Cleaning Watches

[CocoUK]

Does anybody have any best practice tips and advice for cleaning watches?

Techniques for removing dirt from the case?
Products for leaving a nice shine on the glass?
Any suggestions for restoring a leather strap?

Does anybody know what jewelers used?

Cheers all.

[CardShark]

Old soft bristled toothbrush and a mild detergent for metal cases and metal and rubber bracelets, dry using a regular hand towel. You could get yourself an ultrasonic cleaner, can't put whole watch heads in them though, only individual components.

[benny.c]

T-shirt or the curtains.

[CardShark]

benny.c said:

...curtains.

Reminds of a joke not fit for this little part of PH, that does

[hilly10]

Get yourself a pack of Cape Cod cloths. Best product out there.

[MLC166]

To be honest a good quality microfibre cloth will keep a watch looking good. They are great at removing finger marks and sweaty residue from the back case. I give my watches a good wipe down everytime I take them off and to be fair it keeps them in good order.

As far as leather straps go I have used the leather furniture wipes and these work pretty well. The brown leather seems to respond to these wipes and clean up nicely.

[waterjoke]

Try to use saddle soap, I think it's great!

[michael gould]

these are very good...buy them on ebay.....i agree that a toothbrush and soap also does a great job

[Sy1441]

A fine toothbrush and water with a touch of fairy liquid in it then a cape cod. Used this method on prestige watches and diamond jewellery in the trade.

[Craikeybaby]

I use a Sainsburys basics tooth brush (2 for 18p) and dry with a normal hand towel.

[Riff Raff]

I have one of these kits. No idea if it works or not, it was a freebie with some straps I bought I will be trying it on some of my leather straps though.

http://www.watchobsession.co.uk/collections/watch-...

[benny.c]

CardShark said:

Reminds of a joke not fit for this little part of PH, that does

Indeed. An oldie but a goodie

[CocoUK]

Great response chaps, I've just ordered a couple of Cape Cod cloths and I'll give a soft toothbrush a try.

Thank you all.

[SVS]

Here are good tips and advice from Watch Obsession for cleaning a watch.

I thought Cap Cod cloth was for polishing, not cleaning. Since it's a polishing cloth, which has an abrasive, I'd want to have first cleaned my watch before using Cape Cod.

[CardShark]

A note on Cape Cod - excellent for removing very fine swirls from polished metals, just keep it away from any brushed or bead blasted areas. Use masking tape or suchlike to mask these surfaces off.

[911Alan]

What would you recommend for the brushed steel areas, to remove light scuff marks from the bracelet.

[traffman]

Soaked in warm soapy water overnight. You'd be surprised at the crap that comes off it.

[CardShark]

911Alan said:

What would you recommend for the brushed steel areas, to remove light scuff marks from the bracelet.

Garryflex blocks, wet & dry paper and fibreglass touch up pens can all be used, in fact if you use Google Images to look up Garryflex you'll see plenty of watch related pictures.

Clicky here for a tutorial using a Garryflex block

[hilly10]

SVS said:

Here are good tips and advice from Watch Obsession for cleaning a watch.

I thought Cap Cod cloth was for polishing, not cleaning. Since it's a polishing cloth, which has an abrasive, I'd want to have first cleaned my watch before using Cape Cod.

My watches never get that dirty I have to use Toothbrush and soap. As for CC being abrasive its only the coating on the crystal you need worry about

[911Alan]

CardShark said:

Garryflex blocks, wet & dry paper and fibreglass touch up pens can all be used, in fact if you use Google Images to look up Garryflex you'll see plenty of watch related pictures.

Clicky here for a tutorial using a Garryflex block

Top man, I will check that out.