Rolex Cleaning??

[#1]

Hi...was advised to come here and ask the experts how to clean a Rolex...aside from jewelry store and/or Rolex themselves. I was interested in purchasing an ultrasonic jewelry machine to clean my other fine stuff.

Is it safe to put my watch in this type of machine? Greatly appreciate any comments.

Thanks.

frany

[#2]

Do you want to clean just the outside or the movement too?

[#3]

Franny,

I strongly advise against putting a Rolex into an ultrasonic cleaner without removing the movement first... and you won't be able to remove the movement on your own unless you have experience as a watchmaker. Although a Rolex has seals around the crown and caseback to seal out water, these seals are often worn and would leak in an ultrasonic, allowing water ingress and damage to the dial and movement.

The vibration of an ultrasonic machine has a way of working water/cleaning fluids into places that they wouldn't ordinarily get to... like past seals. If a small amount of water seeped into the case without your knowledge and you didn't open the case to fully dry it, the moisture would quickly corrode and destroy the movement.

Greg

[#4]

jim/greg.....thank you so much for answering. I just want to clean the outside...wouldn't know the first thing about cleaning movement....I just learned how to set the date!!!

I'll just keep to cleaning with polishing cloth until I'm near a Rolex dealer.

Will be getting the ultrasonic to clean my other jewelry.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!

frany

[#5]

"I'll just keep to cleaning with polishing cloth until I'm near a Rolex dealer."

That's probably the best idea. A Rolex is too expensive of a watch to learn and make mistakes on.