Recommend soft polishing cloth for 2 tones?

[DayDateDream]

Hello
Bought my first Rolex , GMT Master II 2 tone YG. Was wondering if anyone could recommend a good soft cloth to wipe away fingerprints and drying the bracelet after washing etc, not necessarily for polishing. The yellow gold links are high polish and susceptible to hairline scratches, was wondering if anyone can recommend a good non-abrasive cloth type or brand?

Thanks!

[037]

I'd recommend a high-quality fuzzy microfiber cloth and accepting the fact that it will get micro scratches no matter what. Trying to baby it will drive you nuts. Let it age naturally and get it polished at service time.

Congrats on your first Rolex!

[Jim Smyth]

About every 2 weeks I take the watch in the shower and use a microfiber cloth with body wash and get the watch all soaped up. When I get out of the shower I again use a fresh microfiber cloth to dry the watch off over the bed. After years your watch will look brand new doing this. The fine micro crazing scratches you cant eliminate but can keep them to a minimum using the softest cloth possible. Then at your service intervals you can have them lightly clean the watch up to look new again.

[mnbookman]

Soap scum on watches destroys bracelets. I see it every day. They’re clean in the outside. Take the bracelet off and look between the end piece and the case? Scummy. And that’s only the most obvious place for you to look.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by mnbookman

Soap scum on watches destroys bracelets. I see it every day. They’re clean in the outside. Take the bracelet off and look between the end piece and the case? Scummy. And that’s only the most obvious place for you to look.

Exactly. See it all the time. When someone says they shower in their watch in a bragging manner, I'm like, "ummmm....ok...."

[DayDateDream]

Originally Posted by mnbookman

Soap scum on watches destroys bracelets. I see it every day. They’re clean in the outside. Take the bracelet off and look between the end piece and the case? Scummy. And that’s only the most obvious place for you to look.

Ok, thanks for the heads up. How would you recommend keeping your watches clean?

[037]

Originally Posted by DayDateDream

Ok, thanks for the heads up. How would you recommend keeping your watches clean?

Take your watch to your local AD and have them steam clean the bracelet periodically. If your GMT is a 6-digit reference and you don't sweat much while wearing it, two or three times a year should be sufficient.

[DayDateDream]

Originally Posted by 037

Take your watch to your local AD and have them steam clean the bracelet periodically. If your GMT is a 6-digit reference and you don't sweat much while wearing it, two or three times a year should be sufficient.

Awesome, will do. Thanks!


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[joli160]

Only way to clean a bracelet is by ultra sonic, soap and steam only cleans the outside. Bracelets wear from the inside and that's why you want the ultra sonic. For a 100 bucks or less you can buy those.
At an RSC they also use ultra sonic for a thorough clean up

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by joli160

Only way to clean a bracelet is by ultra sonic, soap and steam only cleans the outside. Bracelets wear from the inside and that's why you want the ultra sonic. For a 100 bucks or less you can buy those.
At an RSC they also use ultra sonic for a thorough clean up

This. Ultrasonic. Nice and hot. The crap literally melts out of it. Even the cheap $40-$50 ones on eBay are more than adequate for a consumer. I have one for my shop and it's solid. And gets very hot too.

[DayDateDream]

Originally Posted by joli160

Only way to clean a bracelet is by ultra sonic, soap and steam only cleans the outside. Bracelets wear from the inside and that's why you want the ultra sonic. For a 100 bucks or less you can buy those.

At an RSC they also use ultra sonic for a thorough clean up

Thanks! Noobie question, but just the bracelet right?


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[DayDateDream]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

This. Ultrasonic. Nice and hot. The crap literally melts out of it. Even the cheap $40-$50 ones on eBay are more than adequate for a consumer. I have one for my shop and it's solid. And gets very hot too.

Great, thank you!


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[037]

Originally Posted by DayDateDream

Thanks! Noobie question, but just the bracelet right?

Yes, just the bracelet. But, you'll also need a proper tool to remove your bracelet without scratching, otherwise you'll be concerned with that as well.

If you need to ultrasonic your bracelet that often, you're getting your watch dirtier than most. Once a year should be sufficient under normal circumstances. Canada isn't the jungle.

[watchamatic]

Can you not just use the ultrasonic cleaner on the whole watch? Or will that ruin the movement?

[SearChart]

Originally Posted by watchamatic

Can you not just use the ultrasonic cleaner on the whole watch? Or will that ruin the movement?

If you want your lubricant to migrate to places it shouldn't be then use the ultrasonic for the watch head as well.

[cop414]

I have an ultrasonic as well as a jewelry steam cleaner, both work well and I got both on Amazon for less that 150.00 for the pair. I also use them all the time on my wife’s jewelry, makes her diamond rings look like new.
The ultrasonic on the watch bracelet only as per Bas’s instruction above.
Also in the steamer I use only distilled water.
Final wipe down is with a VERAET drying cloth, softest I’ve ever found.

[crazymcmichael]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

Exactly. See it all the time. When someone says they shower in their watch in a bragging manner, I'm like, "ummmm....ok...."

Is there something wrong with water and a soft brush ?

[Tools]

Originally Posted by crazymcmichael

Is there something wrong with water and a soft brush ?

Nothing at all. A drop of Dawn will also help melt the body oils out of hidden crevices too.

No need to have a room full of equipment and tools just to clean your watch periodically...……… unless you are into that sort of thing.

The point though, an ultrasonic cleaning does a thorough job and you would hope that yours is done at Service. Showering, and the soaps and technique associated with only that, frequently leaves soap scum and body oils in the joints.

[crazymcmichael]

Originally Posted by Tools

Nothing at all. A drop of Dawn will also help melt the body oils out of hidden crevices too.

No need to have a room full of equipment and tools just to clean your watch periodically...……… unless you are into that sort of thing.

The point though, an ultrasonic cleaning does a thorough job and you would hope that yours is done at Service. Showering, and the soaps and technique associated with only that, frequently leaves soap scum and body oils in the joints.

Ah i see yes lots of stuff added to that stuff offcourse my tootbrush is my friend now i have to learn to use it on my teeth more frequently aswell

[Oyster Perp 1]

Originally Posted by DayDateDream

Ok, thanks for the heads up. How would you recommend keeping your watches clean?

Rolex manual that came with your watch tells you instructions. I use a microfiber to wipe down the whole watch when I take it off for the night. Every few days, I fill up my sink with warm water and small amount of dishwashing liquid and take a soft toothbrush to scrub out between the links and crevices. Then rinse it and dry it with a soft microfiber. If you really want to be obsessive, use a spring link remover to remove the bracelet and put only the bracelet in an ultrasonic cleaner. Amazon sells them for under $40. That'll clean the curved links that are next to the case. That's where dirty, sweaty, dead cells hide and can really be reached with the toothbrush.

Nice watch, you're very lucky to have a piece like that.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by crazymcmichael

Is there something wrong with water and a soft brush ?

Nothing "wrong" with it. It's just that there is dirt/grime/oils/etc down in crevices that a brush and running water will not reach. You can literally watch stuff melt away when you put it in a hot ultrasonic machine.