"Steam Cleaning" at an AD?

[madmax21]

Originally Posted by rushca01

Not to beat a dead horse on this topic but how old was your sub before the service? Is there a chance the seals had gone bad due to its age. I'm pretty sure the forum consensus on steam is that steam has no ill effect on a currently serviced and pressure tested Rolex.

It was serviced 7 or 8 years before....

[timeseek]

It was just the bracelet, I would let them do it if they offered, but I would not let them put the case-movement in there. I would be to afraid of the following;

- The quick temperature change would cause condensation inside the crystal.

- Somehow, perhaps the crown was not properly seated, that water vapor would get on inside and on the movement or dial.

- The machine they were using to create the steam had to much pressure that it weakened the small gasket on the crown, or warped an internal part.

- The watch would actually slip into boiling/steaming water by accident.

Does anyone know if Rolex publishes specifications of temperature or pressure variants, aside from waterproof to a certain depth?

[believelandcle]

Originally Posted by Devildog

On the basis that it is now believed that most gold on the planet came form meteor strikes, I'm sure a $40,000 submariner would be perfectly safe in a steamer. Its not going to melt.

(I should add that the seals are good for over 200 degrees celsius, so a little steam isn't going to hurt unless there's a problem with the watch which would impact its water resistance rating)

AD steamed my Yellow Gold YMII, looked great!

[Buzzlite]

Buy a cheap ultrasonic cleaner. One that has a basket for watches. You put watch onto it and fill water to just cover the bracelet. Watch doesn't get wet and bracelet comes out like new

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[t65tampa]

It's fine. The cleaning isn't significant enough to cause any temperature shock to the movement and is great at getting detritus from the nooks and crannies on the watch case and bracelet. My Rolex AD offers it to me when I'm in browsing.

I wouldn't do ultrasonic cleaners, however. Can jiggle the movement bits potentially. Only for bracelets off the case.

[Buzzlite]

Originally Posted by t65tampa

It's fine. The cleaning isn't significant enough to cause any temperature shock to the movement and is great at getting detritus from the nooks and crannies on the watch case and bracelet. My Rolex AD offers it to me when I'm in browsing.

I wouldn't do ultrasonic cleaners, however. Can jiggle the movement bits potentially. Only for bracelets off the case.

Nah it's totally fine. The actual watch is raised above the fluid. Been doing it for years. Timegraph reads same as before and after

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Buzzlite]

This is the one I use

https://m.ebay.ie/itm/Draper-600ml-U...EAAOSwWLBaFBPk


Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[t65tampa]

Originally Posted by Buzzlite

Nah it's totally fine. The actual watch is raised above the fluid. Been doing it for years. Timegraph reads same as before and after

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Thanks! I've always wondered about that. I'd be worried about scrapes on the case from bracelet removal, so your setup makes more sense. I've seen those trays where the watch head is held out of the cleaning fluid with the ultrasonic cleaners.

[dmhines]

I was in AD a few months ago ... they saw I had my Milgauss on and offered to Steam Clean it .. I said sure. 5 minutes later it came back clean .. but really really hot ! I'm not sure how that high heat could be good for lubricants ... I probably won't have them do that again ...

[mjclark32]

Since this thread is still going I'll throw in my experience.
I used to use the ultrasonic, still will, but steaming has started to become my monthly routine.
Just yesterday I steamed - sub, DJ41, DJ36, DD40YG, and a 26mm DJ. Left the watch head on all of them, but focused on the bracelets. All came out looking great with no issues.

[Buzzlite]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Since this thread is still going I'll throw in my experience.
I used to use the ultrasonic, still will, but steaming has started to become my monthly routine.
Just yesterday I steamed - sub, DJ41, DJ36, DD40YG, and a 26mm DJ. Left the watch head on all of them, but focused on the bracelets. All came out looking great with no issues.

Which steam cleaner hardware you using ?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[artschool]

I always put mine in the steamer when I am preparing some lobsters for dinner.

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by Buzzlite

Which steam cleaner hardware you using ?

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Bought this off amazon a few years ago for something else around the house

Before steam:

After:

[Buzzlite]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Bought this off amazon a few years ago for something else around the house

Might have to try something like that. Looks handy. Does it clean better than the ultrasonic ? I find the ultrasonic gets into every nuc and cranny in the bracelet

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[mjclark32]

Originally Posted by Buzzlite

Might have to try something like that. Looks handy. Does it clean better than the ultrasonic ? I find the ultrasonic gets into every nuc and cranny in the bracelet

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Tough to tell. I plan on doing both, ultrasonic quarterly and steam biweekly/monthly.
The DD is my father in laws and when I hit it with the steamer grime was definitely flying off of it. The ultrasonic probably would have done just the same, but would have taken way longer

[Buzzlite]

Originally Posted by mjclark32

Tough to tell. I plan on doing both, ultrasonic quarterly and steam biweekly/monthly.
The DD is my father in laws and when I hit it with the steamer grime was definitely flying off of it. The ultrasonic probably would have done just the same, but would have taken way longer

I put a small amount of fairy up liquid into the ultrasonic I find it great

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

[Brazicano]

Steam cleaning is fine. Especially on jubilee bracelets you have to blast all that dirt out somehow.

[R!$]

A Rolex AD near me has offered many times...

[locutus49]

I duct tape my platinum Daytona to the side of my car and run it through the car wash. Comes out nice and clean although a bit gummy from the duct tape. (*_*)

[jlovda]

Originally Posted by Sidmind

I shudder to think what would happen to my Sub in ocean water and near sand.

I'm confused. Why did COMEX choose Rolex for their tool watch. I'll bet they don't rinse them in DAWN every day.

[Nikrnic]

Bracelet, sure. Watch head, not so sure.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

[hbombkid]

I guess no one watched the video of the dude boiling his sub lol. Steam, etc is not going to hurt the watch.

[blackhawks-fan]

Originally Posted by Canefan1

Wash the 116613 with dawn,rinse city water and then rainX
J/k, city water then Evian.

RainX! That's brilliant, I'm going to start using RainX on my crystal. It works great on my windshield.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by madmax21

It sounds like he's using A cleaning device that's used to sterilize metals it's not only unnecessary but would probably damage your movement unless the watch pins are removed and only the bracelet is cleaned in this fashion...

My advice is don't touch it where the watch have it properly serviced either at a Rolex dealer that is authorized to service Rolex or directly to Rolex service center.

Most people don't even have watches polished so I would definitely not take advantage of this so-called free service as it may damage your watch.... bad idea

Please don't spread rumors or provide advice on things you are unfamiliar with. Steam cleaning at your local AD is 100% A-OK.

[DoctorA]

Had some smudge on my green sub and my AD took me to the back, pressure tested the watch first then out it under steam machine and in 5 seconds was as good as new!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[123Blueface]

Wow!
It’s steam cleaning, not steam rolling.
Yes, watch will survive just fine.

[Seibei]

I don't get it. I have had my Rolex for about 5 months now and it has not been steam cleaned, dish washed or been through a car wash. What are you doing with the watches to make them so dirty? I wear mine every day and a few months from now I may consider cleaning it with a little mild soap, warm water and a microfiber cloth.

Don't steam clean your watch. Don't use a toothbrush either, unless you want to brush tiny scratches into your watch. Clean it, but not according to some arbitrary schedule. A watch is just like any other thing. If it is clean, leave it alone. If it is dirty, clean it. Just don't risk damaging anything, especially the seals and grease that keep it waterproof. Harsh cleaning will sooner or later do that.

[Frosty]

I had mine done at the AD and it came out looking great

[Ian Macdermott]

Was there not a Rolex advert which showed a Rolex being boiled in a kettle.

[Seibei]

Originally Posted by Ian Macdermott

Was there not a Rolex advert which showed a Rolex being boiled in a kettle.

Yes, and of course that means that you should boil it in a kettle every day...