Bluesy got his first bath!

[DSJ]

15 days ago, Bluesy arrived, and I have worn him every day since. It was time for a bath. First baths should be documented with photos, so here they are!

1. Let's open his diving extensions and put him out with our cleaning supplies.

2. A couple ounces of the ammonia and some warm water - make sure it's not too hot!

3. Let him soak for a bit.

4. Brush him up!

5. Another Soak

6. Warm rinse - ooh, it feels good to be clean!

7. Dry him off (so that's where the old t-shirts from the 80's went!)

8. Looking nice as it's being wiped dry!

9. Clean and dry - close up the extension.

10. A clean Rolex on my wrist makes me smile - look at that pretty rehaut engraving - let's take another outside!

11. Bluesy's pretty in all lights - brr, it's cold out here (5F/-15C), let's go back in and share our pics with TRF!

12. Here's my 3-year-old's Timex he got from Santa! Thanks for the advice TRF friends! It DOES look a little like and Expy2!

[roadcarver]

Thanks for posting. I always thought ammonia was a strong chemical for watches?

Your bluesy looks clean again!

I usually just use the johnson's baby liquid soap.

[DSJ]

I dunno, I've never had a problem with it in washing my SMP or other good watches. On a cheap dive watch of my wife's the paint on the bezel came off, but it would have done that just with water, I think, they appeared to be decals. It's probably a 15:1 solution, pretty mild, and does it ever work on cleaning!

[Robb]

Beautiful Sub David!!!!!

[JBat]

Bluesy looks spectacular after the cleaning! I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be putting my GMT in an ammonia solution, but it looks like it works well. Regular soap seems to work well, so I'm sticking with that.

[Gaijin]

Ammonia!!!?

Looks beautiful though...

[Mario]

Originally Posted by DSJ

I dunno, I've never had a problem with it in washing my SMP or other good watches. On a cheap dive watch of my wife's the paint on the bezel came off, but it would have done that just with water, I think, they appeared to be decals. It's probably a 15:1 solution, pretty mild, and does it ever work on cleaning!

look at this link for info on cleaning. FYI

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu6iZ3Y...watch_care.asp

[GoldenBear]

Yea, I don't know about ammonia, one way or the other. Seems rough on the rubber dive ring. I do use a hand soap and a tooth brush. My watch is cleaner than my teeth. I've never flossed my watch, yet. Do you give your kid her toothbrush back or do you have a separate one for the watch?

[DSJ]

It's his discard. Then I used it on the cat. Then it's for the Rolex. Finally the guns. Then the trash.

[Cyberpipm2000]

buddy,

Ammonia is a big NO NO!!! that is why jewelers never soak the watch in the altrasonic cleaner because of the ammonia in it... it will dry out the gaskets and cause serious discoloration of the bezel insert. you will start to get a rainbow effect on it. if it has not already caused damage, never EVER do that again!!!!! just hand soap and water.. that's it!

[roadcarver]

Plus the ultrasonic vibrations can do harm to the movement.

Originally Posted by Cyberpipm2000

buddy,

Ammonia is a big NO NO!!! that is why jewelers never soak the watch in the altrasonic cleaner because of the ammonia in it... it will dry out the gaskets and cause serious discoloration of the bezel insert. you will start to get a rainbow effect on it. if it has not already caused damage, never EVER do that again!!!!! just hand soap and water.. that's it!

[DSJ]

Yeah, I'm not too worried Cyberpipm, I've been doing it this way for years!

[sea-dweller]

Nice ! I love my TT Blue Sub also !

[cmr]

good job!!!

i always use jewelry cleaner and a wore out tooth brush to clean any of my watches or jewelry. it works very well!!

[Cyberpipm2000]

DSJ,

my friend, please, at least give a call to rolex service and tell them what you soak your watch in and see what they say, I am telling you my friend, you are only doing harm to your watches... just because you do not see the damage doesn't mean it's not already there. nice watch tho, I really like the blusey.

[JJ Irani]

Hey David,

Please don't ever use Ammonia again, pal. In fact, you don't need any chemicals on your watch to keep it clean. Just good ole' soap and water should do the trick.

Ammonia is a strong reagent and will eventually be instrumental in fading off your bezel markers.

Trust me on this one, my friend. Been doing it for almost 30 years!!

[Obsession]

Oh my God, is it a joke? I think you bought that ROLEX for bloody free if you wash with that thing. That takes all shinining and all the alive look of the watch and harms your watch more than to leave it several years inside of sea. So silly method to the luxury beauty Sub. that became aciddweller. Why ROLEXes dont go to ones who can take care I dont understand and that's why I will never buy a used watch.

[Lubrifar]

Soap, warm water and kiddie tooth brush is the magic combo. Even 15:1, there is still ammonia is the mix; I'd be worried if I was the gasket.

[DSJ]

Originally Posted by Obsession

Why ROLEXes dont go to ones who can take care I dont understand and that's why I will never buy a used watch.

Wow, Aykun, strong words. Define "take care." Perhaps you think that Rolex ownership is a privelege bestowed to those who will follow rigid guidelines. I take VERY good care of both my real and personal property, including vehicles and jewelry. I have used ammonia solution (originally 1/2 Windex, 1/2 water) for YEARS with no ill effects to my jewelry OR watches. Will you only buy NEW cars because someone may have used dish soap on the finish or some leather cleaner that you don't agree with? Will you only buy a "new construction" home because some previous owner might have not cleaned the floors properly or used some plumbing that doesn't meet your criteria?

There seems to be a lot of debate on the effects of ammonia solution on the bezel, which may be possible, as I have never owned one with an aluminum insert. My SMP has a SS insert. The only "damage" from weekly baths in the aforementioned solution is that the red "seal" on the back finally disappeared after about 7.5 years. My buddy who has a 16610 has used ammonia solution on his watch since he got it in 1995 with no ill effects. While I don't agree with him on the service intervals (12.5+ years), he has worn the watch daily with no service, and even wears it in the chlorinated hot tub. No bezel discoloration. However, until I can refute or confirm the ill effects of ammonia solution on watches, I will switch to liquid baby soap in the interim.

While I appreciate the helpful advice of the others, I don't care for the bashing Aykun.

Here's some interesting discussion on the subject (more related to movement parts):

http://www.orologeria.com/english/ma.../magazine7.htm

[Cyberpipm2000]

I will just tell you my friend I had to replace my insert from discoloration caused by ammonia in my cleaner... rolex was kind enough to replace it for free when I told them I cleaned it.. i did not know i caused the damage until rolex told me ammonia does this to inserts but because I did not know they just popped a new insert in there... they said people most offten make this mistake

[DSJ]

Thanks again for the heads up Cyberpipm!

[Cyberpipm2000]

no prob my friend. happy rolexing!

[Obsession]

Originally Posted by DSJ

Wow, Aykun, strong words. Define "take care." Perhaps you think that Rolex ownership is a privelege bestowed to those who will follow rigid guidelines. I take VERY good care of both my real and personal property, including vehicles and jewelry. I have used ammonia solution (originally 1/2 Windex, 1/2 water) for YEARS with no ill effects to my jewelry OR watches. Will you only buy NEW cars because someone may have used dish soap on the finish or some leather cleaner that you don't agree with? Will you only buy a "new construction" home because some previous owner might have not cleaned the floors properly or used some plumbing that doesn't meet your criteria?

There seems to be a lot of debate on the effects of ammonia solution on the bezel, which may be possible, as I have never owned one with an aluminum insert. My SMP has a SS insert. The only "damage" from weekly baths in the aforementioned solution is that the red "seal" on the back finally disappeared after about 7.5 years. My buddy who has a 16610 has used ammonia solution on his watch since he got it in 1995 with no ill effects. While I don't agree with him on the service intervals (12.5+ years), he has worn the watch daily with no service, and even wears it in the chlorinated hot tub. No bezel discoloration. However, until I can refute or confirm the ill effects of ammonia solution on watches, I will switch to liquid baby soap in the interim.

While I appreciate the helpful advice of the others, I don't care for the bashing Aykun.

Here's some interesting discussion on the subject (more related to movement parts):

http://www.orologeria.com/english/ma.../magazine7.htm

I and also anyone here dont care whether you wash your ROLEX with soap or shampoo or ammonia or any kind of solvents. You are free do what you want. I will not buy second hand anything unless I really know or strongly guess that the thing I'm buying used properly before. I dont know what does bashing means and I dont care. Good luck.

[buz-lh]

Maybe it's a language barrier thing. I dunno.

[roadcarver]

Don't think DSJ's Bluesey was pre-owned.

Bashing means putting somebody down, Aykun.