softened water for washing Rolex

[rockyn]

Hi everyone, I'm visiting with my parents for a month and they use water softening salt in their water. I know that salt water is bad for the gaskets in a watch, but what about water softening salt? Is it corrosive for the gaskets aswell?

Thanks, Robyn

[kyle L]

If a Rolex can go in the ocean and go diving, it probably can take it.

[rockyn]

Originally Posted by kyle L

If a Rolex can go in the ocean and go diving, it probably can take it.

O.k., But don't you have to rinse off the Rolex with plain water after having it in the ocean? I'm wondering if softened water is as corrosive to the gaskets as ocean water is.

[armoredsaint]

Originally Posted by rockyn

O.k., But don't you have to rinse off the Rolex with plain water after having it in the ocean? I'm wondering if softened water is as corrosive to the gaskets as ocean water is.

it wouldn't hurt

[rfknauss]

Originally Posted by kyle L

If a Rolex can go in the ocean and go diving, it probably can take it.

X2!

[Tools]

Originally Posted by rockyn

O.k., But don't you have to rinse off the Rolex with plain water after having it in the ocean? I'm wondering if softened water is as corrosive to the gaskets as ocean water is.

Sea water is not corrosive to gaskets...neither is your soft water..

You rinse off sea water because when it dries, it leaves behind salt residue...salt is a mineral.... it is a rock that will scratch and erode the metal where it grinds against it...

Soft water is filtered and won't leave any salt residue...

[sakuraba]

We have water softening salts in our water, and I have been using tap to clean my watches. So far so good.

[Dr. Robert]

I have a Culligan water softening unit...no problems.....but now I'm scared...I'm switching to washing them in San Pelligrino.

[therolexguy]

Jocke, where are you?

[Bon Temps]

[rkammer]

Salt from water softeners will not actually enter the water supply in your home so, will have no effect on the cleaning of your Rolex. Here's a couple of explanations:

Salt does not have the opportunity to enter drinking water through softening installations. The only purpose of salt in a water softener is to regenerate the resin beads that take the hardness out of water.

The sodium uptake through softened water depends on the hardness of the water. Averagely, less than 3% sodium uptake comes from drinking softened water. Estimates say that a person consumes about two to three teaspoons of salt a day, from various sources. Assuming a daily intake of five grams of sodium through food and the consumption of three quarts of water, the contribution of sodium (Na+) in the water from the home water softening process, is minimal compared to the total daily intake of many sodium-rich foods.

[2005rivers]

I have a water softener, If anything it has to be better for it

[Z-Sub]

Water is "soft" because minerals are removed from it so it will leave LESS residue and less water spots on your watch.

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I have a Culligan water softening unit...no problems.....but now I'm scared...I'm switching to washing them in San Pelligrino.

Just as long as it's still, and not sparkling...





Cheers

[tudorwatches]

That's why they use 904L steel.. it's restistant to just about anything..

[Armand]

Originally Posted by Z-Sub

Water is "soft" because minerals are removed from it so it will leave LESS residue and less water spots on your watch.

Water is "soft", because the Calcium and Magnesium in the Ions dissolved in water are exchanged for Sodium - which salts will leave no HARD scales, if cooked ... but which will leave more or less the same amount of "white" if left to dry on something.

So the NaCl is used to regenerate the Ion Exchanger, but of course this means, Na ( Sodium ) and Cl ( Chloride ) Ions will be in the water in exchange of other Anions and Kathions.

Even "soft" salt deposits will scratch, if you let em dry and rub em around!

Dry the watch with a ( soft ) cloth, so there won´t be Salt deposited ...

And yes, 904L will be better against Sea Water, so should be better against "softened" water - but we are talking "Overkill" there!

;-)

My advice:

Enjoy your watches and start worrying about someting else!

Hermann

[datejust1]

I always, ALWAYS rinse my watches with tap water and a bit of soap coming out of any pool or beach... Just a habit... :)

[ParisDakarBmw]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I have a Culligan water softening unit...no problems.....but now I'm scared...I'm switching to washing them in San Pelligrino.

I clean my watches with Fiji water. Even that has to be 2 weeks before it's expiration date. What are you people doing to your watches? Salt, Scouring pads, WD-40. I blow mine dry with a silk fan after a rinse in Fiji water. I put a cd player in the watch room that plays Enya all night. Gotta treat your sport watch like your supposed too.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by ParisDakarBmw

I clean my watches with Fiji water. Even that has to be 2 weeks before it's expiration date. What are you people doing to your watches? Salt, Scouring pads, WD-40. I blow mine dry with a silk fan after a rinse in Fiji water. I put a cd player in the watch room that plays Enya all night. Gotta treat your sport watch like your supposed too.

excellent treatment Paris.....my Rolexes prefer being caressed by an Oakley micro fiber cloth after bathing while listening to Mozart...........or the Grateful Dead...depending on their mood(s)

[snow_rocks]

Am I missing something?

Are there male and female GMTIIC, Subs, DSSDs? You know, ones that are actually worn with reckless abandon, and the others that have to be pampered!

Is it marked on the warranty card?

[ParisDakarBmw]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

excellent treatment Paris.....my Rolexes prefer being caressed by an Oakley micro fiber cloth after bathing while listening to Mozart...........or the Grateful Dead...depending on their mood(s)

Very nice! Mine tended to run a little slow if I played Pachobel's Cannon. I didn't want to damage the steel with acoustic vibrations, so the sound is kept below 31 decibels. They also like the temp set to 72. I think one of them is allergic to dust, so I also dust them thrice daily (NON FEATHER I might add).

I just don't want them to get hurt.

There was an aweful thunderstorm last week. I couldn't sleep knowing my watches were all alone. I ran into the room, and put on my rubber gloves, and hairnet. I held each one, and rocked them to sleep. I guess you could say I'm their watch winder. Nothing like hand rocked energy for the Rolex purist!

[datejust1]

Originally Posted by ParisDakarBmw

Very nice! Mine tended to run a little slow if I played Pachobel's Cannon. I didn't want to damage the steel with acoustic vibrations, so the sound is kept below 31 decibels. They also like the temp set to 72. I think one of them is allergic to dust, so I also dust them thrice daily (NON FEATHER I might add).

I just don't want them to get hurt.

There was an aweful thunderstorm last week. I couldn't sleep knowing my watches were all alone. I ran into the room, and put on my rubber gloves, and hairnet. I held each one, and rocked them to sleep. I guess you could say I'm their watch winder. Nothing like hand rocked energy for the Rolex purist!

Is that how I'm supposed to treat the Invicta?

[Dr.B]

How stuff works:
"The idea behind a water softener is simple. The calcium and magnesium ions in the water are replaced with sodium ions. Since sodium does not prec*ipitate out in pipes or react badly with soap, both of the problems of hard water are eliminated. To do the ion replacement, the water in the house runs through a bed of small plastic beads or through a chemical matrix called zeolite. The beads or zeolite are covered with sodium ions. As the water flows past the sodium ions, they swap places with the calcium and magnesium ions. Eventually, the beads or zeolite contain nothing but calcium and magnesium and no sodium, and at this point they stop softening the water. It is then time to regenerate the beads or zeolite.

Regeneration involves soaking the beads or zeolite in a stream of sodium ions. Salt is sodium chloride, so the water softener mixes up a very strong brine solution and flushes it through the zeolite or beads (this is why you load up a water softener with salt). The strong brine displaces all of the calcium and magnesium that has built up in the zeolite or beads and replaces it again with sodium. The remaining brine plus all of the calcium and magnesium is flushed out through a drain pipe. "

[ParisDakarBmw]

Originally Posted by datejust1

Is that how I'm supposed to treat the Invicta?

No Gaby! Don't do this! Your parents will send you off for mental health issues! Wait until you pay your own bills, and then do that! Unless you live with a WIS, you'll be labeled CRAZY, OCD, or PSYCHOTIC! Have you seen "One flew over the cocoo's nest"?

[Goodwatch]

Although I can appreciate the want to care for a relatively simple steel watch that still has cost several thousands of Dollars, I just want to make some observations here.

The only way to keep a Rolex, or any watch, pristine is to keep it in the box it came in. Forever. Preferably in a container with inert gas. But personally I don't find this the way to go, those watches are meant to be worn.

Taking into account the rich history of the brand (starting with the 1927 Mercedes Gleitze swim) in the field of endeavour it is clear that they are sturdy. And a dive watch is made to be used for diving and there's no need for special after-treatment. Those who engage in serious diving activities have the routine to rinse all their equipment with fresh water but most divers use a dive computer and not a Sub.

The first scratch on your watch hurts, but it is unavoidable. If you don't want all of this, don't wear a watch at all.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by snow_rocks

Am I missing something?

Are there male and female GMTIIC, Subs, DSSDs? You know, ones that are actually worn with reckless abandon, and the others that have to be pampered!

Is it marked on the warranty card?

Rolex watches are asexual..........they are not papered just well taken care of.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by ParisDakarBmw

Very nice! Mine tended to run a little slow if I played Pachobel's Cannon. I didn't want to damage the steel with acoustic vibrations, so the sound is kept below 31 decibels. They also like the temp set to 72. I think one of them is allergic to dust, so I also dust them thrice daily (NON FEATHER I might add).

I just don't want them to get hurt.

There was an aweful thunderstorm last week. I couldn't sleep knowing my watches were all alone. I ran into the room, and put on my rubber gloves, and hairnet. I held each one, and rocked them to sleep. I guess you could say I'm their watch winder. Nothing like hand rocked energy for the Rolex purist!

Now this is a man who knows how to care for his watches!!!! I have found that one's watches prefer being hand wound or "rocked" on wrist to the cold mechanism of the impersonal mechanical winder. The gentle touch & caresses of an owner will do wonders for your Rolex(es)....after all they are part of one's family.

[PeteNYC13]

Originally Posted by ParisDakarBmw

Very nice! Mine tended to run a little slow if I played Pachobel's Cannon. I didn't want to damage the steel with acoustic vibrations, so the sound is kept below 31 decibels. They also like the temp set to 72. I think one of them is allergic to dust, so I also dust them thrice daily (NON FEATHER I might add).

I just don't want them to get hurt.

There was an aweful thunderstorm last week. I couldn't sleep knowing my watches were all alone. I ran into the room, and put on my rubber gloves, and hairnet. I held each one, and rocked them to sleep. I guess you could say I'm their watch winder. Nothing like hand rocked energy for the Rolex purist!

__________________________________________________ _______________

Sadly, I think only half of you are joking!

-Pete

[rockyn]

thanks for all the responses

[TheVTCGuy]

Every Sunday, I pick up some extra Holy water from the local Church, I have the minister bless it one more time, then dip a baby's hand in it for further purification. I hire a Vestal Vergin to gently caress my watch with the water, all the while a professional violinist is playing Brahms in the other room. The lights are turned down low and a subtle fragrance of Orange Blossoms is in the air. I spread Rose-petals all over the floor where the watch will be carried, in a fine-silk cloth from the washing room to the drying room. Once there, air, purified to .00000001 parts per trillon, is gently wafted over my Daytona until dry.

Think I'm over-doing it?