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Onikage · 21 September 2011, 02:50 AM

I took my van to be hand washed and the very first thing that he sprayed (traffic film remover?) spattered on my bezel. I noticed it but didn't think anything of it. It just looked like soap. I washed the watch as usual and it looked perfect again. It does, in artificial light but in daylight it seems to be a slightly brighter colour where the spatters were. I've since cleaned the watch properly with a brush and it is no different. I'm just glad that the spots are only tiny and only I would be able to find them because I know where they are.

I'm happy that it wasn't a big splash. I'm keeping it covered the next time!

Does anyone have any experiences of this, any particular things to avoid?

dpkong · 21 September 2011, 03:17 AM

battery fluid?

horohollis · 7 April 2022, 01:35 AM

Nothing should really affect a ceramic insert. What probably happpend is the spray or overspray has dried and won’t come off with soap. Try some isopropyl alcohol to get the spots out and then wash with soap. Oops, just realized you have a 16710 with aluminum bezel. Loads of things can affect those.

burnthesehills · 7 April 2022, 01:58 AM

Assuming you mean aluminum versus ceramic, aluminum would be more susceptible.

Is it possible that the chemical merely removed some of the patina? And that eventually those spots will darken/blend over time.

In any event, sounds like it’s relatively minor so I wouldn’t worry about it. But another lesson learned. Depending on the activity, sometimes it’s best to simply take the watch off.

Seddyspaghetti · 7 April 2022, 02:18 AM

Acid lol

inadeje · 7 April 2022, 03:18 AM

Sulfuric Acid should adequately dissolve the insert over time.

trickydicky · 7 April 2022, 10:07 PM

My bezel in my new sub purchase (20 years old) seems a bit stiff to turn, but the service guy said it was fine. On line, people seem to spin them with little effort but I need to give it a little to make it turn. Is this sounding normal ?

jimcameron · 8 April 2022, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trickydicky

On line, people seem to spin them with little effort but I need to give it a little to make it turn. Is this sounding normal ?

Sounds normal to me. I would not want a bezel to "spin" with little effort. The bezel on your Sub is there to calculate how long you've been Scuba Diving. At various depths it is very important that you know how long you've been down. Although Dive Computers have made the Submariner marginally obsolete, it is still an excellent backup to know how long you've been diving.

I'd venture to say that "On line" people that like to spin them don't do a lot of diving.

scurfa · 7 April 2022, 10:42 PM

WD40 is a killer and a certain bike spray (not sure what) also wipes them out

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SlideRacker · 8 April 2022, 12:18 PM

Hydroflouric acid. Trust us.

csaltphoto · 8 April 2022, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlideRacker

Hydroflouric acid. Trust us.

Your arm would dissolve first!

Andad · 8 April 2022, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlideRacker

Hydroflouric acid. Trust us.

I wouldn't trust anyone who can't even spell hydrofluoric acid.

Is it the the aluminium bezel on your GMT you are referring to Onikage?

russeree · 9 April 2022, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlideRacker

Hydroflouric acid. Trust us.

Pickling agents. Aluminum loves it.

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Swearengen · 9 April 2022, 12:15 AM

Caustic soda (NaOH) will eat aluminium for breakfast. Also there are some interesting reactions between Mercury and Aluminium, once the oxide layer has been penetrated

77T · 8 April 2022, 01:09 PM

Over time, particles of light will do more “damage” than a splash of something used to clean bugs or tar off cars.

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Obi Wan · 8 April 2022, 10:45 PM

Ups

CarlOver · 9 April 2022, 12:34 AM

Aggressive car chemicals have either low or high ph. Finding chemicals with ph of 12 is pretty common. Every single pH number increase or decrease is a 10 fold increase/ decrease. So pH of 9 is 10 times strength of pH 8. Anodized aluminum is would likely be effected by chemicals that are significantly not neutral.

Tools · 6 April 2022, 04:14 AM

Older aluminum inserts are anodized aluminum.

There are plenty of chemicals that will affect them, as well as others that will take off any surface oxidization and make them look spotted.

21 September 2011, 02:50 AM	#1
Onikage "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: England Watch: 16710, 16628 Posts: 7,757	Which chemicals damage bezel inserts? I took my van to be hand washed and the very first thing that he sprayed (traffic film remover?) spattered on my bezel. I noticed it but didn't think anything of it. It just looked like soap. I washed the watch as usual and it looked perfect again. It does, in artificial light but in daylight it seems to be a slightly brighter colour where the spatters were. I've since cleaned the watch properly with a brush and it is no different. I'm just glad that the spots are only tiny and only I would be able to find them because I know where they are. I'm happy that it wasn't a big splash. I'm keeping it covered the next time! Does anyone have any experiences of this, any particular things to avoid? __________________ GMT II 16710 TRADITIONAL ( D- Serial #) ROLEXFANBOY P-Club Member #4

7 April 2022, 03:18 AM	#6
inadeje 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Miami Watch: me lose count. Posts: 5,907	Sulfuric Acid should adequately dissolve the insert over time. __________________ ♛ 218206 Roman ♛ 116689 ♛ 126710BLRO ♛ 16520 white ♛ 16523 white ♛ 16610 ♛ 5513 Birth Year - ✠ Patek Philippe 5980/1R-001 - AP 26331ST Panda - Panerai Bronzo 671 & 111, Ω Speedmaster 1957 Broad Arrow, Cartier Santos XL - Montblanc TimeWalker Chrono 41

7 April 2022, 10:42 PM	#9
scurfa 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sunderland Posts: 1,320	WD40 is a killer and a certain bike spray (not sure what) also wipes them out Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Instagram @scurfawatches

9 April 2022, 12:15 AM	#14
Swearengen "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Real Name: Gabriel Location: London, UK Posts: 1,859	Caustic soda (NaOH) will eat aluminium for breakfast. Also there are some interesting reactions between Mercury and Aluminium, once the oxide layer has been penetrated __________________ 1680 1675 16800 16570 16710 17000 16613 17013 Gone but not forgotten 16610LV 1016 16234

8 April 2022, 01:09 PM	#15
77T 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: PaulG Location: Georgia Posts: 42,016	Over time, particles of light will do more “damage” than a splash of something used to clean bugs or tar off cars. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro __________________ Does anyone really know what time it is?

21 September 2011, 03:17 AM	#2
dpkong "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Real Name: Don Location: Borneo Watch: it! Posts: 864	battery fluid?

7 April 2022, 01:35 AM	#3
horohollis "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Real Name: Hollis Location: Southeast MS Watch: Orient Ray Diver Posts: 87	Nothing should really affect a ceramic insert. What probably happpend is the spray or overspray has dried and won’t come off with soap. Try some isopropyl alcohol to get the spots out and then wash with soap. Oops, just realized you have a 16710 with aluminum bezel. Loads of things can affect those.

7 April 2022, 01:58 AM	#4
burnthesehills "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Real Name: Joe Location: Western MA Posts: 1,211	Assuming you mean aluminum versus ceramic, aluminum would be more susceptible. Is it possible that the chemical merely removed some of the patina? And that eventually those spots will darken/blend over time. In any event, sounds like it’s relatively minor so I wouldn’t worry about it. But another lesson learned. Depending on the activity, sometimes it’s best to simply take the watch off.

7 April 2022, 02:18 AM	#5
Seddyspaghetti "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Uranus Watch: 116500LN Posts: 4,789	Acid lol

7 April 2022, 10:07 PM	#7
trickydicky "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: australia Watch: 14060M Posts: 20	My bezel in my new sub purchase (20 years old) seems a bit stiff to turn, but the service guy said it was fine. On line, people seem to spin them with little effort but I need to give it a little to make it turn. Is this sounding normal ?

8 April 2022, 12:18 PM	#10
SlideRacker "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Orange County, CA Watch: 116500LN Black Posts: 561	Hydroflouric acid. Trust us.

8 April 2022, 10:45 PM	#16
Obi Wan "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: Spain Posts: 200	Ups

9 April 2022, 12:34 AM	#17
CarlOver "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: US Posts: 2,219	Aggressive car chemicals have either low or high ph. Finding chemicals with ph of 12 is pretty common. Every single pH number increase or decrease is a 10 fold increase/ decrease. So pH of 9 is 10 times strength of pH 8. Anodized aluminum is would likely be effected by chemicals that are significantly not neutral.

6 April 2022, 04:14 AM	#18
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	Older aluminum inserts are anodized aluminum. There are plenty of chemicals that will affect them, as well as others that will take off any surface oxidization and make them look spotted. __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

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