How often do you let AD's steam clean your watch?

[toxicavenger]

i usually got to the AD to lay some steam

[s.m.b.]

I don't.

[AdamG]

I had a RSC (Malaysia) check the spring bars on a solid gold Daytona once.

For an unknown reason they decided to open the caseback and failed it secure it back, two weeks later it fell off.



If certain RSC's trained technicians have a high level of incompetence, then I'm certain the same can be said for AD sales people.

[SeaAndSky]

[Pauln]

If I’m in an AD and they offer, I let them.

[Roleplay]

I’ve never heard of steam cleaning a watch.


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[Harry-57]

Never.

[42itus]

I don’t see the harm. I usually take them up on the offer if I have the time.

[Brew]

Sure. Why not?

[Roleplay]

Steam is 212 degrees. Are you absolutely sure they are steam cleaning the watch? Or is it just a generic term they use, but clean it some other gentler way. Or steam clean parts of the watch only?


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[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by jimcameron

In 35 yrs of ownership, I never heard of this until now. I'll pass.

Same here...maybe a bracelet but not the watch head.

[tyler1980]

my wife gets her jewelry steam cleaned all the time at an AD... i would not give them our watches though

[fania123]

Never! I use a little blue dawn after each wear pat it with a microfiber cloth and back in the box she goes. Ever see what some Ad’s do when they size a watch, thanks but I’ll pass.

[toolr]

Never

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Seibei

Did they drop in on the floor while it was out of your sight? You have no way of knowing, do you?

I'm guessing you don't leave your kids at daycare.

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[chazadams]

If I have my SubC on, it absolutely gets a steam clean each time. That watch sees salt water and all many things fishy a couple times a week. There is a post on here where a chef both boiled and froze his green SubC with no issues. The steam will not hurt these modern watches. Vintage another story........

A toothbrush and dish soap are a hard combo to beat. Rinse and repeat

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Seibei

Did they drop in on the floor while it was out of your sight? You have no way of knowing, do you?

Do you wear a tinfoil hat to bed at night?

[jdpny]

Nix Nada Never No Nope

[beshannon]

Never

[encarter13]

Sure do. They normally clean my wife's jewelry at the same time.

[GB-man]

Not happening lol I get annoyed when they pick up my watch off the tray while I’m trying on something.

[Dr Watches]

Originally Posted by Roleplay

Steam is 212 degrees. Are you absolutely sure they are steam cleaning the watch? Or is it just a generic term they use, but clean it some other gentler way. Or steam clean parts of the watch only?


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There are all sorts of different steamers:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/153297651314

[Dr Watches]

Originally Posted by GB-man

Not happening lol I get annoyed when they pick up my watch off the tray while I’m trying on something.

I realize that it probably seems overly fussy to people, but I hate that too - especially when they sit it back down while dragging the bracelet across the case back

Here's my solution: take off watch, throw it on other wrist, try on whatever I want.

[Psmith]

Originally Posted by toxicavenger

i usually got to the AD to lay some steam

Perhaps they could throw all of the customers' watches into a big crate, then take 'em outside for a quick jet-wash?

[joli160]

Never

[AdamW]

Originally Posted by fania123

Never! I use a little blue dawn after each wear pat it with a microfiber cloth and back in the box she goes.

THIS Steam cleaning the head always seemed overkill for me and I would worry about gaskets. I keep a supply of cheap, soft bristle toothbrushes and some Dawn. Every couple weeks I'll give them a rinse.

[donut]

Never. Will clean watches myself.

[Hodog16]

I did once with my 116610LV years ago. I think they did the entire watch but it ran fine afterwards.

Won't ever do it again. I have an ultrasonic cleaner at home and remove the bracelet and clean it myself now.

[mjclark32]

I've got my own steamer (and ultrasonic).
The steamers actually been my go to lately. Great results

[watchmaker]

Just so you all know, official service centres for a multitude of brands (I would say every brand but I just know there will be that one exception somewhere that makes me a liar) and independent watchmakers the world over use steam to clean dirt and your dead skin off of the watches they have to repair.

Admittedly for a watchmaker the case is normally disassembled so there is no risk to the movement. In theory though so long as the watch passes a water resistance test AND you don't allow the steam to stay focused on one spot for more than a couple of seconds there is no harm in using steam on a watch head complete.

The soft bristle brush approach is fine for doing a small batch of cleaning but you need to industrialise the tools used if you are cleaning a hundred or so cases and bracelets per day.