The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Old 14 June 2021, 11:18 AM   #1
dolceman81
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 208
Platinum owners.

How do you maintain/clean your bracelet?! Where do you buy the items used to clean the band? thanks.
dolceman81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 11:26 AM   #2
kieselguhr
"TRF" Member
 
kieselguhr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Real Name: Nick
Location: Las Vegas
Watch: 1601
Posts: 10,623
Platinum owners.

At the end of a weekly rotation I clean the watch before putting it back in the safe.

I first rinse the watch with running water, then use a drop of dawn dish soap, lather it into a foam and apply it all over the watch by hand, then scrub it with a soft bristle brush, then a final rinse and dry with microfiber towel.

You can go get everything from your local grocery store. I get mine from Costco
kieselguhr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 12:16 PM   #3
sj24k
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: GMT-07:00
Posts: 897
same as all my metal watches. some warm water, a little dawn or similar, rub it around with my fingers in a small plastic bowl or just in the sink. take a very soft bristle brush to it (not always, but sometimes.) rinse it off, dry it with a microfiber. let it sit on the towel for a bit to drip dry. stick it in a watch roll. toss it in the safe. wear it. lather, rinse, repeat.
sj24k is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 01:48 PM   #4
dolceman81
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 208
I emailed Davidsw and he recommended the same with cape code cloth. Thoughts
dolceman81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 02:07 PM   #5
gmtbatman
"TRF" Member
 
gmtbatman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2018
Real Name: BJ
Location: Atlanta
Watch: GMT BLNR
Posts: 90
Id be careful with cape cod. Those are abrasive and will remove tiny amounts of material. Should be used very sparingly, not for regular cleaning
gmtbatman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 02:17 PM   #6
peterpl
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: .
Posts: 6,692
Soap and water that is all you need.

Dont over think it.
peterpl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 02:47 PM   #7
EEpro
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
EEpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Brad
Location: Purdue
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 9,243
Please do not use cape cod or any polish cloth on that watch. It leaves the factory as black polish and replacing normal skinny hairlines with regions of milky swirls visible in direct light is not a good look.
__________________
Ω
2FA Active
EEpro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 07:45 PM   #8
GT23
"TRF" Member
 
GT23's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Singapore
Posts: 302
I use running tap water with a bit of handwash foam and then blow dry (cold air) it with the dyson.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
GT23 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 08:10 PM   #9
JSolution
"TRF" Member
 
JSolution's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Real Name: Jay
Location: England
Watch: SkyD
Posts: 6,398
Using cape cod on platinum sounds like a terrible idea.

I just run them under the tap and clean with my fingers ever so often or in the shower.
JSolution is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 08:49 PM   #10
brandrea
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
brandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 78,135
Dish soap and soft toothbrush to get between the links. Tee shirt or cloth to dry
brandrea is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 09:57 PM   #11
1665fan
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: East coast
Posts: 6,660
Quote:
Originally Posted by dolceman81 View Post
I emailed Davidsw and he recommended the same with cape code cloth. Thoughts
You don’t clean with cape cod....you repair scratches by making millions more little scratches......I’m sure Davis SW or any grey would know that
1665fan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 11:16 PM   #12
77T
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
77T's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: PaulG
Location: Georgia
Posts: 42,024
Platinum owners.

Quote:
Originally Posted by dolceman81 View Post
How do you maintain/clean your bracelet?! Where do you buy the items used to clean the band? thanks.

For the bracelet alone, a soft baby’s toothbrush and clear liquid soap well-diluted in warm water should remove all normal detritus among the bracelet’s links.

To make the toothbrush’s bristles even softer, try scrubbing them along coarse grit sandpaper to fray their tips - rinse throughly to remove any grit they may accumulate.

Optionally…
If you want to buy a jewelry ultrasonic machine, it can help with the tight joints you may not reach with a brush. Of course this involves removing the watch head which shouldn’t be submerged in the ultrasonic machine. This will help clean jewelry also.

Lastly…
Even a steam bullet can be used to clean the links with no brushing or machines. This will help clean and disinfect surfaces around the kitchen, too. They come with many attachments.

Those last two ideas provide you a multitasker for cleaning other items small or large.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
__________________


Does anyone really know what time it is?
77T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 11:23 PM   #13
EEpro
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
EEpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Brad
Location: Purdue
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 9,243
Quote:
Originally Posted by 77T View Post
For the bracelet alone, a soft baby’s toothbrush and clear liquid soap well-diluted in warm water should remove all normal detritus among the bracelet’s links.

To make the toothbrush’s bristles even softer, try scrubbing them along coarse grit sandpaper to fray their tips - rinse throughly to remove any grit they may accumulate.

Optionally…
If you want to buy a jewelry ultrasonic machine, it can help with the tight joints you may not reach with a brush. Of course this involves removing the watch head which shouldn’t be submerged in the ultrasonic machine. This will help clean jewelry also.

Lastly…
Even a steam bullet can be used to clean the links with no brushing or machines. This will help clean and disinfect surfaces around the kitchen, too. They come with many attachments.

Those last two ideas provide you a multitasker for cleaning other items small or large.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The steam jet from my espresso machine works great for jewelry and Rolex bracelets.
__________________
Ω
2FA Active
EEpro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 11:23 PM   #14
HogwldFLTR
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
HogwldFLTR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Lee
Location: 42.48.45N70.48.48
Watch: Too many to list!
Posts: 33,697
I hardly ever clean mine. When I do it is either water dried with a clean soft towel or Wrist Clean dried with their microfiber cloth or other watch intended cloth.
__________________
Troglodyte in residence!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=808599
HogwldFLTR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14 June 2021, 11:52 PM   #15
Golden Ellipse
2024 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Family first
Posts: 652
For my dd40, I use only a towelette made from spiderwebs and kitten belly fur moistened lightly with room-temperature unicorn tears.
Golden Ellipse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 June 2021, 12:08 AM   #16
sj24k
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: GMT-07:00
Posts: 897
Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden Ellipse View Post
For my dd40, I use only a towelette made from spiderwebs and kitten belly fur moistened lightly with room-temperature unicorn tears.

I was told to warm the unicorn tears in a bath of freshly drawn mares urine. But will try room temperature next time. Thanks for the tip.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
sj24k is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 June 2021, 12:24 AM   #17
ratty
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Real Name: Graham
Location: UK
Watch: Daytonas and Subs
Posts: 2,810
I feel really guilty now!

I can't remember the last time I washed a watch other than in the shower after a swim! Does this make me a bad person?

Out of interest, what do people do with watches with leather straps?
ratty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15 June 2021, 09:17 AM   #18
HippoPAPAmus
"TRF" Member
 
HippoPAPAmus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: USA
Posts: 720
Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden Ellipse View Post
For my dd40, I use only a towelette made from spiderwebs and kitten belly fur moistened lightly with room-temperature unicorn tears.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
HippoPAPAmus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 June 2021, 05:23 AM   #19
Zsprings
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: England
Posts: 251
[QUOTE=Golden Ellipse;11518469]For my dd40, I use only a towelette made from spiderwebs and kitten belly fur moistened lightly with room-temperature unicorn tears.[/QUOTE

Oh, Who can take tommorrow, who can take tommorrow.. dip it in a dream.....
Zsprings is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 June 2021, 07:32 AM   #20
nocaps
"TRF" Member
 
nocaps's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Real Name: victor
Location: silicon valley
Watch: platona 2x bark dd
Posts: 302
any thoughts on using an ultrasonic cleaner as long as the head isn't submerged? will the
vibration damage the movement?
nocaps is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 June 2021, 07:34 AM   #21
HogwldFLTR
2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
 
HogwldFLTR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Real Name: Lee
Location: 42.48.45N70.48.48
Watch: Too many to list!
Posts: 33,697
Quote:
Originally Posted by nocaps View Post
any thoughts on using an ultrasonic cleaner as long as the head isn't submerged? will the
vibration damage the movement?
Take the bracelet off and put it back on if you want to use ultrasonics!!
__________________
Troglodyte in residence!

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=808599
HogwldFLTR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 16 June 2021, 11:51 AM   #22
kunlun
"TRF" Member
 
kunlun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 1,970
1. Wear the watch with crown screwed down.

2. Take a shower.

3. Air dry

Now, both watch and owner are free from dirt which causes wear.
kunlun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 17 June 2021, 08:03 AM   #23
marselluswallace
"TRF" Member
 
marselluswallace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Will
Location: UK
Watch: Rolex 116506
Posts: 265
Soap and water in the shower/bath,rinse then towel dry.

My 6 year old Platona still looks pristine bar a few minor marks on the clasp.
marselluswallace is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2021, 03:27 AM   #24
marselluswallace
"TRF" Member
 
marselluswallace's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Will
Location: UK
Watch: Rolex 116506
Posts: 265
Quote:
Originally Posted by marselluswallace View Post
Soap and water in the shower/bath,rinse then towel dry.

My 6 year old Platona still looks pristine bar a few minor marks on the clasp.

Lol


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
marselluswallace is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2021, 03:32 AM   #25
JSolution
"TRF" Member
 
JSolution's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Real Name: Jay
Location: England
Watch: SkyD
Posts: 6,398
JSolution is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2021, 05:09 AM   #26
MannySDG
"TRF" Member
 
MannySDG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: The Blue Marble
Posts: 833
If you clean your watch regularly, like once a week, you probably don't even need a brush since it will be cleaned frequently enough to avoid any serious dirt built up requiring a brush.

The Oyster bracelet is pretty easy to clean due to it's large links compared to the Jubilee or the President bracelet on the DD.

My method is pretty simple. Wash your hands first! Set the watch on a soft towel while washing hands, then rinse watch thoroughly. Place watch back on soft towel, lather up your hands again, take watch and squirt a good drop of soap in the area you're about to clean, lather it up gently, then move to the next section, add another drop of soap and on and on until you're all the way around. Rinse watch thoroughly, then use a soft microfiber towel (not the ones they use at the AD to wipe you watch down, but something more substantial that can actually absorb water like maybe a detailing microfiber towel used for a car) and wrap the towel around the watch without having any parts of the bracelet touching other parts of the watch. Don't rub, just let the water get absorbed by the towel. After a few seconds of letting the towel absorb the water and maybe dabbing some exposed areas of the watch, remove the towel and carefully hold the watch in your hand without touching the outside of the links. Use a hair dryer on full blast on the cold setting and go all the way around the watch to get the last remaining water.

That's how I do it, takes maybe 3 minutes!

Oh....and don't forget to tighten your crown before getting the watch wet!!
__________________
Vintage YG DJ36/DJ41/Bluesy/Rootbeer
MannySDG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2021, 06:36 AM   #27
challer
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: DC
Posts: 679
Quote:
Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR View Post
Take the bracelet off and put it back on if you want to use ultrasonics!!
Wrong. The good ultrasonic cleaners come with, and you can buy, a stand that holds the body of the watch out of the cleaner. But that should be necessary but quarterly or so if you wear the watch daily. Otherwise, if you must, when washing your hands, take the watch off before hand and clean said watch with soapy hands. There is no need for a brush. Dawn is always preferred. The PT Rolex use is quite hard and scratches shouldn't be an issue. Over cleaning anything is just as bad as under cleaning.
challer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2021, 07:04 AM   #28
Driver8
"TRF" Member
 
Driver8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 2,874
Quote:
Originally Posted by dolceman81 View Post
I emailed Davidsw and he recommended the same with cape code cloth. Thoughts
With a response like that I'd immediately question DavidSW's competence with anything other than selling watches. Cape Cods are (slightly) abrasive polishing cloths, NOT cleaning cloths, and they will remove a brushed finish on SS over time, so they are definitely too harsh for regular cleaning on platinum.
Driver8 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2021, 07:14 AM   #29
EEpro
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
EEpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Brad
Location: Purdue
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 9,243
Platinum owners.

Quote:
Originally Posted by challer View Post
Wrong. The good ultrasonic cleaners come with, and you can buy, a stand that holds the body of the watch out of the cleaner. But that should be necessary but quarterly or so if you wear the watch daily. Otherwise, if you must, when washing your hands, take the watch off before hand and clean said watch with soapy hands. There is no need for a brush. Dawn is always preferred. The PT Rolex use is quite hard and scratches shouldn't be an issue. Over cleaning anything is just as bad as under cleaning.

That's a bit strong. Lee isn't wrong. Having a watch head stand doesn't make it a "good" ultrasonic cleaner. My professional Crest unit would wreck your watch head by coupling right through the bracelet.

The way you couple sonic energy into multiple pans containing different solutions is by allowing the bottom of a steel pan to contact the water bath below and voila a new ultrasonic bath is made.

It's actually the crappy little ones marketed for jewelry that have such features.
__________________
Ω
2FA Active
EEpro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 20 June 2021, 08:00 AM   #30
daysky1
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Earth
Posts: 437
daysky1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

OCWatches

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.