Jamil
Beginner watch collector
Boston, MA, USA
Member since
Last active: 2 months ago
7.00” / 17.78 cm
I use a custom mix of lemon juice and vinegar
All my sports watches cronos and divers with brazalete or rubber strap i clean with water and hand foam soap
Nitric acid. It's the only way to be sure.
Kidding~
I usually just rinse my watches under the tap, and then towel very throughly. I also have alcohol wipes if I want to really clean them. But I also only have watches with metal bracelets, so your milage may vary.
Nitric acid. It's the only way to be sure.
Kidding~
I usually just rinse my watches under the tap, and then towel very throughly. I also have alcohol wipes if I want to really clean them. But I also only have watches with metal bracelets, so your milage may vary.
Where can I source the nitric acid can I use folic acid as substitute?
I was gifted a small ultrasonic cleaner which works wonders on bracelets. For the head I use a soft brush with a teeny tiny drop of Dawn in distilled water (unless the WR is sus) followed by a Cape Cod cloth. Saddle soap works well on leather straps.
Where can I source the nitric acid can I use folic acid as substitute?
Don’t use nitric acid. That was a joke 😉
100% cotton T-shirt.
or
Whatever you're wearing at the time.
My go to is an AIS Collective ChronoPen. It’s similar to a sparklean brush.
what is there to clean? I'm an adult, I'm not rolling around with my watch in the sand in the playground like a little kid....
Little spit and the bottom edge of your T-shirt.
Every few months I clean bracelets, cases or rubber straps as needed. I draw a cup of warm water with a drop of dish soap and got at it with a toothbrush. Getting between links in a bracelet as that’s where the sweat demons hide.
Ultrasonic cleaner
The same way I clean everything else
what is there to clean? I'm an adult, I'm not rolling around with my watch in the sand in the playground like a little kid....
A whole bunch of stuff! Watches can accumulate various types of dirt and grime over time, particularly if they are worn frequently and not regularly cleaned. Here are some common types of buildup you might find on a watch:
Sweat and Skin Oils: The most common grime on a watch is from sweat and natural oils produced by the skin. These can cause a watch band or bracelet to become discolored and can create a buildup of gunk, particularly in the crevices and joins.
Dead Skin Cells: As skin regenerates, dead skin cells can accumulate in the nooks and crannies of a watch, especially under the band.
Dust and Lint: These can gather on the watch face, around the bezel, and between the links of metal bracelets.
Soap and Lotion Residue: If you wear your watch while washing your hands or applying lotion, residues can accumulate, sometimes hardening over time.
Water Spots: After exposure to water, mineral deposits can be left behind as the water evaporates, especially if the water is hard.
Salt Deposits: If a watch is exposed to seawater or sweat, salt can crystallize and leave white deposits, particularly in places where moisture can get trapped.
Chemicals: Exposure to chemicals, like chlorine from swimming pools, can leave residue and potentially damage certain materials over time, especially if the watch is not cleaned after exposure.
Food Particles: If you wear your watch while cooking or eating, tiny particles of food can get lodged in various parts of the watch, especially under the bezel or between bracelet links.
Cosmetics: Makeup, perfumes, and other cosmetic products can cause buildup or even discoloration, particularly on the watch band.
Environmental Particles: Pollen, pollutants, and other fine environmental particles can accumulate on and around the watch.
Adhesives: Residues from stickers or labels, if the watch is new, or from various adhesives that might come into contact with the watch during daily activities.
Corrosion or Oxidation Products: Metal parts of a watch, especially if made from non-stainless materials, can corrode or tarnish over time due to reactions with elements in the environment or the skin.
To maintain a watch in good condition, regular cleaning is recommended, which not only keeps the watch looking good but can also extend its life by preventing damage from corrosive substances like sweat or salt.
Rinse them in water, wipe them down with clean cloth. Sadly if it's sapphire you're gonna have to go the extra step of some type of lens wipe. Acrylic, dry edge of the afore mentioned clean cloth.
Skip the towels and just go straight to a Brillo pad, you'll love the results
A whole bunch of stuff! Watches can accumulate various types of dirt and grime over time, particularly if they are worn frequently and not regularly cleaned. Here are some common types of buildup you might find on a watch:
Sweat and Skin Oils: The most common grime on a watch is from sweat and natural oils produced by the skin. These can cause a watch band or bracelet to become discolored and can create a buildup of gunk, particularly in the crevices and joins.
Dead Skin Cells: As skin regenerates, dead skin cells can accumulate in the nooks and crannies of a watch, especially under the band.
Dust and Lint: These can gather on the watch face, around the bezel, and between the links of metal bracelets.
Soap and Lotion Residue: If you wear your watch while washing your hands or applying lotion, residues can accumulate, sometimes hardening over time.
Water Spots: After exposure to water, mineral deposits can be left behind as the water evaporates, especially if the water is hard.
Salt Deposits: If a watch is exposed to seawater or sweat, salt can crystallize and leave white deposits, particularly in places where moisture can get trapped.
Chemicals: Exposure to chemicals, like chlorine from swimming pools, can leave residue and potentially damage certain materials over time, especially if the watch is not cleaned after exposure.
Food Particles: If you wear your watch while cooking or eating, tiny particles of food can get lodged in various parts of the watch, especially under the bezel or between bracelet links.
Cosmetics: Makeup, perfumes, and other cosmetic products can cause buildup or even discoloration, particularly on the watch band.
Environmental Particles: Pollen, pollutants, and other fine environmental particles can accumulate on and around the watch.
Adhesives: Residues from stickers or labels, if the watch is new, or from various adhesives that might come into contact with the watch during daily activities.
Corrosion or Oxidation Products: Metal parts of a watch, especially if made from non-stainless materials, can corrode or tarnish over time due to reactions with elements in the environment or the skin.
To maintain a watch in good condition, regular cleaning is recommended, which not only keeps the watch looking good but can also extend its life by preventing damage from corrosive substances like sweat or salt.
Haha, this is what I would call the typical "let´s over-analyse everything to death" of the average watch nerd.
If you think it´s really really really necessary....just rinse your watch in water and you will be just fine.
You want regularly start scrubbing your watch with a tooth brush, buy products and shit for a it....well you can do that but I have other things do to in my free time.
I´ve got watches from the 1960ies, they never get cleaned...they are 60 years old now and they are just fine and working.
Clean your watch for Dead skin cells...hahaha....oh my, the stuff you read here 😂......so I guess the risk is, if I don´t clean the dead skin cells of my watch is that they can turn into Zombie Skin cells and run away at night with my watch ? 😂😂
Sorry man , that was an open goal I couldn´t resist 😉
I don’t take anything offensively unless you’re directly demeaning me or calling me a bastard or an idiot or something.
I’m not saying your watch isn’t going to be able to function if you don’t clean it, but as somebody who has opened up enough old watches that have never been cleaned before, it’s absolutely disgusting to see the dirt, grime, skin cells, and everything else that gets stuck up in between the gaskets and under the bezel. I for one would rather clean my watch regularly to prevent that buildup. Plus, I just like it when my watch is shiny, clean and without fingerprints and any other nastiness. Have a good weekend!