Bracelet Cleaning

[BLACKHORSE 6]

I always wear my 116520 in the shower and frequently wash/scrub the bracelet to clean it.

Yesterday I felt like switching things up so I removed the bracelet to swap it out for a strap. I was surprised to see how much grime was underneath the end links, which made me look very closely at the hinges of the links themselves where I also found grime.

So I am going to change the way that I clean my bracelet. I do not want to have stretching issues with the bracelet down the line caused by the additional wear/friction caused by dirt, so I will be removing it much more often to run it through my wife's jewelry cleaner.

I know that this is another topic that is discussed endlessly on TRF, but wanted to bring it up because I've seen where a lot of members have said that just wash their watch/bracelet in the shower. Maybe I didn't scrub it down as well as I should have, but I would encourage people to really look closely at how clean they are getting their bracelet.

P.S. - I promise that I am not this OCD about anything else in my life.

[Kneecough]

I have a 7825 tool on the way (so I am able to change my own straps). Once I get it, i will also be treating my bracelets to ultra sonic cleanings occasionally.

[GMT Aviator]

Agreed....a good ultrasonic clean removes all the crud you can't even see or access normally that has built up inside the links.
Did my dads Rolex bracelet a few days ago, my speedy and my wife's watch all at once. The sonic bath fluid was black with grime within minutes but the bracelets all came out sparkling like new. Obviously it won't remove scratches, for that you need to refinish the bracelet, but they will come out sparking clean which makes a big difference.

[rudegar]

All I need is Windex and a soft toothbrush. I don't wear in shower which I think adds grime because soap scum is, well, scum. But my wife's bracelet is usually gummed up from all the lotions she wears that get into the bracelet. So I think the users habits (soaps, lotions etc.) have more to do with build-up than other environmental factors IMO.

[Dom_Rellik]

I spend time in the tropics so suntan spray gets on there and you notice that junk on there.

I have a jar of Weiman's jewelry cleaner I use to drop my steel watches in for a few minutes before brushing the gunk. I do not use that often. My go to is the toothbrush and some dish soap or whatever soap that's going on.

I'm not really understanding how the dirty watch creates stretch. how much dirt are we talking about? who is so dirty?

oh, on my PM watches i use a gold polish cloth once a month. i use the toothbrush in between.

[treblarefils]

It creates stretch because the oil from your body attracts dirt which then turns into an abrasive paste essentially that grinds away at the pins holding the bracelet together. This takes many many years of wear to do this. As long as you clean your bracelets regularly you should never have any sort of an issue.

[Dirt]

Originally Posted by treblarefils

It creates stretch because the oil from your body attracts dirt which then turns into an abrasive paste essentially that grinds away at the pins holding the bracelet together. This takes many many years of wear to do this. As long as you clean your bracelets regularly you should never have any sort of an issue.

You forgot the acids that get exuded in perspiration and the dead skin that also accumulates.