What oil is used to clean and service a watch?

　　A watch's tens of thousands of daily rotations rely entirely on a minute amount of oil inside the jewel holes to reduce wear. Once the oil dries up, the lifespan of the watch will come to an end within a few years. Therefore, cleaning and oiling a watch is the very first step in all servicing. So, what oil is generally used to clean and service a watch? Below, we will introduce this in detail for your reference.

　　1. Hydrocarbon solvent cleaning fluids

　　The most representative are petrol (the petrol referred to here is No. 120 and No. 180 solvent oil) and petroleum ether. The advantage is that they have a very strong ability to remove grease and can dissolve oil stains very quickly; when paired with a small brush, they can clean quite thoroughly, but this is only suitable for relatively new movements. If combined with certain active agents, the cleaning effect can be even better. These cleaning agents also have disadvantages, the first of which is flammability—they are highly flammable, so special attention must be paid to fire hazards during use. A colleague I know had petroleum ether catch fire due to improper use, almost burning down his shop. Secondly, they do not work well on fingerprint oxidation layers.

　　2. Chlorinated solvent cleaning fluids

　　Common ones include trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and carbon tetrachloride. The cleaning effect is excellent, and they are also highly effective at dissolving oil stains. These solvents have a low boiling point, are non-flammable, and evaporate very quickly—much faster than petrol-based ones. It can be said that the parts dry within seconds of being taken out. However, these solvents all carry a degree of toxicity; prolonged exposure is harmful to health, so long-term use is not recommended.

　　3, Fluorine-based solvent cleaning fluids

　　Trichlorotrifluoroethane has strong penetration and dissolution power against oil stains. It is characterised by being non-flammable with a boiling point of 47°C. Older literature stated that this type of substance was non-toxic, but recent research data proves that it still has a certain degree of toxicity and causes severe damage to the ozone layer, so this type of cleaning agent has been phased out and is basically no longer available on the market.

　　4, Mixed in a certain proportion using alcohol, petrol, ammonia, oleic acid, etc.

　　The cleaning effect is good, especially for grime such as sweat and movement oxidation. After washing, the movement is relatively bright, and gold-plated parts will regain their original colour. The disadvantages are that the mixing proportions require strict control, the formula is quite corrosive, and the smell is very pungent. Personal safety precautions must be paid attention to, and it is not suitable for hand-washing procedures in small watch shops.

　　5, Swiss-imported ready-made watch cleaning solution

　　Must be used with automatic or semi-automatic watch cleaning machines. They all contain a certain degree of toxicity and are similarly unsuitable for hand washing.

　　6, German-imported 1:9 concentrate

　　This is a red alkaline solution with a very pungent smell. I have smelled it; you must make sure it does not get on your skin or into your eyes. I feel the smell is some mixture of ammonia (similar to 4). This solution must be diluted in distilled water according to a ratio (1 parts concentrate to 9 parts distilled water). There are limits on temperature and time for this; it cannot be heated, and the time cannot be too long, otherwise it will cause significant corrosion to the movement. It cannot be washed by hand, only by machine, and after washing with this, the parts must be rinsed several times with distilled water, and finally dehydrated with ethanol and dried.

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　　ConclusionThe above is all the content regarding what oil to use for watch maintenance. If you would like to purchase replica watches, please scan the QR code to follow WeChat for purchase.

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