How to clean a 3atm watch?
Hey guys! maybe a dumb question, but i might buy a 3atm watch (usually my watches WR has minimum 20atm) and I am a little bit unsure how I should clean it. With my watches i tend to clean them with water (under the tap) and with a toothbrush with soap and I just brush them. Can a 3atm watch be cleaned in the same way? Im kinda lost here haha!
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Victor
I am all for microbrands!
Umeå, Sweden
Member since
Last active: 2 days ago
6.75” / 17.15 cm
I'd probably get some rubbing alcohol and water mixed to a 70/30 Alcohol/water ratio and dip the brush into that and scrub that way.
Rubbing alcohol will enhance evaporation and the lower water content will minimize the possibility of oxidization (rust)
I would also recommend using a small bag of desiccant in your watch boxes. Helps with humidity.
I'd probably get some rubbing alcohol and water mixed to a 70/30 Alcohol/water ratio and dip the brush into that and scrub that way.
Rubbing alcohol will enhance evaporation and the lower water content will minimize the possibility of oxidization (rust)
I was just about to say the same.
I'd probably get some rubbing alcohol and water mixed to a 70/30 Alcohol/water ratio and dip the brush into that and scrub that way.
Rubbing alcohol will enhance evaporation and the lower water content will minimize the possibility of oxidization (rust)
Thanks a lot for the input!
Sometimes i get a bit confused with the difference between the 3atm and 5atm watches. Are there limitations to what can one do with a 3atm? (obv. not swimming and showering)
Thanks a lot for the input!
Sometimes i get a bit confused with the difference between the 3atm and 5atm watches. Are there limitations to what can one do with a 3atm? (obv. not swimming and showering)
As with all questions about watches; it depends on who you ask.
5atm on an Omega is a legit 5atm according to Omega, while other brands say 3atm should be used in a desert only (exaggeration for effect)
Considerations:
Last service date & were any gaskets replaced.
Length of exposure
Steam
Vigor of activity
Crown orientation (pushing forward into the water is more pressure. More than 3atm? Unknown)
Salt vs. Fresh water
Basically all mine are strictly dress watches at 3atm. I use my divers mostly because I live in Washington and it rains and snows a lot around here lol
That makes me be a little bit scared honestly ! Maybe i should aim for a 5atm to feel safer haha
This is an insider secret. Guard it with your life...
Baby wipes!
Don't tell anyone I told you... 👀
This is an insider secret. Guard it with your life...
Baby wipes!
Don't tell anyone I told you... 👀
haha thats a good one actually!
This is an insider secret. Guard it with your life...
Baby wipes!
Don't tell anyone I told you... 👀
Never realised the usefulness of baby wipes until I had my first child. 18 years on and we still have baby wipes at home and use it regularly.
Never realised the usefulness of baby wipes until I had my first child. 18 years on and we still have baby wipes at home and use it regularly.
Right?! We literally use them for everything! :-)
That makes me be a little bit scared honestly ! Maybe i should aim for a 5atm to feel safer haha
You should really just consider your lifestyle.
How often do you actually get your watches wet?
How often do you expect this watch to get wet?
How often do your watches 'need' to be cleaned?
Will this watch need to be cleaned as often as your divers?
For myself, my watches basically never get wet if it isn't raining. And if it is raining, I'm wearing something like a jacket anyway. As for cleaning my dressier watches, other than a baby wipe to the caseback every year or so, they don't really need it.
Isopropyl alcohol, that's it. It's made for cleaning and evaporates quickly.
It's used for electronics, camera lenses and I use it for external parts of watches.