Bezel faded on my 16610

[watchmaniac]

I went to the pool yesterday and sprayed on some sun blocker. I did spray my watch only to get my wrist. Didn't think it would do anything to the watch. Last night I cleaned my watch like I always do. I put my watch in a bowl with water and ammonia mixture for about 5 minutes then use an old tooth brush, and go over the entire watch once. This morning I noticed my aluminum bezel insert was a flat finish. It was more shiny before.
I kinda like it. It doesn't look like I force faded it.




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[Jack T]

Have you often used amonia mixture to clean? First I've heard of it, I use Veraet or a light dishwashing soap mixture. Watch looks good.

[Sublover2166]

Ammonia? WHY! What's wrong with what Rolex recommends; soap, water and a soft brush.

[firstOwatch]

Congrats!
I use no sun block, take all my watches to the Spa & Pool and deep washing out with just water .
Nothing happened to all my watches for years !

Will try your " process " to fade the Pepsi bezel to match with her Classic Jubile Bracelet

[WatchingAustin]

probably a reaction between the sun block and ammonia.

[watchmaniac]

I started using ammonia water mix about 5 years ago. Works great. Got this method from my wife. She's been cleaning her datejust with this method for over 15 years. The first time I did this was with my Omega GMT Seamaster. I wore it for a good 5 years cleaning it with water and dish washing soap only. Always looked clean. I put it in the mixture and soaked it for about 5 to 10 minutes. I couldn't believe all the grime that came out. All the debris, dirt and grime just warmth at the bottom of the bowl. I even shook the watch while it was still in the mixture and more came out.


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[dysondiver]

mmm , think ill give this one a miss

[Rolex fan 61]

Soap and water only!!!!

[aayates]

Hard to believe ammonia would be good for the rubber seals. Rolex used to caution against using alcohol to clean because it dries out the seals. I would be wary, but to each his/her own.

[subking86]

Watch looks pretty good. How often do you clean it in this solution? I've seen on some threads that people use windex the same way as you described and windex has ammonia in it.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Ammonia? WHY! What's wrong with what Rolex recommends; soap, water and a soft brush.

Yeah that is not a smart thing to do.

[joe100]

Ammonia. Negative.

[watchmaniac]

Some many people are anal about their Rolex. Believe me, I'm the most anal of them all. I do this method about every three months. My wife dies this every week for the past 15 years. Never an issue. I'm not telling anyone to try this method. It is waterproof. Don't think the water gets to the gaskets at a depth of soup bowl. These things are rated to a depth of 1000ft. A soup bowl. REALLY GUYS.


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[imlying]

I'll just say that I like the matte look on the sub.

[cop414]

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

Some many people are anal about their Rolex. Believe me, I'm the most anal of them all. I do this method about every three months. My wife dies this every week for the past 15 years. Never an issue. I'm not telling anyone to try this method. It is waterproof. Don't think the water gets to the gaskets at a depth of soup bowl. These things are rated to a depth of 1000ft. A soup bowl. REALLY GUYS.


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Michael, I don't believe that anyone is questioning the watch getting wet but the ammonia use. I use just a little ammonia along with hot water and a couple drops of dish detergent to clean Holly's diamonds as per my AD but never my watches. That being said I like the look that your insert has taken on. Aluminum inserts aren't a ton of money to replace if you'd want to so what the heck.

[westinghouse]

Dish soap and water only for me.

[77T]

I'm thinking continued use of ammonia may result in further decay for the aluminum but let us know more as time (and more treatments) goes by.
The thing that comes to mind is this - if Rolex thought ammonia solution (or any other chemical solution) was superior for cleaning a watch, it wouldn't say soap and water.
There are gaskets/o-rings for the stem and crown that might also be impacted if exposed to ammonia by not screwing down the crown. (I'm sure you did - but others mightn't)
Clearly the surface of the bezel was affected by the isopropyl propellant in your sunscreen or the ammonia or a combination thereof.
I thinks it's great for your wife's DJ with all SS or PM/SS or PM.

So for safety's sake, and for simplicity too, Rolex has to think of all the possible metals that they have across the entire product line to issue one set of care guidelines.


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[Sublover2166]

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

Some many people are anal about their Rolex. Believe me, I'm the most anal of them all. I do this method about every three months. My wife dies this every week for the past 15 years. Never an issue. I'm not telling anyone to try this method. It is waterproof. Don't think the water gets to the gaskets at a depth of soup bowl. These things are rated to a depth of 1000ft. A soup bowl. REALLY GUYS.


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Has NOTHING to do with water resistance and everything to do with a harsh chemical (ammonia) reacting with and possibly degrading the O rings in the crown, case back, and the Delrin gasket that seals the crystal. If you wish to use such a mixture on your jewelry, rings, etc. fine, but I just don't see the logic doing this to a watch that has rubber seals meant to keep out water and dust. Why try to reinvent the wheel? I have been wearing Rolex now for around 25 years and my watches are always clean and look good just by using warm water, a few drops of dish soap and a worn out tooth brush.

BTW, if my wife swallowed a cyanide capsule and washed it down with gasoline should I do the same thing?? LOL

[watchmaniac]

Originally Posted by Sublover2166

Has NOTHING to do with water resistance and everything to do with a harsh chemical (ammonia) reacting with and possibly degrading the O rings in the crown, case back, and the Delrin gasket that seals the crystal. If you wish to use such a mixture on your jewelry, rings, etc. fine, but I just don't see the logic doing this to a watch that has rubber seals meant to keep out water and dust. Why try to reinvent the wheel? I have been wearing Rolex now for around 25 years and my watches are always clean and look good just by using warm water, a few drops of dish soap and a worn out tooth brush.



BTW, if my wife swallowed a cyanide capsule and washed it down with gasoline should I do the same thing?? LOL

That's a little extreme. My wife taking a cyanide capsule or washing her watch in ammonia and water. I've always read threads with extreme comments. Never thought I would start a thread that would be the start of some.

For you guys out there that are so delicate with you Rolex. I did it again. I washed my watch with ammonia and water... Don't climb mountains or go on expeditions with your Rolex Explorer.


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[joli160]

I follow manufacturer instructions, luke warm water and a little soap

[fskywalker]

My Rolexes are allergic to ammonia

Just soap and water here!

[watchmaniac]

This thread wasn't even about how I washed my watch.


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[moby33]

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

This thread wasn't even about how I washed my watch.


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Didn't you get the memo...talking about watch washing techniques and materials is on par with talking religion, politics, etc.

You're ALWAYS going to get opinions that 99.9% of the time you could care less about. Imagine that...a bunch of guys on the internet are know-it-alls and by god, they are going to let us all know it! Probably one of the main reasons I'm hanging around less & less.

Glad you like your bezel, thanks for sharing the pic!

[Rocket_Man]

It is probably something in the Sunscreen like Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide that reacted with the bezel. Did you look on the bottle and see which ingredient does the blocking?

Ammonia that you can purchase openly is already at pretty low concentrations. Further diluted with water and sitting your watch in it for a few minutes is very unlikely to cause any damage. I wouldn't worry about it.

[1995akcoop]

sorry,,, that doesn't look right


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[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

I went to the pool yesterday and sprayed on some sun blocker. I did spray my watch only to get my wrist. Didn't think it would do anything to the watch. Last night I cleaned my watch like I always do. I put my watch in a bowl with water and ammonia mixture for about 5 minutes then use an old tooth brush, and go over the entire watch once. This morning I noticed my aluminum bezel insert was a flat finish. It was more shiny before.
I kinda like it. It doesn't look like I force faded it.




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Looks really nice like that

Originally Posted by moby33

Didn't you get the memo...talking about watch washing techniques and materials is on par with talking religion, politics, etc.

You're ALWAYS going to get opinions that 99.9% of the time you could care less about. Imagine that...a bunch of guys on the internet are know-it-alls and by god, they are going to let us all know it! Probably one of the main reasons I'm hanging around less & less.

Glad you like your bezel, thanks for sharing the pic!

[droptopman]

I dig the insert! Looks great.

[Tools]

Inserts are anodized aluminum and will react to many different chemicals..

That's why there is a big market in "fading" these inserts to make them look old. It's easy, cheap, and for some odd reason, folks will pay for it.

The nice thing about the old inserts is that they are cheap and easily replaced if you mess one up (which is also a subjective view about some light fading) ..

[firstOwatch]

Originally Posted by watchmaniac

This thread wasn't even about how I washed my watch.


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It's about " fading " !

[traf]

Like the bezel. Wouldn't clean with ammonia. Cheers 🍻


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