Rolex watches are recognised and treasured for their durability all across the world. They are indeed designed for regular use and crafted to last for generations. But like any other mechanical items, a Rolex watch also needs a little bit aftercare.
The highly-precise and complex movements powering Rolex watches require periodic maintenance. And the brand recommends servicing it every ten years, and you will need a professional only to do it.
However, as a responsible user, you will have to put a little effort to maintain the original beauty and sheen. If you wear your Rolex watch daily, it will need periodic cleaning. Tiny dust particles can get stuck in the timepiece, and resulting debris can affect its functionality.
So your Rolex watch needs cleaning, and the following guide will help you in doing it precisely and correctly. And you can rest assured that your luxury watch will continue looking as new for the upcoming days and years too.
The Proper Way to Clean Your Rolex
Simply take a soft cloth and wipe down your Rolex timepiece for removing the dirt from the exterior surfaces. It is an easy and quick way to maintain the watch’s lustre. However, make sure that you are not using any polishing cloths.
They are typically embedded with polishing compounds that often carry abrasives. And abrasives can destroy your watch’s surface finish. Thus, use a soft material that does not contain any cleaning abrasives and chemicals.
Well, the cleaning kit of your eyeglass includes a rag. You can use it if you do not have an alternate option.
However, for extensive cleaning of your Rolex watch like cleaning the outer surfaces with water and soap, you need to follow the steps given below:
Firstly, Screw down the Crown
All contemporary Role watches are officially water-resistant to at least 330ft (100m). However, the only exception is the Cellini lineup. Nonetheless, you have to screw down the winding crown fully to ensure it is tightly sealed against dirt and moisture.
Secondly, Take a Bowl of Water and Soap
To start cleaning your Rolex, take a bowl filled with warm water and add a small dab of soap to it. However, keep in mind that certain soaps contain abrasives or harsh chemicals that can damage your timepiece. Thus, it is always better to use a mild one.
Third, Use a Soft Brush to Scrub your Rolex Watch
Take a soft toothbrush and scrub every surface of your timepiece. The bristles of the brush will remove the dirt stuck in the small gaps between the bracelet links and lugs.
Fourth, Rinse using Fresh Water
After scrubbing the watch, rinse it using warm water. It will wash away any remaining soap residues and dust particles. You will have to make sure that you have thoroughly cleaned out all of the soap.
However, for the Rolex models featuring a rotatable bezel, rotating the bezel a few times is essential while rinsing. It will ensure that the bezel does not contain any soap residue.
Fifth, Use a microfiber Cloth to Dry it
And here is the final step – after cleaning your Rolex, use a microfiber cloth for drying it off. The cloth should be clean and also, free from any polishing compounds. However, the microfiber cloth or anything similar to it will dry off your timepiece without demolishing the watch’s natural surface polish.
Cleaning Tips
Rolex equips most of its watches with Oyster water-resistant cases that feature screw-down crowns and case backs. Together they form an airtight sealed framework surrounding the internal movement, thereby protecting from dirt and moisture.
However, the Oyster case not only boosts the watch’s durability and toughness but also help in making cleaning hassle-free. Now, it is significant to note that –
The process mentioned above of cleaning your Rolex applies to most of the Rolex models. But you will have to treat the examples from the Cellini collection, and vintage references a little bit differently.
Perhaps the best way to clean these Rolexes is by using a microfiber cloth to wipe them down. Alternatively, a damp cloth can help you in wiping down the grime and dirt more thoroughly. But make sure that you are not bringing these watches into direct water contact or avoid submerging them.
When it comes to vintage Rolex watches, the light surface scratches on the ones with acrylic crystals can be removed at home only. Acrylic crystals are indeed less resistance to scratches in comparison to sapphire ones. However, you can still mend the scratches using only a soft cloth and maybe, a polishing compound like PolyWatch.
Keep in mind that only experts can repair or service the internal components of your Rolex watch. However, the guide mentioned above and tips will help you in maintaining your watch’s external elements, making it look clean and gleaming always.
