Bracelet cleaning.

[rolling stone]

Thought i might use an Ultrasonic cleaning machine on the SS bracelet of my GMT.
Have any members tried one of these? If so was it effective, any pros/cons?

[Steven79]

on the bracelet itself, US cleaning will do no harm.

I've never done it, but it certainly cannot hurt to try it.

[Lane from s.c.]

What I do and It works well as much as I wear my gmt, running, mowing grass and so on, is use a soft bristle brush and shampoo or other neutural ph. soap, and scrub under water. I`ve been doing for 23 years on my gmt.

Lane

[BigHat]

They are the best thing going for cleaning a bracelet. I recently bought one for use on my watches but used my father's in his optical shop growing up. Just hold the case out of the fluid and give it 90 secs or so. On a watch that hasn't seen the treatment, you'll see wisps of black crude released almost immediately. Of course, cleaning them every other week or so keeps them pretty clean so you don't get as much crap released from the nooks and crannies.

By the way, saw a video on the RSC refurbishment process and they had about 20 bracelets, SS, TT, YG all being cleaned this way.

[BigHat]

Edit: Oops, the pro/con piece:
I think it works great, but the case etc has to be cleaned differently. NEVER drop the watch in the tank. I use a plastics tray to be sure I don't get any scratches too. Not sure that's really required though. It's cost most than soap. water and an old toothbrush.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by rolling stone

Thought i might use an Ultrasonic cleaning machine on the SS bracelet of my GMT.
Have any members tried one of these? If so was it effective, any pros/cons?

What happened to good ole' soap and water?

[jdc]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

What happened to good ole' soap and water?

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They will probably do a discount for the hair cut service LOL

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

What happened to good ole' soap and water?

Nothing, just doesn't do as good a job of getting all the gunk out. Probably ADDs gunk.

I don't know if all this talk of bracelet wear from crap being inside the links is true, but for $40 I can keep these watches and a number of other items like rings, eyeglass nose pads, etc super clean. If Rolex uses them to clean bracelets, that's enough of an endorsement for me.

[f16570]

Shower with it every day.

[dkpw]

My Sub has it's bracelet cleaned in an Ultrasonic bath twice a month. Tepid water, a drop of mild detergent and it comes out looking like new. Got mine for £20 on eBay.

[abigsecret]

It's the best way to clean the bracelet, but you should take the bracelet off the case. Just holding the case out of the water is not much different than holding it under water, since the vibrations of the ultrasonic cleaner will still have a negative effect on the oils inside the jewels because the bracelet will transfer those to the case.
So just remove your bracelet and then you can leave it to soak in the ultrasonic for as long as you want!

[dkpw]

Originally Posted by abigsecret

It's the best way to clean the bracelet, but you should take the bracelet off the case. Just holding the case out of the water is not much different than holding it under water, since the vibrations of the ultrasonic cleaner will still have a negative effect on the oils inside the jewels because the bracelet will transfer those to the case.
So just remove your bracelet and then you can leave it to soak in the ultrasonic for as long as you want!

"Oils inside the jewels" hmmmm - I'm really not sure about that.

It's my understanding that ultrasonic cleaning requires a fluid in which bubbles form and collapse lifting off dirt from the surface of the bracelet. It's not a vibration thing.

EDIT: Here's a hopefully helpful link on US cleaning.

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by dkpw

"Oils inside the jewels" hmmmm - I'm really not sure about that.

It's my understanding that ultrasonic cleaning requires a fluid in which bubbles form and collapse lifting off dirt from the surface of the bracelet. It's not a vibration thing.

EDIT: Here's a hopefully helpful link on US cleaning.

Thanks. I used one to clean an Omega for years and my jewels were fine.

[pwrslider]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

What happened to good ole' soap and water?

Here here..............!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by BigHat

Nothing, just doesn't do as good a job of getting all the gunk out. Probably ADDs gunk.

I don't know if all this talk of bracelet wear from crap being inside the links is true, but for $40 I can keep these watches and a number of other items like rings, eyeglass nose pads, etc super clean. If Rolex uses them to clean bracelets, that's enough of an endorsement for me.

Gunk? What bloody gunk? How the hell can you manage to get so much gunk inbetween the links if you clean the bracelet every week using soap, water and an old toothbrush?

Trust me.....having owned 23 different Rollies over almost 28 long years.....surely I can't be wrong?

[Portzed]

Originally Posted by BigHat

Thanks. I used one to clean an Omega for years and my jewels were fine.

Always important to keep the 'family Jewels' fine

[jdc]

Originally Posted by Portzed

Always important to keep the 'family Jewels' fine

but how long does he spend cleaning them?

[marshallr47]

I wash mine everyday with soap and water. Occasionally I will use a toothbrush. Works great

[NitroRacer]

What if you combined the two?? Has anyone ever tried the sonicare ultrasonic toothbrush!? It is amazing, i used it when i had braces as a young boy and the orthodontist was amazed at how well it worked! Certainly he confirmed that it was superior to a regular toothbrush.

[dkpw]

While finding the link I referenced above in post #12, I found a site where someone advocated cleaning their child's dirty finger nails in an ultrasonic bath. While the bubbles work on the surface of the object being cleaned - this may be taking the use of technology a step too far.

[Dan Pierce]

Mild soap w/ a toothbrush, or as we say in Kentucky, teethbrush, works just fine.
dP

[newrolexman]

In the shower I open up the bracelet and use the soap over the entire watch, under the band, the face, etc.

I would never take the watch off in the shower for fear it would slip with the soap and down pouring of water. So be careful its not in hand,, just on your wrist.


D

[sheldonsmith]

I have some information on bracelet cleaning at http://www.minus4plus6.com/maintenance.htm

-Sheldon

[BigHat]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Gunk? What bloody gunk? How the hell can you manage to get so much gunk inbetween the links if you clean the bracelet every week using soap, water and an old toothbrush?

Trust me.....having owned 23 different Rollies over almost 28 long years.....surely I can't be wrong?

I guess the same "gunk" this guy cleans out despite a comprehensive weekly cleaning process. But do what you want. Wasn't trying to convert you. Couldn't care less.

Lastly, once the bracelet is touched up, I throw it in the ultrasonic cleaner. An ultrasonic bath cleans the gunk that builds-up inside the links, especially problematic on Jubilee and traditional Oyster bracelets. Keeping the inside of the links clean helps prevent premature bracelet stretch from undue wear on the bars holding the links together. I throw the bracelet into the ultrasonic every 6 -12 months

So back to the OP. Do I use an ultrasonic cleaner? Yes? Do I find it useful and effective? Yes.