A Tutorial on How to Clean Your Luxury Timepiece at Home

Luxury timepieces are made to be durable; some of them can even survive harsh conditions. However, to help them withstand wear and tear, a strict cleaning regime is needed. Some watches, especially those crafted from precious materials like gold and platinum, require some extra care to remain flawless over the years to come. While it’s important to seek professional maintenance services to keep the movements ticking, following some basic steps at home can go a long way in keeping your precious pieces in the pink. So, GMT India is here to guide you through some at-home watch cleaning methods. 

Different materials require different methods of cleaning. For instance, a watch with a leather strap should not be cleaned with water. In the case of a gold bracelet, which is prone to scratches, cleaning with a soft, microfibre cloth is recommended. The other thing to check for is the water resistance of a watch; depending on this parameter, introduce only the minimum amount of moisture that is required to clean the watch. 

The Watch Cleaning Kit

Here’s a list of items that will facilitate your watch cleaning regime: a watch-specific brush or a soft-bristled toothbrush, a few toothpicks, a clean microfibre cloth or chamois cloth, some antibacterial sanitary wipes, a gentle soap, and a bowl of warm water. Most of these can be easily found at home. Sometimes, watch brands too provide complimentary cleaning kits, which have some of these items. 

Step One: 

Once you are ready with your kit, gently wipe down the watch with a dry microfibre cloth to get rid of any initial traces of dirt, dust or grime. 

Step Two: 

When dealing with a stainless steel or a rubber bracelet, you can soak the bracelet in a bowl of lukewarm water mixed with a gentle soap. Then, use a soft toothbrush to remove any visible grime or dirt from the bracelet, making sure that the bristles are cleaning the crevices as well. If you can, detach the bracelet from the case so as to prevent the watch from coming into contact with water. However, if the watch case is still attached, avoid immersing it into the water. To avoid any scratches, be mindful of how much pressure you apply. 

For the case, use a sanitary wipe to clean the nooks and engravings thoroughly. 

Step Three: 

In case you can still see dirt or grime in the crevices, use a toothpick, but first cut off its tip and cover it with a wipe. This way, you can still focus on the areas and crevices that need to be cleaned while ensuring that the toothpick doesn’t scratch the watch surface. Softer metals (gold or platinum) may get scratched easily, so it’s better to just use the wipe. 

Step Four: 

Lastly, pat dry the watch or the bracelet with a microfibre cloth and remove any soap residue. Your watch should be sparkling after following this step-by-step guide. If you still feel more rigorous cleaning is required, go for professional maintenance services. 

‍