How to clean your watch properly?

When you’re just as much as an enthusiast as us, we like to keep things clean. Including our precious timepieces that we love to wear on any occasion. When you’re wearing a watch, it’s no surprise that your watch can get a little dirty, depending on the watch you’re wearing, the bracelet or strap and even the activity, such as outdoors or diving. Let us walk you through some of the most important steps of cleaning your watch properly!

Kas Klerx

Chief Content

Updated at: 14/12/2023

Can I clean any watch?

Well, the short answer is yes. Or no. It really depends on the watch that you’re planning to clean. First of all, most watches have a certain water-resistance. So, please check this first before you start to clean your watch. Secondly, most vintage watches have lost their water-resistance over the years, so be really careful with your vintage piece when you’re about to get it cleaned. When you’ve checked the water-resistance of your watch, you can start to rinse it using some water. Make sure to check your crown if it’s fully locked and there is no possible way to let water in your case. You can easily disconnect your strap or bracelet from the case, so you can clean these areas as well.

What do I need to clean my watch?

You will need some water, some specialized tools like a (soft) brush, and some wipes to really clean your watch the proper way. When you’ve rinsed the watch, you can let it dry or dry it with a soft microfiber towel. Afterwards, get yourself a nice cleaning spray or kit that is specifically used for (luxury) watches such as Omega, Breitling or Rolex. You can find these kits anywhere from €10 up to €100’s, depending on the budget you’re planning to spend on cleaning your watch. When you’ve found the perfect match, you can start spraying the cleaning foam on your watch and brush it in, nice and gently. Make sure to always be gentle, since your timepiece is fragile and needs some TLC.

Rubbing and cleaning

When you’ve rubbed in the foam with the soft brush, it’s time for some rinsing again. You can determine whether you do this on the case or with the bracelet, whatever suits you best. When you’ve completed the full rinse, make sure to let your watch dry for a second. Once that is all done, you can get your microfiber towel or specially made wipe to dry your watch. And finally, the hard work pays off. Right? You can wear your watch again, use it for any reason, let it shine in the sun and make yourself smile every time you wear your precious watch.

Polishing

If you have cleaned your watch properly, but still are not happy with the result, polishing your watch is an other option. Polishing is a procedure where the thinest of layers of your watch, which can be dirty or damaged, will be removed. The little spots will not be visible anymore. They can also give your watch a new brushed look, to complement the shapes of the case. Note that when you polish your watch, a little bit of material of your watch will be removed. Luckily, if done correctly, this procedure can make your watch look like new, fresh out of the box again. Make sure you go to a very skilled watchmaker to not damage your watch!

Take your time and don't make any rushed decisions on polishing your watch. The little spots and dents in your watch tell a story, which for some might be way more desireable then a like new appearence of the watch.