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Old 11 August 2012, 05:53 PM   #1
ROGERWILCO357
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best cloth to wipe your watch

Well what is the best cloth and solution to cleaning up a dirty watch or to just polish it up without abrasives..just water and cloth? or is there a jewelry cleaner most of you guys use? I used to have a TT sub and used this jewelry solution that i use on my gold to wash the links (band) up in not the body of the watch and it worked well and thinking if there is a similar solvent you can dip the watch in to clean or would that ruin the seals?

Last edited by ROGERWILCO357; 11 August 2012 at 05:55 PM.. Reason: solvents
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Old 11 August 2012, 07:13 PM   #2
Lt.Arclight
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A natural chamois. Available at auto parts stores in the cleaning products section. They are around $20 and large enough to cut into quite a few smaller cloths.

You shouldn't immerse the watch in a soapy solution. The most effective way to clean a dirty band is to remove it from the watch and use an ultrasonic cleaner. A professional grade ultrasonic machine will cost around $300. Here is a site that sells Watchmaker supplies and lists several examples.http://www.ofrei.com/page_212.html

If you have a significant other , that like mine has alot of jewelry she wears on a regular basis, the cleaning machine WILL be justified when she sees how nice her jewelry looks after a quick cycle.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE should a complete watch be placed into an ultrasonic cleaner. Without the band and sometime with a chamois you can really improve the looks of the watch case.
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Old 11 August 2012, 07:18 PM   #3
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Go to your local optical shop and ask them nicely for a few lens cloths.
They do a fantastic job on eyeglass lenses (plastic and glass) and Rolex watches.
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Old 11 August 2012, 07:34 PM   #4
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i use a damp soft towel...
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Old 11 August 2012, 09:05 PM   #5
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I have found this the best cloth for everyday polishing/buffing ,i bought one after i see my local Rolex AD used one
Anyone else use one of these ,links below ¬
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2508302976...84.m1439.l2649

http://www.connoisseurs.com/jewelry_..._gold_buff.php
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Old 11 August 2012, 09:26 PM   #6
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I just use a bath towel.
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Old 13 August 2012, 07:27 AM   #7
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I just use a bath towel.
Me too!
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Old 13 August 2012, 07:28 AM   #8
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thanks guys and yes the wife has actually been after me to buy one of those ultra sonic machines for her jewelry might just get her one for her B-day lol wouldn’t that be funny I can see her now sour look on her face and she would answer there better be jewelry in the basket of that machine…lol
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Old 13 August 2012, 07:39 AM   #9
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Go to your local optical shop and ask them nicely for a few lens cloths.
They do a fantastic job on eyeglass lenses (plastic and glass) and Rolex watches.
x2
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Old 13 August 2012, 07:41 AM   #10
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Any cotton towel or old tshirt.
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Old 13 August 2012, 11:02 AM   #11
caryyee
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I just use a bath towel.
Me too! My watch gets washed in the shower and get's a rub down with the bath towel. No need for fancy microfibre cloths etc IMO. And if I'm out an about, a wipe on my tee shirt works just as well :)
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Old 13 August 2012, 11:25 AM   #12
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Egyptian rag w/ 400 thread count......very soft
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Old 13 August 2012, 11:39 AM   #13
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I have used Magic Bling..... www.magicbling.com they make a cleaning solution for jewelry and eyeglasses that work really well. A fine micro fiber cloth like a eye glass cloth work well as well any micro fiber towel. Also found that soft flannel works even better.

I just purchased the famous Veraet watch cleaning spray and they sell cloths too. Not as sudsy as the magic bling but really works well too. The cloths are nice like large eyeglass cleaning cloths.
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Old 14 August 2012, 11:48 AM   #14
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Microfiber. Nothing better.
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Old 14 August 2012, 07:12 PM   #15
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3 ply



I use the ones that come with the varaet spray, good cloths
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Old 15 August 2012, 12:46 AM   #16
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Go to your local optical shop and ask them nicely for a few lens cloths.
They do a fantastic job on eyeglass lenses (plastic and glass) and Rolex watches.

That's what I use too!!
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Old 15 August 2012, 12:53 AM   #17
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my t shirt
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Old 17 August 2012, 12:51 AM   #18
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Well what is the best cloth and solution to cleaning up a dirty watch or to just polish it up without abrasives..just water and cloth? or is there a jewelry cleaner most of you guys use? I used to have a TT sub and used this jewelry solution that i use on my gold to wash the links (band) up in not the body of the watch and it worked well and thinking if there is a similar solvent you can dip the watch in to clean or would that ruin the seals?
It depends on whether your watch is stainless steel or gold!!

For stainless steel watches do not use anything that contains bleach or oxidants that can cause harm to stainless steel. Remember that stainless steel is not as noble as people think. It also rusts and corrodes more than you could imagine. Once corrosion or pitting occurs then it is impossible to stop without grinding out the affected area which is what you would not want to do at any cost.

I use plain distilled water and to dampen an unbleached cotton cloth (which is ivory in colour) and wipe off as much as I can manually. Laborious it is but it is worth it in the long run. If you can remove your bracelet and wash it in some mild soapy water and then rinse it in distilled water. I sometimes remove the mvt from the case and wash the whole thing with warm soapy water, then rinse it and leave it in dilute citric acid to repassivate the stainless steel followed by a rinse in distilled water. Most important is to dry it as mositure is also an enemy of stainless steel. I would replace the seal and lubricate it with some silicone gel as well as the threads to avoid galling of the case. I have avoided corrosion to any part of the case by doing this every so often, especially when exposed to harsh environments.

Also 904L stainless is nothing special as it also corrodes under the right conditions,so care must be taken. See what sodium bromide from spa baths does to 904L. Good luck!!!
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Old 17 August 2012, 12:57 AM   #19
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Veraet is awesome.
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Old 17 August 2012, 01:14 AM   #20
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I always wash my bracelet watches with normal water and soap and the results are good.


Sent from my 
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Old 17 August 2012, 01:16 AM   #21
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Microfiber. Nothing better.
Yup, and if you don't have one laying around any t shirt will work, has for me at least
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Old 17 August 2012, 07:29 AM   #22
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my t shirt

This.
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Old 17 August 2012, 12:21 PM   #23
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Old 17 August 2012, 04:44 PM   #24
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Yup, and if you don't have one laying around any t shirt will work, has for me at least
Yup, whatever shirt I'm wearing 95% of the time. Occasionally a microfiber if there's one around. Once every few months, I'll take my Sub into the pool with a soft toothbrush. Scrub between links, Glidelock, anywhere I can reach, I rotate the bezel a few times underwater. Seems to keep things clean and safe.

After about 1.2 years of almost daily wear, the band has no stretch whatsoever. I realize these new solid link bracelets aren't supposed to exhibit stretch, but they apparently can and do if you don't make at least some effort to clean occasionally, according to several threads on the subject.
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Old 17 August 2012, 04:59 PM   #25
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Sandpaper! Works for me! My bracelet is about as thin as a alligator strap though
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Old 19 August 2012, 09:50 PM   #26
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I use warm water and handsoap with a soft brush (old toothbrush) on my Sub. I dry it thoroghly with a soft washcloth. I've been doing that for 12 years and it looks great every time.
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Old 21 August 2012, 01:25 AM   #27
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Sandpaper! Works for me! My bracelet is about as thin as a alligator strap though



a belt-sander makes the job even easier

I tried it on the crystal and my watch is kinda hard to read now
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Old 21 August 2012, 08:06 AM   #28
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Veraet is awesome.
x2!

The blue cloths are great for cleaning and drying.

The gray are for wiping away finger prints etc. Not absorbent enough for drying.

cheers:
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Old 21 August 2012, 10:04 AM   #29
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I go to Sam's club and you can buy a 20 pack of Microfiber 12 x12 clothes for about 10 bucks. I use them once or twice then they go in the garage for secondary service. Rikki
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Old 21 August 2012, 02:37 PM   #30
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A quick lick then wipe with shirt.

Soft toothbrush and dishsoap when the saliva builds up on the bezel
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