Cleaning watches at home: step-by-step do-it-yourself instructions

Most watch owners wear them every day. Unfortunately, even when worn carefully, the watch inevitably develops minor scratches and abrasions, which spoil the appearance and upset the owner. Of course, there is always the opportunity to contact a watch workshop, where qualified polishing specialists will carry out all the necessary work and return the watch to its original appearance. But, firstly, polishing in workshops is carried out for the entire watch case, and this is not the cheapest service, especially if you want to get rid of only one or two scratches. Secondly, it is advisable to do polishing by “machine” no more than seven times, otherwise the watch will simply turn into an unsightly “remnant”. Professional polishing is recommended to be carried out together with repassage (preventive cleaning and lubrication of the mechanism) once every 3-5 years. In other cases, defects on the case and glass can be removed yourself.

In this article, we will look at some ways to repair cosmetic damage to watches at home.

Preparatory activities

Wearing an accessory with a precise mechanism allows you to confirm that its owner is responsible and punctual. For a wristwatch to look presentable, the strap should also look well-groomed. The skin must be protected from moisture and ultraviolet rays. The material absorbs dirt and fat secreted by the sebaceous glands, collects dust, which contributes to the appearance of an unpleasant odor and accelerates wear.

At least once a week, the leather strap should be wiped with a damp material. Before cleaning, the item must be detached from the watch case to prevent detergents from getting into the mechanism.

Disassembly

The strap is held in place by a pin. Inside such a hollow tube there is a spring and 2 tips, one of them secures the product to the body. To remove the strap from a mechanical watch, you need to move the pin to the side. To do this, use a needle or a thin knife blade to pick up the tip by the corner and push the tube inside.

After cleaning the leather, the pin is again inserted into the strap; the first tip must be inserted into one hole, which is located on the watch case, and the second into the other.

Professional watch polishing

No matter how prestigious the brand your wristwatch is, over time it loses its luxurious appearance and appeal. Professional polishing and prevention, repassage, of watches is the most effective way to restore an accessory to its former beauty and eliminate external defects formed during use. The need for repassage arises in the following cases:

the appearance of stains on the body, its tarnishing;
the presence of scratches, dents and chipping;
significant damage to the glass.

Repassage is a professional term for preventive repair of watches.
By seeking the help of specialists, you can order high-quality polishing of the case and glass. After which the old but favorite accessory will return the appearance of a branded product, sparkling with fresh tones, which will immediately affect the appearance and image of the owner.

DIY bracelet cleaning

If it was not possible to remove the strap, simply wipe it with a toothbrush or a cotton swab dipped in the prepared composition. If the watch is worn constantly, cleaning is carried out after 1.5-2 months. The dial is treated with a damp cloth and then wiped with a dry cloth.

Bracelets are made of plastic, silicone, leather, metal. Not all materials can be cleaned with the same product, but you need to choose the right composition. The skin is wiped with a solution made from soda or ammonia, the rubber strap is wiped with laundry soap, and silver is wiped with vinegar.

Ordinary

Plastic and rubber bracelets are cleaned of dirt and sweat with laundry soap. Half the bar is crushed on a grater and combined with a glass of warm water. The resulting slurry is spread on the surface of the strap.

After half an hour, wipe the bracelet with a brush or hard sponge, rinse and dry with a microfiber cloth.

The fabric strap is cleaned of dirt and greasy deposits with dishwashing liquid. The composition is applied to the surface of the product, thoroughly rub the problem areas, rinse with water, and dry with a towel.

Leather

A watch with a strap made of natural expensive material looks well-groomed and presentable if the bracelet is regularly looked after and cleaned of dirt. It is recommended to wipe dark skin with a paste made from equal amounts of water and soda. The composition is applied to the surface of the strap, after an hour the dirtiest areas are treated with a sponge, rinsed under the tap, and dried indoors.

To cleanse and lighten your skin:

A glass of milk is mixed with raw egg white.
The surface of the material is impregnated with the mixture.
The strap is wiped with a sponge and rinsed under running water.

Remove dirt with a soap solution to which a few drops of ammonia are added. Using a sponge soaked in the composition, treat the surface of the skin on both sides, wipe with a wet cloth, and then dry with a cloth. To eliminate odor, rinse the strap in water and add citric acid. The surface is lubricated with glycerin or olive oil and rubbed with a dry cloth. The advantages of a leather strap include:

strength;
ease of care;
long service life.

Products made from this material have all sorts of shades and look stylish. The strap is easy to clean and fits different watch models.

Gilded

Steel bracelets are washed with hair shampoo and Fairy dishwashing liquid. To clean silver items, combine baking soda with vinegar or mix with ammonia. Wipe all the chains in turn with the gruel, leave for half an hour and polish with a microfiber cloth.

A gold-plated bracelet is cleaned with powder or crushed chalk on the inside and outside, and wiped until shiny with a dry cloth. It is not recommended to wet the metal surface with water. The titanium product is cleaned with an eraser, toothpaste is applied and polished.

White

A light-colored strap is treated with a product obtained by mixing soda and water. The mass is applied to the surface and removed after an hour to an hour and a half. To wash the stained material, combine a glass of milk with egg white and gently wipe the strap.

How to clean a silicone watch strap. How to Clean White Leather Products

Turpentine.
Wine alcohol.
Vinegar.
Soap solution with ammonia.
Egg whites work well for cleaning gold-plated items. For a better effect, you can add a little Javel water to the protein.
Alcohol enhances the shine of gilding and is antistatic. Wipe the strap with alcohol, then with a damp cloth and dry.
You can clean the bracelet with toothpaste. When cleaning, the foam may darken, which means the dirt is coming off. After cleaning, any remaining toothpaste must be removed.

Smart, shockproof and waterproof watches are recommended to be washed regularly. Dirt, dust and sweat that accumulate in the product negatively affect the operation of the sensor. As a result, the clock will show the wrong time.

How to clean and polish a watch case at home

To remove dirt inside the accessory, the product is disassembled into parts, the head is removed, and the mechanism is removed. Place all the elements on a napkin and first remove dust from the body, and only then clean the remaining parts.

Ordinary

The cost of the accessory and its appearance are influenced not only by the number of functions, the complexity of the caliber, but also by the type of material from which the case is made, which protects the mechanism from damage. Withstands impacts, is not afraid of corrosion, tolerates temperature changes, and stainless steel is well polished. Some well-known Swiss companies and Chinese companies produce watches with cases made of this material.

After removing dust from it:

Wipe the glass with a lint-free piece of cloth.
Cotton swabs are dipped in alcohol and the remaining parts are washed.
The dial is wiped with a wet rag and a dry cloth.
Old stains are cleaned with a toothbrush.

Domestic companies and foreign brands produce watch models with brass cases, which are easy to maintain and durable, but rust and oxidize. To remove dirt and deposits, the zinc and copper alloy is cleaned with alcohol and polished with a dry cloth.

Silver

Wristwatches are made from precious metals; they perform their main functions and serve as a work of art. The silver case is cleaned using different means:

A spoonful of ammonia is dissolved in a liter of water. Wipe the part with the composition and polish it with a soft cloth.
The protective coating of the watch is treated with lemon juice and dried with flannel.
Apply toothpaste or tooth powder to the blackened metal with a brush and rinse under the tap.
The body, removed from the accessory, is left for an hour in a salty solution, and the plaque is removed with a sponge.

Darkened silver is soaked in starch, cleaned with a damp cloth and dry cotton wool. The dial is wiped with a cloth, and other elements of the watch are treated with alcohol.

Features of sapphire glass

A distinctive feature of sapphire glasses is their exceptional hardness, but at the same time they remain very fragile. Such glass is mainly found on branded brands. Therefore, before you polish the sapphire crystal on your watch, ask yourself whether you are up to the task. And to scratch such glass, you need to try hard, you need a very hard material, like diamond.

However, if such a nuisance happens, then it is better to leave the restoration of the transparency of the sapphire glass to specialists.

Sapphire glass, although it has maximum hardness, is at the same time very fragile.

How to deal with scratches on glass

An expensive accessory looks untidy not only when the bracelet is blackened, the strap is shiny from a greasy coating, and scratches on the glass give the product an unkempt appearance. You can remove small cracks at home. Squeeze a little toothpaste without dyes onto a cotton pad and rub it clockwise into the problem area. There is no need to press hard, otherwise the glass will burst. The composition is removed with a damp cloth.

To mask large scratches, use Goya paste. Soak a swab in a coarse product containing chromium oxide and wipe the glass. The process is performed several times, using paste No. 3 and 2 with fine grain. To add shine, polishing is done with mineral oil.

A paste of soda can cope with scratches; apply it to the surface, rub in with a cotton swab, and remove the residue with a wet cloth. Sandpaper removes microcracks. The glass is removed from the body, cleaned of dust with a soft cloth, carefully polished, coated with toothpaste, which is wiped dry.

Masks scratches and restores shine with furniture or car wax. The swab is dipped into the composition and the glass is polished. Removes abrasions with a solution prepared from 2 glasses of water and a spoon of ammonia.

Medium scratches

To eliminate medium-depth scratches, you will need the same materials as for small scratches, but GOI paste is not only No. 1, but also No. 2 and No. 3, as well as a piece of leather or felt .

A piece of leather for polishing watches

Steps:

Remove the glass from the watch case and with microfiber to remove all dirt.
Apply a little GOI paste to microfiber moistened with water and polish the glass with the same wave-like movements until noticeable scratches disappear, then replace the paste with No. 2 and continue polishing. To eliminate micro-scratches, use paste No. 1.
When the surface of the glass becomes perfectly matte, wash off the GOI paste, dry the glass with dry microfiber, apply tooth powder or paste to it and continue polishing with microfiber dipped in water for about 15 minutes.
Clean the glass and put it back into the watch case.

Tooth powder for watch polishing

How to clean the internal mechanism

Any wrong action may damage the watch. When disassembling an accessory, you need to remember where this or that part was placed and in what sequence the elements were removed. To clean the mechanism:

Large deposits are removed with a thin needle.
Separate the angrenage, balance, and anchor fork with tongs and place them in a container filled with alcohol.
After 3 or 4 minutes, all parts are removed from the solution and dried on tissue paper.
Mineral oil is taken into a pipette and each part is treated.

If dirt remains, remove it with a brush, moistening it in ethyl alcohol. After finishing cleaning, the mechanism is immediately reassembled, otherwise dust will settle on it.

Removing deep scratches

In addition to the above materials, you will need:

GOI paste numbers from 1 to 4;
medium and fine grit sandpaper.

Sequencing:

Remove the glass from the watch case and clean it with microfiber to remove all dirt.
Begin polishing in a wave-like motion using medium-grit sandpaper.
Go to GOI No. 4 to remove the most noticeable irregularities, then to GOI No. 3 and No. 2, and finally to fine-grained sandpaper .
To eliminate micro-scratches and make the glass matte, use GOI No. 1 for polishing.
To restore the glass's glossy shine, polish its surface with the same wave-like movements using tooth powder or soap for at least 10-15 minutes.
Clean the glass and put it back into the watch case.

Sandpaper for polishing watches

Reassembly

The washed parts are blown with air from a medical bulb, after which the drum is taken with tweezers and secured to the platinum. Then install the wheels of the mechanism, check the adhesion between them and their position relative to the axis. Screw on the anchor and bridge, tighten the spring. They attach the second hand, then the minute hand, fix the levers - factory and transfer, install the dial, balance, and spiral.

The assembled mechanism is put into the case, the shaft that starts it is returned to its place, and the back wall is screwed on.

What to do if your watch glass fogs up

In any case, the properties of air contain humidity, and watches are not assembled in a vacuum, so fogged glass is not such a rare occurrence, especially with a sharp temperature change. This cannot be called a defect, but if the glass on the watch sweats, it means there is some kind of defect.

There is a chance to contact a service center if the product’s warranty has not yet expired; otherwise, you can do some steps to fix the problem yourself:

remove the back cover of the watch;
place the watch near a heat source for some time (up to two days); if you can’t wait, use a hairdryer;
cover with a napkin while drying to prevent dust from getting inside the product;
do not open windows, do not use humidifiers - you need to try to minimize the humidity in the room;
carefully place the lid in place without disturbing the design of the product (if there are any rubber bands or gaskets, they need to be installed back where they were).

It should be understood that the presence of moisture under the watch case can cause damage to parts and the watch mechanism. If fogging occurs rarely, for example, only when going outside in cold weather, then you should not worry and disassemble the product. Perspiration that appears at room temperature can be considered a cause for concern.

Please note that you can only worsen the situation: bring dust under the device body, tear the gasket, or increase fogging. Therefore, if you doubt your success, it is better to trust the professionals.

Features of working with ceramics

In recent years, companies have begun to produce watches not only from stainless steel, brass, and precious metals, but also from non-standard materials. Stylish ceramic models are scratch-resistant, last a long time, and do not cause skin irritation. These watches are very light, do not feel on your hand, do not heat up in the heat, and do not cool down in the cold.

(I’m asking a stupid question) How to polish a watch

Twisted Firestarter 06-10-2011 19:16
stainless steel watch, not particularly expensive, but there is a lot associated with it, the once mirror polish is now rapidly approaching stone-wash, the brain tells me that the right solution is GOI, and it also tells me that I need GOI for fine polishing, but where can I get it? maybe there are alternatives?

Zuzamod 06-10-2011 19:39

The glass will deteriorate when polishing the case, maybe it’s better not to?

Twisted Firestarter 06-10-2011 19:47

and here’s the whole point, how not to spoil the glass? I think GOI for fine polishing was originally intended for polishing optics, but it’s still spectacle-quality

golddragon 06-10-2011 19:54quote:Originally posted by Twisted Firestarter:GOIDAquote:Originally posted by Twisted Firestarter:but here’s the whole point, how not to spoil the glass sealkU 06-10-2011 20:13 Humanly speaking, you need to polish in parsing Accordingly - to the service.Canon 06-10-2011 20:20

You glue off all the excess and calmly polish the GOI. Evenly, neatly. I've polished more than one watch and never had any problems.

hitman_II 06-10-2011 20:31quote:Originally posted by Twisted Firestarter:but where can I get it? Or maybe there are alternatives? You can buy polishing pastes in jewelry stores; they used to sell Dialux, an analogue of GOI pasteDesignerHP 06-10-2011 20:32

Alternatively, take it to a watchmaker to carefully free the case from the mechanism, and then send the case for electroplating.

Zuzamod 06-10-2011 21:05

Soviet watches did not use glass, but some kind of plastic. So it was polished with toothpaste, rubbed vigorously with a cotton cloth. Do you have glass or plastic there?

andryss60 06-10-2011 22:08

I would also trust the professionals. Right now, any watch, if you value it, will restore it, make a new glass, even a sapphire. If it’s not expensive, it’s easier to buy new ones...

Mikha Gai 06-10-2011 22:48

I sharpen knives, polish watches... I have experience with... expensive...))))))))))))))

Glal 06-10-2011 23:47

IMHO, if the watch is expensive and the resource is available, go to the “Precise Move” workshop at Nagornaya metro station. If the problem is rubbed mineral glass, I advise you to try Polywatch paste. It is bought “there”. The thing is good and proven (personally). It looks like this:

Edward Green 07-10-2011 02:19

There is no need to rub it with anything. This is patina. Nothing can restore it later.

Twisted Firestarter 07-10-2011 10:39

ok, comrades, this weekend I’ll try to polish it by sealing the glass, it seems like the hands used to grow from the right place

golddragon 07-10-2011 12:41quote:Originally posted by Mikha Gai:I sharpen knives, polish watches...I have experience with...expensive...)) a jack of all trades)) slalomandro 08-10-2011 10:44quote:Originally posted by Zuzamod : Soviet watches did not use glass, but some kind of plastic. So it was polished with toothpaste, rubbed vigorously with a cotton cloth. Do you have glass or plastic there? plexiglass can also be polished well with GOI paste. MANUALLY! Nemirovich 08-10-2011 21:02

I wouldn’t experiment with a watch that is dear to my heart. Better yet, go to a good watch shop.

Eldar_77 08-10-2011 21:54

Zero, then the goyim. I restored the commander’s notes in the mirror like this)

FIXXXL 08-10-2011 22:00

what are you going to polish? Commander's guess? Pry the rim with a knife, polish it, walk along the back of the lid. You won't find it, get only the finest "diamond paste" from the automagazine

guns.allzip.org

How to remove odor

When a person wears a watch for a long time without cleaning the strap from dirt, pathogenic microorganisms accumulate on it and sweat is absorbed. The waste products of microbes cause a specific odor. To get rid of odor:

The watch is removed from the hand, baby soap is rubbed into the inner and then the outer part of the strap.
A cloth is moistened in warm water and the composition is removed.
The product is dried with the material and left to dry in a warm room.

The procedure is repeated several times until the unpleasant odor disappears. If you constantly wear the accessory in hot weather, you need to purchase a strap made of material that is resistant to high temperatures.

Scotch Brite abrasive

When removing scratches on a satin-finished case, the situation is more complicated. The fact is that satin finishing can be different and occurs in many variations from “refined velvety” to “roughly instrumental”, therefore there is no universal way to remove scratches with such a finish. The most commonly used abrasive is Scotch Brite . When working with it, it is extremely important to strictly follow the direction of the original satin finish. The slightest deviation negatively affects the result. 3M sandpaper (“Three Em”) with grits of 1500 and 2000 . Higher grain size results in a “blurring” effect. If there are deep scratches, you should start with 1500 and then move to 2000.

An important point: you need to treat the entire surface of the case on which you want to remove scratches, for example, the entire side. It will not be possible to remove a single local scratch without a trace, since the new “satin” will be different from the old one. More or less, but it is almost impossible to accurately hit the old satin. The workshop will also not remove the scratch separately, because it is much more effective to go over the entire side.

The glass on the watch is broken or cracked: folk signs

Signs have long been an explanation for incomprehensible events in the life of every nation. Man saw in them his destiny, purpose, and looked for hidden meaning. Nowadays, belief in omens does not lose its relevance. People continue to be guided by them in planning affairs, assessing the impact of signs on the future.

The clock is directly related to time, the flow of life

Many esotericists believe that watches are capable of absorbing the energy of their wearer, because of this it is not recommended to give watches to strangers or pick them up on the street, which is why the sign of broken glass on a watch is so important for most

Cracked glass at different times foreshadowed different adversities:

possible imminent illness of the owner, and the larger the crack, the longer and more severe the illness will be;
collapse and failure in business or personal life is a hint of a waste of time;
breaking the glass on the watch while removing it from your hand is a warning about danger to relatives, the possible loss of a loved one.

Broken walkers should be dealt with as follows:

if it is possible to repair them, then do not delay the repair - take it to a specialist; if repair is impossible, then it is important to get rid of the damaged product as quickly as possible - wrap it in purple fabric (it is believed that this color absorbs all negative energy) and take the watch to a place where no one will find it; if the item is very expensive, then by wrapping them in fabric, you can hide them in a box or casket at home. Often a person associates his failures with omens, so try to attune yourself to those superstitions that predict good luck or happy events

Often a person associates his failures with signs, so try to attune yourself to those superstitions that predict good luck or happy events.

Remember that everyone chooses for themselves what to believe in!

Source

A little about steles

On this site, we have already discussed which glasses are now most often used by manufacturers, as well as what their advantages and disadvantages are.

We won’t dwell on this point for long, but we’ll outline some important details so that you understand what you can work with and what it’s better not to risk. Each type of glass has its own resistance to mechanical and other types of influences. If we talk about scratches and chips, then plastic is the weakest representative, mineral glass is a solid average, and sapphire is currently the strongest in the watch industry. Of course, there is also diamond glass, but it is so expensive and rare that there is no point in talking about it. Anyone who can afford diamond glass is unlikely to bother with how to polish it at minimal financial cost.

So, if you can still try to restore plastic and mineral glass by polishing, then you don’t even have to worry about sapphire. It can only be processed in production using special equipment, and the glass itself is very strong, so you still need to try to bring it to a state where it really needs polishing.

Removing scratches from glass using toothpaste

Regular toothpaste will help hide minor scratches on the glass of your favorite watch. To do this, you need to choose a white paste that does not contain granules, bleach and various flavoring additives. That is, the most inexpensive. It will not scratch your watch with abrasive substances. Using a regular cotton pad or optical polishing cloth (available in specialty stores), apply a small amount of paste to the glass and gently wipe several times.

To get an instant effect you will need no more than a minute. Careful sanding will also help get rid of stains on the glass. If you are unsatisfied with the result, the procedure can be repeated.