Cleaning a watch

Slattsy

Good evening. Or good night should I say.

Looking for some friendly advice on how best to keep a watch in pristine condition?

I know some scrapes and marks are inevitable but any tips on keeping it clean, specifically what to use and what not to use.
I'm afraid to use any product in case it dulls or stains!!


Thanks.

Finglas Incubus

On a related note, does anyone have any experience of using scratch removal compound such as this stuff?

Wibbs

Over the years I've generally only used a soft cloth to clean. In a couple of cases I've stripped the watch down and revived the stainless steel with a mix of various grades of sandpaper and scotch pads(the latter are great for reviving a brushed finish on a steel bracelet), but that's going a bit mad Ted. You have to be careful depending on the finish. Especially if it's plated. Stainless steel wears the years well and can be polished, though every polish removes material and crisp edges can be easily lost unless you have access to a lapping machine(which I imagine few of us do).

I've used the Polywatch stuff Finglas. It's brilliant with acrylic crystals. Does nada for sapphire or glass. They require a different and more involved process. Common or garden Brasso is nearly as good as the polywatch and you may already have that in your kitchen cupboard and even toothpaste will smooth out minor scratches(and leave your watch minty fresh...). For deeper gouges Ive used fine grade wet and dry sandpaper, then finished with polywatch/Brasso. The first time you try this you will require immodium after the first pass with the wet and dry.

Just my 2 cents, but I'd avoid powered tools like Dremels like the plague. Unless you've a steady hand and practice it's all too easy to remove too much material in an instant. Plus on acrylic you can form a heat spot that will bugger the crystal.

Finglas Incubus

Wibbs wrote: »

Common or garden Brasso is nearly as good as the polywatch and you may already have that in your kitchen cupboard and even toothpaste will smooth out minor scratches(and leave your watch minty fresh...)

Nice tip Wibbs, who knew toothpaste was so versatile!

mad muffin

As far as cleaning years of sweaty grime off of stainless. Baby wipes to a miraculous job at that.

893bet

What about cleaning sweat marks from the inside of leather? Any tips

Wibbs

I'd be going with mad muffin and suggesting the oul baby wipes. He's hitting the nail on the head there.

Anjobe

893bet wrote: »

What about cleaning sweat marks from the inside of leather? Any tips

Never really liked leather for an everyday watch strap - they just get too sweaty and smelly. Try saddle soap to clean it.

Wibbs

*sings* Anjobe is a sweaty fecker, Anjobe is a sweaty fecker... Nail on the head with the saddle soap A. Ca work like a charm. I've used it revive some vintage straps, in a couple of cases very vintage straps. Like Great War era. As an aside if you do want to help revive a very old strap, check out the moisturiser dept of your local supermarket or chemist. Leather is skin after all. I got a 1916 strap back from the desiccated dead using oil of ulay. I kid thee not gentle readers. Slathered it in the stuff, left it a few days to suck it up, which it did and voila reborn strap.

Anjobe

Wibbs wrote: »

*sings* Anjobe is a sweaty fecker, Anjobe is a sweaty fecker... Nail on the head with the saddle soap A. Ca work like a charm. I've used it revive some vintage straps, in a couple of cases very vintage straps. Like Great War era. As an aside if you do want to help revive a very old strap, check out the moisturiser dept of your local supermarket or chemist. Leather is skin after all. I got a 1916 strap back from the desiccated dead using oil of ulay. I kid thee not gentle readers. Slathered it in the stuff, left it a few days to suck it up, which it did and voila reborn strap.

LOL, to paraphrase Col Kilgore, I love the smell of watch straps in the morning, smells like.............Parmesan cheese (or butyric acid if you prefer).

Oil of Olay? I've heard it all now!

Wibbs

Yep, now the straps are wrinkle free and protected from UV.

LorMal

Wibbs wrote: »

Yep, now the straps are wrinkle free and protected from UV.

Remember now Wibbs, they only remove 'the appearance' of wrinkles