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Old 22 August 2011, 11:30 PM   #1
Norton
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Watch/Bracelet Cleaning

I know it's important to keep one's watch & bracelet clean, but how often it is really necessary to take out the old toothbrush and scrub with detergent? Most mornings I just give it a good rub with my damp bath towel, and it looks fine.
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Old 22 August 2011, 11:34 PM   #2
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Depends on how often I wear it and how dirty it gets. When outside wearing suntan lotion and perspiring, I have washed it at least once a day.

Usually because I work inside I usually wash it once a week. It doesn't take long, and besides it feels better wearing it after it is cleaned.

Use warm water, mild hand soap, and soft toothbrush.
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Old 23 August 2011, 12:09 AM   #3
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Personally I just take a shower with my watch on and use liquid soap.
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Old 23 August 2011, 12:26 AM   #4
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Quote:
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Depends on how often I wear it and how dirty it gets. When outside wearing suntan lotion and perspiring, I have washed it at least once a day.

Usually because I work inside I usually wash it once a week. It doesn't take long, and besides it feels better wearing it after it is cleaned.

Use warm water, mild hand soap, and soft toothbrush.
Wouldn't the toothbrush scratch the bracelet/casing ? I gather you use 'soft' bristle but still....?

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Old 23 August 2011, 12:28 AM   #5
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Wouldn't the toothbrush scratch the bracelet/casing ? I gather you use 'soft' bristle but still....?

It's a soft bristle. The biggest thing is to make sure your not using an old one which has toothpaste residue.
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Old 23 August 2011, 12:30 AM   #6
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Personally I just take a shower with my watch on and use liquid soap.
x2. I don't go out of my way to clean my YM nor plan to do any different with my new TOG.

After seeing that Rolex Service can literally restore my YM to brand new status, i don't care anymore about scratches nor anal cleaning. I just let it ride and shower with it ever so often...then every 5-7 years, let Rolex make it new again! Take the stress out of owning a Rolex!
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Old 23 August 2011, 12:42 AM   #7
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x2. I don't go out of my way to clean my YM nor plan to do any different with my new TOG.

After seeing that Rolex Service can literally restore my YM to brand new status, i don't care anymore about scratches nor anal cleaning. I just let it ride and shower with it ever so often...then every 5-7 years, let Rolex make it new again! Take the stress out of owning a Rolex!
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Old 23 August 2011, 12:48 AM   #8
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I really don't look at it as stressing and I don't make such a chore of it, however I do like wearing something clean and it helps to prevent bracelet stretch.
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Old 23 August 2011, 03:27 AM   #9
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I wash the one I'm wearing when I get it out of it's box and about once a week until it goes back into the box.

Doing so keeps the watch not only looking good, but it also feels better on my wrist and frequent washing gets rid of the grit that is a part of daily life here in the great Southwest.
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Old 23 August 2011, 03:31 AM   #10
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Soap and water weekly!
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Old 23 August 2011, 03:38 AM   #11
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For regular daily wear my watches don't get that dirty so I clean them maybe once or twice a month.
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Old 23 August 2011, 03:43 AM   #12
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shower/bath with it and clean it while i'm cleaning myself.. easiest way so far.
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Old 23 August 2011, 04:31 AM   #13
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I bought this kit and love it. My watches look brand new every time I use it.

Good customer service too.

http://www.veraet.com/collections/wa...ium-care-kit-2
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Old 23 August 2011, 06:56 AM   #14
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I just wear mine in the shower and wash it with a little shampoo from my hair.

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Old 23 August 2011, 07:00 AM   #15
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i wash mine with soap and water at the end of each day that i wore it. i love having them fresh and ready for me at the start of each day. kind of like fresh/clean clothes.
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Old 23 August 2011, 10:35 AM   #16
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I wash my watch once a week with water/hand soap/toothbrush (I wear it 24/7). Once or twice a year I take the bracelet off and put it in an ultrasonic cleaner.
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Old 23 August 2011, 10:52 AM   #17
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I just wear mine in the shower and wash it with a little shampoo from my hair.

Richard
This is how I do it. Too easy!
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Old 23 August 2011, 11:06 AM   #18
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I hit mine with a soft toothbrush and mild soap every week or two, depending.
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Old 24 August 2011, 02:10 AM   #19
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I don't take a shower with mine. I think you will attract more soap scum that way. I usually just use the Rolex cloth that comes with the watch, or I use a micro-fiber cloth that is about 6 IN long. I sometimes use the glasses cleaner on the crystal face. As for the band, I have put it in warm water. I only do that when I get done golfing, because of the sweat. It is a really good idea to clean it though. After all, it's a Rolex. Keep it looking good.
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Old 24 August 2011, 02:20 AM   #20
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Once a month I use mild soap in warm water and a soft toothbrush. Then dry with a lint free microfibre cloth.

Comes up beautifully.

Last edited by Time2time; 24 August 2011 at 02:20 AM.. Reason: spelling
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Old 24 August 2011, 02:26 AM   #21
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I don't take a shower with mine. I think you will attract more soap scum that way. I usually just use the Rolex cloth that comes with the watch, or I use a micro-fiber cloth that is about 6 IN long. I sometimes use the glasses cleaner on the crystal face. As for the band, I have put it in warm water. I only do that when I get done golfing, because of the sweat. It is a really good idea to clean it though. After all, it's a Rolex. Keep it looking good.
Try liquid soap, it doesn't leave scum. Then I wipe it off as I'm drying myself.
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Old 24 August 2011, 07:53 AM   #22
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I don cotton gloves and remove the watch from its double zip-lock bags in the safe, where in comes out of the lint-free cotton sock and the box from Rolex. I then carefully clean it with a brand new toothbruch (new each cleaning) and mineral water along with aloe soft-soap. It is then air dried for several hours followed by a hair dryer blow-job with a sock over the discharge nozzle to act as a particulate filer. The, the watch is carefully, again with cotton gloves, returned to the bos, sock and double zip lock bags in the safe. I suspect that service life will be extended via this regimine.

Seriously, I shower and swim with my watches and, aong with a dab of soft-soap and/or shampoo now and again I hope to keep gunk/schmutz at bay and hopefully enjoy better service life out of the bracelets.
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Old 24 August 2011, 04:17 PM   #23
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just demineralised water and soft detergent

Good question!!.

I am very pedantic about this issue as any of the Rolex watches I have ever owned are stainless steel and regardless of if the grade is 304L or 904L, they are not noble metals and can be prone to pittings especially when exposed to the right oxidants we are constantly exposed to. Depending on what I am doing, I usually remove the bracelet and wash both the case and bracelet in soft detergent, rinse in normal water and dry with an unbleached cotton cloth followed by a rinse in demineralised water.

Seriously the more careful you are and the more attention you give it, the worse it is, as I recently experienced with my seadweller that is pretty much useless to any form of water resistance.
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Old 24 August 2011, 05:39 PM   #24
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i use a kids toothbrush and toothpaste once a week or so.
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Old 24 August 2011, 08:48 PM   #25
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It depends what I do with it, normally it just goes in the shower, but if I really have to clean it say for getting paint or engine oil off then it may get a visit to the sink with fairy liquid. It's funny but I bought an expensive watch because I heard they were bullet proof and would stand up to lots of abuse
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Old 24 August 2011, 08:59 PM   #26
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Just throw it in the dishwasher!

Seriously though, I shower with it on and every month or so I hit it with a Dora the Explorer (I had an 16570 -- it was funny, really) toothbrush and soap.
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Old 24 August 2011, 09:28 PM   #27
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Microfiber cloth every time I wear it... when needed warm water with dish soap (let it soak then rinse it clean). Comes out absolutely amazing, no scrubbing necessary.
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Old 24 August 2011, 10:41 PM   #28
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Toothpaste?????

Quote:
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i use a kids toothbrush and toothpaste once a week or so.
Toothpaste contains flouride and it is a halide. Halides are the enemies of Stainless steel including 904L. They can severely cause pitting especially when they creep in through the back seal via osmosis and other areas where stainless steel parts are joined. Avoid anything from the group 7 elements of the periodic table unless it is 2205 stainless steel
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Old 25 August 2011, 12:07 AM   #29
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After a day of SCUBA or anytime in salt water I'll rinse it well under pressure in fresh water and then let it sit overnite in a container of water.
Regularly, I just take it in the shower with me a couple times a years and go over it with a washcloth.
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Old 25 August 2011, 12:24 AM   #30
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I simply use tap water once a month, no soap, no brush, no special cleaners, no showers, etc.

That's just me!
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