How to clean a Rolex
A luxury timepiece, such as a Rolex, requires proper care and cleaning.
There are many places on the watch and within the grooves where grease, dirt and oils collect over time including between the bracelet links, the area joining the case and the bezel, and around the lens. After repeated wearing and sufficient use, your watch will require a thorough cleaning. The cleaning process is easy enough and should be done regularly as regular cleaning will also help you spot maintenance issues. With the proper care, your watch will keep ticking for a long time.
Seal the Case
Before you start cleaning, make sure the winding crown is tightly screwed onto the case. This will keep moisture out of the gentle parts within the watch case. Be careful not to over-tighten the screws and crown, they should just be tight enough to form a proper seal.
Pre-Wash
Since you will be using your hands to clean your watch, wash them thoroughly with soap to avoid transferring any additional dirt or grease to the watch. When you are done, rinse off your watch in lukewarm water.
Solution
Prepare a warm soapy water solution with ammonia-free mild soap and apply the soapy water over your watch with your hands. You may use a slight amount of jewellery cleaner in the soap solution to remove some persistent dirt but avoid harsh chemicals as these can seriously damage your Rolex. Adding a slight amount of jewellery cleaner will also help stones and other accents sparkle.
Cleaning
Now, you can begin softly scrubbing the face and the bezel to remove all the dirt particles. A toothbrush is a good tool for brushing and scrubbing. Be sure to brush away all the dirt and grime trapped in all the surface grooves while periodically submerging the watch and the toothbrush into clean soapy water. The double-hinged clasp and the movable links of the bracelet are the major areas that trap dirt and body grime. Rotate each link as far as it will go both ways while brushing to remove hidden dirt. Repeat until sufficiently clean.
Drying
Once the Rolex has been cleaned, rinse the watch with lukewarm water and then pat gently with a soft clean cloth until the watch has dried. Since your cloth will not likely reach the links on the bracelet, you can use a hair dryer set on the 'cool' setting to remove the excess water from the inner surface of the links. Use a dry cloth again to remove any remaining moisture.
Read more: http://www.shavemagazine.com/fashion/Properly-Clean-A-Rolex#ixzz2o1zltja4
Annual Maintenance
Bring your watch to a professional watch maker where you will get a full cleaning once a year.
Village Watch Center is your perfect place for professional repair and maintenance of your professional timepiece.
233 Washington Street
Brookline, MA
