Watch creating dirt marks on wrist

[68camaro]

Hello, my wife has a 26 INCH 18K WG ROLEX LADIES DATEJUST STYLE # 179174. JUBILEE STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET # 63130. DIAL IS WHITE WITH DIAMOND MARKERS.

She has been wearing it more regularly lately and it has been creating pretty heavy "dirt?" marks under band. She washes it with Verat Watch cleaner and keeps herself clean and she does not work in dirty setting.

Today 2 hours after washing watch with Verat the dirt? mark was width of band and 2" long?

Any ideas why this would happen and how to fix. Watch was bought new at Rolex Dealer 7-8 years ago.

[HideMyWalletPlease]

This is highly unusual. Gold rarely reacts with skin. Most people’s body’s agree with gold more than most metals. Perhaps it’s the cleaner you are usuning. Try switching to water only. Give the watch a good rinse and see how it goes. I typically just use water and a soft towel.

Also have her discontinue body lotions, sanitizers etc on the wrist area. No telling what kind of skin products she is using.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by 68camaro

Hello, my wife has a 26 INCH 18K WG ROLEX LADIES DATEJUST STYLE # 179174. JUBILEE STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET # 63130. DIAL IS WHITE WITH DIAMOND MARKERS.

She has been wearing it more regularly lately and it has been creating pretty heavy "dirt?" marks under band. She washes it with Verat Watch cleaner and keeps herself clean and she does not work in dirty setting.

Today 2 hours after washing watch with Verat the dirt? mark was width of band and 2" long?

Any ideas why this would happen and how to fix. Watch was bought new at Rolex Dealer 7-8 years ago.

There is likely still some dirt on the bracelet, suggest to remove bracelet and put it on an ultrasonic cleaner.


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[ninjin]

You don't need any fancy watch cleaner. Just use dawn or take it into the shower with you. Wash the watch the same time as your body. If it's somewhere hot, I wash the watch with me everyday in the shower. It sounds like your watch needs a proper clean. Some pics of the skin side of the jubilee bracelet would be useful for us to help you further.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by 68camaro

Hello, my wife has a 26 INCH 18K WG ROLEX LADIES DATEJUST STYLE # 179174. JUBILEE STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET # 63130. DIAL IS WHITE WITH DIAMOND MARKERS.

She has been wearing it more regularly lately and it has been creating pretty heavy "dirt?" marks under band. She washes it with Verat Watch cleaner and keeps herself clean and she does not work in dirty setting.

Today 2 hours after washing watch with Verat the dirt? mark was width of band and 2" long?

Any ideas why this would happen and how to fix. Watch was bought new at Rolex Dealer 7-8 years ago.

Sorry about your maybe problem with your wife's watch like all metals some could cause problems some people cannot wear gold. The main and only difference between 316L over 904L SS it has slightly more Molybdenum(Mo)approx 2% more, approx 1-2% more Crome(Cr), 1% copper(Cu), and approx 10% more nickel and thats it.And in 95% of cases where customers have complained about rashes and dirt like marks and they disappear after a thorough cleaning of the bracelet in good old soap and water stop used that Verat stuff. It's not that important how much nickel is inside of the alloy, all what counts is what amount of nickel thats released from the alloy under the influence of sweat for example. And the way the alloy is made a Rolex releases very very little nickel content on many tests over the years since 904L was introduced, less than many that use 316L SS. If its gets really bad you could wear the watch on a strap or even use tape on inside bracelet and case back. But myself believe perhaps you should seek help from a dermatologist, to see if you do have a real allergy problem if rash or dirt like marks continues after washing watch etc.

[chieftd]

I usually soak our watches in the sink, warm water, for 20 -30 minutes. Then I clean with soap and toothbrush especially inside the bracelet. For me, the soaking helps loosen the dirt in the links. Works for me, just a suggestion.

Cheers, Tim

[inadeje]

A couple of things spring to mind concerning the marks on her skin that are occurring.

Firstly, there’s an art to cleaning watches that gets better over time. Most focus upon the shiny bits and overlook the areas where skin oils and grime becomes encased or lodged. Summer is notoriously a period in which people tend to see this more frequently, since we sweat a lot more and this sweat enters these uncleaned areas and brings with it some of the grime left after incorrect cleaning.

The jubilee collects skin oils etc in the crevices more than the oyster. It’s important to use a soft brush, ideally a used toothbrush or similar and try to fold the links in every union (especially inside on the area that contacts the skin) while brushing between these links. You’ll see grime right in the center of the link surface which is inaccessible unless said delicate folding is achieved. I do this on a the side of a white surface so that I can see the contrast of the soap suds which should logically be darker due to the grime.

As I said, it’s an art. A Superficial clean with the bracelet flat or without each link articulated wont get the brush bristles into these crevices.

Hope this helps

[CharlesN]

My wife has the same problem.

We have found what it is with her but this was the original train of thought until we got to the end of it.
She wears a Lady Datejust on an oyster bracelet usually for work.

She travelled into Central London daily on the trains .. and then the final part of the journey on the London Underground.
She always told me that the dirt in her bracelet was from the underground as its not the cleanest of places.
WRONG !!
At the start of Covid she worked from home. No travel at all.
The black was still coming.

There is the proof its not from public transport.

So then we thought it was possibly from paperwork and type ink etc.
Not at all.

I then filled a large cup of water with very hot water (iot boiling) and added a few drops of washing up liquid.

I soaked the bracelet (Not the watch head) and dirt poured out.
Black and flakey.
That was the clue .....
We drained the water and examined the residue. .......

Its dead skin. Her skin is reacting with the bracelet and sheds just a little but it looks like a lot as its black.

I hgave spoken to a dermatologist .... He told me that women have different and more fragile skin layers to men. Its a very common thing he has seen and that there is nothing to worry about.

Using creams etc to soften the skin actually agrevates the situation but many (Most probably) women like to look after themselves far more thsn men and so use all these creams.

To add to this a little more .....
It happens with her Rolex, but NOT with her Cartier or her Patek Philippe.

[brandrea]

Interesting read all

[68camaro]

Wow, thank you all for your thoughtful responses. It is good to hear she is not only one.

Based on all the responses I guess our first order today will be to soak band for a while in Dawn and see condition of water, then I will clean thoroughly with toothbrush between each link and not use Verat. I'll have her wear watch after fresh shower and see how it goes.

Also, it has been unbearably hot and humid in southern US so maybe just doing errands is increasing sweat and debris accumulation.

Originally Posted by padi56

and approx 10% more nickel and thats it........ all what counts is what amount of nickel thats released from the alloy under the influence of sweat for example...And the way the alloy is made a Rolex releases very very little nickel content on many tests over the years since 904L was introduced, less than many that use 316L SS. .....to see if you do have a real allergy problem if rash or dirt like marks continues after washing watch etc.

@padi56 - this is very interesting as she does have nickel allergy and avoids it at all costs.

@charlesN - she does have thin skin (seriously...literately and figuratively LOL) she damages her skin easily, so this might account for increased dead skin flakes attracting more dirt than one would expect.

We will experiment and report back.

Big thanks to all...

[Xerxes77]

Her skin react…

[M.a.x.]

I have a nickel allergy but have no problem with my Rolex. Purchased 9 months ago new. Been wearing it everyday and I work a lot outside in Florida so I sweat a lot. I took a chance buying the watch knowing I have this allergy so I’m glad I haven’t had a reaction.

I too sometimes get a dark dirty mark on my wrist. Only on the inside of the wrist behind my thumb. It’s just dirt. It only occurs when I sweat very heavy or wash my hands and wrist and let everything air dry. A good cleaning with a soft toothbrush is needed.

[Tricolore66]

This. A lot of the ultrasonic cleaners have a plastic "bridge" that can keep the head of the watch out of the solution but clean the bracelet. Jubilee bracelets can trap a lot of dirt that you can't get to with a usual spray down with cleaner. You can buy perfectly good ultrasonic cleaners on Amazon for under $40. I've cleaned bracelets that looked fairly clean and when I pull them out of the solution the water is almost black.

Originally Posted by fskywalker

There is likely still some dirt on the bracelet, suggest to remove bracelet and put it on an ultrasonic cleaner.


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[sportsfan0704]

Originally Posted by Tricolore66

This. A lot of the ultrasonic cleaners have a plastic "bridge" that can keep the head of the watch out of the solution but clean the bracelet. Jubilee bracelets can trap a lot of dirt that you can't get to with a usual spray down with cleaner. You can buy perfectly good ultrasonic cleaners on Amazon for under $40. I've cleaned bracelets that looked fairly clean and when I pull them out of the solution the water is almost black.

Do you know of a good one with this kind of “bridge” ? I don’t have any experience with jewelry repairs or tools and I don’t want to start taking the bracelet of my watches but I don’t want to put the head in the cleanser either. Been using soap and water with a soft brush but seems ultrasonic is the way to go…

[77T]

If you don’t fully submerge a bracelet in the ultrasonic cleaner, you’ll miss links on either end + the two endlinks.

If you want to use one then it may be best to learn how to remove the bracelet.

Another option is a steam bullet - it’s a multitasker to also clean other things around the home and disinfect hard to reach surfaces.


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[Dirt]

Originally Posted by sportsfan0704

Do you know of a good one with this kind of “bridge” ? I don’t have any experience with jewelry repairs or tools and I don’t want to start taking the bracelet of my watches but I don’t want to put the head in the cleanser either. Been using soap and water with a soft brush but seems ultrasonic is the way to go…

The bracelets on my wife's watches can get unbelievably grubby if left for some time without cleaning with warm water and dish soap that's agitated from the inside with a soft toothbrush.
During a clean, the filth that comes out can be amazing, so much so that a second clean is required in quick succession to get it an acceptable standard.
The filth is not necessarily apparent but it's in there.
Regular cleaning is the solution around our house to stop my wife from getting dirty marks on her wrist.
The thorough rinse under warm water is equally crucial.

[zengineer]

Am I the only one who wants to see a picture of a woman who can pull off a 26 inch watch?

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[Gab27]

Originally Posted by zengineer

Am I the only one who wants to see a picture of a woman who can pull off a 26 inch watch?

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[Boaters]

Originally Posted by 68camaro

Wow, thank you all for your thoughtful responses. It is good to hear she is not only one.

Based on all the responses I guess our first order today will be to soak band for a while in Dawn and see condition of water, then I will clean thoroughly with toothbrush between each link and not use Verat. I'll have her wear watch after fresh shower and see how it goes.

Also, it has been unbearably hot and humid in southern US so maybe just doing errands is increasing sweat and debris accumulation.



@padi56 - this is very interesting as she does have nickel allergy and avoids it at all costs.

@charlesN - she does have thin skin (seriously...literately and figuratively LOL) she damages her skin easily, so this might account for increased dead skin flakes attracting more dirt than one would expect.

We will experiment and report back.

Big thanks to all...

904L has a total nickel content of 25% probably part of the issue. Good Luck..

[Tikandtokalot]

A good swish around in fairy liquid “dawn” and slightly hot water will dislodge and anti bac between dips.

[Tikandtokalot]

Originally Posted by zengineer

Am I the only one who wants to see a picture of a woman who can pull off a 26 inch watch?

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Wrong site.