

I seriously hope you guys are joking. I would not let anything but Fiji water touch my watch. No bubbles of course, so that it doesn't degrade the gaskets.

[usling15]

Bud light