How should luxury watches be serviced and cleaned?

　　When cleaning a watch, whether to use general watch cleaning tools or a dedicated watch cleaning machine, and whether to disassemble the movement or clean it as a whole, should depend on the specific condition of each watch. So how should we go about cleaning luxury watches? You cannot afford to miss the content below!

  Luxury watch cleaning methods

　　Luxury watch cleaning method step one

　　Clean using standard watch cleaning tools. General watch cleaning tools include a watch brush and cleaning solution. Using standard tools is straightforward; the cleaning solution selected is 120 grade aviation petrol. As petrol contains a certain amount of impurities, it is best to filter the 120 grade petrol through filter paper before use to remove these impurities. Otherwise, parts cleaned with unfiltered petrol may develop a layer of white frost on the surface. Cleaned parts must be dried or baked dry. If the movement parts have significant sludge or are very dirty, they should first be soaked in a cylinder for a while. If necessary, use a brush to remove dirt from the watch or a willow wood stick to remove sludge, then clean in clean petrol. In short, movement parts must be cleaned thoroughly and carefully; do not be negligent.

　　Cleaning steps for luxury watches part two

　　Clean using a watch cleaning machine. Using a cleaning machine is highly efficient. Cleaning solutions include petrol, alcohol, and trifluoroethylene (F plus 13), among others. Use a trifluoro solution for cleaning plates. The cleaning machine commonly used for watch repair features speed adjustment, time control, clockwise/anti-clockwise rotation of the cleaning head, and lifting functions. It also has three bottles for cleaning solution, which must be covered after cleaning to prevent evaporation and contamination. Additionally, there is an empty container used for spinning the watch dry. The first bottle contains less clean solution; the second bottle contains clean solution; the third bottle contains distilled water for rinsing and dehydration. Of course, arrangements can be made according to the specific process.

　　Maintenance methods for luxury watches

　　1. Frequently use a relatively soft cloth or silk to gently wipe away dirt and sweat stains on the case.

　　2. Manual-winding mechanical watches should be wound at a fixed time, preferably fully wound at one go. When turning the crown, the speed should be moderate, and do not wind it too tightly. Over-winding can easily cause the mainspring to stick to the oil in the barrel. When the mainspring relaxes, it can easily break due to excessive elasticity.

　　3. Watches are most sensitive to violent vibrations. It is best to take it off when playing ball games or hitting things with your hands, unless you are sponsored by the brand like the person below.

　　4. Watches are also susceptible to water damage. Therefore, it is best to remove your watch when washing clothes, washing hands, or doing other work that involves contact with water. If fogging or water droplets appear on the watch crystal, it should be serviced promptly to wipe away the moisture and dry the movement. If you find fogging or condensation droplets on the watch crystal, please pull the crown out, place the watch face down for a day, and then push the crown back to its original position to resolve the issue (the occurrence of this issue does not mean the watch's water resistance has deteriorated; it may be that the crown was unintentionally pulled out from its original position during use).

　　5. Please keep the watch away from magnetic objects such as radios and televisions to avoid affecting its accuracy.

　　6. Please do not allow the watch to come into contact with solvents, mercury, cosmetic sprays, detergents, adhesives, paints, or camphor, otherwise the case and strap/bracelet may discolour, deteriorate, or become damaged. Camphor is a highly volatile substance that can easily cause the movement oil to solidify, losing its lubricating effect and thereby damaging the accuracy of the timepiece.

　　7. Do not expose the watch to sudden cold or heat. Extreme temperature changes will increase the timekeeping error of the watch. The mainspring inside a mechanical watch is prone to breaking due to rapid temperature changes, and the rubber gaskets will age faster, which will also affect the watch's water resistance.

　　8. Do not remove the case back casually to prevent dust from getting inside; nor should you tamper with it indiscriminately. If damaged, take it to a watch repair shop promptly.

　　Aftercare tips for luxury watches after cleaning

　　For luxury watches that are not worn regularly, they should still be wound periodically to keep the movement running. As for quartz watches, their battery life is generally 1 to 2 years; batteries should be replaced regularly. When replacing the battery, the watch's seal should also be replaced and tested. For watches with a low battery indicator, the battery should be replaced within 3 weeks of the alert appearing. The materials for luxury watch cases and bracelets vary, including tungsten-titanium alloy, stainless steel, soft fibre, and ordinary steel. When wearing, avoid friction and collisions with objects of equal or greater hardness, and clean regularly to maintain their aesthetic appeal.

　　Additionally, seawater, salt baths, perfume, shampoo, nail polish, nail polish remover, and other cosmetics containing chemical substances can corrode the gold plating and metal surfaces of luxury watches, so contact should be avoided. Even if a watch is described as having water resistance, it cannot withstand all water; for example, 30 metres only protects against hand washing, face washing, rain, or splashes. If you go showering or swimming, the watch will certainly not cope. Regardless of the depth rating, never wear a watch in a sauna; the heat of the steam will accelerate the ageing of the rubber seals, preventing them from functioning correctly.