The pocket watch has been around in some form since the 16th century and has become a staple in society. But with these timepieces come many challenges for keeping them clean. Consider using an all-natural plant-based metal polish to shine it up!
So, how do you clean your fancy wrist or pocket watch? What kind of metal polish should you use, and what's the best way to use it? Here are a few metal watchband cleaning tips to help you keep your watch as clean as a whistle.
Different Watch Metals
Stainless steel is the most common metal used to make watches today, and it is a favorite for many reasons. Practical, good-looking, and hard to damage, stainless steel serves well for plenty of occasions, but it isn't the only watch material.
Besides non-metal watch materials, watches today can also be made from gold, titanium, or other composite metals. These metals will dull and tarnish slightly differently from one another, but all of them will require regular cleaning to look bright and fresh.
Cleaning a Metal Watch
There are several steps to keep in mind for how to clean a metal watch. These steps will basically be the same for all metal types, but you'll want to be more gentle if you have a softer metal (such as gold).
First, start by getting a soft cloth and gently wiping away dirt, sweat, and other gunk from your watch. Chamois or microfiber cloths are the best for this job, but other soft materials will work as well if you don't have one of those.
Afterward, you can use a soft cotton cloth dampened with Sparkle Bright liquid jewelry cleaner to wipe more of the dirt from the actual watch face and casing. Be very careful here if you don't have a waterproof or water-resistant watch! Don't soak your watch face and casing in the jewelry cleaning solution. If your internal mechanisms can't handle liquid getting inside, you don't want to damage your watch just by trying to clean it!
Once you've cleaned the watch casing, you can work on the watchband. This part of the watch isn't going to be as sensitive to liquid, so you can dip it in warm water and then the Sparkle Bright liquid cleaner to loosen some of the dirt. Be careful not to get the rest of the watch wet if it isn't made to get wet!
You can get a cloth and gently clean off dirt and sweat, and use a soft toothbrush to work the dirt and sweat out of the nooks and crannies. Rinse with warm water and then repeat using the liquid cleaner and a brush as many times as necessary to get the watchband clean.
Use Metal Polish on Your Watch to Make It Shine
Once you've got the dirt and grime off your watch, you can polish it and remove tarnish. Sparkle Bright's metal polish and tarnish remover cream is a great way to buff the metal and really make it shine.
You can apply the cream with a soft cloth, gently rubbing with a circular motion until you've got a nice, clean shiny look. Once some of the metal is polished to your satisfaction, you can move along the watch. Again, be careful with the case, and don't use the polish to clean the crystal on the face of the watch!
A soft toothbrush or cotton swab is also great for polishing those difficult nooks and crannies on your watch. You can apply the polish and rub gently until it's as buffed and shiny as the rest. Using a soft toothbrush with the polishing cream in the creases of the watchband will ensure that your watch will shine everywhere.
And once you're done with all the polishing, rinse the watchband with warm water. Bear in mind that you have to be careful to not get water around the face and casing in order to prevent damage to the watch!
You can use Sparkle Bright liquid cleaner to clean your watch face and crystal. Use a soft cotton cloth dampened in the liquid cleaner to wipe the face and crystal clean.
Maintaining Your Watch
You shouldn't have to clean your watch every day, or even every week. Monthly cleanings are usually sufficient, although that really depends on your frequency of cleanings and how well you clean your watch.
If you're very active and get a lot of dirt, grime, and sweat on your watch, you'll definitely want to clean it at least once a month. At that point, it's probably a good idea to get a sturdy, waterproof watch. And a material like stainless steel might certainly be a good idea!
However, if you're looking for a high-end watch that's more like "jewelry" and is only for special occasions, you can probably simply polish it when you need it. You'll eventually have to clean dust, sweat, and dirt off of it, but the buildup won't be nearly as fast. Give it a little buff before you head to an event, and you should be good to go!
You'll also have to pay attention to the internal maintenance of the watch, particularly if it's a mechanical watch. The good news is, you generally only have to bring it in every few years for regular servicing, even if it's an older watch.
Granted, if your watch starts showing signs of damage, you'll want to bring it in as soon as possible! It's probably a good idea to delay cleaning it anymore if it seems broken, as a gasket may have leaked and gotten liquid into the casing. You don't want to make the outside look nice while compounding the problem inside!
Learn More About Cleaning Watches and Jewelry!
If you'd like to learn more about using metal polish for metal watches or other jewelry, we'd love to help! Our fantastic jewelry cleaners and polishes are made to assist you in a wide variety of uses.
So if you have any questions or concerns about jewelry cleaning, contact us! Our goal is to make sure you have the best jewelry cleaning and care possible.